The Media Trust believes in the power to change lives through, as the name suggests…  media.

Whether working to help prisoners read, or refugees to feel more welcome, creating cookery schemes in underrepresented communities, or maximising educational opportunities for children, they matchmake charities with media experts and volunteers in real life to achieve genuine change.

Having already been around for over 20 years, the communications charity works specifically within the UK media industry – using the people within it, their skills and their time, to empower charities, raise awareness and increase their impact via practical support.

They do this by providing direct services to charities – such as training, content creation and a volunteering service. Charities with very small, or no budget, can appeal for support on specific projects, and PR and media professionals can volunteer their time to work with them.

I love this project because it enables people to use their experience and knowledge to have a positive and tangible impact on the world. Lots of people who work in marketing and media know how to make brands famous, and how to drive behavioural change, and increasingly they want to put those skills to good use, but like me, many don’t really know where to start in finding a charity that would need their specific skills.

The Media Trust volunteer programme takes this desire and points it at the most in relevant charity projects, converting it into real value for charitable organisations – so that everyone wins.

Channel 4’s awesome Jon Snow tells their story:

AtlasAction: Train, mentor or create content for charitable organisations across the UK.

The Media Trust was mapped in Helen Brain’s AtlasChart:5 easy ways to be a changemaker.

Strategy Director. Marketing and media professional with 12 years experience, who has become increasingly passionate about the need for businesses and communities to drive positive societal change. Set up ‘Be The Real Change’ as a response to the frustration and anger at the events taking place in the world. Where to start?