For the year ended 30 September 2003, communities within ITV’s Carlton regions – London, West Country, Central England, West of England and Wales – benefited from a total of nearly £350,000 in charitable contributions, none of which were political donations.

Promoting arts within the regions, whether through sponsorship or training, is crucial for the development of the community. The HTV NUTS + BOLTS experience, a certified training course in Performing Arts run for ethnic minority students in Wales, is just one initiative underway in the nations and regions. Sponsorship of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and of audio described theatre performances in the West Country, as well as sponsorship of the Respect festival, the biggest free music festival in London, have all helped to make arts more accessible to people within the community.

ITV aims to encourage a sense of pride within local communities as seen in Carlton’s MIDLANDER OF THE YEAR award in Central England. The title recognises outstanding contributions to life in the region and those who have worked to raise the prestige of the Midlands.

As a regional broadcaster, ITV strives to highlight important issues that are relevant to the local communities. In London for example, MISSING, screened weekly as part of the CITY SURVIVAL GUIDE and in conjunction with the National Missing Persons Helpline, helps to resolve nearly 70% of the missing people cases featured on the programmes. In Central England LIFELINE also provides a regular insight into health and social issues.

ITV is also keen to work with schools to help encourage and give advice to the youth of today. In West Country, Carlton works with Business in the Community to give talks in local schools about working in the media. The Carlton Schools Tour, a workshop where pupils have the chance to write, produce and present their own news programme from a purpose-built studio in their school, was again held in Central England.

Carlton Television workshops in Nottingham, Birmingham and Bristol give young people the opportunity to develop their creative and artistic talents. Other ITV regions are also keen to develop opportunities for creative talent to be developed and recognised. In London, Carlton runs METROLAND, a prime-time series for new directors who are also given the back-up support and training needed to enhance their career. A scheme in Central England, FIRST CUT, gives filmmakers the opportunity to produce short films, as does the London Production Fund, which is given a bursary through Carlton’s Seedcorn Fund.

A number of other bursaries are also provided in many of Carlton’s ITV regions to help make the media industry more accessible to young individuals who may otherwise not be given the opportunity. The Broadcast Journalism Bursary scheme in Central England for example, provides 16 places at four universities covering course fees, cost-of-living allowances, work experience placements and six-month contracts.

In 2003, the ITV Cultural Diversity Guide was launched across the 15 regional television licences served by Carlton and Granada. The Guide provides background information to a number of faiths and cultures to help give a clearer understanding of how the beliefs of others impact on the way they live their lives.

For more details on activities in each of Carlton’s ITV regions, please use the navigation at the top of the screen.