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FAQs

Eligibility/applying

Can I apply if I am involved in another Mediabox project?
You can only make one application to Mediabox at any one time regardless of the strand (i.e. Mix Mediabox, Mini Mediabox, Mid Mediabox or Big Mediabox), and you can only have one Mediabox project running at any time as a lead organisation.
Can I apply for First Light and Mediabox funding at the same time?

You can apply for a Mediabox and First Light grant at the same time. However, we will assess your capacity to deliver both projects successfully.

I have been funded by Mediabox and another organisation has asked me to act as a delivery partner on their application, is this allowed?

Applicants can be involved as a delivery partner in other applications led by another organisation, but we will assess your organisation's capacity to deliver the proposed activity.

Can I apply if I have been funded before?

Yes, however we will take into consideration whether the previously funded project was delivered on time, to the required specification, i.e. signed off as complete and if the final payment was released.

Can I apply to Mediabox if I've had a previous application rejected?
Previous applicants to Mediabox (whether successful or unsuccessful), can re-apply, but only with a new idea or a significantly re-worked proposal.
Can I submit more than one application?
No. Organisations can only be in receipt of one funding grant at any time.
Can I apply if I'm not a registered company?

Yes, but you can only apply to Mini, Mid or Mix Mediabox.

Can I apply to Big Mediabox if I am a registered Charity?
Yes, so long as you are ALSO a limited company (registered with Companies House).
Can a national organisation with regional "teams" apply more than once?
Branches or divisions of larger organisations can apply as long as they have their own bank account, legal status, governing document, financial systems and management structure.
Can schools apply?
Schools are eligible to apply for Mid, Mix and Big Mediabox only. You must demonstrate that you will be working with a media professional on the project who must have appropriate skills and experience to work with disadvantaged young people. You should also include in-kind costs of support from teaching staff in your budget. Mediabox cannot fund projects that in any way contribute to the delivery of curricular activity. Applications from schools must demonstrate that their proposed project will fall outside of the curriculum.
How soon will Mediabox let me know about the outcome of my application?
Funding decisions will be announced within 12 weeks of the Stage 1 deadline for Mid, Big and Mix. Decisions for Mini Mediabox will be announced within 8-12 weeks from when you submit your application. All applicants will be informed in writing. A full list of all Mediabox deadlines and announcement dates can be found within the guidelines for each scheme.
I have submitted my Mid/Big/Mix Mediabox Stage 1 application form online; do I need to send in a hard copy?
No, all Stage 1 Mediabox applications are made online only.
When will I know if I'm shortlisted to go through to Stage 2?
We will notify you within 2 weeks from the Stage 1 submission deadline. Due to the high volume of applications received by Mediabox, if you are unsuccessful we are unable to offer any additional feedback other than what is provided in your decision letter.
My organisation would like to apply to Mediabox, but we have little or no experience of participatory media projects with young people. Is Big Mediabox right for us?

If you have no track record of working on media projects with young people then you might want to consider Mini Mediabox.

I've read the guidelines and FAQs, but I still have some questions?
You should contact your local Mediabox Co-ordinator based at your Regional Screen Agency if you need help with any aspect of the application process. Visit for a full list of details go to www.media-box.co.uk
Where can I get more information or inspiration?
Go to our website www.media-box.co.uk to access a selection of work made by young people and funded by Mediabox.

Match funding

Why do I need match funding to apply for Big Mediabox?
Big Mediabox is aimed at organisations with a strong track record in delivering media projects with young people. Match funding boosts the potential impact of the project/s by adding value and enabling organisations to deliver their activity on a wider scale.
For Mini Mediabox the match income is limited to 25%, does this include in-kind contributions?
Match funding is not compulsory for this fund. A cap has been set at 25% match (to include in-kind), to ensure it is the smaller, less well funded organisations who are applying. If an organisation is able to provide more match funding than this they should consider going for Mid or alternatively not include the match funding they have for this particular part of the project and perhaps use this additional funding as an add on for their project.

Capital

Can I include the purchase of a camera, editing equipment, software etc. in my application to Mini/Mid/Mix/Big Mediabox?
Yes, a maximum of 10% of your Mediabox grant can be spent on buying equipment.

Timescales

When would my Mediabox project have to be completed by?

Depends on the strand you are applying to. Please refer to the relevant page within the application guidelines. As a general guide Big Mediabox projects - 9 months; Mid Mediabox - 6 months, Mix Mediabox - 6 months, Mini Mediabox - 4 months

Value for money

Can the value for money figure be calculated relating only to the Mediabox money (rather than the Mediabox money plus the match funding)?

Your value for money calculation should only be based on the grant you are seeking from Mediabox.

What is Full Cost Recovery?
You are able to include relevant overhead costs in your budget breakdown. The guidelines issued by HM Treasury in May 2006 state that it is legitimate for third sector organisations to recover the appropriate level of overhead costs associated with the delivery of a project. Mediabox is committed to the principle of full cost recovery, as we understand that it could contribute to the sustainability of the sector. Full cost recovery means securing funding for or 'recovering' all your organisation's costs, including the direct costs of your project and your overheads. The full cost of your project will therefore be the costs directly relating to the project, plus the project's share of your overheads. We will assess whether you have allocated relevant and reasonable overhead costs and ensure these costs are only included once. Your management costs should be clearly defined within your budget in the Overheads section. More information can be found on http://www.fullcostrecovery.org.uk/main/index.php?content=home

Funding Partners

Can we add more partners if we are successful at getting through to Stage 2?
Yes, just explain their contribution clearly in your Stage 2 application.

Location of project

My organisation is based in the Eastern region but the young people the project engages with are in the West Midlands. Which Regional Coordinator/training meeting should I attend/contact?
You can go the training meeting which is nearest to you, but you should contact and ask for support and advice from the Coordinator who is based in the region your project is going to take place.
Our project takes place over several areas. Which area should I identify as the main one?

You just have to stipulate one main area; pick any one of them if delivery is in equal proportions.

Exhibition and distribution

How long should the completed films be?
Short films are up to 10 minutes in length (any genre, documentary, live action, drama, animation). Feature films (any genre, documentary, live action, drama, animation), up to 90 minutes
Do I need to arrange a screening, celebratory or launch event?
Yes, you should consider how the young people will develop an understanding of marketing, audience and exhibition. You do not need to have identified firm plans for a launch event, but we do want you to think about what you will do with the finished work, its potential audience and where it will be exhibited. If you are successful at Stage 1, you will need to demonstrate your exhibition and distribution plans at Stage 2 - including a detailed project schedule.
Can we use any music from the bands young people listen to for our project?

We would advise you to not use commercial music due to the copyright/clearance minefield that you will come across. Also, popular music will be expensive to clear. Instead try music library websites such as http://www.audionetwork.com or why not as part of the project get the young people to compose an original piece.

Accreditation

Is it better to seek accreditation for all beneficiaries or safer to only go for a percentage? Would Mediabox withdraw funds if target is not reached?
This would be your decision as you know the needs/abilities of your respective client group. If your application is successful, Mediabox will expect you to meet the outcomes in your proposal, demonstrating adequate project management strategies to mitigate issues that could cause deviation from the proposed activity. Any decision around the potential withholding of grant payments would take all this into consideration.

Beneficiaries

Some of the young people I want to work with are 20, can I still apply?
All participants in Mediabox projects should be aged between 13 and 19 years old. There are opportunities for organisations working with young people with learning difficulties and/or disabilities to increase the age range up to 25.
Are all young people deemed beneficiaries, even if they are only contributing to part of the project?
Yes.

Disadvantage categories

Can more than 2 disadvantaged priorities be ticked in the monitoring section?
Each young person can only be entered into a maximum of two categories to avoid double/multiple counting of the data we collect.

Payment Schedule

If I were to be funded when are payments made and what is the percentage split?

There are three payments and they are split 50/30/20%. You get the first when Mediabox receives your signed contract; the second when you submit your mid point report and the final payment is released when Mediabox has all the documents and media you have been contractually obliged to supply. The cashflow you submit will dictate the mid-point of the project.

Online formatting

My text has gone all strange it looks like it is "bleeding" from one page to another or double-printed over itself. It is no longer looking like how I had originally typed it as a word document!
The bleeding of text is not an online problem but rather a formatting issue with the computer you may be using and is a common problem, particularly when applications are made on Apple Macs. We suggest you try switching to another PC terminal. When we receive your online submission, the text should read properly but if you have an ongoing problem when you come to print the hard copy of your application to send in, call the Mediabox office.

Stage 2 - Questions

Proposal plan template

It says in the guidelines that the proposal plan template must not be more than 10 pages, minimum font 11 but it seems that the template is part of the application form so how do I know how long it is? The form doesn't give any options for the fonts, so again, why do the guidelines say that it must be at least 11 point. Do I need to print every section to make sure it doesn't go over the page limit? Won't each section print on a separate page?
We presume that applicants will want to prepare their applications in word, and therefore able to calculate how much they are writing in font size 11. There are no word limits so applicants can decide how much they want to allocate to each section. You will not be able to print off the application until you have submitted it.

Release forms

We are working with a particular group where quite a few of the parents can't write. What should they do about signing releases?

If they physically can't write then an alternative responsible adult (ideally someone from social services) can sign the release as long as the parents have been explained the terms and implications of the release form, before signing on their behalf.  If they can't write in English but can sign their name then the release form should be translated for them to sign the new version. If they are illiterate but can pick up a pen they should mark the release form with an "X" as well as getting the alternative responsible adult to sign to confirm they have explained the terms of the release.

We are working with a group of homeless young people, under 18, who have no registered guardian. Who would be allowed to sign for them?
An alternative responsible adult will be fine as long as it is explained to the young people what the form is for.

Child Protection Policy

Our policy is 430 pages long. Can we send the executive summary instead?
Yes, but we reserve the right to request the full document at a later stage if necessary.
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