George Viner Memorial Fund Trust

Sponsoring Black Students in the Media

How many black faces are to be seen in newsrooms, or at NUJ branch meetings? Not many? None? But Black people form a significant proportion of our population. In some inner city areas they are a majority.

The George Viner Memorial Fund Trust was established by the NUJ for the sponsorship of Black journalism students on industry-recognised, pre-entry courses.

The Trust remains the only fund specifically designed to assist Black entrants to accredited training courses. Over the past ten years it has helped dozens of Black, Asian and Chinese students break into journalism and broadcasting.

Candidates for sponsorship must:

• Have been offered a place on an industry-recognised course; and
• Be unable to take up that place by reason of finances, having failed to get a LEA grant or secure employer or other sponsorship.

A person may, of course, apply provisionally for sponsorship in advance of knowing the outcome of a grant application, so as not to risk losing a college place.

If you believe that you meet the above criteria, please contact us for an application form.