Youth development charity BANG Edutainment provides media training and work experience at community radio stations to help young people off the streets and into employment.

“We provide opportunities for young people to develop creative and technical skills. A lot of young people we work with would not have the opportunity elsewhere and would otherwise be hanging out on the local housing estates,” says Jennifer Ogole, Chief Executive at BANG Edutainment, which was founded in 1999. “We educate them in an entertaining way that they are interested in.”

The charity trains around 350 young people a year. In April 2007, it began broadcasting Life FM, the first full-time community radio station in Brent and one of only ten in London to have secured a five-year licence. The radio station got off the ground with financial investment and business support from the Adventure Capital Fund (ACF).

“This is massively significant because community radio is a fantastic catalyst for community cohesion and for giving people access to create and produce media,” explains Jennifer, who has won contracts from South Kilburn New Deal for Communities, Richmond Connexions and Southwestfest to set up four other community radio stations across London.

While BANG Edutainment was set to turnover £340,000 in 2006-07, Jennifer was concerned it wasn’t capitalising on its success. She was also concerned that missed opportunities would jeopardise its long-term sustainability.

She approached the ACF for investment to enable the organisation to fulfil its potential. A £342,000 investment package, comprising a £222,000 loan and a £120,000 grant, was secured.

The bulk of this investment has helped BANG to lease and refurbish new premises in Brent with modern broadcasting and training facilities.

“It’s a real step up for us,” says Jennifer. “We needed to invest in the necessary tools that we use to run our programmes. The ACF’s investment will enable us to become a more sustainable, larger charity.”

A separate £15,000 ACF business development grant enabled the charity to fund a Station Manager’s role at Life FM, while also freeing up existing staff to develop new training courses.

The ACF is also providing mentor expertise to help the charity develop new investment applications and other organisational development ideas. “It is comforting to know they will be available in the future to provide expert advice as we grow,” says Jennifer.

http://www.bang-ed.com/