The Children’s Media Conference Launches Bursary Scheme

The Children’s Media Conference (CMC) has launched an inaugural bursary scheme, with a commitment to help young people from disadvantaged backgrounds to attend the annual event.

Legal firm Mishcon de Reya has come on board as a key sponsor to support the set-up and first-year administration of the scheme, allowing it to launch in time for the 2025 conference. The scheme is also being supported by some of the sponsors from this year’s conference, who have volunteered an additional 5 percent on sponsorship to help pay for bursaries for next year.

The 2024 conference, which took place from July 9 through 11, featured a packed schedule of keynotes and panels tackling the major issues facing the children’s media industry and young audiences. After the conference, delegates gained access to the entire event on video, with complete coverage of the research insights from “Understanding Kids,” the practical strand “The Art of…,” the “Inclusivity Now” panels and the new “Sustainability Now” strand.

“During lockdown, we were able to successfully offer online registration to CMC to a number of young people who did not have the means to attend an industry event,” said Greg Childs, editorial director of the CMC. “Since returning to Sheffield in person, although we have wanted to continue this support, the costs of travel and accommodation have prevented us from being able to. So, following the suggestion of the CMC Advisory Committee, we started to raise specific funding for a CMC Bursary Scheme.

“Thanks to Mishcon de Reya and our other sponsors, we can now be confident that next summer we will be able to invite young people to join us who would never formally be able to get to CMC.”