The young people have led the way the magazine has been run from the start, and all stories are led by them. They go out and very maturely interview people about various topics that they, and hence other young people are interested in, and they comment on various national issues.

From interviewing footballers about being environmentally friendly, to reviewing films on global warming. From getting comments from other young people on hit and runs, to animal cruelty, slavery, and under-age drinking issues.

They were also commissioned to cover a Bristol Film festival, where they used camera and sound skills, interviewed and edited. This has now become part of the Fresh6 DVD. The choice to do a website to allow other young people to join in was their idea.

They want to be linked to other similar organisations and groups through the website, and have a membership for other young people to comment, debate, and submit their ideas and stories. They take part in lots of local events, using their training in photography and interviewing.

Although a lot of them are very young, when they are out in the community and wider, they represent themselves very professionally. They have grown in skills, confidence, and knowledge of the topics they report on. They give other young people a voice through their interviews, and often share their skills and knowledge with the other people that they meet. They often give extra time in weekends, and holidays, usually full days, working (voluntarily) as professionals. They plan their questions, their shots, and their interviewees. They won best Youth Content in the Bristol newsletter awards this year, the judges said it was because you could truly tell that it was made by them. They are an inspiration and we are very proud.

Nominated by Makala Cheung, 25 April 2007

I am the PR Executive for law firm Bevan Brittan and have dealt with the Knowle West Media Centre about the fantastic, and well read, newsletter they produce for the Knowle West area.

I only have good things to say about the team - very professional and quick to respond.

Our firm is keen to support local causes and we recently created a garden area for School of Christ the King in Knowle West which was covered by the newsletter in the same manner that you would expect from any of the publications and media, both national and regional, I deal with on a regular basis.

They'd be a very deserving winner.

www.bevanbrittan.com

Submitted by Lucy Dicks, Bevan Brittan LLP, 25 April 2007

I've seen these young people in action adn they're great- growing in confidence each time they cover an event or story. I have spoken to their headteachers - and heard thats its really made a positive difference to how some of them are doing at school - all these young people participate in Mouth of the South Newshounds in their own time. They take pride in their community, and take their responsibilties very seriously.

Submitted by carolyn hassan, 25 April 2007

Mouth of the South is a brilliant publication, and an exemplary project, which really is driven and directed by young people who report on issues that are important to their local community. The young people who produce Mouth of the South contribute greatly to local community cohesion through the work they do.

Submitted by Dr Roz Hall, 25 April 2007

Just a brilliant way to get young people growing their confidence and skills at the same time. They seem to have branched into other things from their involvement with MOS and are being asked to cover all types of community activity. I know that young people can get a bad reputation locally and this activity bucks the trend and dispels these misconceptions. Great stuff. I can't wait for the next edition!

Submitted by Emily Nicholson, 26 April 2007

Another importatant aspect of Mouth of the South is that over the 7 years that the project has been running, young people's involvement has encouraged them to discover their strengths and skills and to feel confident to express their views and ideas and to have a voice. Some young peole from the original group are now training at University as photographers and writers and designers, and setting up their own media businesses. A fantastic long term outcome for the project!

Submitted by Amanda Brook, 26 April 2007

the children need some where to go and feel they are part of the community and also doing some thing no matter how small they need encouraging and support and i think that the mouth of the south can do all this and give them conferdance to do more and move on to bigger things and this has come about with the help of knowle west media centre well done.

Submitted by m jordan, 29 April 2007

Knowle West media centre have enabled the local community to lead in some outstanding work. Mouth of the south is another example of how the young people involved in the centre have built their confidence and skills, enabling them to provide a valued community service.

Submitted by caroline arbon, 30 April 2007

Knowle West Media Centre is an excellent example of the pwoer of the arts to contribute to regeneration. Mouth of the South is one of manifestations of this. It combines quality of writing and production with relevance and acessibility for the local community. It proves that quality and acessibility are not mutually exclusive but are inextricably linked

Submitted by Simon Jutton, 10 May 2007