The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
FROM SEAN WITH LOVE
confident 26-year-old who is about to embark on a career as a primary teacher.
“The communication and social skills I learned at SHMU have helped me massively,” says Megan. “For example, when I applied for my first job interview I didn’t feel scared as I had learned interview skills at SHMU.
“SHMU also supported me when applying to university so I became the first person in my family to go to uni. Now I’m about to start teaching and I’m so excited.”
MURRAY DAWSON, FOUNDER AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF SHMU
When a random email popped into his inbox saying that an American philanthropist’s family would be interested in having a conversation about investing in SHMU, Murray Dawson initially thought it was a wind up.
Intrigued, he attended the meeting and was pleasantly surprised to discover that the family of the late Sir Sean Connery were keen to invest £480,000 in the charity over three years.
“It’s enormous,” says Murray. “This investment will support some of the work we’re already doing but will also enable us to do much more of it.
“We work with young people across the regeneration areas of the city – Northfield, Cummings Park, Middlefield, Woodside, Tillydrone, Seaton and Torry – to get involved in filmmaking, radio and music, so this funding will allow us to do much more filmbased work.”
It was through Murray’s links as chair of Film Access Scotland, the national organisation supporting young people from disadvantaged backgrounds into film, that drew the Connery family’s attention.
Thanks to the huge funding boost, Murray says it has allowed them to expand their training and activities.
“On a Saturday the young people are able to come to SHMU all day and take part in taster workshops and we’ll also be starting up a film club where the young people can come along on a Friday night and watch a film and talk about the film,” says Murray.
“We also have a young filmmakers club which will be for those aged between 14 and 17. And we’re also going to do more stuff in schools as well.
“We use film, radio and music as a hook to develop a whole range of skills so not everyone who is involved in SHMU will become film makers, but we embed a lot of other skills like working as part of a team, confidence, all the really important life skills.”
The funding will also help to shape the Scottish school curriculum, says Murray.
“We’re working with Screen Scotland to develop a new curriculum for film in Scotland so we’re going to test that in St Machar Academy and then roll it out to other schools.”
JASON CONNERY
As passionate as his late father was about helping young people from disadvantaged backgrounds break into the film industry, Jason Connery is in awe of the work Murray Dawson and the team at SMHU have done in the local community.
“Murray Dawson, as a leader, is a force of nature,” says Jason, an actor and director.
“So full of energy, it is almost impossible not to be infected by his desire to help his community in Aberdeen. SHMU is a shining
example of what can be done if you have a leader like Murray at the helm.
“He is a collaborator with local schools, councils and universities and since he started in the late ’90s, SHMU has gone from strength to strength, providing programmes for 10 to 19-year-olds in Aberdeen across all forms of media including film and television, radio and streaming shows, but also podcasts, training films, short films, corporate videos and social media reels, some of which didn’t exist when Murray first started with SHMU.
“These platforms are new and exciting but also not something that parents in Scotland can easily see as a future career so may feel reluctant about supporting.”
BRIGHT FUTURE
Jason also praises Murray and SHMU for the work they are doing in teaching young people life skills.
“When you talk to Murray, it is easy to see that so much of the work that he does is opening avenues and new horizons for young people to explore,” says Jason. “These explorations might not lead to a career but
can help with all aspects of the individual’s development, from professional and social skills, confidence, team work, personal expression. SHMU are creating programmes and delivering to young people.”
Looking to the future, Jason is confident that organisations like SHMU will continue to make a big difference.
“Although The Sean Connery Foundation is in its infancy, our aim is to help,” says Jason.
“Help starts with investment in organisations like SHMU: organisations that are embedded in their communities and that have earned the trust of their communities.
“The Foundation, as a representation of my father, seeks to support young people across Scotland who have ambition and skill but may not have access – regardless of postcode.
“Aberdeen is geographically distant from the central belt, so although fundamental needs may be similar to those, say in East Lothian, there are important differences.
“Local knowledge and understanding are key. We are pleased to support the work that Murray is leading at SHMU, changing lives for the better.”
MURRAY DAWSON IS A FORCE OF NATURE. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE NOT TO BE INFECTED BY HIS DESIRE TO HELP HIS COMMUNITY IN ABERDEEN