A Surrey film studio has launched a £250,000 fund to support film and media teaching to young people.

Shepperton Studios, part of the Pinewood Group, said it wants to raise awareness of the sector and routes in to the industry for the next generation of filmmakers.

The “Virtual Academy” fund of up to £50,000 per year for five years aims to provide technology and equipment for educational facilities in the borough.

Tristam Slater, general manager at Shepperton Studios, said: “Grants will be awarded to projects benefitting the Shepperton area and the wider borough of Spelthorne.”

Mr Slater added that the fund was a “vital part” of the Virtual Academy which includes a number of initiatives to support the “filmmakers of the future”.

He explained: “Grants awarded will focus on supporting key areas of youth development across primary, secondary, and tertiary levels of education and actively seek to support under-represented and under-privileged groups who would otherwise have difficulty accessing funds.”

Daniel Mouawad, chief executive of Spelthorne Borough Council, said: “This fund will have a real positive impact for younger residents in the borough.”