How we’re run

Guiding our path for the greatest impact

A group of people are sat in an modern and bright office meeting space. One woman in a wheelchair is sat at the front, addressing the others.

We pride ourselves on being a forward-thinking organisation adapted throughout our long heritage to meet the needs of our beneficiaries. We started as the Cinematograph Trade Benevolent Fund in 1924, became the Cinema and Television Benevolent Fund in 1964, and finally became the Film and TV Charity in 2018.

As we evolve, we keep in mind the words of the Charity Governance Code:

Good governance in charities is fundamental to their success. It enables and supports a charity’s compliance with the law and relevant regulations. It also promotes a culture where everything works towards fulfilling the charity’s vision.

Board of Trustees, The Film and TV Charity

Our Board of Trustees are ultimately responsible for the governance of the Charity. Together, they set the strategic direction of the Charity, monitor the delivery, agree our vision and values, and are responsible for recruiting our CEO.

We’re committed to building a diverse board with broad experience drawn from all facets of the film and TV industries and beyond.

Explore our Annual Reports

Download our Annual Report 22/23 PDF | 1.6 MB | English

Download our Annual Report 21/22 PDF | 1.067 MB | English

Download our Annual Report 20/21 PDF | 1.608 MB

Download our Annual Report 19/20 PDF | 1.775 MB

Patron, Vice Patrons, and Board of Trustees

The Board of Trustees meets quarterly. Each trustee serves for a period of three years and, at the end of this term, may be re-elected by the Board at the annual retirement meeting (unless they have previously served three terms).

Our trustees are from various corners of the screen industries, third sector, and beyond.

Our Patron is Her Late Majesty the Queen. We’re also supported by our Vice Patrons, who include several past Presidents.

What good governance looks like

The Charity has set out the following guidelines to ensure what it deems to be good governance:

The Board of Trustees should advance the Charity’s objects
The Board should safeguard the Charity’s assets
The Board should ensure the Charity is accountable
The Board should properly represent the interests of stakeholders
The Board should be effective
There should be a clear division of responsibilities
The Board should have proper oversight of the Charity
The Trustees should be independent and impartial
Recruitment of Trustees should be transparent
The Board should be trained and inducted

Our four committees

The Film and TV Charity currently has four committees:

The People and Culture Committee: chaired by Sara Putt with trustee committee members Emma Hoyle and Cameron Saunders.
The Finance Committee: chaired by Suki Gill with trustee committee members Catherine Bosworth and Peter Clark.
The Inclusivity Committee: co-chaired by Juliet Gilkes Romero and Joseph Adesunloye.
The Risk, Safeguarding and Governance Committee: chaired by Claire Tavernier, with committee members Robin Chalmers, Sara Putt and Jenny Brown.

Terms of reference for the Board of Trustees and the committees are approved by the Board. The committees act as a liaison between the Board and the management team and report back to the Board at quarterly Trustee meetings. To make sure the Charity is able to draw on the widest pool of expertise and perspectives, our committees may co-opt specialist advisers.

Our fundraising polices

We’re committed to all our fundraising being legal, open, honest, and respectful. If you’d like to know more about our fundraising, you can read our policies here.

Our Fundraising Promise

Those who register with the regulator agree to ensure their fundraising is legal, open, honest, and respectful. The standards for fundraising are set out in the Code of Fundraising Practice.

We will commit to high standards

We will adhere to the Fundraising Code of Practice
We will monitor fundraisers, volunteers, and third parties working with us to raise funds, to ensure that they comply with the Code of Fundraising Practice and with this Promise
We will comply with the law as it applies to charities and fundraising
We will display the Fundraising Regulator badge on our fundraising material to show we are committed to good practice

We will be clear, honest & open

We will tell the truth and we will not exaggerate
We will do what we say we are going to do with donations we receive
We will be clear about who we are and what we do
We will give a clear explanation of how you can make a gift and change a regular donation
Where we ask a third party to fundraise on our behalf, we will make this relationship and the financial arrangement transparent
We will be able to explain our fundraising costs and show how they are in the best interests of our cause if challenged
We will ensure our complaints process is clear and easily accessible
We will provide clear and evidence based reasons for our decisions on complaints

We will be respectful

We will respect your rights and privacy
We will not put undue pressure on you to make a gift. If you do not want to give or wish to cease giving, we will respect your decision
We will have a procedure for dealing with people in vulnerable circumstances and it will be available on request
Where the law requires, we will get your consent before we contact you to fundraise
If you tell us that you don’t want us to contact you in a particular way we will not do so. We will work with the Telephone, Mail and Fundraising Preference Services to ensure that those who choose not to receive specific types of communication don’t have to

We will be fair & reasonable

We will treat donors and the public fairly, showing sensitivity and adapting our approach depending on your needs
We will take care not to use any images or words that intentionally cause distress or anxiety
We will take care not to cause nuisance or disruption to the public

We will be accountable & responsible

We will manage our resources responsibly and consider the impact of our fundraising on our donors, supporters and the wider public
If you’re unhappy with anything we’ve done whilst fundraising you can contact us to make a complaint. We will listen to feedback and respond appropriately to compliments and criticism we receive
We will have a complaints procedure, a copy of which is available on our website or on request
Our complaints procedure will let you know how to contact the Fundraising Regulator in the event that you feel our response is unsatisfactory
We will monitor and record the number of complaints we receive each year and share this data with the Fundraising Regulator on request

Incorporated as a company registered in England and Wales limited by guarantee on 1 April 2004, the Film and TV Charity is a registered charity with the Charity Commission no. 1099660 and is governed by its Articles of Association which were last updated and approved by members in February 2015.