A group of industry workers posing for a photo behind the scenes on set

Our Impact

Find out how we are making a difference to the lives of those working behind the scenes

How our support makes a difference

Every year, we provide support to thousands of people in the film, TV, and cinema industry. Our goal is to support them in overcoming personal and professional obstacles.

Some individuals may need support with rebuilding their confidence or dealing with difficult situations. Others may require assistance in learning new skills or turning their dream projects into reality. We also offer practical solutions, such as emergency grants and mental health support, to provide the necessary help.

By providing support and services, we ensure that talented individuals who work behind the scenes, both on set and in offices, can continue pursuing their dreams and achieving success. We want them to feel fulfilled and have opportunities for personal and professional growth.

Read some of our stories from behind the scenes and learn how we have supported others.

Click here to read the stories

Mental Health and Wellbeing Support

From the development of our mental health and wellbeing support to our COVID relief funds during 2020, Community Grants and industry-leading practical tools such as our Whole Picture Toolkit, there is a multitude of ways we have made a difference in the lives of those working behind the scenes in film, TV and cinema.

  • Since April 2021 we have offered free access to 1,000+ counselling and legal advice sessions
  • More than 15,000 calls to our Support Line since it launched in 2018
  • 3,500+ financial grants provided over the last two years
  • Since 2020 we have funded 43 Community Grants

We want everyone who supports us, or who might be thinking about asking for our help, to know the impact we can have.

Here we share stories from just some of those that have had their lives changed by our support and services, showing why the work we do is so vital – all thanks to our colleagues, supporters, partners and collaborators.


Stories from behind the scenes

Richard | Unit Manager from Wales
 Profile picture of Richard, a Unit Manager from Wales

Richard felt his mental health suffer after a difficult period of trying to find steady work. Feeling the pressure not only to his mental health but to his financial situation as well, he sought help from the Film and TV Charity.

He received a stop-gap grant that meant he didn’t have to face becoming homeless and our mental health services also gave him the support he needed. He hopes that by sharing his story others in the industry will know that there are ways around or over that wall.

 

Natalie Chan | Film Producer from the Midlands
Profile picture of Natalie Chan, a Film Producer

I first contacted the Film and TV Charity in March 2020, shortly after COVID-19 hit. I faced unemployment and uncertainty and generally felt at a low point. Once I’d contacted the Charity and discussed what I was going through, they sign-posted me to their various financial support available. As I had more time on my hands, I wanted to do something meaningful and valuable, so applied for one of their Community Grants so I could give back to my community.

I work as an independent producer, and in my other roles working in charitable and subsidised theatre, I know first-hand how hard it is to find money to get projects off the ground. After taking advice from my peers, and the BFI Network, I decided the best way to help others would be to create conversation-type workshops, looking specifically at how to fundraise for film projects. Speakers included financers, local councils and individuals who have donated to crowd funders to share how they work with filmmakers. It was extremely well-received, and I am so proud of what we managed to achieve.

The most beneficial impact I had from working with the Charity, is that I started to see my value and place within the industry again. Through this, I feel confident that I can make a positive difference by continuing to work in the industry. I would wholeheartedly recommend the Film and TV Charity to others!

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Kerrianne, a Freelance Director
Working as a Freelancer in the industry during the pandemic meant I became increasingly worried being able to find my next job. For freelancers, a lack of regular work can be really difficult, and I started to feel insecure about my place in the industry. So, I was delighted when I discovered the Charity, and that they had support and services that could help me both emotionally and financially.

I successfully applied for a grant and had additional personal development advice from them as well, which I found incredibly helpful. With both the financial and personal support I was able to have the drive to keep looking for work in the industry at a time when I thought I would have to give up on my dream of becoming a documentary director. I now feel that my dream is still possible.

I also want to help pave the way for the next generation of young filmmakers. So many creatives like me don’t have access to resources, so having a Charity whose aim is help support those in the industry is incredible. I know without the Charity many more people will leave the industry. Anyone that contacts the charity or seeks support will be able to flourish in their careers. The support the Charity gave me has changed my life.

Last year I was signed off work in TV production due to stress. After working in the industry for 17 years I found it to be relentless and I struggled with balancing my professional and personal life. Although positive for my mental wellbeing, being away from the industry for so long started to make me nervous that it would be impossible for me sustain the pressures of working in TV production again. Feeling lost and with no idea what to do next, a friend suggested I reach out to the Charity to see how their support might be able to help me. I had no idea at that point how much working with the Film and TV Charity would completely change my life!

I decided to apply for the Work and Wellbeing Advisor programme, where I was given a direct contact at the Charity. We started by having an hour long call every few weeks. At first, she just helped me process what I was going through, talking me through how I was feeling and what I really wanted to get out of my life and career. Over five months we spoke every few weeks and she would send me resources that would help me in my journey, sign posting me to courses on Screenskills, help me look into what job I could do to remain in the industry, and generally providing me with information in a supportive way. Together we created a tangible action plan of what I wanted to achieve. She was more than just a career advisor, she was a lifeline, a mentor, and someone to speak to. Over time my confidence began to grow, and I started to feel like I could begin to reach out to the industry again.

From working with the WAWA service, I’ve also learnt how to create boundaries for myself between my professional and personal life. I now carve out time just for me, and care for myself. I also now feel like I can be a better mum to my two children because of the support that I’ve had and the life choices I’ve now made.

Without reaching out to the charity I would never have been able to even think about trying to get back into the industry, the support I was given was just invaluable. I hope that I will remain in the TV industry now for the rest of my career, and because of the Charity, I see that being more of a reality. I now sing the Charity’s praises to everybody I meet in the industry to make sure they know there is support out there.  I think more people should take advantage of their services.

They offer a variety of important resources; from their toolkit to help create mentally healthy productions, to individual wellbeing or financial support. With the massive skills gap in the industry at the moment, the charity’s work is even more relevant because it heavily influences the longevity of people’s careers in TV. The Charity is vital for the industry because they help people stay working in a job that they love, when at times, it might not seem possible.

After working in the industry for over 20 years, I decided to contact the Charity in 2022 when I went through a particularly challenging period, both personally and professionally. I suffered poor health after giving birth in 2020, which impacted my work and my family. After getting in touch with the Charity, I was pleasantly surprised by the openness and support I encountered from their Work and Wellbeing Advice team. Reaching out to them helped me feel more connected to the industry and part of a caring community.

I found their advisers non-judgmental and positive, and I was so grateful for the support I received as they helped me work through the financial, physical, and emotional challenges I was facing. They gave me practical ways of tackling these challenges and I was delighted to be provided with a wonderful, warm and encouraging peer supporter.

I will always remain grateful to the Film and TV Charity for the supportive and nurturing role it has played in this turning point in my life. I also value its role in shedding light on some of the issues and problems that face our industry. It is crucial to have an organisation like the Charity to counteract the structural inequalities and blind spots that beset the UK film industry.

My struggle is not entirely over – I still have to direct my first feature and build myself a sustainable career as a writer and director. But I am hopeful that one day soon I will be in a position to give back to the charity and contribute to its work of supporting people who work in our industry.

Do You Need Urgent Support?

Bullying and harassment can also have an impact on your mental health. If you’re having issues and you’re unsure how to make sense of everything, our 24/7 Support Line is free, independent, and completely confidential. You can call us anytime on 0800 054 0000, and a member of our team can give you advice and support.