The Film and Television Charity

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The Film and TV Charity
Cinema and Television Benevolent Fund
Formation1924
TypeNonprofit organization
HeadquartersSoho, London
Region
United Kingdom
CEO
Alex Pumfrey
Websitehttps://filmtvcharity.org.uk
Formerly called
Cinema and Television Benevolent Fund

The Film and TV Charity, formerly the CTBF (Cinema and Television Benevolent Fund), is the leading UK charity for people working behind the scenes in the film, cinema and television industries, whose careers cover all aspects of pre-production and beyond, from script to screen and in a variety of roles.

The charity operates out of its main London office, located at 22 Golden Square, in Soho and their services are available across the whole of the UK.

The charity owns the trademark for the Royal Film Performance, an event that has previously been attended by HM The Queen or other members of the British Royal Family. The most recent Royal Film Performance was in 2019 for the Sam Mendes film 1917.

The charity runs a 24/7 Support Line which is free and confidential for anyone in the community working behind the scenes in film, TV and cinema. The support line is available to discuss legal queries, mental health and wellbeing, financial troubles, family issues, bullying and discrimination, or hopes and ambitions.

History[]

1924-2000[]

In the 20th Century, Royal Film Performances were attended by film stars and members of the Royal Family, including Patron HM Queen Elizabeth II. In more recent memory, the need to improve work-life balance and working culture mean has led to a shift in the charity's mission to create a more supportive and diverse industry behind the scenes.  [1]

2018[]

The charity launched a 24-hour Film and TV Support Line, offering access to legal and financial advice and counselling to anyone who needs it. Acting on the insight gained through this confidential service, the charity commissioned the Looking Glass research in 2019 and uncovered a mental health crisis within the industry. In response, the charity launched the Whole Picture Programme, backed by a Taskforce of executives committed to building an industry that respects, values and supports its behind-the-scenes workforce.[1]

2020[]

The charity rapidly responded to the impact of Covid-19 and the shutdown of production and cinemas across the UK, launching an emergency fund and helping to keep the community connected during lockdown. Seeing the disproportionate effect of the pandemic on underrepresented communities in the industry and recognising a need to take positive action, the charity ringfenced 30% of its grants for Black, Asian and ethnic minority beneficiaries.[1]

2021[]

2021 saw the launch of the charity's Bullying Pathway Service, which is unique in offering confidential and industry-specific legal, HR, and mental health support for anyone who has experienced or witnessed bullying or harassment.  [1]

Campaigns[]

Better Mental Health/Looking Glass Survey[]

In 2019, the charity launched the Looking Glass Survey to explore the mental health conditions of the UK Film and TV industry. This was a mixed-methods research project involving a workforce survey, qualitative interviews and engagement with an industry forum, through this research the charity developed a new evidence base regarding mental health in TV and film. The survey had 9000 respondents within the industry and found that:

  • 87% had experienced a mental health problem compared with 65% of us nationally.
  • 64% have experienced depression, compared with 42% nationally
  • 28% have experienced anxiety compared with 12% nationally

The survey attributed these statistics to a number of underlying factors:

  • Conditions, including long working hours and many struggling with work-life balance.
  • Culture, including high incidence of workplace bullying
  • Capability, with limited mental health literacy and line management skills making it difficult for people experiencing mental health problems to get the support they need

The results of this survey led the charity to create the Whole Picture Programme.[2][3]

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion[]

In 2020, the charity added a new goal to their mission of looking after those who work behind the scenes:

“to promote equality, diversity and inclusion … by reducing, preventing and discouraging discrimination and the resulting barriers in the film, television or moving image industry.”[4]

The charity pledged to support those with less financial resilience, facing challenges connected to racism, caring responsibilities, socio-economic background and location as these are the workers who are disproportionately affected. The charity has pivoted to make sure the support they provide to individuals and the interventions they make to drive structural change are holistic if they are to achieve their goal of affecting real life experiences.[4]

In 2020, the charity was joined on secondment by Sasha Salmon, an expert in anti-racism work with an extensive background in Government and civil society. Over six months, Sasha helped the charity review their processes and policies. With her recommendations, they committed to ringfencing 30% of new grant spend for clients of colour. The charity also now ringfence 15% for disabled beneficiaries and will review whether to ringfence for other groups in future.

As part of this process, the charity published two written reports focusing on racism in the industry. Sasha Salmon prepared a document on experiences of racism in the industry and Dr Clive Nwonka and Prof Sarita Malik surveyed and analysed the major racial diversity initiatives in the industry over the last two decades.[5][6]

Let's Reset[]

In 2021, the charity launched a new campaign titled "Let's Reset", a year-long campaign to tackle ongoing mental health challenges facing the industry, supported by various major studios, production companies and industry bodies:[7]

  • Banijay
  • BBC
  • BBC Studios
  • BFI
  • Channel 4
  • Channel 5
  • The Walt Disney Company
  • IMG
  • ITV
  • Amazon Prime Video
  • SKY
  • SKY Studios
  • SONY pictures entertainment
  • ViacomCBS
  • WarnerMedia
  • BAFTA
  • BECTU
  • British Screen Forum
  • Coalition for Change
  • Creative Industries Federation
  • Directors UK
  • Film Distributors Association
  • Framestore
  • Independent Cinema Office
  • ScreenSkills
  • Time's Up
  • UK Screen Alliance
  • Women in Film and TV

[8]

The Let’s Reset campaign seeks to show individuals working in film and TV that the commitment to improving the industry’s mental health and wellbeing comes from the top down, with senior leaders showcasing their support for the campaign and pledging to:

  • Directly address underlying causes of poor mental health
  • Encourage open discussion to challenge unhealthy behaviours
  • Put specific support in place, including clear signposting of The Film and TV Charity’s growing suite of support services available to anybody working behind the scenes in film, TV, or cinema
  • Highlight the work being done internally and build on work being done by other organisations including BECTU, BAFTA, BFI, Coalition for Change, ScreenSkills and beyond

Rooted in behavioural science and co-created in consultation with individuals and organisations from across the industry, the campaign will move from awareness-raising in the initial launch phase to showcasing and amplifying tools and initiatives to improve the support available, while continuing to address the root causes of the mental health and wellbeing emergency in the industry through to September 2022.[9]

Patrons[]

Currently, the charity's Patron is HM the Queen.[1]

Vice-Patrons[]

Anne Bennett, Barbara Broccoli OBE, Debbie Chalet, Derek Cooper, Stan Fishman CBE, Sir Paul Fox CBE, Lord Grade CBE, Steve Jaggs, Barry Jenkins OBE, Ian Lewis, David McCall CBE, David Murrell, Sir Alan Parker CBE, Denise Parkinson, Lord Puttnam CBE, Sir Sidney Samuelson CBE, Jeremy Thomas CBE, Michael G. Wilson OBE.[1]

References[]

  1. ^ a b c d e f "Our history - Film and TV Charity". Retrieved 2021-10-06.
  2. ^ "Better mental health behind the scenes - Film and TV Charity". Retrieved 2021-10-21.
  3. ^ Florisson, Heather CareyMelanie WilkesRebecca. "The Looking Glass: Mental health in the UK film, TV and cinema industry". www.lancaster.ac.uk. Retrieved 2021-10-21.
  4. ^ a b "Diversity, equity and inclusion - Film and TV Charity". Retrieved 2021-10-21.
  5. ^ "Anti-Racism in the Film and TV Industry: a Perspective from The Film and TV Charity - Film and TV Charity". Retrieved 2021-10-21.
  6. ^ Ritman, Alex (2021-09-21). "U.K.'s Film and TV Charity Launches Anti-Racism Initiative". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2021-10-21.
  7. ^ Rosser2021-10-06T08:00:00+01:00, Michael. "UK's Film and TV Charity launches 'Let's Reset' mental health campaign". Screen. Retrieved 2021-10-21.
  8. ^ Goldbart, Max (2021-10-06). "Biggest Names In UK Broadcasting Back Year-Long Mental Health Campaign From Film & TV Charity". Deadline. Retrieved 2021-10-21.
  9. ^ "Let's Reset: The Film & TV Charity launches behaviour change campaign to champion better mental health - Film and TV Charity". Retrieved 2021-10-21.

External links[]

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