Our mission
Action for Freelancers (AfF) is a first-of-its-kind pan-industry collaboration, which aims to improve the working lives of freelancers in the UK’s television sector.
Freelancers are at the heart of the project, shaping priorities, discussions and outcomes. We are funded and governed by a core group of organisations from across broadcasting, streaming and production.
Led by project director James Taylor-Tovey, AfF is a collective effort to rethink how freelance work operates across the sector, with organisations collaborating in ways they haven’t before.
The project focuses on turning shared challenges into shared solutions. By encouraging clearer standards, more consistent practice and better collaboration across the industry, Action for Freelancers aims to create the conditions in which freelance careers can flourish - strengthening the workforce that underpins the UK’s television industry now and for the future.
Freelancers are at the heart of the project and are involved as members of working groups, guests at core group meetings and via regular consultations and open forums.
Areas of work
The project covers six intersecting areas of work, addressed in working groups. You can find out what each group is currently working on below:
- Mental health and wellbeing
- Working conditions
- Communication, information and engagement
- Skills, training and professional development
- Recruitment
In addition, we are convening a Policy working group to look at government-level issues affecting freelancers, such as tax status, a wider use of tax credits across the industry, and ways to retain the UK's world-class workforce.
Our core group
A core group of organisations have ultimate responsibility for the project and ratify the Working Group recommendations. The group currently comprises of Amazon, BBC, C4, ITV, C5/Paramount, Sky, UKTV, Film & TV Charity, ScreenSkills, Bectu and Pact. Many contribute financially, as well as other funders including Banijay UK, All3 Media, Fremantle and S4C.
The core group meet monthly to review and approve recommendations from the working groups and discuss wider project issues.
Day to day decision making
From within the core group, a steering group and Chair have been appointed to support and guide the work of the project team. These roles currently include Richard Watsham (Chair), Marcus Ryder (Film & TV Charity), Dawn Beresford (BBC) and Emma Hardy (Channel 4).
Action for Freelancers is led by Project Director James Taylor-Tovey, a freelance executive producer and series editor with over two decades of experience working across factual entertainment and entertainment programming.
The project is also shaped and supported by a wide network of partners through its working groups, alongside key stakeholders with whom we work closely to share learning, develop ideas and roll out pilot initiatives across the industry.
Acknowledgements
Thank you to the freelancers who helped put this project site together:
BSL Videos Marcel Hirshman
Copywriting Liz Biggs
Easy Reads Jules Hussey
Graphics Ben Blease