A significant focus of investment is in support of individuals wanting to develop or advance their careers in children's TV, and for production companies to help develop their workforces.
Find out more about what is offered below.
Funding for on-the-job training for individuals identified by productions as ready to move into a more senior role with a little support.
Each contributing production can apply for up to £10,000 per production to achieve this. More than one individual can be trained via Make a Move but the funding will need to be split between each person.
Activities supported may include but are not limited to:
- On-the-job ‘stepping up’ programmes, this can include shadowing and mentoring
- Backfilling roles to enable stepping up
- Attending training courses
- Professional skills development of employees and freelancers
We encourage companies to consider a focus on job roles that are in demand. We also encourage the advancement of individuals from groups currently underrepresented in the children’s TV workforce.
Please note you will need to include a training plan for the individual you have identified as part of the application process.
What can Make a Move fund?
The funding is flexible and can be used to cover:
- Salaries
- Travel and accommodation expenses
- Mentoring
- Shadowing
- Attending short courses
What doesn’t Make a Move fund?
We are unable to fund retrospective claims. Please apply at least two weeks before the Make a Move crew member joins the team to allow us to process the associated paperwork.
We are unable to fund individuals who are already working within the grade they are about to move up to unless there is a robust case that the ‘moving up’ will mean they are working differently.
Individuals can only participate in Make a Move after being put forward by their employer.
Please email Sarah Joyce to discuss your project before applying or call her on 07966 428 615.
To apply to the scheme please head to the application page.
The Children’s TV Skills Fund is offering bursaries to professionals at all stages of their career who would like to attend training to develop their skills and increase career opportunities within children’s TV.
Individuals can apply for training fees and direct training-related costs such as travel, accommodation, carer and disability access costs.
For more information please visit the bursaries page.
Get the Knowledge: working with under 18s
A bespoke course on how to make great programmes for and with children. It includes best practice and important legislation governing working on set or in studio with under 18s.
The course is split into two parts, delivered in one day by Alison Cresswell (ACE) and Grand Scheme Media. It includes detail on regional differences in licensing, the benefits of working with chaperones, children's hours, policing crew behaviour, jigsaw identification, post care and managing the emotional needs of children.
The course is relevant for those working in both scripted and unscripted. It will be of benefit for those who have not worked with children before and more experienced media professionals who need a refresher course.
The aim of the course is to encourage creativity and understanding in the production of media content for children.
Get the Knowledge: working with under 18s for execs
If you're working at a senior level, you may prefer to attend this alternative session.
Get The Knowledge: developing content for kids
This session is about understanding the skills required to develop and pitch ideas with a specific focus on children's television.
We'll give you hints on how to understand the TV market and how to write and pitch programme ideas. We will also give you an overview of best practice when working with children in production.
If you create, write or produce scripted or unscripted content for kids this session is for you.
Here are some testimonials:
“This was such a great course. Informative and well presented. Lots of expertise that was shared with style and wit.”
“This was a great overview of things to look out for when safeguarding children and ourselves.”
“It was great! Clear, practical and specific insights on the steps we can take to get work commissioned. Big Thanks!”
Leadership and Management essentials
This is for heads of department and managers from scripted and unscripted children’s TV productions, who are increasingly required to run larger teams and manage staff.
The course has been designed to help them to get the best from their teams and help them address underperformance or bad behaviour.
This training is co-funded by the Animation Skills Fund and therefore also open to those working on animated series and features.
Disability Awareness for hirers
Are you looking to engage with disabled talent to work on your production? Want to be more confident when discussing disability with potential hires? Want to know your company's obligations are with reasonable adjustments? Do you understand how Access to Work can transform your employees' working lives?
If you are looking to increase your knowledge and expertise we’ll provide tailored information, expertise and practical advice as well as post-workshop support for participants.
Deaf Awareness
Deaf Awareness Training is a great way to give you the confidence to not only create a more inclusive work environment for your staff, but also have a greater understanding of the needs of deaf talent and contributors in productions.
The course is run by a native British Sign Language user who is deaf and provides a safe environment to ask all the questions you may have been too afraid to. You will have a better awareness of some of the challenges deaf people experience when trying to communicate with hearing people, and you will be able to think of things you can do to make your production more inclusive.
Mental Health Awareness for HODs
The session will increase the awareness and understanding about mental health and will help managers to recognise the signs and offer support to people suffering from mental distress in the workplace and in the community.
This workshop was designed by Sarah McCaffrey who has combined her experience of working in film and media and as a qualified psychotherapist (MBACP) to create Solas Mind; offering mental health advice and support to the industry.
This training is co-funded by the Animation Skills Fund and therefore also open to those working on animated series and features.