Mentoring support for 600 screen professionals

Another 600 mentees will be supported thanks to collaborations between ScreenSkills and 15 organisations across the UK including MAMA Youth, Creative Access and Bectu Cymru.

Supported by National Lottery funds awarded by the BFI as part of the Future Film Skills programme being delivered by ScreenSkills, the collaborations are targeted at helping build a more inclusive behind-the-camera workforce and addressing skills gaps and shortages in the screen industries.

ScreenSkills runs its own programme matching those wanting a mentor with volunteers. It also supports partners to run mentoring programmes aimed at people:

• Wanting to learn more about how to enter the screen industry
• Wanting to progress their career within the screen industry
• With skills or expertise required by the screen industry who are outside the industry but wish to transfer in
• Wanting to return to the screen industry after a break for parenting, caring or long-term sickness.

The successful applicants this year were:

• Resource Productions: Creative Collective Mentoring Programme: Film and TV production company Resource Productions aims to connect freelancers from all the creative arts.
• Media Trust: Media Trust Emerging Talent Mentoring Programme: Media Trust works in partnership with the media and creative industry to give marginalised groups and young people a stronger voice.
• MAMA Youth: MAMA Youth Mentoring: MAMA Youth has spent the last ten years training young people from under-represented backgrounds to succeed in the media industry.
• Talking Point: TP Mentoring Network Programme: Talking Point is a film and television industry training provider, running a wide range of courses and programmes for new entrants and those who already work in the industry.
• Creative Access: Starting out in the Screen Industry: Creative Access is dedicated to help under-represented talent enter and thrive in the creative industries.
• Bectu Cymru: Bectu Cymru Mentoring 4 Screen: Bectu Cymru connects Welsh screen professionals to help them progress in their careers in non-performance roles in areas including film and cinema.
• B3 Media: B3 Origin Mentoring Programme for Screen Talent: B3 Media connects multicultural creative talent with key figures in the industry.
• ThinkBIGGER!: Recalibrate Mentoring Programme: ThinkBIGGER! Ltd specialises in training and consultancy for the media industry.
• DV Talent: Crossroads - Navigating Next Steps in a Creative Career: DV Talent is a training provider for film, TV and other creative professionals.
• Creative Mentor Network Pay It Forward Mentoring: Behind The Scenes (PIF Mentoring): Creative Mentor Network offers mentoring programmes to help talent from disadvantaged background break into the creative industries.
• PUNCH: BACK IN XTRA: Punch is a creative development agency that supports young people from diverse backgrounds enter the UK screen industry.
• SIGN: SIGN Up Mentoring Programme: The Screen Industries Growth Network (SIGN) aims to make Yorkshire and the Humber the UK’s centre of expertise in digital storytelling.
• Screen Northants: Screen Northants Academy Mentoring Programme: Screen Northants is a social enterprise film studio in Northamptonshire.
• Under the Moon: FilmMakers 25 Mentoring Programme: Under the Moon aims to connect filmmakers in the Bradford district in a mentoring programme.
• Women in Film & TV: WFTV Mentoring Scheme: Women in Film & TV (UK) is running a mentoring scheme designed for women working in film and TV.

They join a wider community of best practice in mentoring which is being supported by ScreenSkills and includes previously funded as well as non-funded partners. Our non-funded partners include:

• The British Society of Cinematographers (BSC)
• The Association of Camera Operators (ACO)
• The Garden Productions
• Hat Trick Productions
• Comedy 50:50
• TV Talent North
• Moving Body Arts
• BBC Studioworks

All mentors and mentees can access a range of resources, including many on the ScreenSkills website, to support them forge constructive mentoring partnerships.

“ScreenSkills is very pleased to be working with all organisations to support and promote mentoring across the UK screen industry. Mentoring benefits mentees, mentors and the industry as a whole, making it more relevant, representative and robust. Together with these and other partner organisations, mentoring can and will make a difference.” Jane Saunders, ScreenSkills Mentoring Manager

“Bectu Cymru is excited to be working with ScreenSkills on our new inclusive ‘Mentoring 4 Screen’ programme. We are targeting often neglected craft, technical and production grades working in TV and film throughout Wales who don’t usually have access to much needed support from a mentor to help them to progress and flourish wherever they are in their career.” Siân Gale, Bectu Cymru Skills and Development Manager

“We are so thrilled to be working with ScreenSkills on this mentoring scheme. There are so many young people from marginalised communities who are desperate to enter the screen industries but have no idea where to start. This opportunity will allow them to get one on one support to help make their dreams a reality – and more importantly help the screen industries in time to better represent our society.”  Josie Dobrin, Chief Executive of Creative Access

“MAMA Youth Project are inspired by the positive outcomes we continue to see from our Two-Way Mentoring Programme in collaboration with ScreenSkills. We feel it’s now more important than ever to help those from under-represented backgrounds get on and stay on the industry ladder and evidence shows that mentoring can play a significant role in this.  The funding our charity receives has rendered this programme a success by enabling us to have staff dedicated to facilitating the scheme, managing the matching process, engaging high profile mentors and overseeing the partnerships throughout the programme. We are extremely grateful to ScreenSkills, the National  Lottery and the BFI for their ongoing support.” Cristina Ciobanu, MAMA Youth Project Director of Operations