Founded in 1924 as the Cinematograph Trade Benevolent Fund, we became the Cinema and Television Benevolent Fund in 1964, and finally the Film and TV Charity in 2018. 

We are dedicated to helping those working behind the scenes in the UK’s film, TV, and cinema industry overcome both personal and professional challenges. We now provide support to over 200,000 people working behind the scenes in hundreds of roles. With a focus on mental and physical health, financial wellbeing, and equity and inclusion, we’ve developed our services to match the needs of our industry.

Our goal is to help people out of need, heading off problems before they arise in the first place. We want to ensure that people feel able to remain and thrive in the industry, regardless of their circumstances and background. While the landscape of film and TV has evolved, our commitment to supporting industry workers remains unwavering. From production assistants to studio execs, our confidential and impartial support helps professionals across the industry.

Today, our work is more relevant than ever. We continue to back thousands of professionals in a wide range of roles, adapting to meet the evolving needs of the UK’s dynamic film, TV, and cinema industry. We also collaborate with partners across the sector to drive lasting, positive impact.

Examples of support

In 2018, the charity introduced the Film and TV Support Line, a free, 24-hour confidential helpline. This resource provides access to vital services like counselling, legal, and financial advice for everyone in the industry. Recognising the increasing need for mental health support, we launched the Looking Glass Survey in 2019. This research revealed an industry-wide mental health crisis stemming from poor working conditions and toxic workplace culture.

In response, we created the Whole Picture Programme, an initiative backed by an industry-led Mental Health Task Force, to promote mentally healthy workplaces and ensure that behind-the-scenes professionals are respected, valued, and supported. In 2021, we launched the Bullying Advice Service, offering industry-specific guidance for those facing or witnessing bullying and harassment. This was part of the Let’s Reset campaign, designed to shift workplace culture from the top down and foster positive change across the industry.

Our effectiveness in numbers

To understand our effectiveness in creating meaningful changes, we measure and analyse everything we do. This allows us to understand how well we are serving those we support, highlighting areas of success and areas needing improvement.

• Since April 2021 we’ve 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