The Film and TV Charity is today (Weds 15th April) opening for application for its Covid-19 Film and TV Repayable Grants Scheme.
The scheme offersmuch-needed financial support to industry freelancers waiting for payments under the Government’s Self-employment Income Support Scheme. Grants of up to £2,000 will be offered to those eligible for Self-employment Income Support but who are struggling with the wait for payments in June.
The repayable grants are interest free. Applicants do not need to provide any guarantees and there is no arrangement fee. Recipients will be asked to repay the grants by the end of September. Applicants will have until 22nd April to make a claim here - https://filmtvcharity.org.uk/covid-19-help-advice/repayable-grants-scheme/
The Covid-19 Film and TV Repayable Grants Scheme sits alongside The Film and TV Charity’s Covid-19 Film and TV Emergency Fund, created in partnership with the BFI. The Emergency Fund – which has already received donations totaling £2.5 million from Netflix, the BFI, BBC Studios, BBC Content, WarnerMedia and several generous individuals – will make one-off grants of between £500 and £2,500 to eligible workers and freelancers across film, TV and cinema.
The Film and TV Charity’s trustees have set aside £2.5 million of the charity’s reserves to cover the Covid-19 Film and TV Repayable Grants Scheme.
John Pike, Chair of The Film and TV Charity’s Board of Trustees, said: “As a Board of Trustees we are determined to make our contribution at this extraordinary time of need for those working in film, TV and cinema. This is the first time in the Charity’s near-100 year history that it has made repayable grants of this nature available to recipients, but unprecedented times call for unprecedented measures.”
Alex Pumfrey, CEO of The Film and TV Charity, said: “The repayable grants are an excellent complement to one-off grants from the Covid-19 Film and TV Emergency Relief Fund, and are an opportunity for individuals to receive support from the charity whilst ‘paying it forward’ to help industry friends and colleagues who may be in need at a later date. They embody the community spirit that we are experiencing as the industry rallies to help those hit hardest.”
The charity offers a free, confidential helpline to support everyone working in the industry on issues such as debt, depression and harassment. You can access the service by phoning 0800 054 00 00, using online chat at www.filmtvcharity.org.uk or by emailing support@filmtvcharity.org.uk
