Channel 4 is to offer mentoring and training to six mid-level disabled production freelancers on a new scheme.
The broadcaster has teamed up with TripleC Disabled Artists Network Community (DANC) to devise the C4 Rise Scheme, which is open to mid- and senior level deaf, disabled and/or neurodivergent freelancers who have at least three years’ experience in TV.
Applications can come from any off-screen discipline, whether production, editorial, craft or technical. Examples given include people who have worked up from researcher to assistant producer, or from production secretary to production co-ordinator.
The nine-month course is held remotely and comprises six one-to-one sessions with a mentor – drawn from a mix of disabled and non-disabled people – plus three group support sessions and six training sessions or masterclasses.
C4 stressed that the scheme is mentee-led and that each individual’s programme will be built around their specified needs, the type of mentor they want and the goals they want to achieve.
Placements run from April to December and applications close on 14 February. For more details, click here
The Rise scheme builds on a commitment made last year as part of C4’s ‘Engage & Enable’ strategy to boost on- and off-screen disability inclusion.
The broadcaster has a target to double its workforce disability target to 12% by 2023 and secure 9% on-screen representation by 2023 and this week unveiled its first-ever all-disabled Winter Olympics presenting team.
Recently, it has held several networking events for indies to interact with disabled production and issued guidelines and booklets to help producers engage with on- and off-screen disabled talent.
