Dear TCC Freelancers and Friends! We realise that many of you are facing challenges, given the current state of the media industry. Whilst we are doing everything we can to develop and establish connections with Clients to find more work opportunities for our Freelancers, and of course we are hopeful that this year will see some positive changes for the industry, we’ve compiled a list of new grants, benefits, free courses, and programs that might be of use to you. We will continue to keep up to date with industry developments and be in touch with any new opportunities as and when they come in!

Freelance Opportunities for emerging Talent

• RTS Bursaries | Royal Television Society – bursaries to students from lower-income backgrounds studying any and all subjects as undergraduates or at HND Level 5 or 6. All you have to do is demonstrate your passion for pursuing a career in television, film or related media industries. Deadline: 24 June.

• The Network – The TV Festival – a free entry-level access programme for anyone aged 18+ who wants to start a career in television. It takes place every August alongside the Edinburgh TV Festival. Deadline: 11th April.

Freelance Opportunities

• Ones To Watch – The TV Festival gives television’s best and brightest stars access to inspiring sessions, creative debate, and unrivalled networking opportunities in Edinburgh and throughout the year. You will also receive free accommodation in Edinburgh during the festival. Deadline: 11th April
  
  
• ReConnect – The TV Festival – a brand-new initiative from the TV Foundation and Edinburgh TV Festival to support individuals who are returning to the TV industry after time away for any reason. Deadline: 11th April

Grants & funding

• Funding to progress your career – Bursaries – ScreenSkills’ cash grant to remove the obstacles to getting into the screen industries or progressing your career once you’re in.

• Stop-Gap Grant | The Film and TV Charity (filmtvcharity.org.uk) is a one-off Stop-Gap Grant of up to £750 to help with unexpected costs.
  
  
• Sir Horace Ové Grant | The Film and TV Charity (filmtvcharity.org.uk) – grants of up to £500 are available and could cover anything from childcare or travel costs to help you access a career opportunity, to courses supporting your professional development.

Free training

• Safeguarding for all: basic awareness for the screen industries from ScreenSkills – a basic introduction to safeguarding for anyone working in the screen industries.
  
  
• Mental Health First Aid taster session – Training Course from ScreenSkills – a training aimed at sharing workplace best practice as well as how you and your teams can stay healthy, happy, and productive at work.
  
  
• Using social media posts in programmes – rights & legal considerations – Training Course from ScreenSkills – a training in a range of areas related to business management & development, production finance, legal & business affairs, rights, and compliance, giving individuals the tools needed to thrive in their chosen field in unscripted TV. Date: 5 Mar 2024, 10:00-12:00 (online).
  
  
• HETV ACES course for A VFX Pipeline – Training Course from ScreenSkills a fully-funded training programme will support 36 experienced cinematographers, DITs, post-production professionals and supervisors across the UK who are looking to work with ACES guidelines and specifications within VFX projects and workflows. Deadline: 7 Mar 2024. Date: 8 Mar 2024, 10:00-17:00.
  
  
• ScreenSkills HETV DaVinci Resolve finishing for Avid online editors. – This training Course from ScreenSkills is designed to support 15 experienced online editors across the UK who are looking to transfer their online editing skills to Blackmagic Design DaVinci Resolve Studio. Deadline: 18 Mar 2024. Date: 23 Mar, 10:00 – 24 Mar 2024, 17:00.
  
  
• Sustainable production training – Children’s TV – Training Course from ScreenSkills that helps industry colleagues to live and work sustainably by providing an optimistic, science-based, solution-centric and enjoyable introduction to the environmental challenges we face. Deadline: 11 Mar 2024. Date: 28 Mar 2024, 10:00-12:00.

Urgent Support

• Get help now | The Film and TV Charity – Support Line. If it’s not an emergency but you want to talk to someone now, our free and confidential 24-hour Support Line is here for you.

Other support

• Coaching with work and wellbeing from The Film and TV Charity – register your interest for personalised wellbeing and work support to get help.
  
  
• Benefits finder from The Film and TV Charity – Check which benefits you might be entitled to, and get the support.

Please contact us if you have any questions. We invite you to follow us on social media channels to stay informed about TCC events and industry news.