Film and TV behind the scenes, assistance fund

Many of us freelancers are out of work due to COVID 19. Government measures mean our most venerable have no means of income as many freelancers work on PAYE dailies or are just over the threshold to qualify for self employed pay.

As the TV and Film industry is usually quiet at the beginning of the year most of our grades have been waiting for the work to boom. Many of them were already struggling before the threat of The Corona Virus, Now they face up to a year out of work.

While we are incredibly proud of the location department and have seen some of of juniors volunteer for the NHS, become delivery drivers and secure employment as key workers - for some of them this isn’t possible.

We are asking for those that can give, to give whatever they can to help out our location department juniors with this emergency fund. From food shops to bill payments - it might not be much but at times like these every little helps.

Note from Vinnie;

Like a lot of you, I am sitting here, in the glorious sunshine, at home, thinking…WHAT THE HELL is happening?

This COVID-19 is a great leveller. We were all working, on our own journeys, making our way in life and then BOOM! Just like Keyzer Soze, our income, livelihood and even society as we know it, has simply vanished. Who knows what the future will bring? We all have our own scenarios.

Many will breeze through however long we are not able to go back to work, most will get by adequately and some will struggle. These are unprecedented times and to have everyone out of work at the same time has probably never happened. Throughout difficult times in history, its kindness and charity for our neighbours that has helped pull people through.

I remember in 2003 the CTBF (Cinema and Television Benevolence Fund) helped me through a difficult time with help paying bills. The amounts were enough to give me some ‘breathing room’ to figure out and implement my next move. That next move was to get my first job in locations. True story. If we can help dedicated people in our department in the same way that will be a collective win for us all.

Georgette, Charlie Spotless and I are not in this for personal gain or for anything in return. We all recognise it is a time to assist those who require it. This fund will only continue with the continued generosity of other members of our department, industry and beyond. Please Donate!


We would like a few other people to help us with making decisions for the fund. Please let us know if you are interested.

Once we hit our 15k target this fund will be open to all departments and not exclusively to the Location Department.

Please note that all applications and awards will remain anonymous and names, unless requested by the benefactor, will not be shared on the page. ‘The Locations Department. First one’s In. Last one’s Standing.’

CRITERIA: Please email
[email redacted] with your circumstances and contact details.
UK Working personnel only.
Minimum 1 year in the FIlm Industry - working in a crew department
Current CV to be sent in with initial email with two references/referees and supporting bank statements as evidence.