The Film and TV Charity has launched its latest financial survey to help support the screen sector during a time of unprecedented need.

The charity has issued a call for as many workers across the industry https://theknowledgeonline.com/crew-services as possible to take part, from the nations and regions and from those in under-represented groups. 

The charity will use the research to build a longer-term picture of the financial circumstances of people working behind the scenes. 

The responses will build on the charity’s earlier survey in May of this year, that revealed low levels of financial resilience. That survey was before the current slowdown in production and before the full impact of the dual US strikes was known.  

It found: 

• 46% of respondents had less than £1,000 in savings

• 50% weren’t contributing to a pension

• Workers from under-represented groups were more likely to be impacted by financial concerns

With the Charity experiencing an 800% increase in applications for Stop-Gap Grants to meet urgent financial need, it presented the results of the first survey at the Edinburgh TV Festival in August, resulting in donations in excess of £250,000 from major partners to help fund urgently needed support.

The organisation hopes that the results of this second survey will provide a fuller picture after a summer of pain for many, with CEO, Marcus Ryder, saying: “We’ve made no secret of the fact that people in our industry are facing an emergency. As we go into the winter, our real concern is that things are only likely to get worse for many with the US strikes continuing to impact UK productions and compounding other issues affecting the landscape.” 

He added: “It’s vital that as many people as possible complete our short survey to help us see the real picture, and so that we can shape our support services to ensure those who need help the most are able to receive it. We especially want to hear more from workers outside London and the Southeast, and from workers from under-represented or marginalised groups.”