BCIDN Latest News

Shall I say a kiss? BBC Radio 4, Tuesday 28th June, 2011 1415

29th March 2011.

In 1936, Morris met Eva. When Morris went to America, he asked Eva to join him - and a transatlantic correspondence started. New radio drama starring two Deaf actors and bringing to life a moving true story. To be broadcast on BBC Radio 4, Tuesday 28th June 2011, 1415.

Great Opportunity - Sports Production Apprentice at IMG Sports Media

17th March 2011.

Channel 4 are working in partnership with IMG Sports Media and Creative Process to recruit for a new apprentice with a particularly keen interest in targeting talented people who can offer new voices and freshperspectives. With this in mind we are keen to encourage disabled applicants to apply for this exciting opportunity.During this time the new apprentice will study towards the Advanced Creative and Digital Media apprenticeship (a level 3 qualification equivalent to two good A levels).

A Diverse Nation - Thursday 3rd February, 00:00 (Midnight)

27th January 2011.

A Diverse Nation

Thursday 3rd February, Channel 4, 00:00 (midnight)
A documentary that goes behind the veil of the Cultural Diversity Awards 2010, hosted by Gok Wan providing a revealing film on the nominees as well as famous faces from the world of media.

BBC Children's Talent Event

27th January 2011.

Ahead of the move to Salford Quays, Children's BBCi shostingan informal networking event for Northern-based production talent from a rangeof backgrounds to meet hiring managers.

Wednesday 2nd February, 18.30 - 20.30 at BBCManchester, Oxford Road.  If youwould like to attend please email careers.north@bbc.co.ukwith a photo, updated CV and paragraph summarising your skills andexperience.  You will receive areply by 28 January whether you have a place.  Places are limited so please apply RIGHT NOW!

Charity seeks actor with mental health problems

27th January 2011.

Time To Change is a charity looking for an actor with mental health problems for an advert to encourage people to 'get talking' about mental ill-health.

Casting for the ads is taking place in w/c 7 and 14 February. Please email Katherine Crawshaw at Rethink as soon as possible.

ITV recruiting a Project Co-ordinator for the Diversity Team

15th January 2011.

ITV is currently recruiting a Project Co-ordinator within the Diversity Team.  Based at The South Bank Centre, this 1 year contract pays £16k and is aimed at at giving talented individuals who have a disability an opportunity to gain experience within one of the UK's largest media production and broadcasting organisations.Anyone interested should return to info@abi.co.uk. If anyone requires the information in an alternative format or wishes to discuss the details they can call Ruth Djang on 02084384550. read more

The DCMS seeks an outstanding individual to Chair the S4C Authority.

15th January 2011.

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport is seeking an outstanding individual to Chair the S4C Authority.

BIG LOTTERY FUND AWARDS GRANT TO WEST YORKSHIRE PLAYHOUSE

11th January 2011.

A grant of £241, 493 had been awarded by the Big Lottery Fund to West Yorkshire Playhouse so that it can develop a range of activities for young people with learning disabilites. The funding will allow the Playhouse to work in consultation with young people with learning disabilities and their families over the course of four years, in order to develop a regular programme of art, drama and music workshops that can be accessed through FIRST FLOOR, its purpose-built performance space. read more

Mentoring opportunity for feature film writers, directors and producers in the North

13th December 2010.

Screen Yorkshire is seeking applications for TRIANGLE, a unique development opportunity aimed at fostering creative collaboration between feature film writers, directors and producers in the North of England. The scheme, a partnership between Screen Yorkshire, Vision + Media and Northern Film & Media with support from the Skillset  Film Skills Fund, is open to all filmmakers based in Yorkshire and Humber, the North West and North East of England

The Sparticle Mystery - New CBBC Drama series shows young disabled cast

2nd December 2010.

The cast features Wesley Nelson. At the age of 14Wesley has an impressive list of acting credits to his name.  He hasappeared in numerous television dramas including Where the Heart Is and Casualty,on stage he has recently starred in Every Good Boy Deserves Favour at TheNational Theatre and his film roles include the young Ian Drury inSex&Drugs&Rock&Roll. Wesley has cerebral palsy

Disability on television comes of age

26th November 2010.

There are more disabled characters in British TV drama and soaps than ever before, and the industry has made huge strides forward in the portrayal of disability.  From Izzy Armstrong and Adam Best in Coronation Street and Eastenders, played by wheelchair actors Sherylee Houston and David Proud, to Lizzie Lakely in Emmerdale, played by Kitty McGeever who is blind, British soaps have ensured that disabled people are being seen on our screens night in night out, living their lives in the midst of the nation’s favourite on screen communities. read more

Search for Actress for short film

17th October 2010.

Independent Production Company Brooks Lapping is searching for a London-based actress, in her early 20s with Down's Syndrome, for a short film. read more

The 1st UK Disability Film Festival Day 3rd December 2010

10th October 2010.

The UK's leading disability arts and media organisation DASH, supported by ScreenWM, are proud to present the 1st UK Disability Film Festival on the International Day of Disabled People: 3rd December 2010.  All films are subtitled.

New Award Category for CDN Diversity Awards

12th September 2010.

The Cultural Diversity Network (CDN) are delighted to announce a brand new set of entrance categories for the second year of its CDN Diversity Awards.

Story Associates for "Corrie"

10th September 2010.

What's the story? Could it be yet another Corrie glory? There have been plenty of glorious storylines over the past 50 years. And long may they continue. With people like you on board they will.

BBC ManageAble - Disability Scheme - Programme Development Manager, Manchester

8th September 2010.

BBC Manageable Scheme - aimed at increasing the number of disabledmanagers in the BBC. Just like the award winning Extend scheme, theseopportunities are exclusively for disabled people.

Channel 4 reveals ambitions for 2012 London Paralympic Games

14th August 2010.

With only weeks from the moment which will mark two years until the start of the 2012 Paralympic Games,  Channel 4 will begin its coverage of the games to coincide with this important landmark, this August Bank Holiday.

BBC Accessibility course available to suppliers

27th July 2010.

The BBC's new online accessibility training course ‘Websites that work - making our content accessible to all' is now available to external suppliers 

Talent Boost - 2010

11th July 2010.

This year Talent Boost will train a cohort of 20 disabled and non-disabled actors alongside each other in London and Leeds. Our aim is to profile actors with physical and sensory impairments, and actors from minority communities, specifically South Asian, East Asian, Eastern European, Middle Eastern, Black British and Mixed Race. We will equip these actors with well-developed skills as on-screen performers and redress in some measure the imbalance in disabled and minority representation across the industry

Inspiration on the road - C4 Talent

28th June 2010.

4Talent holds a series of half day and full day workshops and master classes called "Inspiration days" around the UK read more

Broadcast Media Apprenticeship Opportunity in the North West open for Applications

28th June 2010.

Young people Young people in the North West looking to break into the media industry are being urged to apply for an apprenticeship scheme.

Changing Faces Charity seeks Deputy Chief Executive

21st June 2010.

Changing Faces, the UK's leading disfigurement charity, seeks a Deputy Chief Executive to work closely in a new role with James Partridge, the Founder and Chief Executive, to continue to grow our presence and influence both in the UK and beyond.

BBC ManageAble microsite goes live

20th June 2010.

The BBC announces that its ManageAble micorsite is now live.  This a new scheme aimed at developing disabled managers to progress further at the BBC. read more

Are You Having A Laugh? Friday 25 June, Week 25 - BBC TWO

10th June 2010.

Narrated by David Walliams Are You Having A Laugh? TV and Disability is an irreverent, funny and often cringe making look at how television has portrayed disability over the last 50 years.

ITV search for Deaf Actress

10th June 2010.

The Oaks are currently casting for an ITV Drama and are desperately seeking a deaf actress for one of the leading roles.

New opportunities at Channel 4

18th April 2010.

Channel 4 is looking for new talent to join its Production Training Scheme.  It aims to bring new voices to the industry from under represented groups.

UK Film Council appoints Head of Diversity

26th March 2010.

Mary Fitzpatrick has been appointed as the new Head of Diversity at the UK Film Council.

S4C's work experience placement for disabled student

26th March 2010.

S4C have arranged work experience for a disabled student for 3 months, starting in mid February. The student has limb reduction deformity, but is coping well with his disability and is able to move around without the use of a wheelchair. Originally from Taiwan he has been adopted by a South Wales familysince he was 15 months old. He has gained a HND in Computer Studies, and at present is following a degree Course in Computers at the University of Glamorgan. He will be working on projects in the IT Department at S4C.

S4C announces new commitment to diversity

26th March 2010.

S4C has announced a new commitment to diversity, equal opportunities and fairness for its staff, viewers, partners, suppliers and the public generally.

BBC Extend Disability Scheme - UK Wide

26th March 2010.

Exclusively for disabled people, Extend is an award-winning, BBC-wide work placement scheme which offers appropriately experienced and/or qualified people a great opportunity to gain six months' paid work experience within the BBC.

Inspired Ability Event at the BBC

22nd March 2010.

Thirty-five disabled people with an active interest in becoming a media professional spent a day at the BBC at an event called Inspired Ability. All participants, who applied online demonstrated a keen interest in the industry.   read more

BBC Production Trainee Scheme 2010: Application dates 15 - 29 March

2nd March 2010.

The BBC is  looking for fresh thinkers who can approach things from a different angle and have a passion for TV, radio and online production. Over 18 months we'll train and develop you and give you placements on programmes across the UK. You'll be mentored by a senior BBC manager and by the end of it you'll have the skills to turn fresh ideas into reality. It's a career path for creative people who love the media and know what our audiences want.

Cherylee Houston joins Coronation Street

23rd February 2010.

Coronation Street have announced that they have cast theshow's first regular disabled character. Wheelchair user Cherylee Houston is toappear in the show mid-April.

BCIDN and FIVE event sparks debate about disability in children's programming

22nd February 2010.

BCIDN Chair Oona King, Head of Diversity at Channel 4, talks to Five Children's Commissioner Nick Wilson and CBBC presenter Ceri Burnell at an event held by the BCIDN and FIVE to encourage the Children's TV industry to ensure disability is more widely reflected in their programmes and programme making teams.  

BBC announces 2012 London Apprenticeships - applications open till 28th February 2010

4th February 2010.

This new BBC scheme is a fantastic opportunity to kick-start a career in the media. You will work at the BBC in London for a year, and your experience - together with training and study - will add up to all the skills and knowledge you need for a Creative and Digital Media Apprenticeship Level 3. You will study at Westminster Kingsway College and receive skills training at the BBC in West London. You'll work with teams making BBC TV programmes and websites in drama, entertainment, factual, children's or sport.

CBBC Newsround Newsreader gives disabled children control of news

2nd February 2010.

Newsround has introduced technology to help children with motor disabilities read the news without having to rely on a carer, and to control the news they consume. The Newsround Newsreader uses scanning and switch technology to cycle through the various daily options and for the first time puts this audience in the driving sea.

Job Opportunity with ITV - Closing date 20th January 2010

13th January 2010.

With our opportunities and encouragement you could fulfil your ambition to work in the media industry.

If you are a talented individual with a disability, who is looking for a chance to prove yourself in an environment where support is on offer in terms of access and personal development - then visit the ITV website or contact us for a job description and application form.

Our Enabling Talent traineeship offers practical experience of what it is really like with paid placements across a range of areas from programme making to accounting.

Channel 4 to be Paralympic Broadcaster in the UK in 2012

11th January 2010.

The London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) has awarded the UK broadcast rights to Channel 4 following a highly competitive tender process

Us 5 - BBC online videos help people with learning difficulties make their choices

11th January 2010.

Us5 is one of the very few materials online created specially for people with learning difficulties, and has been a chance for the BBC to better understand how to create fully accessible content for this audience.

RADAR People of the Year Awards - Application Form Update

18th November 2009.

Please note that EFD has contacted Radar about the application form which you can download from their website. The form is not displaying accurate information about the application process, and they are working on correcting it

Presenter with disfigurement reads FIVE News

13th November 2009.

James Partridge, CEO of Changing Faces, the UK's leading disfigurement charity will be presenting the lunchtime bulletin on Five News at 12.45pm from 16th November for a week.

Channel 4's Cast Offs hits the Screen

9th November 2009.

Channel 4's new drama Cast Offs, which tackles disability head on, is to be transmitted at the end of November.  The script by writers from Skins, Shameless and The Thick of It is stuffed with sex and politically incorrect jokes.

Oona King takes over as Chair of BCIDN

19th October 2009.

Channel 4's Head of Diversity, Oona King, is to take over as Chair of the Broadcasting and Creative Industries Disability Network.  She replaces David Kogan, MD of Reel Enterprises, who has been Chair since 2004.

PACT appoint advisor to work with indies on Diversity

18th October 2009.

Pact, the BBC and Channel 4 have appointed Angela Chan to the newly created role of diversity adviser. The appointment is a key part of a strategy to boost diversity in the production sector by helping companies deliver the commitments in the recently-launched CDN Diversity Pledge.

Doing Media Differently Awards

6th September 2009.

RADAR seeks nominations for great programmes, where commissioners, programme makers, the casting agents and/or disabled actors have brokennew ground and have done things differently.

BBC in world first with iPlayer audio description

26th August 2009.

BBC in world first with IPlayer audio description

Deaf team beats BBC Eggheads

12th August 2009.

Deaf team beats BBC Eggheads to win 23,000 read more

BBC launches Disabled Talent Directory and nationwide Talent Search

28th July 2009.

The BBC has created an online directory of Disabled Actors and Performers as part of their commitment to connect with all audiences and portray their lives authentically on screen.

New disabled character joins Eastenders

28th July 2009.

Disabled actor David Proud is to join the cast of Eastenders later this year.

Disability confidence training for BBC's top news managers

28th July 2009.

More than 300 senior news managers at the BBC have undertaken disability training, aimed at improving their confidence in working with and managing disability within the News Division. The training aims to also increase the presence, accessibility and quality of portrayal in news stories that are not related to disability.

Freda returns to Corrie

28th July 2009.

Freda, Emily's niece returns to the street to say goodbye to Emily as she's moving away. She then becomes an unlikely ally for Norris (Malcolm Hebden) who is having problems with his brother Ramsay (Andrew Sachs).

Award winning director mentors young film maker

28th July 2009.

BCIDN Associate, Marilyn Gaunt, is currently mentoring a young film maker who is a wheelchair user, for a scheme initiated by the Grierson Trust. 5 x 5 minute documentaries are being made by young people around the theme of family.  

Six Disabled Actors in Channel 4's New Drama Cast Offs

28th July 2009.

Cast Offs is a highly ambitious new drama written by rising star Jack Thorne (Shameless, Skins, Scouting Book for Boys), in conjunction with Tony Roche (The Thick Of It) and Alex Bulmer (The Hunchback of Notre Dame, R4). In mock-documentary fashion, the show will tell the story of six disabled characters parachuted on to a remote and desolate island for a year, and follow their hardships as they build their own homes, grow their own food, fall in love and fight to survive. 

Five new disabled trainees join Channel 4

28th July 2009.

Channel 4 is placing five new disabled trainees on some of its top productions.  

Search is on for Disabled Entrepreneurs

28th July 2009.

Sir Stelios Hajiloannou and Leonard Cheshire Disability are looking for an extraordinary businessperson to win The Stelios Award for Disabled Entrepreneurs 2009 and £50,000 which could transform their business.

Strictly goes for new Wheelchair format

28th July 2009.

BBC3 is to mix the glitz of Strictly Come Dancing with wheelchairs in its latest disabled talent format.

More disabled people to appear on Entertainment and Daytime TV

23rd June 2009.

Sixty key figures in entertainment and daytime programming from across the UK broadcasters and many independent production companies attended a workshop held by the BBC and the Broadcasting and Creative Industries Disability Network, alongside twenty disabled individuals who have already appeared on TV programmes or are working in the creative industries.

BBC Documentary in pre-production

29th April 2009.

BBC Documentary in pre-production read more

Sex and Drugs and Rock n Roll – Ian Dury biopic

21st April 2009.

The Diversity Department of the UK Film Council is now focusing on supporting diversity projects to run alongside appropriate lottery funded production projects. A disability project is now being developed with the production company, New Boots and Panties 2 Ltd, and 104 Films which is attached to the Ian Dury biopic, Sex and Drugs and Rock N Roll read more

Magic Hour – A Digital Shorts Programme for Disabled Filmmakers

20th April 2009.

Magic Hour is a groundbreaking new UK-wide short film scheme for disabled filmmakers supported by the Diversity Department of the UK Film Council. read more

RNIB Congratulates SKY’s Audio Description Output

13th April 2009.

RNIB congratulates SKY as it increases its Audio Description output on its channels. read more

ATW updates its virtual team - April 2009

9th April 2009.

Access to Work has updated its virtual team read more

ITV Backs Special Olympics

9th April 2009.

The organisers of the 8th Special Olympics GB National Summer Games, which are taking place in Leicester from 25th - 31st July, are today delighted to announce ITV as an official partner. read more

ATW updates its virtual team - April 2009

9th April 2009.

Access to Work has updated its virtual team read more

Channel 4 Diversity Production Training Scheme 2009

9th April 2009.

Channel 4's new Diversity Production Training Scheme is open for business. The scheme will offer 12 places in 2009 with placements in Drama, New Media and Production Management and will provide an opportunity for people to get their first break into the media industry. read more

Soap's First Blind Actress Kitty Joins Emmerdale

26th March 2009.

Emmerdale's first blind character Lizzie Lakelywill arrive in the village this Spring. She an old friend of Lisa Dingle's and is on community service after apetty crime conviction. She has even been tagged to ensure she doesn't breachher curfew conditions. read more

TV's drama bosses to put more disabled actors on screen

11th March 2009.

British TV drama bosses from across the main channels are to take action to ensure that more disabled actors are cast in their programmes. Some of the most senior representatives from drama departments at ITV. BBC, Channel 4, Sky, Five, Welsh channel S4C, and a number of independent production companies came together with disabled actors for a workshop hosted by ITV and the BCIDN. read more

Parents claim disabled CBeebies presenter frightens young children

24th February 2009.

Complaints to the BBC about CBeebies presenter Cerrie Burnell, who was born with a short arm, have triggered a huge response among viewers and listeners.Nine people complained about Cerrie Burnell, with parents worried their children would be frightened by her and have nightmares. read more

Huge blog response to BBC advice on helping visually impaired viewers

23rd February 2009.

The BBC's Head of Newsroom Peter Horrocks has provoked a flurry of debate after asking all his newsreaders to ensure that they read out information like phone numbers on the screen to make it easier for visually impaired viewers. His internal email was leaked to the papers and he responded with a blog explaining his decision. read more

Meet Hollyoaks new star Hayley

8th February 2009.

Channel 4 soap Hollyoaks has a new star, actress Kelly-Marie Stewart, She plays 19 year old Hayley, favourite Zak Ramsey’s sister, who hates being defined by her condition, Guillain-Barre Syndrome, and refuses to let it separate her from the crowd. A wheelchair user, she’s also realistic about the limitations it sometimes causes to her life, particularly romantically. read more

Channel 4 appoints Oona King as Head of Diversity

2nd February 2009.

King, a broadcaster and former MP, who is currently Senior Policy Advisor to the Prime Minister on Equalities and Diversity, has been given a brief to champion diversity across all Channel 4’s activities, both on and off-screen. read more

BBC Disability Scheme, EXTEND, UK-wide

27th January 2009.

Exclusively for disabled people, Extend is a BBC-wide work placement scheme which offers appropriately experienced and/or qualified disabled people a great opportunity to gain six-months' paid work experience within the BBC. read more

Access to Work Team Visits Emmerdale

19th October 2008.

The new Access to Work Virtual team responsible for broadcasting and film employees watched the crew of Emmerdale at work as part of a series of behind the scenes visits to TV and film sets organised by BCIDN. They also spent time learning about post production from ITV Yorkshire’s Head of Post Production Adrian Bleasdale, and met disabled staff working in the regional newsroom in Leeds, before watching the nightly news show Calendar from the gallery. read more

BBC announces Journalism Trainee Scheme and Talent Pool

25th September 2008.

Whether you’re starting out in journalism or seeking to take a step up, there are two routes, which lead to the BBC, one of the world’s most creative organisations. read more

BBC now provides subtitles for 100% of programmes

18th August 2008.

BBC now provides subtitles for 100% of programmes on the BBC's 7 main channels covering BBC One, BBC Two, BBC Three, BBC Four, CBBC, Cbeebies and the BBC News channel. read more

RADAR People of the Year Awards

21st July 2008.

The RADAR People of the Year Awards are the largest and most prestigious of their kind in Europe, and provide an excellent opportunity to recognise the work of those who have made great contributions to the Human Rights and Inclusion of disabled people. read more

ATW - New Virtual Team for the Broadcasting & Creative Industries

17th July 2008.

Jobcentre Plus has appointed ten advisors who will make up their virtual centre of excellence for the broadcasting and creative industries read more

New TV Opportunities for Disabled Talent

17th July 2008.

Channel 4 and FIVE schemes give talented disabled individuals an opportunity to gain meaningful paid experience and staff become more disability confident through structured training and support read more

Skillset holds successful Diversity Workshop

4th June 2008.

Skillset recently held a successful Diversity Workshop for all of its Screen Academies and the Skillset Film Business. read more

Jobcentre Plus changes benefit broadcasting and film industry

1st June 2008.

Jobcentre Plus has agreed to changes in Access to Work funding which should make it easier for disabled people to work in the broadcasting and film industry. read more

ITV's Enabling Talent scheme comes to life

30th April 2008.

TV's Enabling Talent scheme came to life on the 1st of May with the successful trainees starting a 6 month paid placement across various roles. read more