Cinema & Television Benevolent Fund (CTBF)

Who We Are ​

Helping Behind the Scenes

The Cinema and Television Benevolent Fund (CTBF) is the leading UK charity for people working behind the scenes in the film, cinema and commercial television industries. The CTBF exists to support creatives, production professionals, marketers and administration staff from script to screen, who find themselves in times of need for one reason or another.

Through donations, membership subscriptions, and events including The Royal Film Performance™, we are able to help more than 1,000 beneficiaries and their families every year.

What We Do ​

Hard Times

The Cinema and Television Benevolent Fund (CTBF) provides financial support and pastoral care to cinema, film and television practitioners who are experiencing extreme hardship due to ill health, redundancy or other unfortunate circumstances. In addition to one-off grants and regular payments to those in need, the Fund runs the Glebelands Care Home, providing residential care and full nursing. In addition we offer independent living in the adjacent Broccoli Cloister, a wonderful development of twenty seven flats.

Welfare and Support – Nationwide Assistance

Welfare services are based at Head Office in London with our own fully trained visitors across all regions of the UK, who are there to help you. You do not need to be a CTBF member to receive assistance, but you must have at least two years’ paid work in the industry, either as staff, contractor or freelance. This two-year work period does not need to be consecutive.

We help any which way we can

We offer financial assistance (and can arrange a free consultation with a financial advisor), practical assistance, help with career matters and advice on government benefits you may qualify for. Call our free confidential helpline for support and information – 0800 138 2522.

Financial Assistance – Are you finding it difficult to make ends meet or struggling on a low income? Or are debts hindering you from living your life? If so, we may be able to help by offering a grant or loan, or help with your heating, television and utility bills.

Practical Assistance – If your domestic appliances are outdated or unsafe, we may be able to help you replace them. Or if you need adaptations to your home to enable you to go on living there, we can also assist you.

Back to Work – Our ‘back to work’ package helps if you are out of work and finding it difficult to obtain more work. After assessment, we can offer an “immediate needs” payment and grants to help with bills for six months, after which you will be assessed again.

Who We Help ​

The CTBF helps a diverse range of people across film, cinema and television who encounter accident, illness, bereavement or unemployment. We are the largest UK charity for a wide range of professionals from all aspects of pre-production, production, post-production, distribution, broadcast or exhibition and home entertainment. We are here to help when help is needed.

We also support emerging talent in Film and TV through The JBAs (John Brabourne Awards).

Childrens Fund

The CTBF has a Children’s Fund to look after the needs of the children affected by extreme hardship.

In many of our cases the parents are unable to work due to ill health or in order to look after a child with extreme illness. In some cases a bereavement in the family leaves the family struggling to make ends meet.

The Children’s Fund aims to alleviate some of the financial and emotional strain by paying for essential household bills or children’s school uniforms or after school activities. Sometimes we’re even able to treat the family to a much needed holiday.