Channel 4 sets out ‘engage & enable’ Disability StrategyOFFICIAL PRESS RELEASENEWS PROVIDED BY Channel 4 Ongoing commitments to boost disability inclusion both on and off screen include plans to: launch the UK television industry’s first ever disabled talent & contributor welfare policy It forms part of the channel’s wider Creative Diversity plan and will drive forward commitments to deliver Commissioning Diversity Guidelines, the Valuable 500 Commitment, the CDN’s industry-wide commitment to Doubling Disability behind the camera, and the channel’s own commitment to increasing representation on-screen. To achieve this, Channel 4 has set out a strategy to engage and enable the industry to increase its inclusion of disabled people even further by focusing on high level changes in practice and shifts in culture. Building on the success of the well-established Production Training Scheme, including a 100% disabled Paralympic cohorts managed by thinkBIGGER!, the broadcaster is looking to find even more ways to support and progress disabled talent off screen, as well as to increase the quantity and quality of representation on screen. The ‘engage & enable’ strategy covers plans for: Identifying talent pipelines & pathways: for example, implementing the first ever disabled talent & contributor welfare policy, and identifying spaces and routes for disabled on-screen talent to grow within the Channel 4 portfolio “Channel 4 wants to engage and enable the industry to achieve genuine, lasting disability inclusion. To do this, we know we need to be a part of driving and facilitating big scale change, working with a range of partners with disability expertise and collaborating with stakeholders across our industry and beyond. This strategy is intended to build on our existing work and partnerships in this area, and focus us even more on building confidence and facilitating opportunities among indies and freelancers off screen, delivering consistent and considered authentic portrayal on screen, and ensuring audience input and impact.” Last year, Channel 4 set out a number of commitments around disability such as doubling its workforce disability target from 6 to 12% by 2023, and a commitment to achieve 9% on-screen representation by 2023. It also continues to monitor disabled representation in the channel’s top 100 shows. Ends.
Source Channel 4
June 16, 2021 4:00am ET by Channel 4 |