So What Heritage
Telling new stories about museum collections through video and digital art
So What Heritage is a two-year collaboration between Beacon Films and Great North Museum, Hancock, supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
We are seeking creative disabled and neurodivergent people to take part in our project to explore museum collections through film.
In these workshops, we will help you make short films and video art using both mobile devices and professional equipment.
Your films will be inspired by objects you find at the Great North Museum. This is a chance to give new life to old things and share your unique view on heritage.
The videos you make will be shown inside the museum and on social media. This will help more people see and understand heritage from a different perspective.
If you are interested to take part, please email Michelle at getinvolved@beaconfilms.org.uk
BFI Film Academy
Our entry level programme for 16-25 year olds to discover their filmmaking talents
Calling Young Filmmakers!
Do you love watching or making films?
Will you be 16-19 years old by October 2026 or 20-25years old with an EHCP?
Would you like to shoot and star in your own film?
We are currently waiting to hear if the BFI Film Academy Short Course, delivered by Beacon Films, will be funded.
If it is we will start in October 2026!
If you would like to be kept updated, please register your interest by emailing filmacademy@beaconfilms.org.uk
Travel and Access bursaries will be available
Please note:if you have taken part in The BFI Film Academy before, you are not eligible to apply to take part.
Watch previous Film Academy productions here!
Focus First
An opportunity to experiment and collaborate creatively with film
Focus First (formerly Viewfinder) offers a supportive environment for Disabled and Neurodivergent filmmakers to experiment, connect, and collaborate.
“Beacon films has given me the confidence, experience and social skills to work with other organisations.”
“It’s made me more confident with things like solving a problem myself before i ask someone. It helps me with creativity and developing ideas”
Viewfinder - Behind the Scenes (2023)
Focus Forward
Supporting disabled and neurodivergent creatives to take the next steps in their screen career
Focus Forward supports Deaf, disabled and/or neurodivergent creatives to develop their freelance career in film, TV or video production
Whether you're just starting out, need help staying on track, or want to grow your business, we're here to support you.
Quick Links
Blue background slide with the title Focus Forward, promoting an event about getting representation for actors. It includes an image on the left of the speaker, Sarah Leigh from Inclusivity Films, who is on viewing a scene in a monitor that she is directing. The event is taking place on Tuesday 24th March online from 1.30pm - 2.30pm and booking information is below.
Next event
What is acting representation and how do you go about getting it?
Tuesday 24th March 2026
1.30-2.30pm
On Zoom
How it works
Online Events
What: Monthly, one-hour online meetings with other creatives (last Tuesday of each month).
Who: Anyone who lives in the UK, and is working or wants to work in film, TV and/or video production.
Why: These sessions are a great way to learn new things, share ideas, and connect with other people in the industry. They're a relaxed way to get started and see what we're all about.
Topics: We cover practical topics like creating an Access Rider to communicate your needs to clients, different ways to plan your creative business, and how to get support from the Access to Work scheme
One-to-One mentoring
What: You can apply for more focused, one-on-one support.
Who: Anyone based in North East England who is working or wants to work in film, TV and/or video production.
Why: We'll work with you to set your personal career goals and create a plan to reach them. We'll help you develop contacts and find business leads.
Paid Commissions: As part of this, you may have the opportunity to be matched with a client for a paid film project.
Join our online community to
Catch up with meetings so far
More features will be added soon! (Including useful resources)
Where Focus Forward comes from
Focus Forward is built on years of experience and learning from our other successful projects. We know what works because we’ve been doing it. Our network is successful because we:
Listen to you: Our event topics are guided based on feedback from creatives like you
Provide real opportunities: We've helped our filmmakers get over 1,000 hours of paid work creating video content for clients from the NHS to the Northumbria University; from local authorities to an Emmy-award winning production company.
Give you the tools you need: Our past programmes have helped creatives launch new businesses and have provided guidance on things like inclusive networking.
Event Access
When you book your tickets, you will be asked about any access requirements you have.
BSL interpretation is available.
Auto-captions are provided for all sessions.
You are welcome to join the meeting hosts in person (hybrid) at their Newcastle office.
If you'd like to be joined by a supporter / PA, they'd be welcome. There is no need to book a second ticket. Just forward them the Zoom link when it arrives.
For any other access-related questions, please contact Will Sader (will@beaconfilms.org.uk)
Interested to find out more? Contact Will at will@beaconfilms.org.uk or call the office on 0191 580 7000
Mission & Values
Our Mission:
Beacon Films is a production company that supports the creativity and talents of Disabled and/or Neurodivergent filmmakers.
Our Values:
Beacon Films is
A fun place to …
… make high quality films, …
… connect with other people …
… and feel included
At Beacon Films we believe in the Social Model of Disability. You can find out more about what that means by clicking here.
Beacon Films runs projects which work towards one or more of a grid of 12 outcomes. You can view this table by clicking here.
Our Policies
At Beacon Films, we wish to provide the safest and most inclusive possible environment for our project members and staff. We have a range of comprehensive policies that are ratified regularly by our board of directors. Click the buttons below to view each policy. (This is not an exhaustive list of our policies. Please contact us if you need to see any policies not listed here)
Support Policy (Easy Read)
Safeguarding Policy (Adults & Children)
Our Annual Reports to the CIC regulator, and full accounts
These are available to download (for free) from the Companies House website.
Here is a direct link to our page.
Tick the ‘accounts’ box to only see submitted accounts and annual reports.
Each file will begin with our independently-prepared accounts, followed by our annual report.
Access Information
On this page
Our Venue
Our Website
Finding our Entrance, in photographs
Dropped kerb directions from the carpark
1/ Our Venue
Beacon Films is located at Skills for People, 4 Glendale Terrace, Byker, Newcastle, NE6 1PB
PLEASE NOTE: visits are by appointment only, unless you are attending a workshop on which you have booked a place.
Finding our location & parking
Scroll down for a photo guide for finding our building’s entrance.
The building has “Skills for People” signs on the side.
It is located across the road from MacDonalds
The entrance is on the service road at the rear of the building, opposite Enterprise Car Rental
There is a private carpark off Glendale Terrace which visitors are able to use. This includes accessible parking bays.
The carpark can fill up quickly. There is plenty of free roadside parking directly outside the building entrance and next to Edinburgh Bike Co-operative.
If you bring your car, and park in the private car park, please provide your registration number when you sign in at reception.
If you are coming by Metro, here are the Google directions from Byker Metro Station.
We are very close to the Shields Road bus stops.
We are currently working on dropped-kerb directions. In the meantime, please contact us if you require these.
Building Accessibility
The whole building is wheelchair-accessible
All toilets are wheelchair-accessible
We have a Changing Place facility, which includes a hoist, bed and toilet
Accessible access to the upstairs floor is via a platform-style lift
Please contact us if you have any queries
Coronavirus
We still operate a Covid-aware policy. You can download our full Covid rules (updated May 2024) by clicking here
2/ Our Website
Accessibility plugins and widgets are not used on this website because evidence shows they frequently interfere with screen reader behaviour, create new accessibility barriers, and deliver a frustrating user experience for those who rely on assistive technologies.
These widgets may override or clash with users’ own screen readers—sometimes prompting users to disable their familiar, highly-configurable tools in favour of simplistic, built-in alternatives, or causing “competing” speech output, confusion, and poor usability.
Research and direct user feedback make clear that true accessibility should be integrated into the site’s code and design, rather than added via plugins or overlays.
We have tried to make this website as Screen-Reader friendly as possible however are always keen to get your feedback. You can do so by contacting us at info@beaconfilms.org.uk
Find out more by clicking here
3/ Finding our entrance, in photographs
Click a photograph to see a larger version of it.
1. Our building has a “Skills for People” sign on it.
2. The entrance is around the back of the building.
3. Enter the porch through the automatic door
4. Once in the foyer, press the button to let the reception staff know you are here, and wait for them to open the door
5. Please sign in, and someone from reception will come and meet you.
4/ Dropped kerb directions from carpark
Please note we do not own the building. If you have any queries about the venue that are not answered on this webpage, please call Skills for People on 0191 281 8737.
Social Model of Disability
At Beacon Films we believe in the Social Model of Disability and strive to apply this approach to all our work
The Social Model of Disability emphasises the responsibility of society to take positive action so that disabled people are fully included, valued, and safe rather than focusing on their impairments or differences.
By “society” we mean organisations, businesses, public bodies, government, and the wider public. This model calls on all of us to remove barriers — whether physical, attitudinal, systemic or otherwise — and to create environments where everyone can participate equally
For Beacon Films, in practical terms, this means:
Being open and transparent about accessibility at our main venue, and the access measures that are in place for workshops and events.
Supporting members to devise an Access and Support Plan or Access Rider which agrees the access requirements that will be put in place for any specific activity.
Reflecting on our practice and always being willing to learn how we can do access and inclusion even better.
Here is a brilliant video by Shape Arts which explains the social model of disability.
Making Creativity Works
Making Creativity Works was a training initiative delivered by Beacon Films and Signpost Productions, two North-East production companies that work with Deaf, hearing, Disabled and non-Disabled screen creatives.
Making Creativity Worksprovided over 100 hours of FREE hands-on training, and equipped learners with the skills and knowledge they needed to develop a career in film, television or video production.
They may have some experience of working on a film or in television, but also no experience was necessary to apply to take part.
We were particularly interested in encouraging a diverse range of applicants, including those who:
identified as Deaf or Disabled
were not in work
were a student approaching the end of their course
29% of those on the programme lived in areas within areas ranked 1-4 in the Indices of Multiple Deprivation (IMD).
39% of those who attended the programme achieved a positive change in economic status, and 78% of learners achieved at least one outcome related to employment or ongoing learning.
Behind the Scenes film about Making Creativity Works
Virtual Visionaries
Created alongside twenty students with Profound and Multiple Learning Disabilities, VIRTUAL VISIONARIES was a large scale immersive video installation that was exhibited at Great North Museum: Hancock in Newcastle.
Shortlisted for a Digital Culture Award 2023
The project partners includedDryden School, Sir Charles Parsons School, Beacon Hill School, Hedley’s College, Great North Museum and Novak. The project was funded by Arts Council England and Sir James Knott Trust.
Beacon Films worked on a one-to-one basis with each student, with the support of school staff. The team filmed the young people taking part in activities they enjoyed and then showed the material back to them to see what visual or audio cues they responded to most positively.
Through this gradual process, the team created 20 individual films, which took it in turns to focus on the unique personalities of each young person. These visuals were connected together by a creative soundtrack which was also made collaboratively with the students. Musician: Simon Tarrant worked with small groups of young people to create a mesmerising score.
All this work culminated in a two-channel video installation at Great North Museum, which exhibited between 22nd October and 4th November 2022. This included a projection onto one of the gallery’s walls, and a synchronised circular projection onto its floor.
The young people came from the schools to experience their exhibition. It was the first time that any of them had their own work shown in a museum or gallery space.
In particular the floor projection was very popular because many young people's natural posture is to look downwards. Some may find 'looking up' quite challenging. The ground projection was also easy to interact with. The young people enjoyed walking on it, and some even got out of their wheelchairs and lay on their projection too.
We carried out audience feedback and out of 97 responses, 84% rated the exhibition either 4/5 or 5/5.
Virtual Visionaries - Single Channel Version
Virtual Visionaries - Behind the Scenes - Made by Daniel Ratcliffe.
Work Placements
We support our more experienced members into screen employment and self-employment. Between April 2022 and April 2024 we supported over 1000 hours of paid filmmaker contracts. We are proud to be members of BASE: the British Association for Supported Employment.
“I feel more confident about doing work for other organisations as the skills I have learned will allow my work to be of the best quality I can offer.”
Mobile Video Workshops
Our mobile video workshops support people from all types of professions to become more confident in using their phones and tablets to make short videos.
We are finding that people are keen to learn how to make content for social media, evaluation purposes or to engage a group through a creative process.
Currently we are able to offer FREE spaces on these workshops for people who live in Newcastle, Northumberland and North Tyneside. Get in touch to find out more.
95% of participants rated the extent to which they would use the skills developed in the workshops in their employment at 4/5 or 5/5
“Great workshop. Really clear and engaging. Enjoyed different parts presented by different people. Definitely started to build my confidence in creating film content and looking forward to trying it out! thanks!”
Supported by
Film Commissions
We make films for organisations. Crewed by talented disabled and neurodivergent filmmakers, all profits are reinvented into developing our skills and promoting our work.
“We were delighted to work with Chris and the team at Beacon Films on a recent project. They produced two excellent films for us that managed to convey a complex message in a simple and moving way. All the more impressive considering the tight timescale on filming and editing. The films surpassed our expectations, and the feedback has been universally positive.
We look forward to working with them again in future.”
Examples of films made by our members, supported by Beacon Films
Live Action
Animation
We have worked with
Animations
We are incredibly honoured to work with OtherGirlArt to offer vibrant and colourful animations for organisations.
“You’ve all been excellent to work with, listening to our brief, being flexible with ideas throughout and producing a really high quality end product that we can’t wait to share.”
Examples of animations
We have worked with