Focus Forward
Focus Forward supports disabled and neurodivergent creatives to take the next steps in their screen career.
2025 - 2028 programme coming soon!
Focus Forward is a network designed for d/Deaf, disabled, and/or neurodivergent (DDN) creatives who are ready 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.
How it works
Online Events
What: Monthly, one-hour online meetings with other creatives.
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: If you're based in the North East, you can apply for more focused, one-on-one support.
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.
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 programmess have helped creatives launch new businesses and have even 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. In the access questions, you can input their email address and they will receive the same Zoom link.
For any other access-related questions, please contact Michelle Fox (getinvolved@beaconfilms.org.uk)