Our team
We’re currently a small team…with big dreams
Malcolm - Co-Founder
Malcolm has been a carer for over 10 years, but is still able to continue working as a producer, consultant and trainer in the indie film sector.
Malcolm was already a keen advocate for carer awareness when he was invited to sit on the Film and TV Charity’s community working group for ‘The Whole Picture Programme’, the pioneering, industry-led movement for better mental health in film, TV and cinema. Malcolm was introduced to the Charity, by the Head of Inclusion and Diversity at PACT, and invited to join a group of experts working together, with the Film and TV Charity, to make meaningful changes and interventions with real impact.
Malcolm brings his experience working in the industry and his hard- won lived experience as a carer to the Film and TV Carer’s Club. Since unexpectedly becoming a carer a decade ago, Malcolm has co-produced and co-facilitated the West London NHS Trust’s ‘Carer Awareness’ training for NHS staff, and been spokesman for the Working for Carers programme led by the Carers Trust.
As a nationally qualified mental health instructor, Malcolm can now teach all the Ofqual regulated qualifications for training mental health first aiders. This includes how to look for signs of significant distress, listening to what people say, and reassuring everyone it's OK to talk about our feelings, as well as providing signposting to professional support.
In 2023, he also completed a new ScreenSkills qualification, a Level 3 award in education and training for the screen industries, using inclusive teaching and learning approaches. Malcolm is in addition, a Screen Skills mentor and evaluator to assess and accredit training courses for the screen industries.
Listen to Malcolm’s story.
Louise - Co-Founder
Louise became an unpaid carer after her mother contracted bacterial then viral meningitis in 2008 and looked after her until 2013.
“My mother had life-long significant mental health issues, but after meningitis there was a serious drama almost every day with weekly, sometimes daily, admissions to A&E. There were phone calls at all hours of the day and night, numerous situations to diffuse, plus the usual medical appointments and continual safeguarding discussions with social services and the NHS.”
In April 2011, Louise also became the full time carer for her partner who had severe mental health issues and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. In July 2011, she became carer for her former Executive Producer who had been abandoned by his wife after a mixed form dementia diagnosis. Louise also cared for her mother-in-law when her cognitive abilities failed, managing all aspects of her life remotely until 2019.
Louise continued to work when possible as a freelance special interest documentary producer/director. She didn’t share with her work colleagues and employers that she was an unpaid carer for 4 people.
Since stopping work entirely in 2016 to provide increased support for her partner, Louise has produced short form video content and mentored people with a leading charity that finds work for people with long term health conditions and their carers. Louise helped candidates to become work ready by building pacing and confidence through tailored tasks. Louise also supported candidates with benefits advice and signposting.
Louise is hoping to return to film and TV production in a remote capacity. She completed the ScreenSkills Step Up to Production Coordinator course in 2022. Louise is writing her first drama script and using her research skills to trace her ancestors.
