Funding you can apply for yourself.

Arts Council England — Developing Your Creative Practice · Individual creative practitioners in England wanting time to develop, not to make a specific product.

A grant for individual creative and cultural practitioners to learn, innovate and take creative risks, aimed at a meaningful shift in practice rather than delivering a project. It runs in rounds and was closed when checked; decisions on the last round are due in September or early October. Read the Guidance for Applicants and the readiness checker before starting.

BFI NETWORK · Early-career writers, directors and producers aged 18 and over, based in the UK.

National Lottery funding and support for early-career filmmakers, delivered through regional teams, covering short film funding, early feature development funding, travel grants, talent labs and mentoring. It funds projects and development, not crew training — if you want a course paid for, ScreenSkills bursaries are the better door.

Film and TV Charity — Sir Horace Ové Grant · Black and Global Majority behind-the-camera workers facing a financial barrier to taking up work.

Up to £500 to meet an immediate financial obstacle or get someone back to work, named for the pioneering Black filmmaker. The work tests mirror the Stop-Gap Grant — 40 days paid behind-camera work in the last 18 months, or two years in the past decade if returning after a break — plus UK residency, no accessible savings, and a specific opportunity the money unlocks.

Film and TV Charity — Stop-Gap Grant · Behind-the-scenes film, TV and cinema workers in immediate financial hardship.

A one-off grant of up to £500 for people with no other income or savings. Eligibility is tight and specific: 40 days of paid work in the last 18 months, or two years in the industry if returning from a career break; under £1,000 in accessible savings; currently in deficit; UK resident with photo ID and references. It is emergency money, not development money.

Northern Ireland Screen Skills Fund · Northern Ireland residents already working in the independent film, TV or digital sector.

A bursary covering up to 75% of course costs or £2,000, whichever is lower, with the rest matched from your own or private funds, and up to two bursaries per financial year. You need at least a year's industry experience and a place already accepted on the course; full-time students, actors and writers are excluded, as are festivals, markets, conferences and retrospective claims.

Royal Television Society Bursaries · Undergraduates and HND Level 5 and 6 students from lower-income backgrounds heading for TV, film or media.

£1,500 per academic year plus free RTS membership, event access and personal industry mentoring, across the TV Production and Journalism Bursary, Digital Innovation Bursary, STV Bursary, Steve Hewlett Scholarship and Beryl Vertue Scholarship. You can be studying any subject — the test is lower-income background plus demonstrated commitment to the industry.

Screen Scotland Professional Development Fund · Scotland-based screen professionals paying for their own development.

One of Screen Scotland's four funding routes alongside the Film Development and Production Fund, Broadcast Content Fund and Production Growth Fund, drawing on Scottish Government and National Lottery money. Read the published guidance in full before applying — the fund pages set eligibility rather than the overview, and Screen Scotland asks you to ring the enquiries service if you are unsure.