Each Filmworks project is produced and commissioned from a variety of sources working in collaboration with various community organisations (schools, youth clubs, job centres etc); specialist bodies (Tower Hamlets Film Office, London Film & Video Development Agency etc); Industry Film & Television training organisations (Channel Four, BBC TV etc); and local media companies (Primal Pictures, Team Pictures, Four Corners, Newham College, Hi8Us, various diary agents etc).

Initially commencing with low-budget short length digital-videos, the overall aim is to work alongside its learners to produce commercially viable short-length narrative drama for national and global television/cinema/internet exhibition.

The Filmworks projects primarily supports unemployed and low-income ethnic minorities toward gaining ICT skills and increase confidences in the acquisition of basic skills. Other eligible ESF beneficiaries will also be considered - ensuring an equality of opportunity that is embedded in the Filmworks selection process.

Working in collaboration with a variety of local community groups the aim of each project is to create imaginative and 'cuttin' edge' writing and short films - documentary, fiction, non-fiction or other - whereby learners are neither passive actors nor passive documentary subjects. Instead, individuals learn to mine their imaginations, cultivate their creativity, and develop fluency in the techniques of cinematic and broadcast representation. In turn, learners emerge, alongside their workshop facilitators, as full creative collaborators. Developing their own narratives - using community members as actors, and utilising their local world as sets and locations, graduates of the Filmworks training programmes are empowered to represent their own communities, develop personal imaginations through the moving image, and gain technical experience in the process of documentary and fiction film writing and production.

The conclusion of each project provides each learner with a quality standard video production and the opportunity to exhibit their work via local, national and global television/cinema/internet outlets. The scripts and projects produced, in turn, enables each learner to seek employment opportunities into the community and commercial media sectors via using their work as 'calling cards'.

Furthermore, each learner is eligible to gain accredited qualifications through Skill Set (the National Training Organisation for Broadcast, Film, Video and Interactive Media Industry), or Open College Network.

The Trust will not tolerate acts which breach this policy and all instances of such behaviour or alleged behaviour will be taken seriously, be fully investigated and may be subject to the Trust's disciplinary procedures.

Objectives of the Policy

›To provide and promote equal opportunities for all volunteers, staff and students
› To promote wider participation of communities from many different backgrounds, particularly from under-represented groups such as ethnic minorities and people with disabilities
› To ensure the talents of all members of society are valued
› To ensure that the law is not infringed in relation to the: Sex Discrimination Act 1975; the Race relations Act 1976; the Disability Act 2000
› To attract and retain volunteers and learners to the Media and Cultural Industries who have diverse experience and qualities to offer
› To improve the practice of the Trust's management committee and to adopt a management style, which values and empowers individuals, listens, consults, supports and help facilitate good practice in equal opportunity
› The Trust will not tolerate any form of behaviour that constitutes harassment or victimisation, on the grounds of sex, race, disability, or other such grounds as unlawful and will be subject to the grievance and disciplinary procedures of the Trust
› It is the responsibility of every member of the Trust's volunteers, staff and learners alike to ensure that the Equal Opportunity Policy is maintained and implemented.