MAMA Youth Project
Building pathways into TV and film
For more than 20 years, MAMA Youth Project (MYP) has worked to tackle long-standing inequalities in the television, film and wider media industry. Based in London, the charity supports people from underrepresented, working-class and challenging backgrounds to access sustained careers in the industry. The model is built around a crucial principle: access and training must lead to real jobs, not just short-term exposure.
Founder and CEO Bob Clarke established the organisation after recognising how little had changed in the industry since he began his own career.
“I’m only a little pebble in the water,” he explains, “but I wanted to see if I could make a few ripples.”
Training for real work
MAMA Youth Project delivers a full-time, intensive training programme that mirrors the realities of working in television and film. Trainees are given three weeks of role specific training, followed by placement on live productions commissioned by broadcasters including Sky One, Sky Arts and ITV digital. Trainees work to real deadlines, producing broadcast content under commercial contracts.
“We do the technical side, which is the crux of it,” explains Anthony, Fundraising Manager at MAMA Youth Project. “But alongside that, we focus on communication, punctuality, teamwork – all the things you don’t get to learn unless you’re in work. It’s a safety net where people can make mistakes early, rather than when they’re already in employment.”
This focus is evident in the programme itself, where trainees build not only technical skills but the confidence and professionalism needed to navigate a fast-paced industry.
The organisation’s long-term approach also sets it apart. Today, MAMA Youth Project maintains an alumni network of over 1,000 people, supporting individuals between contracts, advising on career progression and connecting them with new opportunities.
Building long term support
As demand for its programmes has grown, MAMA Youth Project identified the need to strengthen its internal capacity and long-term sustainability. Smaller grants could help fund programme delivery, but not the senior technical expertise and strategic planning needed to underpin future growth in an evolving media landscape.
Through Social Investment Business (SIB), MAMA Youth Project secured over £400,000 in blended finance, combining a loan from the Community Builders Fund with a grant from the Flexible Finance Fund, which is designed to support Black and minoritised-led organisations to access investment.
“This funding has been instrumental, and we are grateful to SIB and Create Equity for their support throughout the journey from application to funding.” says Anthony. “It’s helped us think much more seriously about sustainability and where we want to be in the future.”
The investment enabled MAMA Youth Project to bring on a freelance technical trainer, build senior capacity and expand its digital content creation and advertising on social media.
Investing in resilience
The combination of loan and grant finance has strengthened the organisation’s ability to sustain its distinctive model – building confidence, developing industry-ready skills and providing ongoing support beyond the training.
“Our recruitment manager works directly with job centres and over 20 partner organisations,” Anthony says. “Even if someone is just curious about what a career in TV looks like, we’re there to have that conversation. We demystify the industry and guide people into areas they’ll be best in.”
Ongoing impact
MAMA Youth Project’s alumni now work across television, film and the wider creative industries, contributing to a workforce that better reflects the diversity of the audiences it serves.
By using blended finance to strengthen its organisational foundations, MAMA Youth Project is building a model that balances social impact with financial sustainability – ensuring more people can see a clear, tangible pathway into the industry.