Disabled filmmakers will soon find the industry more accessible, thanks to an initiative at the National Film and Television School (NFTS) in Buckinghamshire. The leading TV and film school has recently announced a new bursary scheme and fully accessible accommodation on campus.
Hamish Thompson, Disability Lead at the NFTS says: “This work is vitally needed to remove the barriers that prevent disabled people from accessing world-class training and the opportunities it can unlock in the screen industry.”
From January 2027, the school’s Beaconsfield campus will have nine new accessible rooms, giving physically disabled students the opportunity to live and study on site. The accommodation will have step-free access, spacious room layouts suitable for wheelchair users and mobility aids, accessible wetroom bathrooms with adapted fittings and safety features, plus wide doorways and level flooring.
“With our nine rooms and Accessible Living Bursaries, we are not only offering these students fully accessible accommodation for the first time, but also covering the costs of reasonable adjustments to their living arrangements,” says Hamish.
The NFTS decided to make these improvements for the disability community following a recent accessibility audit, which revealed 200 inaccessible areas on campus. These changes represent a positive step towards inclusion and will help bridge the accessibility gap.
“It’s been an extraordinary journey getting to this point, and we’re so excited to now be recruiting the first students who will live in the Cubby Broccoli Building,” says Hamish.
Photo: Courtesy of NFTS
