Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú

Writers' Access Group

An initiative to give talented disabled writers the chance to expand their writing skills and to be offered opportunities in TV and Radio at the Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú.

The door of opportunity has to be opened a little wider to allow for disabled access
— David Proud, Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú Writers' Access Group 2018/19

Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú Writers' first Access Group launched in 2018. The programme is part of the wider Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú's commitment to reflecting the experiences of the UK’s diverse communities in its output and in order to get more realistic and more authentic portrayals of disabled people on air, as well as interesting and complex views from the disabled community. Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú Writers' Access Group is backed by Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú Content and Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú Drama Commissioning.

For the first two iterations of the group Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú Writers worked in partnership with a number of organisations and practitioners in the field to identify potential members. The writers were then selected on the merit of their scripts, their experience and via an interview process. For the third Writers' Access Group writers have been selected via an open callout for submissions which took place in early 2023.

The group meets regularly (in real life or online), for a programme of masterclasses in such things as story and structure, pitching and treatments, alongside hosting talks from A-list writers, script-editors, Executive Producers and Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú Commissioners. They are given introductions to Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú Continuing Drama, Radio, Comedy, CÂ鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú and CBeebies. Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú Writers provides professional, freelance script-editing support to enable the writers to develop a Drama or Comedy/Drama 'calling card' script, so they can take the next step into authored TV or Radio work. The writers are also introduced to independent producers and production companies, as well as agents and commissioners.

The aim for the group is to achieve professional development, deeper knowledge of the industry and contacts to put the writers in the best possible place to take the next step in their career.

Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú Writers Access Group logo

The 2023/24 Writers' Access Group

We are delighted that the Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú Writers’ Access Group is back for a third time and we’ll be working with a brand-new group of talented deaf, disabled and/or neurodivergent writers over the course of 2023/2024.  

We’ve been working closely with our friends and colleagues at TripleC  to make the programme open and inclusive. 

For the first time writers for the group have been selected via an open call out. The call out was open for submissions from writers between Tuesday 24th January 2023 at 10am and Tuesday 18th April 2023 at 12 noon.

The third Writers' Access Group starting working with us at the end of 2023 and the writers will be announced in early 2025.

We had so many great submissions in the Writers' Access Group open call out that we ran a programme of online support for around 120 writers who reached the longlist but were unsuccessful in gaining a place in the group.

Find out more about our Script Essentials workshops on our blog

The 2020/21 Writers' Access Group

Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú Writers has announced the second Writers' Access Group for 2020/21, after the huge success of the inaugural group.

The initiative gives talented disabled writers the chance to expand their writing skills and to be offered opportunities in TV and Radio at the Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú.

Working with a number of organisations and practitioners in the field, thirteen disabled writers have been chosen on the merit of their scripts, their experience and via an interview process.

Meet the group and find out more about them over on our blog

Writers Access Group member Mandy Redvers-Rowe describes her experience

The Writers' Access Group 2020/21
The Writers' Access Group 2020/21

There are thirteen writers in the group: 

  • Adam Fenton
  • Amy Trigg
  • Angela Clarke
  • Caron Brand
  • Karen Featherstone
  • Kate Wickens
  • Laurence Clark
  • Leanna Benjamin
  • Lizzie Watson
  • Mandy Redvers-Rowe
  • Robbie Curran
  • Shahid Iqbal Khan
  • William Barrington

The 2018/19 Writers' Access Group

The first Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú Writers' Access Group was announced in September 2018 at a special launch event in Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú Broadcasting House.

Read more on our blog

The 2018/19 Writers' Access Group
The 2018/19 Writers' Access Group

There were ten writers in the group.

  • David Proud
  • Amy Bethan Evans
  • Rebekah Bowsher
  • Sophie Woolley
  • Athena Stevens
  • Charlie Swinbourne
  • Michael Southan
  • Ross Willis
  • Matilda Ibini
  • Nicola Werenowska

In addition, several other writers attended many of the sessions and were offered the same opportunities:

  • Annalisa Dinnella
  • Rob Kinsman
  • Tom Wentworth
Watch Charlie Swinbourne introduce the Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú Writers' Access Group

Contact us

If you have any questions about the Access Group please do not hesitate to contact us via email:

Disabled and D/deaf-led organisations

  •  (US based but open to international entries) 
  •  (US based but open to international applications)
  •  and  (the Disabled Artists Networking Community) including the

Latest news and updates

  • Writing Ralph & Katie

    Lead writer Peter Bowker worked with five disabled writers in the creation of Ralph & Katie, a spin-off of popular Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú Drama The A-Word. Most of the writers had previously taken part in our Writers' Access Group. Lizzie Watson, explains what happened.
  • The Writers' Access Group 2020/21

    Find out full details of the members of the group over on our blog

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