BAFTA has announced MAMA Youth Project as the recipient of this year’s BAFTA Television Craft Special Award, one of its highest honours.
MAMA Youth Project was founded by TV veteran Bob Clarke in 2005 to widen the TV industry’s talent pool by helping young people from underrepresented backgrounds access a career in the television and media industries.
Billy Clarke
To date, the organisation has helped more than 800 young people across the UK access screen arts careers, with a 90% employment success rate. It equips young people with skills, training, industry insights, peer-to-peer networking and mentoring. MAMA Youth’s alumni have worked at companies including Banijay, BBC, Disney, Fremantle, Warner Bros TV International, Sky, Gravity Media, ES Broadcast Hire, Buzz 16, Sister and Lime Pictures.
The BAFTA Special Award will be presented to Clarke during the BAFTA Television Craft Awards ceremony on 28 April.
Bob Clarke, CEO of MAMA Youth Project, said: “We are deeply honoured to receive this esteemed recognition from BAFTA. This award is a testament to the dedication and hard work of our team, mentors, partners, and most importantly, the incredible young people who have entrusted us with their dreams. At MYP, we believe in the power of media to change lives, and we remain committed to creating a more diverse and inclusive industry.”
Hilary Rosen, BAFTA Television Committee Chair, said: “MAMA Youth Project is a phenomenal organisation that has been making our industry a more equitable and better place for nearly twenty years; fostering community and providing career pathways into the screen arts for young people without existing connections.”
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