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We are delighted to announce that our Â鶹ԼÅÄ Writersroom Writers’ Access Group will be returning for a third time in 2023 and we’ll be looking for a brand-new group of talented deaf, disabled and/or neurodivergent writers to work with 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 we will be selecting writers for the group via an open call out.   

We thought it would be useful to share the timeline with you now to allow for planning time. 

We know that people will have questions about the programme and how it all works so please do get in touch with your questions and we will collate them into a helpful FAQ document and video in due course.  

We’ll also be running some drop-in webinars to answer your questions and support your application. Again, we will let you know the dates of these drop in webinars when we have more information. 

Please read on for more info about the Writers’ Access Group programme and the application dates, and please don’t hesitate to get in touch if you have any thoughts or questions at all via writersroom@bbc.co.uk We welcome video and audio messages as well as text. 

What is it?  

The Writers’ Access Group is a training programme that aims to support and accelerate the professional development of deaf, disabled and/or neurodivergent writers who have faced significant barriers to progress in their writing career as a result of their lived experience of being deaf, disabled and/or neurodiverse.     

What does the programme involve?  

The programme will run for 18 months from October 2023 until April 2025 and include sessions led by professionals from the television industry. We will cover things such as story structure, character development and the commissioning process.  

These will be primarily delivered over Zoom with some in-person sessions (which are likely to take place in London or Manchester) at key moments in the schedule. There will usually be two half-day sessions per month for the first six months. This is followed by a dedicated writing period where participants will complete a new television script in their own time with the support of a professional script editor.   

It is important to note that this script will not be for production - this is to help you create a piece of work that will best show off your writing skills to the wider broadcasting industry.   

Who can submit?  

Anyone who identifies as deaf, disabled and/or neurodivergent AND:  

• Is aged 18 or over  
• Is a resident of the UK or Republic of Ireland    

What do I need to submit?  

• ONE complete script in PDF format (minimum 30 pages). It can be for TV, film, radio or theatre.  
• A paragraph about your writing history (you do not need to have any credits or professionally produced work. We just want to understand your passion for writing)  
• A paragraph on what you hope to gain or develop by taking part in the programme    

How do I submit?  

Full details of the application process including Terms and Conditions of Entry will be published in December. Once the submission window is open, the link to submit a script and other supporting information via our online E-Submissions system will be made available. If you do not already have an E-Submissions account, you will be able to create one via the same link.    

When is the submission window open?  

The submission window opens on Tuesday 24th January 2023 and closes on Tuesday 18th April 2023.    

When will I find out the outcome of my submission?  

We aim to let everyone know the outcome of their submission by October 2023.    

Who can I contact for further information or assistance?  

You can email writersroom@bbc.co.uk with any questions in text, video or audio format. You can also include your telephone number if you would prefer us to phone or text you to discuss your query, please let us know the most accessible way to contact you.  

Find out more about the Writers' Access Group