Back Up & PSA Benevolent Fund

CLOCKING OFF

YOU CAN BE MY WING (WO)MAN ANY TIME...

One whirly bird and two daft birds take to the sky in the name of charity, as Kel Murray reports (having lived to tell the tale).

There’s few things the TPi team can’t get access to when we put our ninja-like journo skills to the test… Yet over the past few years, we’d heard murmurs from the world of our pro audio comrades about an annual charity quiz, and how it was strictly a no-press zone. Imagine! The reason being that the charity fundraiser isn’t an event intended for public consumption. It’s a discreet event aimed at, well, raising funds somewhat anonymously.

And, up until the end of last year, that was indeed the case until suddenly, we were allowed in, alongside a select group of industry press... We saw the night unfold, and some of us were even accidentally wearing fancy dress - that’s a story for the pub, folks - and, both the bubbly, and the mockery flowed in equal measure as the nylon itch of a 10 quid Amazon purchase grew even more apparent.

The chosen charities were the PSA’s Welfare Benevolent Fund, Stage Hand, and Backup, both of which recieved 50% of the fund each. The PSA’s website reads: If disaster should strike - in particular, an injury or illness that prevents you working or forces an unplanned change of career - it’s good to know that emergency help may be at hand. Depending on your circumstances, the PSA Welfare Benevolent Fund may be able to offer you a small grant to help tide you over, or to help with re-training. It is not, of course, designed to be a substitute for full insurance cover. This charitable Trust was set up in 1998 as a

centre of support and resource to PSA members at times of personal crisis. Backup - The Technical Entertainment Charity - provides financial support to industry technical professionals working in live events, theatre, TV and film.

Essentially, both foundations widely benefit freelancers and production personnel greatly, and the thousands of pounds raised have gone to some very worthy individuals.

One of the ‘prizes’ was helicopter flying lessons at Hertfordshire’s Flying Pigs school. This raffle raised £1,300 (GBP) to be split between the 2 charities, and was bid on by some kind rental houses. Myself and DiGiCo’s Maria Fiorellino were the chosen recipients of a Goose and Maverick style day out. Leaving our pilot suitably impressed* Maria’s navigation skills at 900ft were a sight to behold, as I was holding on, searching for the landing strip from above. Thanks to everyone who helped to make it happen. I’m more scared of flying than ever, but I’m also comforted by the fact that this is an industry that thrives on community and strength in numbers rather than boastful egos. *distinctly worried, if I was really going to guess. TPi www.psa.org.uk/about/welfare-benevolent-fund www.backuptech.uk

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