OPINION
Advances in Backup Tech
Backup Tech provides financial support to industry technical professionals, crew / production personnel working in live events and touring. Chair Piers Shepperd outlines how the charity’ s remit has changed over the years.
Since Backup Tech started in 2016, our remit has adapted to keep up with changing needs. It now encompasses not only financial support via medical grants and hardship grants during the pandemic, but access to wellbeing aid, and awareness of mental health and wellbeing. Last year, we helped over 100 people, and so far this year we’ ve helped 24. An increasing number of cases require a form of assistance with their mental health, as crisis situations inevitably causes mental stress, with around a quarter of the cases being a specific request for a counselling grant. That highlights the importance of the charity and the commitment to being relevant to current needs. New initiatives are constantly being proposed.
One of the latest to be put into action is a series of Financial Literacy Workshops. Working in live events, music touring, theatre and broadcast is more than just a job, it ' s a lifestyle. But it often lacks stability and security. We’ ve joined up with The Back Lounge and UK Live Event Freelancers Forum, to help freelancers working in the live entertainment industry become financially informed. The aim is to encourage and educate about forward planning in a potentially uncertain environment to ease financial pressure, which in turn has a positive effect on mental health.
The workshops start on 1 May and are aimed at anyone concerned about income, whether during slow periods or in the long term, especially given the industry ' s post-pandemic challenges and the current climate, job availability, and security.
I think it’ s important to know that our work is funded entirely through donations. For me, it’ s a heartwarming example of an industry which prides itself on a sense of family, stepping up to help itself. We have companies and individuals looking to do their part in both fundraising and raising awareness for Backup Tech. The start of 2025 has seen us gain new partners in Core Pro Audio and TMB join the ever-increasing list of companies giving support, and new ambassadors Suzi Green and Gemma Fletcher, who will also be spreading the word.
“ IT’ S A HEARTWARMING EXAMPLE OF AN INDUSTRY WHICH PRIDES ITSELF ON A SENSE OF FAMILY.”
We’ ve had a few other fundraising initiatives, too, with Core Pro Audio raising money through a raffle at the end of its annual Core Pro Audio Show. Hilton’ s team hosted an event for the entertainment travel sector which raised funds for Backup with a raffle to support the technical crew they arrange travel for for events and tours, and the intrepid We Make Events BikeFest 2025 team, which I took part in, took to the
Piers Shepperd
roads of Spain ahead of ISE to ride in support of Backup.
We also hold our own annual fundraising event. This year we’ ve renamed it The Fabulous Village Fete in celebration of Adam Taylor, aka Adam Fabulous, DJ and long-time supporter of the event. It’ s at the usual venue, Surrey’ s Daytona Sandown Park, on 10 July. We’ ll have the perennial favourites of‘ Best Dressed’, the hugely popular‘ Bake Off’ and‘ Veg Off’, The Straw Stage for live entertainment and workshops,‘ Peasant’ laser clay Shooting, the Food and Craft Fest stalls, the karting competition, and some new additions that will be announced between now and then.
Every day, we hear about issues being faced. Often, just knowing someone is listening is as important as handing out financial help. Now, more than ever, we need to make sure Backup is relevant and look at new ways we can help. We’ re incredibly grateful to each and every company and person who helps Backup in its endeavour to support those in the industry that need our help. We simply couldn’ t survive without the industry’ s support.
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