Other Services

Feel the Benefit

In 2006 the union's Accident and Backstage cover which applies to all members, dealt with 85 claims and paid out £133,198 to Equity members while the Public Liability Insurance saw 8 claims amounting to £19,136. More than £2.3million was paid into the Equity Members Pension Scheme from contract-related payments and more than 3100 members are now in the scheme.

Legal and Welfare Support

During 2006 Equity litigated 231 cases for breach of contract and 32 for personal injury sustained in the course of a professional engagement. This is in addition to the many claims settled without going to court. We also took 8 cases to Benefits Tribunals and were successful in all Jobseekers' Allowance appeals.

Increase in Jobs

Equity's Job Information Service saw a 59% increase in the number of jobs with 3180 postings added to the service in 2006. In addition some 230 new employers gave us casting breakdowns and details of vacancies in non-acting areas of the industry.

Film and Television - Contract Enforcement

We began a project to investigate, recover and distribute royalty and residual payments to members. By the end of 2006 £89,157.22 had been distributed to cast members who had worked on Equity. We are still investigating other productions where it is believed there are outstanding royalties and residuals to cast members.

One-to-One Advice

During the pilot project more than 350 members had one-to-one sessions with our three trained Careers and Learning Advisors, some 60 student members attended career development sessions and more than 140 careers advisors from the state sector attended workshops giving them realistic information about the entertainment industry to pass onto their students.

Out and About

In 2006 we participated in the following as exhibitors, panellists, workshop providers and speakers further raising the profile of Equity amongst members and potential members and within the wider industry.

  • Black FilmMaker Film Festival
  • Blackpool Blitz
  • British Dance Edition
  • Catholic Stage Guild Annual Student Event
  • Comedy School's Funny Festival
  • Covent Garden May Fayre and Puppet Festival
  • Clowns International Convention
  • Edinburgh Festivals
  • Leicester Comedy Festival
  • Media Days in London and Manchester
  • Move it! Dance event
  • National Student Drama Festival
  • National Street Arts Conference and Showcase
  • Respect Festival
  • RSC Complete Works Young Actor Event
  • Royal Theatrical Fund's Summer Fayre
  • Showcall Showcase (both events)
  • Upstix - Rural Touring Theatre conference and showcase
  • Various student showcases
  • VOX 2006
Charitable Works

During 2006 members benefited from support in the following ways:

  • Equity Benevolent Fund - paid out £30,899.39 in grants and loans
  • Evelyn Norris Trust - paid out £26,868 to 53 people
  • Equity Trust Fund - paid out £59,600 in grants and £5,000 to support the John Fernald Award fund for young professional directors and £15,000 to help the Interact Reading Service which employs actors to read to stroke patients across the country

Artists include all performers and creative personnel

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