Backup Tech
About This Funder
Backup Tech, formerly Lite Relief, Behind The Scenes UK, and TECH: The Technical Entertainment Charity, is the UK's specialist charity founded in the early 2000s by industry leaders to provide tailored financial and wellbeing support to technical professionals, crew, production personnel, and supply chain workers in live events, music touring, theatre, and broadcast sectors. Its mission centers on addressing acute crises like serious illness, injury, mental health struggles, and financial hardship that disproportionately impact freelance behind-the-scenes workers, guided by values of fairness, kindness, respect, and empowerment. Distinctively person-centric, it offers holistic aid—including medical grants for living costs, expenses, retraining, and travel; hardship grants for unemployment or incapacity; and wellbeing programs like free Mental Health First Aider (MHFA) training via the AJ Bursary, addiction workshops, counselling grants, a 24/7 helpline, and online resources—to destigmatize help-seeking and enable recovery and return to work.
Funding targets individuals with at least five years' professional experience in UK entertainment technology (behind the curtain, camera, or on the road), including immediate family members facing crises; it does not support charities, organizations, or general projects. Applications are UK-wide with no geographic, income, religious, or entity restrictions beyond this sector-specific criterion.
Grants typically range from £500 to £5,000 (AJ Bursary ~£300-£350), awarded via a simple online form on a rolling basis, with trustee decisions in 4-6 weeks. Backup Tech stands out as the only UK charity with this comprehensive remit for technical entertainment workers, emphasizing ongoing guidance and adaptation to sector needs over organizational funding or core costs.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How much funding does Backup Tech provide?
Backup Tech typically provides grants ranging from £500 - £5,000.
Where does Backup Tech fund charities?
Backup Tech funds charities operating in UK.
How do I apply for funding from Backup Tech?
With Fundermatcher, you describe your charity once and see your compatibility score with Backup Tech. If you're a good fit, you can start drafting your application immediately using our AI co-pilot — paste each question and word limit, and the co-pilot writes a tailored first draft using your charity's real data and Backup Tech's priorities. You review and edit every answer before submitting.
Will funders know my application was drafted with AI?
No. The co-pilot uses your charity's real name, numbers, and impact data — not generic filler or templates. Every draft reads like it was written by someone who knows your charity inside-out, because it's built on your actual profile. You edit and refine every word before it goes anywhere, so the final application sounds like you — because it is.
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