EAST x BBC Writers

Mentorship Scheme

EAST has partnered with BBC Writers to deliver our pilot mentorship programme. This support has allowed us to create a programme with some fantastic mentors, who will help to accelerate the careers of our selected mentees.

BBC Writers is part of BBC TV Drama Commissioning. A cross-genre department for scripted content, it also works with CBBC, CBeebies, radio, online and others to develop new and experienced off-screen talent. It has bases in London, Salford, Glasgow, Cardiff and Belfast. 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/writers 

  • Applications for 2024/25 are now closed.

  • Following selection of the mentees, we discuss with them in depth about what they want to achieve through the process before helping them to find a suitable mentor.

  • Mentors and Mentees meet around 4 times over a 6 month period. At the end of each session, mentees agree an action plan with their mentor.

  • BBC Writers are helping EAST support both the mentors and mentees through this process, as well as offering our mentees access to some of their events and opportunities.

2024/25 Mentees

  • David Cheung

    Writer & Script Editor

    Mentor: Manda Levin

    Read Bio

  • Kayla Hendy

    Writer

    Mentor: Daisy Coulam

    Read Bio

  • Lydia Rui

    Writer / Director

    Mentor: Weronika Tofilska

    Read Bio

  • AJ Yi

    Writer

    Mentor: Rachelle Constant

    Read Bio
Our 2024/25 Mentors

Mentoring is where a Mentor:

Mentoring is where the Mentee:

Mentoring is not:

  • Helps the mentee to focus on a specific goal or challenge or career development

  • Encourages the mentee to identify possible ways forwards

  • Shares ideas, stories, examples, expertise, or contacts from their network etc.

  • Helps the mentee identify an action or a way forwards to take steps to reach their goal or solve their challenge, develop their career

  • Encourages, supports, challenges, champions

  • Arranges the meetings

  • Prepares for the meetings by doing any actions from the previous meeting and identifies the focus or topic for the next meeting

  • Wants to develop and learn from the mentor

  • Is willing to generate ideas, be challenged and receive feedback

  • Where the mentor: tells the mentee what to do; wants someone to do work for free; focuses the conversations on their own story

  • Where the mentee expects the mentor to give them a job.