MAMA Youth Project announced as recipient of the BAFTA Television Craft Special Award 2024

BAFTA announces MAMA Youth Project as the recipient of this year’s BAFTA Television Craft Special Award; one of the highest honours bestowed by the academy.

MAMA Youth Project was founded by TV veteran Bob Clarke in 2005 to widen the TV industry’s talent pool by helping young people from underrepresented backgrounds access a career in the television and media industries. To-date the organisation has helped over 800 talented young people across the UK access screen arts careers, with a remarkable 90% employment success rate.

MAMA Youth founder Bob Clarke dropped out of school at 17 and stumbled into the world of television without any formal training or education. His resilience, determination, and passion propelled him forward, eventually leading him to establish MAMA Youth Project with the mission of providing others with similar opportunities.

The BAFTA Special Award will be presented to Bob Clarke during the BAFTA Television Craft Awards ceremony on Sunday 28 April. This year’s Craft Awards will return to The Brewery and will welcome award-winning TV presenter Stacey Dooley as host for the first time. The nominations for the previously announced competitive categories can be found here.

Bob Clarke, CEO of MAMA Youth Project, said: “We are deeply honoured to receive this esteemed recognition from BAFTA. This award is a testament to the dedication and hard work of our team, mentors, partners, and most importantly, the incredible young people who have entrusted us with their dreams. At MYP, we believe in the power of media to change lives, and we remain committed to creating a more diverse and inclusive industry.”

Hilary Rosen, BAFTA Television Committee Chair, said: “It is a great privilege to present the BAFTA Special Award to MAMA Youth Project, who work so hard to widen the diversity of talent within the television and media industries, and in so doing, broaden the perspectives and the types of stories we tell on screen. At BAFTA, levelling the playing field for talented creatives and leaving the industry in better health are guiding principles close to our heart. MAMA Youth Project is a phenomenal organisation that has been making our industry a more equitable and better place for nearly twenty years; fostering community and providing career pathways into the screen arts for young people without existing connections. We couldn’t be prouder to celebrate their achievements this Sunday at the BAFTA Television Craft Awards.”

Stacey Dooley, on hosting the BAFTA Television Craft Awards 2024, said: “I am thrilled to be looking after everyone this year, hosting the BAFTA TV Craft Awards! It’s a joy to celebrate such talent, and I will do my best to make sure everyone has a fabulous evening! There are some truly outstanding achievements, it’s important to raise a glass, (and a very fancy, shiny gold mask).”