Please note that the Youth Panel application process is now closed. The BBFC Youth Panel is a group of young people from all over the UK. Their role is to work closely with the BBFC to provide feedback on key classification issues, to represent the youth voice and ensure that we are meeting the needs of young people.

Wage: Voluntary

Location: The BBFC is based in Central London, but Youth Panel members can be based anywhere in the UK. You should be willing to travel to London once a term, travel expenses will be covered by the BBFC.

We are recruiting for up to six new members to join our existing BBFC Youth Panel. The first eighteen months of the Youth Panel have been so fantastic that our current members don't want to leave! That's why we're extending the age limit to 21. However, we need to make sure that we're representing the views of all young people, so specifically want to receive applications from those aged 15 - 17.

Since April 2021 - when the panel was launched - our Youth Panel have been involved in lots of exciting and essential BBFC projects, including featuring in and contributing to our Key Stage 4 Mental Health schools resource, for use alongside the RSE curriculum; contributing a section in our 2021 Annual Report; presenting their views on classification decisions on films as wide ranging as The Suicide Squad to Words on Bathroom Walls to our Board of Classification and our Advisory Panel on Children’s Viewing; and they have also created a wide range of content including an interactive ‘World Movie Map’ and a takeover of our podcast, all of which you can access on our Youth Panel Hub. 

If you become a BBFC Youth Panel member you can expect to feed into our hugely important Classification Guidelines research where we speak to over 10,000 people across the UK. You can also expect to meet lots of industry professionals and learn about the different types of jobs that exist in the UK film industry, participate in some shadowing at BBFC offices, feed into rating decisions and, of course, you will be representing the youth voice to ensure that we are meeting the needs of young people across the country.

Hear from Aaron and William, two of our Youth Panel members:

What we are looking for:

• Young people aged 15-17, from all backgrounds and all areas of the UK. You do not need to be a media studies or film studies student to apply. 

• We’re asking for a commitment to join the panel for one year, after that time you will be free to stay on for longer if you choose. 

• We meet six times a year; three of which are in person, at our offices in Soho, London, (usually outside of term time) and three virtual meetings over Google Hangout. All travel expenses to and from our office will be covered and breakfast and lunch provided for the days we ask you to join us in the office. 

• We will also expect you to complete short tasks in between the sessions, which might include filming a short video, telling us your opinion, or filling in a survey.

What we can offer you: 

• You’ll get a chance to see behind the scenes of the BBFC. We’ve been classifying films for over a century, and you’ll be offered an exclusive chance to understand more about classification, and how we make our decisions. 

• You’ll be offered a chance to shadow a Compliance Officer, understanding what guides their decisions and how they apply our Classification Guidelines.  You will also have the opportunity to shadow other members of the BBFC team including the Communications and Policy departments, if that’s of interest.

• You’ll be able to input into our research and help shape the future of our classification policy.

• Have the opportunity to attend exclusive screenings in our private cinema in Soho Square - the place where every single film is watched and rated before it reaches cinemas. 

• You’ll have the chance to guide and shape our social media campaigns, helping us to reach as many families and young people as possible. We’re looking for young people to create content for us, including videos and photography. We want to include your voice on all our channels. 

• You will also get the opportunity to develop practical work experience skills, including communication, presentation, teamwork and self-management skills. 

• You will be able to network with different teams across the BBFCs and gain a deeper understanding of the role of regulation and content classification.

• All sessions you attend will be structured, with a classification and film industry focus.

To apply to be a part of the BBFC’s Youth Panel, please fill out the application form above. We would also like you to send us a short video (no longer than two minutes) telling us a bit about yourself and answering the following three questions:

• Why would you like to be part of the BBFC Youth Panel?

• What could you bring to the panel?

• What’s your favourite film, and why?

Please note that the Youth Panel application process is now closed.

Successful candidates will be invited to a short, informal interview over Google Hangout - these will be conducted week commencing 6 March. If you have not heard from us by Friday 3 March then you may assume your application has not been successful. Successful applicants will need to be available for a session on Saturday 25 March.