The Actors Benevolent Fund has changed its name to the Actors Trust amid an expansion of its help, including offering mental health support to actors and stage management professionals.

The 143-year-old charity will also extend its grant programmes to offer financial support to those in acting and backstage roles who are unable to work due to any major life event. It previously only provided such support due to illness, injury or old age.

The charity says it is repositioning “as a direct response to calls from its members to extend the charity’s reach and to better align with the needs of the industry today”.

Its survey of members also found that nine in ten wanted to the charity to do more to raise its profile.

A separate survey of 5,000 entertainment industry professionals found three in four were unfamiliar with support offered by the charity. This also found that a similar proportion had experienced mental health and wellbeing challenges over the last year.

The charity also points out that almost half of freelancers working in the theatre earn less than the National Living Wage.

The charity has also bolstered accessibility to its support online, including offering an online benefits calculator.

“Circumstances are extremely challenging for those in the industry – we’re seeing this in data and we’re hearing it anecdotally from our members, said Actors Trust chief executive Alison Wyman.

She added: “For nearly 150 years, we’ve been proud to stand alongside those who bring stories to life on stage and screen.

“For this legacy to endure, we need to listen to those who we are trying to support, to continue to provide meaningful help exactly where and when it is needed.”

Actor and the charity’s chair Alex Macqueen, who has starred in TV shows including The Thick of It and The Inbetweeners, said: “These changes are a commitment to strengthening the impact of the charity for years to come – a modern evolution that reflects the needs of the industry today and supports our ‘Acting for Impact’ strategy, to help more people across our industry than ever before.

“We know that at any stage of one’s career there may be times when the show can’t always go on and so our message is simple – we’re here for you.”

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