ITV and Lifted Entertainment have unveiled details about its updated duty of care protocols, ahead of the forthcoming eighth series of ITV2 and ITV Hub’s "Love Island." “The world we live in is changing every day, and we want all of our Islanders to feel they are part of an inclusive environment in the Villa," Ade Rawcliffe, Group Director of Diversity and Inclusion at ITV, said. "As part of our duty of care process, it is also important we play our part in educating our participants to understand and empathise with different perspectives and lived experiences.”
Extensive welfare measures remain in place to provide support to programme participants before, during and after filming. Ahead of this series, contributors on the show will be offered video training and guidance covering inclusive language around disability, sexuality, race and ethnicity, behaviours and microaggressions.
The inclusion training, which Islanders are offered prior to entering the Villa, consists of conversations chaired by BCOMS founder Leon Mann MBE and including DEI (Diversity, Equity & Inclusion) consultant Hayley Bennett, disability specialist Shani Dhanda and broadcaster Sean Fletcher. These discussions will tackle topics including inclusive language, behaviour, creating safe spaces and being a good ally.
Additionally, before they go into the show, prospective Islanders will watch a video fronted by the show’s executive producer and head of welfare interviewing former Islanders about their experiences on the show. This includes details on the two week period before they enter the Villa, how to cope being filmed 24/7, the interaction they will have with producers in the Villa, the support provided to family members, dealing with social media trolling, and adapting to life away from the show.
The welfare services include comprehensive psychological support, training for all Islanders on the impacts of social media and handling potential negativity, training for all Islanders on financial management, detailed conversations with Islanders regarding the impact of participation on the show, a proactive aftercare package which extends support to all Islanders following their participation on the show, and the guidance and advice on taking on management after the show. As with every year, these measures will be frequently reviewed and evolve in line with the popularity of the show and the increasing level of social media and media attention around the Islanders.