VOLUNTEERING
Why volunteer with us?
Volunteering is a great way to meet new people, learn new skills, gain confidence and experience. It allows you to impact and connect with your community, with opportunities that fit a variety of interests.
Here at Utopia Theatre we have different volunteer roles that suit different interests and time availabilities. We seek to work with volunteers to:
- Engage a more diverse range of skills, experiences, and knowledge.
- Increase contact with the local community.
- Provide opportunities for skills development.
- Raise awareness about the Company and its work.
- Inform the development of Utopia’s work by bringing in new ideas, opinions, and approaches.
In return, all of our volunteers will receive ongoing advice and support, opportunities to attend and be part of creative events, and develop valuable employability experience.
Assist the Participation Manager/Participation and Outreach Officer/ Workshop Leaders in the delivery of weekly Youth Academy sessions and support the Participation Manager and other staff on Youth Academy trips. Duties will include:
- Setting up the venue for sessions
- Ensuring the general wellbeing of children and young people, creating a safe and welcoming environment
- Supporting the activity, ensuring all participants are engaged
- Tidying up after the sessions
- Giving feedback to the facilitator and Participation Manager as requested
Skills development: Creative Facilitation, Session Planning, Reporting, Content Development
Assist the Participation Manager/Participation and Outreach Officer/ Workshop Leaders in the delivery of weekly Learning Club sessions and support the Participation Manager and other staff on excursions/trips. Duties will include:
- Planning the session
- Setting up the venue for sessions
- Ensuring the general wellbeing of children and young people, creating safe and welcoming environment
- Supporting the activity ensuring all participants are engaged
- Gathering feedback from the participants using the Facilitator’s chosen method
- Tidying up after the sessions
- Giving feedback to the Facilitator and Participation Manager as requested
- Planning and risk assessing for trips
Skills development: Creative Facilitation, Session Planning, Content and Resource Development, Reporting and Evaluation
Assist the Participation Manager/Participation and Outreach Officer/Workshop Leaders in the delivery of weekly Learning Club sessions and support the Participation Manager and other staff on excursions/trips. Duties will include:
- Assist in setting up the venue for sessions
- Ensuring the general wellbeing of children and young people, creating safe and welcoming environment
- Supporting the activity ensuring all participants are engaged
- Tidying up after the sessions
- Giving feedback to the Facilitator and Participation Manager as requested
- Supporting on trips
Skills development: Creative Facilitation, Planning Sessions, Content and Resource Development, Reporting and Evaluation
As ‘front of house’ you will be the welcoming face of Utopia Theatre. We have a city centre venue which hosts events and productions, and is also open for commercial and community hire. We are often open at weekends and evenings and need reliable volunteers to support open/close and ensure the safety of the venue. Duties will include:
- Represent the values and vision of Utopia Theatre, at all times demonstrating respectful and inclusive behaviours
- Open in good time and close the venue securely
- Set the venue up as specified in the booking agreement
- Ensure there is adequate seating for all attendees
- Ensure all rooms are clean, clearly marked and well organised at all times
- Ensure any equipment that guests may need is available and easily accessible
- Greet and welcome guests to the venue
- Explain Health and Safety requirements for the venue
- Facilitate and direct guests to designated rooms
- Provide relevant information to event attendees
- Responsible for the successful running of the venue during the event
- Handle guest queries in a timely and professional manner
- Dismantle/take down equipment at the end of the event
Skills development: Communication, Event Organisation, Customer Service
Utopia Theatre is looking for volunteers to help out at our events. Duties include:
- Thinking about our guest’s ‘journey’ throughout the event and any access needs
- Helping prepare the venue- set up and take down of equipment
- Front of house- welcoming and signing people in
- Supporting the completion of evaluation forms
- Serving food/drinks
- Clearing up
Skills development: Communication and Public Speaking, Event Planning, Advocacy
Utopia Theatre are always looking to reach new audiences and inspire communities and creatives to join us in celebrating the arts- specifically showcasing productions, events and the talents of Africa and the African and Caribbean diaspora. Duties include:
- Leafleting
- Talking to groups of people about specific events/activities
- Supporting as a Community Ambassador including attending networking events for Utopia Theatre
- Generating social media content– photos and filmed footage (this would require training around image permissions and what suitable content might be)
Skills development: Public Speaking and Communication, Social Media Content Creation, Film and Photography
Utopia Theatre works with professional and non-professional actors on various sized productions throughout the year and can always benefit from help around busy rehearsal times. Duties include:
- Working as a runner e.g. to source props or materials
- Setting up/tidying the space
- Note taking
- Recording rehearsal footage
- Running warm ups
- Administrative support– emailing call times, ensuring schedule is kept to
Skills development: Assistant Directing, Stage Management
Utopia Theatre needs to regularly report back to funders on the audiences we reach and their experience of our work. Evaluation and reflection are critical to our continued improvement and success. Duties include:
- Administrative support– printing surveys, collating responses
- Interviewing people post-show
- Ensuring audience surveys are completed
- Recording attendance figures
Skills development: Administration, Data Collection, Communication, Evaluation and Impact Reporting
- Add to your work experience
- Opportunity to receive an employment reference
- Develop your communication, collaboration and team working skills
- Making friends and meeting people from a variety of cultures
- Supporting your community
- Improving your mental and physical health through a range of creative activities