Volunteering

As a registered Charitable Incorporated Organisation, Lancaster Footlights & Grand Theatre CIO is a historic and vibrant 460-seat performing arts venue with its own amateur society that hosts a wide range of professional and amateur performances. We are committed to providing a safe and enjoyable experience for our guests, performers, staff, and volunteers, all while protecting the amazing community and cultural asset that is the Lancaster Grand Theatre. Our volunteers play a vital role in supporting the charity, and we offer roles in:

• Front of House Ushering
• Front of House Coffee Bars
• Chaperoning

Taking responsibility and volunteering in the coffee bars, as an usher, or chaperone, are all fantastic ways to maintain existing skills, and nurture new ones, and everyone brings something to the team, so we try not to be too prescriptive. However, as we operate a public entertainment venue for over 460 people (some of whom can be vulnerable) please consider the following before applying:

• Volunteers must be aged 18 years or over
• Volunteers must successfully complete our induction, emergency procedures, and mentoring program, before joining the roster
• Our volunteers form part of a team (alongside paid staff) that ensure public safety when emergencies occur
• Our 3-storey heritage building is not equipped with stairs, and volunteering can involve moving around and standing*
• Chaperones receive additional training and must successfully obtain a License (insert button https://www.lancashire.gov.uk/children-education-families/keeping-children-safe/children-in-employment-and-entertainment/chaperoning-of-children-in-entertainment/)
• Although ushers will certainly get to ‘experience’ the show, they often do not ‘see’ very much of it. The most supportive and successful ushering involves observing audiences to ensure we meet their safety and customer service needs.

We want everyone who comes to our theatre, in whatever capacity, to have a thoroughly enjoyable time. To ensure this, we expect all our members, volunteers, and staff to demonstrate our ACTORS Values at all times, and be:

• Approachable
• Courteous
• Trusting
• Open-minded
• Respectful
• Supportive

*Lancaster Footlights & Grand Theatre CIO is committed to equality of access and supporting disability. If you have specific needs and reasonable adjustments that you would like to confidentially discuss with us before completing an application, please contact [email protected]

No. Whilst volunteers are always welcome to join as paying members, it is not essential. Volunteers who give their time in Front Of House roles (Usher and Coffee bar) or as Chaperones, must complete our application process to become part of the charity, but will not be required to pay any fee. That said, if at any time, volunteers wish to join Footlights so they can get even more involved in wider theatre activities, and have voting rights, they are more than welcome to do so. The Application form on this webpage also supports membership changes of this type. All our volunteers receive a monthly newsletter which keeps them informed of upcoming productions, auditions, and activities as well as more general news of interest to everyone.

Even if you do not pay to join Footlights, volunteers still receive benefits and are very much viewed as part of the theatre family. All our volunteers receive a monthly newsletter that includes general news and wider activities, so everyone is always informed about what’s going on at the Grand.

Volunteer benefits include:

• Monthly newsletter
• Free theatre tour for two people
• Two tickets to a Footlights production*
• A great place to make new friends and find joy

Will I Receive Training and Support?

Yes. All our new volunteers will undertake an induction package, training, and support, which includes:

• Our History and Values
• Customer Service
• Health & Safety
• Fire Safety
• Safeguarding
• Specific training related to ticket scanners and point-of-sale device

* Please note, the free tickets to Footlights Show benefit becomes available upon successful completion of volunteer training.

Because we operate a volunteer rota and provide initial and refresher training, we have a number of volunteers on our roster. This isn’t a fixed number but varies based on the range of availability people can offer and how this fits with our performances. While we will always accept new applications for volunteering, we hope you understand that we may not always be able to progress them immediately—sometimes we have to place new applicants on our waiting list. Applicants are taken off the waiting list based on availability offered, emerging gaps in the rota, and whether people are free to attend upcoming training.

To apply please click on the button above to enter our volunteers area where you can select the type of volunteering that is right for you and complete the application process.

Please note: As part of our induction process, an ID check will be required. Further details will be provided in your joining instructions.

Please note: Lancaster Footlights & Grand Theatre CIO is an organisation that takes the safeguarding of children, young people, and vulnerable adults seriously. As part of our Safer Recruitment policy, applicants may be required to complete a self-disclosure form and consent to a Standard DBS check.

Volunteering opportunities are available throughout most weeks of the year, with seasonal variations (particularly during the December panto season with increased daytime shows). This role will be shared with other volunteers and typically offers 3-4 shows per month; however, this can increase during busy periods. Each volunteering period typically lasts 3 to 4 hours. Rotas are usually populated with 8 to 10 weeks’ notice.

No. As these volunteering roles are important to customer service and Health & Safety, new volunteers will need to be available to attend an induction session and fire safety training. Upon completion of the training, new volunteers will be mentored during shows until signed off as ‘Ready to Volunteer’. This approach helps ensure everyone feels safe and supported, and nobody is dropped in at the metaphorical deep end!

The pathway explains what happens.

We strongly encourage attendance at a coffee morning before signing up as this provides an opportunity to meet existing volunteers and members to get a better idea of what is involved.

We recommend attending one of our coffee mornings to meet existing members and volunteers.

These relaxed gatherings take place in the theatre foyer between 10:30 AM and 12:00 PM, usually coinciding with our monthly theatre tours.

There’s no need to book, just come along, grab a coffee at the bar, and introduce yourself as a potential new volunteer. It’s a perfect chance to ask questions, learn about  front-of-house volunteering, soak up the theatre atmosphere, and connect with fellow enthusiasts.

For upcoming dates, our coffee mornings are held on the same days as the theatre tours. However, if you’re just coming to the coffee morning, there’s no need to book a theatre tour ticket, simply turn up and make yourself known at the coffee bar.

If you e-mail us in advance we’ll try and ensure one of our ‘Volunteer Ambassadors’ is on hand to meet you and answer any and all queries!

Please email: [email protected].