Welcome
Thank you for volunteering with us. Volunteers help make every visit to Hope Street a good one, and we want volunteering here to be enjoyable, safe and worthwhile for you.
Before your shift
- Arrive at the time on your shift and sign in with the Front of House Manager, who briefs the team.
- Wear comfortable shoes and dark, smart clothing unless you are told otherwise.
- If you cannot make a shift, tell us as early as you can so the place can be offered to someone else.
During the show
- Be friendly and helpful: you may be the first person an audience member speaks to.
- Follow the Front of House Manager's instructions, and ask if you are not sure.
- Keep phones away while on duty, except in an emergency.
- Do not drink alcohol before or during a shift.
Health and safety
- At your induction we show you the fire exits, the evacuation procedure and where first aid is kept.
- In an emergency, follow the Front of House Manager's directions and help audiences leave calmly.
- Report any accident, injury or hazard to the Front of House Manager straight away.
- Do not lift anything heavy, climb, or use technical equipment unless you have been trained and signed off for it.
Safeguarding
Many of our audiences include children and adults who may be vulnerable, especially at the pantomime. Everyone at Hope Street shares responsibility for keeping them safe.
- Avoid being alone with a child or vulnerable adult, and never take a child anywhere on your own.
- If you are worried about someone, or someone tells you something worrying, tell the Front of House Manager or the Theatre Manager the same day. Do not promise to keep it secret.
- Do not take photos or videos of audience members.
Respect and equality
We welcome everyone. Treat audiences, companies, staff and other volunteers with courtesy and respect. Discrimination, harassment or bullying are not acceptable, and if you experience or see any, tell the Theatre Manager.
Confidentiality and data
You may see personal information, such as names on a booking list. Use it only for your shift and do not share it. Do not post about audiences, companies or backstage matters on social media without permission.
Ending volunteering
You can stop volunteering at any time; please let us know. We may also end a volunteering arrangement, for example if these guidelines are not followed.
Volunteer agreement
The Hope Street Theatre will:
- give you an induction and any training needed for the role you do;
- tell you who to go to on each shift, and listen to your ideas and concerns;
- keep you safe, with the same health and safety care as our staff;
- look after your personal information as set out in our privacy information;
- treat you fairly and with respect.
As a volunteer, I will:
- follow this handbook and the instructions of the Front of House Manager and the Theatre Manager;
- let the theatre know as early as I can if I cannot make a shift;
- respect the confidentiality of anything I learn while volunteering;
- raise any safeguarding concern the same day;
- tell the theatre if I no longer wish to volunteer.
This agreement describes what we hope for from each other. It is not a contract of employment and does not create an employment relationship: volunteering is unpaid and either of us can end it at any time.
When you are approved, we ask you to reply to our welcome email to confirm you have read this handbook and are happy with the agreement.