Thank you for offering to be a “Bright Spark” at The Lights in Andover.

People volunteer for a range of reasons. You may have a particular interest in the arts, you may want to give something to your community, you may want to meet new people and make new friends. Whatever the reason we will be pleased to welcome you and do our best to ensure that you find the experience fulfilling.

We anticipate that volunteers will be offered a variety of tasks including work in the:

· Box office

· Wine Bar

· Front of house duties & Cloakroom

· Backstage and technical

· Marketing

· Youth Theatre and Workshops

· Outdoor events – from time to time there may be opportunities to help at large scale outdoor events organised by The Lights team.

If however, you have a specific skill please let us know.

As a Bright Spark you may dip into any one of the tasks above and in return we will be pleased to offer small incentives to say a big thank you.

Theatre Tickets	For every six hours volunteer work you undertake you will be entitled to one free theatre ticket, valid for selected shows.
Social Events	We hope to hold informal social events 3 times a year when you will have the chance to meet and get together with other volunteers.
Prizes	Volunteers will be entered into regular prize draws with the opportunity to win a variety of prizes including gift vouchers for local stores.
Training	The opportunity to learn skills and train in an area in which you may not have worked before.
Refreshment	Whilst on duty you are welcome to unlimited tea and coffee.

Working as a volunteer you will be working with core staff including:

Heather Whittam Director

Rob Sewell Operations Manager Teresa Bradley Marketing Manager

Lisa Mitchard Tourism Officer Michael Johnson Arts Officer

The Lights, West Street, Andover, Hampshire SP10 1AH

music theatre comedy dance education conferencing

The Lights Andover is owned and managed by Test Valley Borough Council and supported by Hampshire County Council.

BRIGHT SPARKS …… IN THE BOX OFFICE

Opening Hours Mon - Fri 10.30am – 5pm and 6.30pm -9pm Sat - 10am – 1pm	As the first point of contact for visitors to The Lights working in the Box Office will put you at the very centre of our business. Working in the Box Office is divided into two different areas: daytime and performance times (usually evenings).
What will I need to do this work?	You’ll need excellent customer service skills and a good telephone manner. The ability to handle cash and information accurately is important.
Day-time shifts	Using Databox software you’ll be responsible for selling tickets and taking bookings for workshops etc. You’ll also be trained to provide general information about The Lights and complete other reception duties. You can choose to work either 10.30am – 1.30pm or 1.30pm to 5pm or a full day. We do however, need you to make a regular commitment to this area of work.
Evening shifts	Very similar to day-time duties, except that the scope is much narrower. Working at performance times, you’ll almost exclusively be dealing with tickets and information for the performance concerned. It is often much busier than the daytime, but does not involve dealing with such wide issues. We do not need such a regular commitment for evening work, although we do recommend that you do at least one shift per fortnight – to remain familiar with the software. Evening shifts are usually from 6.30pm to 9.00pm.
Is training provided?	We’ll provide full one to one training in the software. No previous computer experience is necessary although experience of the windows environment and keyboards skills would be an advantage.

…… IN THE BAR

Opening Hours 6.30pm – 11.30pm	The Bar will usually only open for evening performances. We encourage customers to order interval drinks from the bar before the show which helps take some of the pressure off during the busy interval period.
What will I need to do this work?	You’ll need customer service skills, a warm and friendly manner, the ability to handle cash, work under pressure and be conscientious about hygiene. Some prior experience would be useful but not essential.
What will I be asked to do?	Working as one of a pair, the job involves arriving one hour before the performance to set up the bar. You will need to top up the stock, check your float, organise ice and lemon and then take interval orders. After the interval there is usually a lot of clearing up to do, but our glass washer takes most of the strain and you will usually finish as soon as the bar is tidy. Occasionally the bar will stay open after the show which means bar staff finish for the evening between 10.45pm and 11.30pm.
Is training provided?	Whenever possible, training is carried out on quieter nights.

…… FRONT OF HOUSE

Performance times as necessary.	Front of house volunteers are the welcoming face to our visitors. This could involve working as an Usher or in the cloakroom.
What will I need to do this work?	A helpful, enthusiastic and friendly approach and the ability to remain calm under pressure.
What will I be asked to do?	As an Usher you will be required to take tickets, show people to their seats, answer general queries and provide information. On a more serious note you will also be required to assist the Duty Manager in carrying out an evacuation of the premises in the event of an emergency. Ushers are mainly required for evening performances working from one hour prior to a performance until the end of the show. Working in the cloakroom you’ll take coats and belongings and issue tickets for customers to reclaim their items at the end of the show.
Is training provided?	Front of house volunteers will be briefed by the Duty Manager at the beginning of each shift. Training in emergency procedures will be provided separately.

…… BACKSTAGE & TECHNICAL

Preparation and performance times as necessary.	The spaces at The Lights are flexible but will need setting up and breaking down for a variety of activities. With gigs, shows, workshops and exhibitions all taking place at The Lights there will be a regular requirement for help behind the scenes plus the inevitable maintenance tasks.
What will I need to do this work?	You will need to be fit and healthy as some lifting and climbing may be necessary. If you possess good DIY skills these would be useful as would a knowledge of electrics.
What will I be asked to do?	This could involve anything from moving furniture to working with lighting / sound and scenery.
Is training provided?	You will report to the Technical Officer at all times who will provide clear guidelines for each task required.

…… MARKETING

Required at key times of the year and for special campaigns.	Marketing includes research, promotion and evaluation of everything we do. At different times we will need to reach different people with different messages and listen to their comments so that we are sure we are providing what it is that people really want.
What will I need to do this work?	An organised and conscientious approach to tasks and a friendly and approachable attitude. Some computer skills would be useful.
What will I be asked to do?	Duties are wide and varied and could involve: Preparing mailshots by stuffing envelopes, archiving press coverage, collation of research data, press releases and the distribution of brochures and posters.
Is training provided?	All tasks will be fully explained.

…… OUTDOOR EVENTS

Performance times as necessary.	The Medieval Fayre, The Christmas Pageant and Summer Sounds in Vigo Park are just a few of the outdoor events previously organised by the Andover Live Committee. It is envisaged that The Lights team will work with this committee to further develop a programme of quality outdoor events for the town.
What will I need to do this work?	A helpful, enthusiastic and friendly approach and the ability to remain calm under pressure.
What will I be asked to do?	Stewards perform an invaluable duty at outdoor events ensuring the safety of all present. You may get involved in a range of tasks including - ticket collection, information points, promotional literature distribution, crowd management, accompanying artists, manning road closures – be prepared for anything!
Is training provided?	For large scale events full information and safety briefing meetings will be held with all volunteers and information packs will be provided. High visibility jackets will be issued and at times two way radios.

…… YOUTH THEATRE

When will I be required?	Volunteers will be required to assist with workshops and youth theatre classes on a regular basis and during school holidays.
What will I need to do this work?	You will need a friendly and approachable manner, good organisational skills, patience and a sense of fun and love working with children and young people.  A full CRB check will be required.   This volunteer role, in the main,  requires a regular weekly commitment.
What will I be asked to do?	Duties include assisting tutors in delivering the class/workshop, supervision of children, backstage work and much more. This is a very varied role.
Is training provided?	Volunteers will be fully briefed about the detailed requirements of the role.

VOLUNTEER REGISTRATION FORM

Private and Confidential

Surname: Forename:

Address:

Postcode: Date of Birth:

Tel No Day/Mob: Tel No Eve:

Email:

Ethnic Origin (please tick)

Asian	Bangladeshi	Black African
Black Caribbean	Black other	Chinese
Indian	Irish	Mixed heritage or race
Pakistani	White	White other

Any other group (please state) ______________________________________

Do you have a current driving licence? Yes / No

Do you have the use of a car? Yes / No

Do you consider yourself to have any kind of disability? Yes / No

If yes, please provide brief details ______________________________________

Current / last occupation: ______________________________________

Previous occupation: ______________________________________

What are your reasons for wanting to volunteer at The Lights?

(Please tick all that is appropriate)

Theatre / arts environment	Making new friends / meeting people
Community involvement	Learning new skills
Retired	Unable to undertake paid work

Which areas of work are you interested in undertaking?

(Please tick))

Box Office	Wine Bar	Usher
Cloakroom	Backstage/ Technical	Marketing
Outdoor events	Youth Theatre

When would you generally be available for voluntary work?

(Please tick all that are appropriate)

	Mon	Tues	Wed	Thurs	Fri	Sat	Sun
Daytime
Evening

Please provide the names of two people who would provide a character reference for you:

Name: Address:

Name: Address

Please sign to confirm that all the details you have provided are correct, to give your consent to a reference check, and to agree to abide by The Lights policies and procedures.

All volunteers are required to complete the attached Declaration of Criminal Record.

Please note if you volunteer to work in the Youth Theatre, Box Office or Backstage areas this may involve working with children and young people and you will be required to undertake a separate Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) check. We will provide the necessary contacts for this. References will be taken up for all volunteers.

Signed: _______________________________________________________

Print name: _____________________________ Date: _________________

Please return your completed form to:

Sharon Vennall

Duty Manager

The Lights

West Street

Andover

Hampshire

SP10 1AH

Private and Confidential

DECLARATION OF CRIMINAL RECORD

(Subject to the provisions of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 & 1986)

Please complete and return together with the Volunteer Registration Form

Surname: Forename:

Address:

Postcode: Date of Birth:

Please delete as appropriate:

I have no previous criminal record

I hereby declare my previous criminal record history as follows:

Nature of conviction/offence

Penalty imposed

Date convicted

Other relevant information

Signed: __________________________________ Date: _______________

Print name:__________________________________