Help Build the Next Act at The Fort Theatre

Have you ever wanted to help run your own theatre?

Theatre gives people somewhere to escape, to laugh, to be moved, and sometimes to explore things that are difficult to talk about anywhere else. We think communities should have places where that can happen.

At the Antonine Theatre Group (ATG), we have one of those places: The Fort Theatre in Bishopbriggs, just one stop from Glasgow Queen Street by train.

We're an amateur theatre company run entirely by volunteers, with something relatively unusual: our own theatre. We produce several shows each year, while also looking after and developing the venue that makes them possible.

This year, our programme has included Bull by Mike Bartlett, Chatroom by Enda Walsh, God of Carnage by Yasmina Reza and 2:22: A Ghost Story by Danny Robins, alongside our annual Christmas pantomime, Hansel & Gretel. So, as you might gather, we're not afraid of a bit of variety.

We're now looking for new volunteer trustees who can bring professional or creative expertise to ATG and help us shape what The Fort becomes next.

Who we're looking for

First, an important point: we're not looking for one miraculous person who can do all the things below. We're looking for several people, each bringing skills or experience in any one of these areas. If you recognise yourself in one of them, we'd like to hear from you.

• Finance and accountancy- You might be an accountant, finance professional or someone with experience of budgets, financial reporting, financial controls and longer-term financial planning. If a reconciled spreadsheet gives you quiet satisfaction, you'll fit right in.
• Fundraising and income development - You might have experience of fundraising strategy, grant applications, trusts and foundations, corporate partnerships or developing new sources of charitable and earned income.
• Governance and organisational development - You might have experience as a company or board secretary, in charity governance, developing policies and procedures, or establishing a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO). We're seeking to become a SCIO, and we're particularly interested in someone who can help us strengthen our governance and support that transition as ATG develops.
• Theatre and the creative industries - You might bring dramaturgical or other professional creative experience, a strong understanding of stagecraft and theatre-making, or established networks across theatre and the wider creative industries in Scotland. We're looking for someone who can bring a wider creative perspective into the room and help us think ambitiously about the work we put on our stage.
• Theatre technology - We're interested in people with a strong understanding of modern theatre technology who'd be excited by the opportunity to help modernise a working community theatre. You might already work professionally in the sector, be studying technical theatre or theatre production, or have developed practical experience in lighting, sound or video elsewhere.

What being a trustee involves

This isn't a trustee role where you turn up six times a year, read the papers, say something sensible about risk and disappear again.

ATG has no paid staff, so our trustees are hands-on. You'll help shape the organisation's direction and use your particular expertise to help make things happen.

The Management Committee meets around six times a year, and we'd normally ask trustees to be able to contribute around two hours a week outside those meetings.

You'll be helping to run a charity with its own theatre, an active programme of productions, finances, licences, members and volunteers. There are real responsibilities involved, but also a genuine opportunity to influence what a small cultural organisation and its theatre become over the coming years.

A board role, but also a creative community.

This is perhaps the unusual bit.

You won't just be joining a board. You'll be joining a theatre company and a creative community.

If you want to, you can audition for a play, direct a production, work backstage, design lighting or sound, build a set, help choose future productions, or learn something you've never tried before. You'll meet people who share an interest in theatre and, we hope, make some friends along the way.

No previous performing experience is required.

None of that is compulsory. If you'd prefer to contribute your expertise as a trustee and watch the shows from the audience, that's absolutely fine.

But we think there's something fairly special about being able to serve on the board of a theatre on Thursday and find yourself rehearsing on its stage on Monday.

You don't need previous trustee experience, and you don't need a background in amateur theatre.

What we're looking for is relevant skills or experience in at least one of the five areas above, sound judgement, and an interest in helping a volunteer-run theatre thrive.

Are you a caring, creative and supportive practitioner who is passionate about making a difference for children and young people?

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join Barnardo's, working across our Staying Connected and Young Carers services in Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire.

We are looking for someone who can build positive, trusting relationships with children and young people and provide practical, emotional and creative support.

What will you do?

As part of our team, you will:

• Provide one-to-one support to children and young people.
• Plan and deliver engaging group sessions and activities.
• Support brothers and sisters to maintain and strengthen their relationships, creating opportunities to spend meaningful time together.
• Support young carers to have their needs identified and voices heard, including completing Young Carer Statements.
• Work positively with families and professionals to achieve the best outcomes for children and young people.
• Raise awareness of the needs of young carers and siblings.
• Work across Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire to meet the needs of children, young people and families.

Is this you?

We'd love to hear from you if you:

• Are kind, creative, inclusive and non-judgemental.
• Have experience of engaging and building relationships with children and young people.
• Can ensure children and young people's voices are at the heart of your work.
• Can provide emotional and practical support while maintaining professional boundaries.
• Enjoy working both independently and as part of a team.
• Are able to work evenings and weekends, which is an essential requirement of this role.
• Hold a current driving licence and are confident travelling across Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire, including transporting young people when required.

If you are passionate about helping children and young people feel supported, heard and connected to the people who matter to them, we'd love to hear from you.

Further Information

For an informal discussion about the post, please contact:

Nicola Williams

Email: Nicola.williams2@barnardos.org.uk

Pay & Reward Framework

We appreciate our colleagues' dedication and their commitment to delivering excellence in the vital work we do, driven by their passion and commitment to Barnardo'svalues.We also know that we can only realise our ambitions and achieve better outcomes for more children, thanks to the talent, hard work and creativity of our people.

We are committed to a rounded colleague experience with an approach to both pay and rewards that are fair, attractive, and progressive. This is in support of our strategic ambition to ensure Barnardo's is a place everyone can belong, grow and thrive.

The salary range advertised is in line with our pay principles, for consistency and fairness while recognising the skills and experience applicants bring to the role. Appointing salaries can be discussed further at appointment stage; we do seek to appoint within this range always exercising responsible stewardship.

Benefits

Workplace Offer: What it means for you

Our hybrid working initiative is based on trust, flexibility and empowerment. We understand our workplace offer means different things to different people, and we encourage those conversations. This may mean working at one of our stores, services, working at home, in the community, at one of our Collaboration Hubs or depending on the role any combination of these. Please read through the advert carefully to understand the remits of hybrid working that will be specific to the role.

Barnardo's require colleagues to be UK residents, based in the UK and to complete their roles from within the UK (with the exception of colleagues providing Barnardo's services in Jersey and colleagues who live in the Republic of Ireland providing services in Northern Ireland)

• Barnardo's believe in creating equality of opportunity in the workplace and supporting people to manage their work-life balance; we are therefore open to offering flexible working arrangements.
• Annual Leave entitlement for full-time colleagues is 26 days per annum, increasing to 27 days per annum, after 3 years Barnardo's service, 29 days per annum, after 5 years Barnardo's service and 30 days per annum, after 7 years Barnardo's service. Those working less than full time are entitled to the same level of holiday pro rata
• The ability to buy up to another 5 days annual leave via our Buy Your Leave scheme
• A host of family friendly leave options including company Maternity Paternity and Adoption pay; together with all family additional leave options
• Service related sick pay from day 1
• Access to a Group Personal Pension with a matched 4% or 6% contribution from Barnardo's. Ability to pay via salary sacrifice to garner both tax and NI savings on your own contribution
• Death in service cover of 4x annual earnings for all staff contributing to our Group Personal Pension
• Cycle2work scheme
• Interest free season ticket loans
• Discounts and cashback from at high street shops including major supermarkets, cinemas, gyms, leisure/theme parks, holidays and much more via our Benefit Portal
• 20% discount at Barnardo's stores
• Opportunity to purchase a health cash plan to claim towards dental, glasses, therapy etc
• Free access to round the clock employee assistance program for advice and support
• Access to Barnardo's Learning and Development offer

*T&C's apply based on contract

About Barnardo's

We are committed to being an inclusive employer and cultivating a culture where everyone can belong and thrive through inclusion and connectivity. We want our workforce to be reflective of the communities we work with, and for equality, diversity and inclusion to be embedded in everything we do. We are a Disability Confident Leader, are progressing our ambition to be an anti-racist organisation with Anti-Racism Commitments and actions in place and have networks for colleagues who are disabled, LGBT+, Black and Minoritised Ethnic and Women. We particularly encourage applications from Black and Minoritised Ethnic and/or disabled candidates who are currently underrepresented in our workforce. For disabled applicants, we offer reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process.

Our basis and values