Baseless Fabric Theatre creates site-specific and promenade opera and theatre to inspire audiences to see the art forms and the world around them in new ways. We bring opera and theatre directly into public spaces to give people an opportunity to experience art forms that they might not ordinarily have the opportunity or initial desire to experience, and to shed new light on the piece performed with additional resonance in a real-life public space. We passionately believe theatre and music have the power to build community and transform society.
In line with this mission, Baseless Fabric Theatre seeks to involve volunteers to:
- Ensure our projects effectively engage our audiences and participants.
- Provide new skills and perspectives.
- Increase our contact with the local community we serve.
This policy is intended to ensure good practice in the involvement of volunteers in Baseless Fabric Theatre’s work and promote understanding of the respective roles of staff and volunteers in the organisation.
Principles
This Volunteering Policy is underpinned by the following principles:
- Baseless Fabric Theatre will ensure that volunteers are properly integrated and that mechanisms are in place for them to contribute to Baseless Fabric Theatre’s projects.
- Baseless Fabric Theatre does not aim to introduce volunteers to replace paid staff.
- Baseless Fabric Theatre expects that all staff and freelancers will work positively with volunteers and, where appropriate, will actively seek to involve them in their work.
- Baseless Fabric Theatre recognises that volunteers require satisfying work and personal development and will seek to help volunteers meet these needs, as well as providing the training for them to do their work effectively.
1. Recruitment and Selection
When a role for volunteers is identified and approved a role description outlining the general tasks, required skills or qualities, and conditions of service (i.e. expenses, insurance) will be available in writing.
- Nominated members of staff or freelancers with the appropriate skills will be responsible for the selection of volunteers who would be working under their supervision.
- Volunteers will be recruited from the widest possible base and selected accordingly to their own individual ability to perform the required tasks.
- A clear description (verbally and in writing) of the volunteer’s role will be given.
- If unable to involve a particular volunteer, the staff responsible for the selection must make the reasons clear in a sensitive manner.
2. Expenses
All volunteers will have their reasonable travel expenses reimbursed. Volunteers working a minimum of five hours per day will be able to claim reasonable expenses for lunch.
3. Support
All volunteers will have a named person as their main point of contact. Clear lines of communication should be identified.
- Staff/Freelancers need to devote time to support volunteers, and if necessary be provided with training in relevant skills.
- Note should be taken of individual volunteers needs for support.
4. Induction and Training
- All volunteers will be given an induction to Baseless Fabric Theatre and its work.
- Any training required to enable volunteers to fulfil their roles will be arranged and paid for by Baseless Fabric Theatre.
- If a grievance arises for a volunteer which cannot satisfactorily be resolved by their supervisor, it should be brought to the Artistic Director. If it cannot be resolved, it will be referred to the Trustee Board.
5. Equal Opportunities
- Baseless Fabric Theatre relies on volunteer involvement to keep it relevant to the community it serves and so encourages involvement from all sections of the community.
- Baseless Fabric Theatre operates an Equal Opportunities Policy to ensure that it does not unfairly exclude or discourage the involvement of potential volunteers because of:
- class
- race, colour, nationality or ethnic background
- disability
- sex or marital status
- sexual orientation
- unrelated criminal record.
- Each volunteer job specification should make clear the requirement that volunteers adhere to Baseless Fabric Theatre’s Equal Opportunities Policy.
- If a volunteer has a special need or disability that makes their involvement difficult, every effort will be made to involve them. An explanation will be given if this is not possible.
6. Policy Review
This policy will be reviewed and updated annually by the Board of Trustees. It was last reviewed on 20th October 2024.
