Volunteer Hub
Relaxed Performance Steward
Organisation Details
The Martin Harris Centre for Music and Drama - University of Manchester
Sub theme: Children, Health and Wellbeing, Older people
Stellify Award: This opportunity is part of 'Make a Difference'
Organisation Description: The Martin Harris Centre for Music and Drama is a performance space situated at the heart of The University of Manchester’s campus.
Since it opened in 2003, the Centre has contributed to the cultural life of students, staff, alumni and the wider community. It hosts new and emerging artists, as well as more established, internationally renowned figures.
The Centre offers a varied programme of arts events, many of which are free, in order to educate, stimulate and engage audiences, as well as provide memorable and inspirational experiences. Events are open to the public and include concerts, theatre productions, literature and spoken word events, seminars and lectures.
It incorporates two major performance spaces: the 350-seat Cosmo Rodewald Concert Hall and the John Thaw Studio Theatre, which can accommodate approximately 100 people, and an electroacoustic music studio.
Since it opened in 2003, the Centre has contributed to the cultural life of students, staff, alumni and the wider community. It hosts new and emerging artists, as well as more established, internationally renowned figures.
The Centre offers a varied programme of arts events, many of which are free, in order to educate, stimulate and engage audiences, as well as provide memorable and inspirational experiences. Events are open to the public and include concerts, theatre productions, literature and spoken word events, seminars and lectures.
It incorporates two major performance spaces: the 350-seat Cosmo Rodewald Concert Hall and the John Thaw Studio Theatre, which can accommodate approximately 100 people, and an electroacoustic music studio.
Description of role: We are looking for volunteers to support our upcoming lunchtime Sing the Musicals Sing-a-long Relaxed Performance on Friday 6th June at the University's Martin Harris Centre of Music and Drama.
Who is the Concert for?
The event is intended specifically to be sensitive to and accepting of audience members who may benefit from a more relaxed environment, including (but not limited to) those with autistic spectrum conditions, anyone with a learning disability or a sensory and communication disorder. The performance is for anyone. Parents with small children; families with members living with dementia etc... We welcome groups that support older people and those living with dementia too. SEND schools have told us they have the dates in their calendar every year, as it’s the perfect event for their pupils, with no need to worry about noise or staying in their seats! We will also have a BSL interpreter to help us be more accessible to those with hearing impairments and also those on the spectrum who are non-verbal. The BSL interpreter also teaches the audience how to sign along to some of the songs too.
How is it a 'Relaxed Performance'?
For our Relaxed Performance we change the nature of the way we run our performances such as:
keeping doors open
keeping lights up
keeping sound levels lower
allowing people to move around and make noise
offering a quiet room away from the concert
permitting refreshments in the space
sharing instruments
having a BSL Interpreter
making FoH staff and other participants dementia friends and sharing training and resources on neurodiversity and language/behaviour relating to disability, making adjustments to the physical space in the MHC)
Why are we contacting you?
We have done plenty of research and training to make our Relaxed Performance as accessible and inclusive as possible, but we would love to have people on our team who represent or identify with the experiences of those who are attending the concert.
What will the volunteering consist of?
Welcoming our guests, assisting with audience members with queries and directions and being on hand to support the concert. We also have some visits out to libraries and schools over the next few weeks. If you would like to be an ambassador and be a familiar face to our audience members on the day that would be fantastic!
For supporting the concert on Friday 6th June, we would need volunteer support for 2 and a half hours:
12pm for a briefing
12.30pm doors open and volunteers meet, greet and assist the audience
1.10-2pm concert and volunteers can join in with singing (or not) and can also help the audience if they need anything during the concert
2-2.30pm circulate the surveys and chat to audience as they depart to get some verbatim comments and feedback.
We will send a little bit of guidance to read beforehand, so you feel confident supporting the event!
If you have any questions or would like to get involved, please contact boxoffice@manchester.ac.uk or visit us at the Martin Harris Centre Reception (open 9am - 5pm Monday to Friday - closed 12:30 - 13:30).
Who is the Concert for?
The event is intended specifically to be sensitive to and accepting of audience members who may benefit from a more relaxed environment, including (but not limited to) those with autistic spectrum conditions, anyone with a learning disability or a sensory and communication disorder. The performance is for anyone. Parents with small children; families with members living with dementia etc... We welcome groups that support older people and those living with dementia too. SEND schools have told us they have the dates in their calendar every year, as it’s the perfect event for their pupils, with no need to worry about noise or staying in their seats! We will also have a BSL interpreter to help us be more accessible to those with hearing impairments and also those on the spectrum who are non-verbal. The BSL interpreter also teaches the audience how to sign along to some of the songs too.
How is it a 'Relaxed Performance'?
For our Relaxed Performance we change the nature of the way we run our performances such as:
keeping doors open
keeping lights up
keeping sound levels lower
allowing people to move around and make noise
offering a quiet room away from the concert
permitting refreshments in the space
sharing instruments
having a BSL Interpreter
making FoH staff and other participants dementia friends and sharing training and resources on neurodiversity and language/behaviour relating to disability, making adjustments to the physical space in the MHC)
Why are we contacting you?
We have done plenty of research and training to make our Relaxed Performance as accessible and inclusive as possible, but we would love to have people on our team who represent or identify with the experiences of those who are attending the concert.
What will the volunteering consist of?
Welcoming our guests, assisting with audience members with queries and directions and being on hand to support the concert. We also have some visits out to libraries and schools over the next few weeks. If you would like to be an ambassador and be a familiar face to our audience members on the day that would be fantastic!
For supporting the concert on Friday 6th June, we would need volunteer support for 2 and a half hours:
12pm for a briefing
12.30pm doors open and volunteers meet, greet and assist the audience
1.10-2pm concert and volunteers can join in with singing (or not) and can also help the audience if they need anything during the concert
2-2.30pm circulate the surveys and chat to audience as they depart to get some verbatim comments and feedback.
We will send a little bit of guidance to read beforehand, so you feel confident supporting the event!
If you have any questions or would like to get involved, please contact boxoffice@manchester.ac.uk or visit us at the Martin Harris Centre Reception (open 9am - 5pm Monday to Friday - closed 12:30 - 13:30).
Skills / qualities associated with the role: Customer Service, Event Planning
Are volunteer expenses available?: No
Duration of role: Fixed / Short term
Start date:
Opportunity times: Friday PM
DBS required: Off
Can reasonable adjustments be made regarding additional needs?: Yes
Is this organisation part of the Sports Volunteering Scheme (SVS)?: No
Minimum hours commitment: 2hrs 30mins
Location:
Martin Harris Centre
Manchester
M13 9PL