Become a Trustee of Gosforth Civic Theatre

Come and join us!

Do you share our passion for giving people with learning disabilities the opportunity to proactively and positively shape how the general public view them.

Are you supportive of our drive to provide local people of all backgrounds with a theatre and space where they can come together, enjoy performance, film, and music and use as an important social hub.

Are you looking for a volunteer role to expand your skills and give back to your local community in 2026?

If this sounds like you, we would love to hear from you.

What we are looking for

We are looking for people who can strengthen our Board and enable us to fully realise our plans for the future. We are especially keen that our Board more fully reflects the diversity of the community we are based in and the wider communities we work with.

We are looking to recruit trustees with one or some of the following skills, knowledge and experience:

Facilities Management (arts/hospitality) – although we have good skills within our staff team we would like to find a trustee who can bring facilities and health and safety management skills to the board.

Hospitality - we have a growth opportunity in this space and would like to bring some further expertise into the team.

Philanthropy - although we have grown our team in this area experience would be appreciated to maximise the potential in this area.

What you will do

As a Trustee this is a voluntary role but all reasonable expenses will be paid to support attendance at meetings.

You will be expected to:

• Attend 4-6 Board meetings per year.

• Attend time limited sub-groups, strategic planning sessions, occasional away days and training relevant to your role.

You do not need to have prior experience of being a Trustee as training will be given so that you fully understand the responsibilities that come with this role.

The recruitment and induction process will include an interview with the Chair of the board and the Chief Executive, the opportunity to sit-in on a board meeting, a tour of the building, an opportunity to meet some of our beneficiaries, and a finance induction. If you require any reasonable adjustments please let us know in your application.

To find out more pop in and say hello or you can visit our website and social media

www.gosforthcivictheatre.co.uk

How to apply

Please send an email or a short video of yourself telling us:

- a bit about you

- what skills you could bring to the organisation

- why you would like to become a trustee of GCT.

- Please include a CV of your experience if you have one.

Please send this information to emma@gosforthcivictheatre.co.uk

If you would like a conversation to find out more prior to application this can also be arranged.

About us

Our organisations mission is “To raise everyone’s expectations about what people with learning disabilities can achieve”. To help us achieve this, in 2016 we opened Gosforth Civic Theatre and have developed this into an inclusive and vibrant arts and cultural venue in which people with learning disabilities are at the heart of all we do.

We are a disability arts charity which was set up in 2003 as an apprenticeship scheme with the aim of enabling a group of people with learning disabilities to set up and run their own physical theatre company. We wanted to show how running an organisation could offer people with learning disabilities choice, and the opportunity to shape the community in which they live.

Gosforth Civic Theatre

Gosforth Civic Theatre operates as:

- A home for our training, volunteering and work opportunities and programmes for people with learning disabilities

- An arts and cultural venue which offers a programme of gigs, performances and events for public audiences

- A community venue housing a range of regular weekly activities for community members to benefit from.

We aim to:

- Make everyone feel welcome at Gosforth Civic Theatre

- Get even better at showing what people with learning disabilities can do

- Make the most of our new state of the art, accessible building

In addition, the Theatre offers:

- A popular community café which is open daily for people living and working nearby

- A flexible venue which can be used for corporate and private functions including weddings, parties, conferences, and away days.