Any Volunteers?

 Every week Oldham Coliseum Theatre's Artistic Director, Kevin Shaw, writes a column for the Oldham Chronicle. 

In honour of National Volunteering Week, one of our volunteers, Laura, took over the column - here's what she wrote:

"I am proud to be a volunteer at the Coliseum, and since it’s soon National Volunteering Week, Kevin has lent me his column to celebrate the contribution of volunteers here in Fairbottom Street. 

I’ve been a volunteer here since January, and since arriving I’ve been working with the busy day-to-day work of the marketing team.  I’m a recent graduate, so I reckon volunteering can only improve my CV.

Not everyone is aware the Coliseum is a registered charity, and like any other charity, volunteers play a vital part in its everyday life, from the front of house staff who make sure audiences for each performance are well looked after, to people like me who help out with the marketing team or elsewhere behind the scenes.

I had wanted to volunteer at the Coliseum for some time, not least because I love coming here, and partly because it’s on my doorstep. Since starting I have been here fairly regularly, working around my day job at Oldham’s DW Sports Fitness.

Of course being on the inside I have seen a different side to what makes my local theatre tick. I’ve had the chance to work in new surroundings, meet some great new people and get involved with the ever-growing Oldham arts scene. I have been able to spread the word about future productions by distributing flyers and brochures, and recently I helped the education department to promote First Break, our writing festival.

Helping out here also led me to be part of the Speed of Light performance at Salford’s Media City in March, where I volunteered as a photographer’s runner. Cold but rewarding! 

The Coliseum is a very accessible theatre; local people can easily get involved, and Kevin and his team are happy to welcome those who want to help.

Reasons for helping vary, of course; to learn new skill, perhaps, or to contribute to the community. Volunteering has proved to be very rewarding and has opened my eyes to the hard work involved in running a successful theatre.

I’ve got a lot out of it, and perhaps you would too.

Give it a go: you never know!"

Laura Wild