Stage Crew Society: Welfare Officer

Overall, there is always a great need for Welfare, and in stage crew, it is necessary due to the rapid and stressful nature of the job. Having to communicate with new people constantly and aiming to coordinate ideas in short periods of time can always be intense. Welfare can ease this issue and help create a good communication network between everyone involved. The importance of Welfare can be overlooked, but I have always seen the priority of personal health, which can be hard to prioritise when working on a stage crew. The actions that I have seen to make a difference have always been open communication with the different teams involved to ensure that everyone shares the load as equally as possible. Also, make sure that there are mechanisms in place to highlight any grievances, such as the drop-in sections that took place last year and regular check-ups to performances, such as during the blooms performances, to make sure they are aware of the systems in place to support them, and of course snacks at all times. I hope to be applicable to the job; I have some experience in this due to being trained as a coach at my previous school. However, I aim to be able to be a point of contact for any welfare issues within society and extend to any services needed in the situation.

In my association with UCL Stage Crew Society, I've witnessed the dedication and talent of our members firsthand as they tirelessly work to bring all productions to life. Stage Crew is the backbone of all performance events at UCL, and I aspire to be the pillar of support for us.

My vision is to foster an inclusive and safe environment where every stage crew member feels valued and supported. I aim to ensure that our society not only thrives but also expands its horizons to offer more opportunities to potential members eager to delve into the technical aspects of productions.

Having experienced the demanding nature of stage and production work, I understand the importance of establishing open channels of communication. I commit to building strong relationships with all members, providing a platform for them to voice any concerns they may have. Through weekly welfare meet-ups, anonymous complaint forms, and active participation in all events, I will prioritise the well-being of our members by aiming to address all issues. As Welfare Officer, I also wish to organise events that promote camaraderie and support within our community.

Additionally, I will work with the committee to develop a comprehensive welfare policy, providing guidance in addressing member-based welfare issues and cultivating an environment where every member feels empowered to contribute and grow. My commitment is to enhance the experience of our members, making every production enjoyable and enriching.

Hi, I'm Isaac, a third-year EISPS student currently on my Year Abroad in Berlin! I spent a possibly-too-large amount of my time in first and second year in the Bloomsbury Theatre working on a variety of shows in a variety of different roles, and am really looking forward to catching up with / meeting new members of Stage Crew!

As someone who joined Stage Crew with roughly GCSE-level prior knowledge on how theatre tech worked, I simultaneously felt capable of showing people how things worked and completely out of my depth myself. I also know how much the pressure can build up during shows, whether it is with deadlines set by Stage Crew or interactions with any other societies.

As Welfare Officer, my priorities will be to:

 - Continue the fantastic work of previous Welfare Officers by running a weekly drop-in session during term time and co-ordinating Welfare Socials with the Social Secretaries

- Work with the rest of committee to ensure that Welfare is a central, open and transparent part of the society's function

- Be present during show weeks to offer support wherever possible!

- Create a collaborative 'Knowledge Bank' so that newer members are not overwhelmed by show roles

- Co-operate with Welfare Officers of other ArtsUCL societies in advance to ensure that collective guidelines and boundaries are set to avoid conflict during show weeks, and communicate these guidelines to performers and crew.

As Welfare Officer or not, I can't wait to come back and get involved! :)

I've been told I give good hugs. 

That feels like the most important thing.

Anyway...

Stage crew is, without question, the most involved and stressful society at UCL, and it's incredibly important that we have proper support systems in place for our members. The weekly welfare hours are a brilliant resource for this, and I'd love to keep those going. I've worked in a number of school environments, so I'm familiar with the safeguarding process, and generally I'd just like to do my best to help everyone keep making these shows as amazing as they are! 

I would do this through snacks.

And hugs!

Have a great day!