Apply to be a Volunteer

Lowther Volunteer Team

Apply to become a volunteer

Tell us a little about yourself and the areas you may be interested in. Your application will be reviewed by the volunteer team.

Required fields must be completed before the form can be submitted.

Areas you may be interested in Required

Select at least one area you would like to be considered for. This is used to route your application to the right Volunteer Admin team. The team can update these later.

Volunteer Privacy Notice

Please read the Volunteer Privacy Notice before submitting your application. Current version: v1 – 24 August 2026.

Volunteer Privacy Notice

Purpose of this notice

This Volunteer Privacy Notice supplements Lowther Pavilion's general Privacy Policy. It explains how personal information is used specifically when someone applies to volunteer, becomes a volunteer, or uses the internal Volunteer Portal. It does not replace the main Privacy Policy.

1. Who we are

The data controller responsible for your personal information is Lowther Gardens (Lytham) Trust, Registered Charity No. 1117054, operating through Lowther Gardens (Lytham) Management Ltd (Company Registration No. 07520640), trading as The Lowther Pavilion.

Address: Lowther Pavilion, West Beach, Lytham St Annes, Lancashire, FY8 5QQ

Privacy enquiries: privacy@lowtherpavilion.co.uk

2. Information we may collect about volunteers

The information we collect will depend on your application, volunteer role and use of the Volunteer Portal. It may include:

  • Your name, contact details, address and account information.
  • Your volunteer application and the roles or areas you have applied for or been approved to undertake.
  • Skills, experience, availability and other information relevant to your volunteering.
  • Emergency contact details supplied by you.
  • Offers to volunteer, allocations, cancellations, shift and event details, arrival times and attendance history.
  • Communications sent to or from you in connection with volunteering.
  • Your acceptance of the Volunteer Agreement and privacy acknowledgement.
  • Safeguarding or DBS-related administrative information where this is relevant and lawful for the role.
  • Notes, status information and an audit history of relevant changes made within the Volunteer System.
  • Technical information needed to operate and secure your account, such as login/session information.

3. How we use volunteer information

We may use volunteer information to:

  • Assess and manage volunteer applications.
  • Decide which volunteer roles a person is suitable or authorised to undertake.
  • Plan and staff performances, events, activities and other volunteer shifts.
  • Manage volunteer offers, allocations, cancellations, attendance and role changes.
  • Communicate operational information, reminders and updates about volunteering.
  • Support safeguarding, health and safety, security and the safe operation of Lowther Pavilion.
  • Maintain appropriate records of volunteer activity, attendance and system changes.
  • Administer Volunteer Admin permissions and control access to the Volunteer System.
  • Investigate problems, complaints, incidents or discrepancies relating to volunteering.
  • Meet legal, regulatory, insurance, safeguarding or audit requirements where applicable.

4. Lawful basis for processing

Lowther Pavilion will only process personal information where there is an appropriate lawful basis under UK data protection law.

Legitimate interests

We may process information where this is necessary for the effective administration of the volunteer programme, staffing, communication, safeguarding, security, record keeping and the safe operation of the theatre and gardens, provided those interests are not overridden by your rights and freedoms.

Legal obligations

We may process information where this is necessary to comply with legal or regulatory obligations.

Consent

Where consent is specifically required by law, we will ask for it separately. Acknowledging that you have read this Volunteer Privacy Notice is not the same as giving blanket consent for all processing.

Safeguarding and DBS information

Where safeguarding, special category information or criminal offence/DBS-related information is processed, Lowther Pavilion will only do so where it is necessary, proportionate and supported by an appropriate additional legal condition.

5. Volunteer communications

The Volunteer System may send service and operational messages that are necessary to administer your volunteering. These can include application updates, allocation confirmations, shift information, reminders, cancellations and other information connected with your volunteer role.

These operational messages are separate from marketing communications. Marketing preferences continue to be governed by Lowther Pavilion's main Privacy Policy.

6. Sharing your information

We do not sell volunteer personal information. We may share information where necessary with authorised staff, Volunteer Admin users and trusted service providers who support the Volunteer Portal, website hosting, email delivery, IT support or other systems used to administer volunteering.

Access to volunteer information is restricted according to role and operational need. Service providers are expected to protect personal information and process it only in accordance with Lowther Pavilion's instructions.

Information may also be disclosed where required by law, a regulator or court, or where necessary to protect legal rights, safety or safeguarding interests.

7. How long we keep volunteer information

Volunteer application and volunteer records will normally be retained for five years after the volunteer relationship ends. Where an applicant does not go on to become a volunteer, their application record will normally be retained for five years after the application is closed.

During this period, a person who is no longer active may be removed from normal operational use while relevant historic application, allocation, attendance, safeguarding and audit records are retained where there is a legitimate need to preserve them.

Information may be retained for longer where this is necessary because of a legal requirement, safeguarding matter, complaint, dispute, insurance requirement or other justified reason. Information that is no longer required will be securely deleted or anonymised.

8. Security and access

Lowther Pavilion takes appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect volunteer information against unauthorised access, loss, misuse, alteration or disclosure.

Volunteer Portal access is protected by individual user accounts and permissions. Volunteer Admin access is restricted according to the person's authorised role and responsibilities.

9. Essential cookies used by the Volunteer Portal

The Volunteer Portal is an internal operational website. It is intended to use only essential WordPress, login, security and session cookies that are necessary to operate the site, authenticate users and keep accounts secure.

The Volunteer Portal is not intended to use non-essential analytics, advertising or marketing cookies. Because essential cookies are necessary for the service to function, a separate cookie-consent agreement is not required for these cookies.

10. Your rights

Under UK data protection law, you may have rights including the right to:

  • Be informed about how your personal information is used.
  • Request access to your personal information.
  • Ask for inaccurate information to be corrected.
  • Request deletion of information in certain circumstances.
  • Request restriction of processing in certain circumstances.
  • Object to certain processing.
  • Request data portability where applicable.
  • Not be subject solely to automated decision-making where legal effects arise.

To exercise any of these rights, request a copy of the personal information Lowther Pavilion holds about you, or ask for inaccurate information to be corrected, please contact privacy@lowtherpavilion.co.uk. Please provide enough information for us to identify your volunteer record. We may need to verify your identity before releasing personal information, and requests will be handled in accordance with UK data protection law.

The information visible in My Details is only part of the information that may be held within the Volunteer System. A formal data access request can include relevant application records, attendance history, allocations, communications, administrative notes and audit information, subject to any lawful exemptions.

11. Complaints

If you are unhappy with how your personal information is used, please contact Lowther Pavilion first so the matter can be reviewed.

You also have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO): ico.org.uk or 0303 123 1113.

12. Relationship with the main Privacy Policy

This notice should be read alongside Lowther Pavilion's main Privacy Policy, which contains further information about data protection, security, service providers, international transfers and your rights. If this Volunteer Privacy Notice is updated, the current version will be made available through the Volunteer Portal.

Cookie information is included in the Volunteer Privacy Notice. Any non-essential cookies are controlled separately through the website cookie-consent mechanism.

Volunteer Agreement

Please read the agreement below before submitting your application. Current version: v2 – 2 September 2026.

THEATRE VOLUNTEER AGREEMENT (REGISTERED CHARITY)

Charity Name: Lowther Theatre & Gardens
Charity Number: 1117054

Address: West Beach, Lytham St Annes, Lancashire, FY8 5QQ

  1. About Us

Lowther Theatre & Gardens is a registered charity. Our purpose is to enrich the entire community of the Fylde (both local and the wider region) through the arts (performance, visual and written form) providing an affordable programme of innovative, challenging and enjoyable events, activities and projects in a stimulating and accessible environment.

Volunteers are essential in helping us achieve our aims.

  1. Purpose of This Agreement

This agreement outlines the expectations of your volunteering with us. It is not a contract of employment and does not create legally binding obligations on either party.

  1. Your Role

As a volunteer, you may support us in areas such as:

  • Front of House
  • Duty Management
  • Backstage, Technical or DIY
  • Box Office or Administration
  • Workshop support

You will report to a designated manager.

  1. Time Commitment

We ask that you:

  • Attend sessions when allocated or specified
  • Give as much notice as you can if you are unavailable

There is no obligation for you to provide a minimum level of commitment, and no obligation for us to provide volunteering opportunities.

 

  1. Volunteer Status

You are a volunteer and not an employee, worker, or contractor.

  • You will not be paid wages or receive employment benefits
  • Any benefits (e.g. free or discounted refreshments on shift) are discretionary and not contractual
  1. Training and Support

We will aim to provide:

  • Induction and role-specific guidance
  • Relevant training (including health & safety and safeguarding where required)
  • A named contact for support
  1. Health and Safety

We have a duty of care under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.

You agree to:

  • Take reasonable care for your own health and safety and that of others
  • Follow all policies, procedures, and instructions
  • Report accidents, incidents, or hazards promptly
  1. Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

We are committed to equal opportunities in line with the Equality Act 2010.

You are expected to:

  • Treat everyone with dignity and respect
  • Support an inclusive and welcoming environment
  • Avoid discriminatory or inappropriate behaviour
  1. Safeguarding

As a charity, we take safeguarding seriously. If your role involves children or vulnerable adults:

  • You must follow our safeguarding policy
  • A DBS check may be required
  • Concerns must be reported to the Designated Safeguarding Lead (the CEO) immediately
  1. Confidentiality

During your volunteering, you may have access to confidential information (e.g. personal data, internal plans).
You agree not to disclose this information during or after your time with us.

  1. Data Protection

We will process your personal data in accordance with the UK General Data Protection Regulation and the Data Protection Act 2018.

Your data will only be used for purposes related to your volunteering.

 

 

  1. Insurance

You will be covered by our public liability insurance while volunteering on behalf of the charity and within the scope of your agreed role.

  1. Ending the Arrangement

You may stop volunteering at any time. We ask that you give reasonable notice where possible.

We may end this arrangement at any time, particularly in cases of:

  • Misconduct
  • Breach of policies
  • Health and safety concerns
  • Actions that could harm the charity’s reputation or charitable objectives
  1. Concerns and Complaints

If you have any concerns, please contact:
volunteer@lowtherpavilion.co.uk

We aim to resolve issues fairly and informally wherever possible.

  1. Agreement

By agreeing to these terms, you confirm that:

  • You understand the nature of this voluntary role
  • You agree to support the charity’s aims and values
  • You accept the expectations outlined in this agreement