Venue Volunteer

Time Commitment

• You’ll be asked to commit to either 1 shift weekly or 1 shift every 2 weeks. (Extra shifts will be available but we don’t expect volunteers to commit to anything more than the above.
• Shifts will cover 1 or 2 screenings on either Screen 1 (ground level) or Screen 2 (lower level).
• Shift times will vary slightly depending on the program.
• The volunteer shift schedule will be updated weekly, with shifts confirmed 1 month in advance.
• We understand when volunteers can’t make a shift, but please give as much notice as possible for absences.
• You will need to attend an induction session before your first shift to receive health and safety training, equipment training, a tour of the cinema, and information on HPPH’s history, values, and aims.

On Shift

• There is no formal dress-code, jeans and a t-shirt are fine, so long as you’re reasonably presentable. (You’ll be wearing a HPPH Volunteer lanyard that will identify you as a Volunteer to guests).
• Arrive in good time so that you are in position and ready for the start of your shift. 
• On arriving, tag-in with the Venue Coordinators at the box office. 
• You will be given a ticket scanner and asked to take position on one of the screen entrances to check and scan the guests’ tickets as they enter the auditoria to take their seats.
• Be polite and welcoming, greet guests as they arrive and, if possible, be familiar with the HPPH film program and the history of the cinema so that you can comfortably answer questions that the guests may have.*
• Once the ads and trailers are finished and the screening is seated, you can tag-out with the Venue Coordinators, then sit in and watch the film, or take a break (It’s ok to leave the venue and come back).
• Once the screening has finished, help the Venue Coordinators in readying the space for the next screening.
• Once the second screening is in, your shift is over, but you’re welcome to stay and watch the second film.
• In the event of a fire or other emergency, you are not responsible for assisting in the evacuation. You should follow the instructions of HPPH staff and proceed to the rally point (across the road in front of Sainsbury's).

Communications

• We will usually contact you through email. †  Should  you need to email us please use the address volunteers@hpph.co.uk.  
• Please  let us know as soon as is possible if you cannot make one of your regular shifts or any other shift that you have committed to, either by email, text, or by calling the cinema on 0113 275 2045.
• Please keep an eye out for requests for cover, and help-out if you’re able. †

Benefits

• Free films on shift. 
• Free tea, coffee, juice and/or popcorn when you watch a film on shift. 
• Volunteer discount on bought tickets (for yourself and one additional person). ‡ 
• Volunteer discount on selected food and drink items (for yourself only). ‡ 
• A warm, fuzzy sense of joy and wellbeing.

How to apply

We're currently pausing applications for Venue Volunteers as we have a full team helping us out. Please keep an eye on this page and our socials for when we're on the hunt for more lovely volunteers.

Following the cinema's reopening, we'll also be sharing details of a new Archive Volunteer role, perfect for anyone interested in helping the cinema understand and share more of its unique history with audiences. Please revisit this page for updates, although this will likely commence in 2024.

* We understand that some people may not be confident speaking to strangers or may not be able to converse easily with guests for other reasons. We would still encourage you to apply, as we can arrange the schedule so that you partner-up with a more experienced member of the volunteer team who would be able to support you on-shift. 

† Other arrangements can be made for volunteers who don’t have access to email, or are more comfortable using more traditional contact methods, such as the telephone or simply visiting the cinema to arrange their schedule in person. 

‡ Volunteers who haven’t taken on a shift for more than six weeks will be ineligible for discounts until after they’ve worked another shift.