Career & Development
Our industry is constantly evolving. If you’re thinking about how to keep up with the changes or want to take the next step in your career, we hope you’ll find our information and resources helpful.
Keep an eye on this page for updates on how Actors’ Trust can help you to achieve a long and sustainable career.
How We Can Help
Actors’ Trust Retraining Grant
We aim to help actors and stage management get back to work if a health issue or life event is getting in the way, but we know from experience that it’s not always possible. If you are unable to continue working as an actor or in stage management due to a long-term health issue (such as cancer, degenerative illness, or physical trauma), we may be able to support you with a grant to help you get started in another profession. Enquire through the link below, or call us at 0303 223 1110.
Resources:
Career Development and Support for Actors and Stage Management
Equity Members get free training via the Federation of Entertainment Unions (FEU Training).
Kindly funded by Jonathan Caldicot and designed to support members of the Stage Management community with their continuing professional development, The Theatrical Guild will work in partnership with The Stage Management Association to offer hardship grant funding for a range of up-skills training opportunities. Please contact the SMA for course details & eligibility criteria: T&Cs Apply.
MONA is a UK wide staffing agency that connects actors to flexible, well paid side hustle work in customer facing roles. Run by actors, for Actors.
Grants for Actors to Retrain
Grants for Stage Management to Upskill or Retrain
Creative Grants for Development Within the Industry
Non-theatrical Retraining Grants
Try our Benefit Calculator
Enter your details, and you will receive an estimate of your entitlement to benefits.
You may find it helpful to collect information about your income, savings, pensions and any existing benefits you are entitled to. If you have a partner, you may wish to do this for them too, before using the calculator.
See how to use the calculator for more tips.
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Useful articles
Adding Gift Aid to your donation is a quick way to help actors and stage management, at no extra cost.
Actors' Trust is deeply saddened to hear of the death of Dame Penelope Keith, former president of the Actors' Benevolent Fund. The following tributes reflect the admiration, affection, and gratitude felt by those who knew and worked with Dame Penelope, remembering not only her remarkable achievements but also the kindness, warmth, and generosity that touched so many lives.
Actors' Trust mourn the passing of our Development Board member, Alan Finch
Trustee Simon Callow CBE explains why a gift in your will matters to him.
Actors' Trust is delighted to introduce to you our 2026 Christmas cards!Available to purchase now.
We have launched our new 'School Essentials Grant' for actors and stage managers with one or more children of school age.
Actors' Trust is deeply saddened to hear of the death of Dame Penelope Keith, former president of the Actors' Benevolent Fund.
Were delighted to share that Actors Trust received two major awards at the Transform Awards in March.
Gifts in Wills play a vital role in the future of Actors Trust and our ability to expand and broaden the services and resources we can offer actors and stage managers in need. We are most grateful to those who have come forward in the past 12 months to let us know they have left a gift in their Will.