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.
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
New research from Actors Trust reveals insights into the UKs acting and stage management workforce, highlighting financial insecurity, wellbeing challenges and career realities across stage and screen.
Actors and stage managers can now access up to six fully subsidised, confidential counselling sessions through our new mental health and wellbeing support service, delivered in partnership with Wellbeing in the Arts to provide specialist support tailored to the pressures of the performing arts industry.
Andrew was one of those rare people whose presence made the room steadier, kinder and somehow more meaningful. To speak of him only as a distinguished Shakespearean actor, teacher and mentor, though true, is far from sufficient. Andrew was also a man of great humanity.
Actors' Trust is inviting designers to submit artwork for its 2026 card range. Were looking for creative Christmas card designs as well as blank cards suitable for first night or good-luck messages.
Actors' Trust and BAPAM are delighted to bring you a series of free webinars to help you support your wellbeing.
Read how research, member feedback, and the Boards vision informed our repositioning in our Chair and CEO's letter.
Actors Trust is thrilled to be taking part in Big Give's Christmas Challenge from 2 - 9 December 2025. The best part? Donations made during the fundraising week will be doubled by our match funding champion to make double the difference to someone in need.
Join Lesley Joseph and Rob Rinder in conversation on Zoom on Sunday 23rd November at 11.00 am. Bring a coffee and settle in for an exciting discussion about Lesleys life spent behind the camera and treading the boards.
This is the stuff that dreams are made of! We're excited to welcome three new ambassadors: Indira Varma, Luke Brady and Jason Pennycooke.
We need as many people as possible to help spread the word about Actors Trust and the support we offer. You can download our posters and leaflets below to share with important contacts. Please share this information with your colleagues, local theaters, agents, producers, and production companies. Your active involvement is what makes all the difference. Thank you!
Over the past decade, you may have seen the striking Sgt. Pepper-style montages circulating on social media, in the press, and on television each one honouring the famous faces weve lost that year. The artist behind them, Chris Barker, has approached Actors Trust to say hed like to support us with this art project as he commemorates ten years.
Read how research, member feedback, and the Boards vision informed our repositioning in our Chair and CEO's letter.