News

From The Royal Theatrical Fund

30 Mar 2026

We’re recruiting a Welfare Grant Officer/Office Manager

Job Title:          Welfare Grant Officer/Office Manager

Reports to:       Chief Executive Officer

Location:          Hybrid/Covent Garden

Contract:          Permanent 4 days per week £40- 45k pro rata

Closing date: Friday 24th April, 5pm. 

We are a Grant making Charity that helps individuals and dependants who are not able to work due to illness, injury and or infirmity. We help people across the industry, although, any applicant needs to have worked within the entertainment industry for at least seven years. In addition to our main fund we also offer emergency crisis grants and benefits advice and support. The Fund plays a leading role in Acting for Others, a charity made up of a network of theatrical charities aimed at fundraising to provide support to people in the profession who are experiencing difficulties.

We are a charity that also owns and manages a multi-tenant building in London, providing space to other charities, and businesses. As landlords, we’re responsible for the day-to-day running of the building, coordinating maintenance and looking after our service maintained offices on the 2nd floor.

The Royal Theatrical Fund is a Charity incorporated with a Royal Charter. The charity was established by Charles Dickens in 1839, a new Royal Charter with a wider remit was granted in 1974.

Duties and Key responsibilities:

  • The role will be to co-ordinate the grant-making operations, working closely with the Grant Manager/Welfare Advisor in processing all Grants and collating all  relevant information for presentation at the Fund’s monthly Board meeting.
  • Dealing with general enquiries for support and assisting people to apply, offering a friendly supportive ear to people who call.
  • Entering Information on the database.
  • Assisting in the management of the building, monitoring and ensuring all health & safety policies are followed, including managing cleaning and maintenance companies.
  • Assisting with the events including Acting for Others fundraising activities.

The anticipated split between the areas of work 70% grant applications, 20% office management, and 10% fund raising activities.

Knowledge, Skills and Experience:

Essential-

  • Clear and confident  written and verbal communication skills
  • Numeracy skills to be able to assess income and expenditure and handle budgets
  • Strong time management and organisational skills
  • Ability to prioritise and meet deadlines
  • Understanding of data protection legislation and the principles of confidentiality
  • Experience of using CRM databases
  • Proficiency using Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook, Teams)
  • Experience of working in a grant making charity
  • Understanding of the difficulties faced by people on a low income

Desirable-

  • Experience of using Beacon CRM/Salesforce
  • Experience of working in the entertainment industry.

Other Requirements-

  • Satisfactory DBS check
  • Willingness to work on occasions outside of normal office hours

Benefits:

25 days holiday plus bank holidays per annum (pro rata)

Normal Hours: 9.30am to 4.30pm

Benenden Health Care Insurance

Pension: Peoples Pension Company contribution 5%

 

To apply for this position, please send your CV and a cover letter to admin@trtf.com • Use the subject line: “Welfare Grant Officer/Office Manager” • Attach your documents in PDF format • Ensure your cover letter explains why you are suitable for the role Application Deadline: 24 April 2026

04 Mar 2026

In memory of Rob Grant: 25th Sept 1955 – 25th Feb 2026

We had the great privilege of working with Rob and Lockdown Theatre on several star-studded live table reads during the pandemic. The Real Inspector Hound, Private Lives and A Bit of Waiting for Godot raised more than £110k for The Royal Theatrical Fund and in 2020 ‘For One Knight Only’ A live-streamed Q&A featuring British acting legends Dame Judi Dench, Sir Derek Jacobi, Sir Ian McKellen, and the late Dame Maggie Smith, hosted by Sir Kenneth Branagh raised over £300,000 for Acting for Others, a record-breaking achievement for the charity. We are eternally grateful for Robs kindness, and the invaluable role he played in creating this theatrical magic. His support has had a huge impact on thousands of beneficiaries of the charities. He will be greatly missed.

23 Feb 2026

Tom’s Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge!

On Saturday 25th July 2026, Tom Leo will be taking on the challenge of hiking the Yorkshire Three Peaks in memory of his sister, Laura, who passed away in September last year at just 35 years old.

“This challenge is deeply personal to me — a way of honouring her life, carrying her memory with me every step of the journey, and turning grief into something purposeful. As I take on the miles and the climbs, I’ll be reflecting on her strength, her spirit, and the love that will always remain. Anyone reading this that knew Laura knows what a special person she was, always doing her upmost to help everyone she could and bought so much light into all of our lives. I was and still am so proud to call her my sister”

The Yorkshire Three Peaks challenge covers approximately 24 miles (39 kilometres) and involves over 1,500 metres of ascent, all to be completed within 12 hours. The route takes in three iconic mountains of the Yorkshire Dales: Pen-y-ghent (694 metres), Whernside (736 metres), and Ingleborough (723 metres)

Thank you Tom for choosing to support The RTF in memory of Laura, a talented seamstress, costume maker and performer!

Support Tom’s Challenge here!

 

02 Feb 2026

Come and join us for coffee and Choir

We are delighted that the fortnightly coffee and choir mornings at St Paul’s Church, Covent Garden are back!  10:30am – 12:30pm

The choir was formed in 2017 by Olivier Award winning Actress, Janie Dee. Her aim being to provide a space for anyone that enjoys singing, or just fancies a cuppa with likeminded people. In Janie’s words, ‘Singing is good for the soul’ and we couldn’t agree more.

We are led by Musical Director, Choirmaster and Actor, Stefan Bednarczyk.

It is free to attend, and we welcome all abilities. You don’t need to be able to read music, just come along and enjoy yourself!

The Royal Theatrical Fund & Actors Trust Choir dates for 2026: Wednesday 11th February,  25th February,  11th March,  25th March, 8th April, 22nd April, 6th May, 20th May, 3rd June, 17th June, 1st July, 15th July, 29th July, 12th August,  26th August, 9th September, 23rd September, 7th October, 21st October, 4th November, 18th November, 2nd December.

 

10 Nov 2025

The Royal Theatrical Fund’s Carol Service

The Royal Theatrical Fund’s Carol Service

Friday 5th December – 6pm 

Tickets £30.00

The Royal Theatrical Fund is delighted to be returning to the Actors Church with their annual Carol Service.

Join us for an evening of traditional carols, readings, festive songs, and enjoy a mulled wine and a mince pie with us after the concert. Guests TBD

With special performances from The RTF and AT choir, and the London Show Choir.

Please note there is no set seating or this event. 

Book tickets

03 Jan 2025

Christmas Carol Concert – 2024

Last year’s cast included, Samantha Bond, Ginny Holder, Jeremy Irons, Robert Lindsay, Elaine Paige OBE and Sophie Thompson.  The service was led by Rev. Richard Syms, with special performances from The RTF and ABF choir, and the London Show Choir.

We would like to thank everybody who gave their time on the evening and what an evening it was.

08 Nov 2024

Christmas Carol Concert – Friday 6th December, 6pm

The Royal Theatrical Fund is delighted to be returning to the Actors Church with their annual Carol Service on Friday 6th December, 6pm.

Join us for an evening of traditional carols, readings, festive songs, and enjoy a mulled wine and a mince pie with us after the concert.

This year’s cast includes (subject to availability) Samantha Bond, Ginny Holder, Jeremy Irons, Robert Lindsay, Elaine Paige, Samantha Spiro and Sophie Thompson.  The service led by Rev. Richard Syms

With special performances from The RTF and ABF choir, and the London Show Choir.

Tickets £30

Available here: https://actorschurch.org/whatson/the-royal-theatrical-funds-christmas-concert/

01 Oct 2024

Dame Maggie Smith 1934 – 2024

Dame Maggie Smith became a Vice President of The Royal Theatrical Fund in 2016 and was a devoted supporter of the fund. Maggie will be greatly missed by all at The RTF. Maggie’s legacy will live on and continue to provide joy for years to come. A true national treasure. Our thoughts are with her family and everyone whose lives she touched.

 

18 Sep 2024

In Memory of June Rose

The Royal Theatrical Fund would like to thank the family of Actress, June Rose for their generous gift in memory of June.

June had a colourful and varied career, performing on stage at the White Rock Pavilion in Hastings with the likes of Terry Scott and Hugh Lloyd Revel. She toured the country during the summer months, notably with D’Oyly Carte Opera, and performed in the West End.

June was a musical soprano and performed a lot of cabaret in London and Brighton and also starred in musicals such as King’s Rhapsody. She was known as a beauty with a twinkle in her eye, and was named Miss Evening Argus in the 1950s. She was also the cover girl for numerous books such as the crime novel ‘My Rubies Are Blood Red’.

After quitting stage work, she worked as a clerical officer for the Royal Mail. There she met her best friend and soulmate, Irene Wilson. They started on the same day and remained together for the rest of their lives, setting up home together in Seaford. They were known in their neighbourhood for fabulous New Year parties! When they retired, they went travelling around the world and always enjoyed trips to the theatre in Chichester and London.

June passed away at the age of 90 on January 6th 2019 followed by Irene on January 13th 2023. They are buried at Lawn Memorial Cemetery in Brighton overlooking the sea.

This legacy is bequeathed by Irene in June’s name in memory of their lives together, her admiration of June’s beauty and talent, and in heartfelt acknowledgement of Des Rose (violinist and conductor) and Mac Rose (percussionist), June’s brothers, who were also in the business throughout their lives.

01 Jul 2024

Join the Choir!

We meet at St Pauls Church, Covent Garden (fondly known as the Actors Church) fortnightly on a Monday from 11am – 1pm.

It is free to attend, and we welcome all abilities. You don’t need to be able to read music, just come along and enjoy yourself. The sessions bring together theatrical people for a fun couple of hours of singing, and of course to have a cuppa and a chat before we start.

For more information, get in touch: admin@trtf.com