Knowledge Exchange: Staff Support and Wellbeing

How do you stave off burnout and keep your staff inspired and healthy? We know from our research that the sector is under-resourced and supporting complex needs of the young people we work with, so how can we prioritise wellbeing with limited resources?

In this Knowledge Exchange session, we’ll focus on ideas and schemes for supporting your teams of staff and freelancers to reach their full potential. Come along if you’re a manager with ideas to share, if you are a freelancer with requests and examples, or if you’re just at a complete loss and full of questions.

What’s a Knowledge Exchange?

Building on previous exchange events and practical Swap Shops, our series of Knowledge Exchange events are facilitated meetings about a specific topic or trend that we have identified in the sector.

They are a space to come together and share knowledge in all forms, whether that’s discussing projects you’re involved in, offering a sneak-peak at policies you’re writing, sharing processes and admin top tips, or making new connections across the sector.

Knowledge Exchange sessions won’t aim to solve the issues presented or invent new projects, although they may lead to actions for Future Us... by attending, you’ll be helping YTAS to identify further ways to support and advocate for the amazing work of the youth theatre sector.

Who is it for?

Knowledge Exchange events are open to all YTAS members, those representing organisations as well as freelancers. The conversations will likely centre around topics which are relevant to managers or those responsible for implementing change within their organisations, but we welcome a wide range of knowledge and experience.

There is no minimum or maximum number of attendees – whoever comes along are the right people to come along and we will hold everyone’s knowledge and experience with the same importance.

YTAS staff will host and facilitate each meeting, document the conversations, and share notes at the end. We have programmed the first six topics for this year (with further dates to add for some topics), but we welcome ideas for future exchange.

Meetings will be a mix of virtual gatherings as well as regionally-focused conversations. If you have a venue and are interested in hosting a Knowledge Exchange in your region, get in touch!

Dates for Knowledge Exchange: Staff Support and Wellbeing

We will host one session on this topic online, and work with a few partners to investigate this topic regionally. Here's what we have programmed at the moment...

Aberdeen: Aberdeen Performing Arts, Tue 27 January 2026, 1-3pm

Online: Tue 24 February 2026, 10-11.30am

Other Knowledge Exchange Events

Knowledge Exchange: Recruiting Young People, online, Tue 23 September 2025

Knowledge Exchange: Pathways into the Industry, Aberdeen Performing Arts, Tue 30 September 2025

Knowledge Exchange: Pathways into the Industry, Creative Edinburgh, Tue 13 January 2026

Knowledge Exchange: Youth Consultation and Boards, online, Wed 13 May 2026

Knowledge Exchange: Good Recruitment Practices for Staff and Freelancers, online, Thu 10 March 2026

This is a safe space where all identities are welcome and valued

YTAS strives to create and hold events and spaces where everyone feels welcome and the safety of others is valued. This commitment applies to all our online and in-person services, activities, and communication channels.

We have a zero-tolerance policy towards any behaviour which creates feelings of unease, discomfort, offence, embarrassment, humiliation, or intimidation, whether intentional or not. This includes but is not limited to; transphobia, homo or biphobia, racism, ableism, sexism, or class discrimination. For more information about YTAS' commitments to safety and best practice, visit our website: https://ytas.org.uk/safe-spaces-statement/