Freelance Access Support Worker in Manchester

About the Practitioner

Lekhani uses she/her pronouns. She is an actress, writer, facilitator and theatre maker based in Manchester. Her unique background as a Cumbrian of Black Mixed Heritage (Malawian & English), a queer, working class and neurodivergent woman, has empowered her to become a powerful creative voice.

About the role

You will be working with Lekhani as her freelance Access Support Worker, funded by her Access To Work Grant. You’ll be supporting Lekhani with her creative freelance roles as an actor, writer, theatre maker and facilitator. This will include the following:

• Weekly meetings to go over diary management and any travel arrangements.
• Help with financial tasks like contractual agreements, invoicing, tracking expenses, chasing payments and budgeting.
• Support with managing work-related emails, phone calls, and schedule planning.
• Editing documents to make them more accessible.
• Supporting advocacy in relation to access needs with any collaborators e.g. ensuring Lekhani’s access rider is being followed throughout the duration of a project.
• Break down large, complex projects into smaller, manageable daily tasks.
• Occasionally in-person support where you are offering structured scheduling, breaks, and reminders for meals and hydration.
• Provide emotional reassurance, a quiet sounding board for ideas, or help navigating stressful environments.

Essential

• Based in Manchester or surrounding area – Majority of work can be done remotely, but may include working in-person e.g attending rehearsals, projects and self tapes (these are usually in the North West)
• Experience being an Access Support Worker for freelancers.
• Organised, proactive and detail oriented individual.
• Able to manage executive functioning tools such as Trello and a shared Google Workplace as well as spreadsheets.
• A deep commitment to the Social Model of Disability (the understanding that people are disabled by barriers in society and environments, not by their impairments). They must use patient, non-judgmental, and neuro-affirming communication.
• The ability to act as a “body double”—simply working alongside the artist virtually or physically to help them maintain focus, initiate tasks, and reduce isolation.
• Trustworthiness in handling sensitive information, navigating NDAs for upcoming projects, and keeping clear boundaries between the artist’s professional and personal life.
• Flexible and able to adapt support to changing weekly needs.

Desirable

• Familiarity with how the UK arts sector works, including the administration behind Access to Work claims, processing monthly claim forms, and working within strict funding body guidelines.
• A basic understanding of the creative landscape (e.g. residency applications, open calls, exhibition logistics, contracts, and commissioning jargon) so Lekhani doesn’t have to spend energy explaining industry basics.
• Space in your working week to meet and support Lekhani with reading in for last minute self tapes where she is unable to find a friend to read in.

Fee

Hourly rate: £15.35

Hours: 6-10 per week

Invoices will be required at the end of each month so Lekhani can put in an AtW claim on the 1st of the next month.

Key dates

Deadline: Monday 23rd November, 12pm.

Start date: Monday 30th November for a handover with Amy Costello (Lekhani’s current support worker)