Staged for Life

Aim: Staged for Life offers free, accredited courses for unemployed 18 - 25 year olds to learn skills in operating sound and lighting equipment

Scottish-based events training company EveryStage is delighted be relaunching Staged for Life at this summer’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe, marking a renewed commitment to supporting unemployed young people in the city through hands-on training and work experience in live event production.

Originally launched in 2015 and paused since Covid-19, Staged for Life offers free, accredited courses for 18 - 25 year olds in Edinburgh to learn skills in operating sound and lighting equipment for live events. The project culminates in supported work placements at participating Fringe venues, offering participants a unique opportunity for participants to gain practical experience at one of the most exciting cultural events in the world.

Staged for Life goes beyond technical skills, helping to build confidence, creativity and collaboration through exposure to the arts and real-world team environments. By connecting local communities with the Edinburgh Fringe, Staged for Life creates a positive and lasting impact each year it runs and contributes to filling a long-running skills shortage in sound and lighting technicians.

Staged for Life is a partnership between Edinburgh College, The City of Edinburgh Council, the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society, and local venues who are all helping to re-establish this unique and valuable opportunity.

EveryStage hopes to continue the project for as long as possible and is actively seeking funding and donations to ensure the long-term sustainability of this initiative. Money raised will go towards:

Training venue hire

Travel and food for participants

Sound and lighting equipment hire for the course

Boots and gloves for the participants

Here is a quote from Mike, a previous participant: "Being unemployed for so long I retreated from society. This has got me back into things - reintegrating. I feel like myself again. There have been so many positive things….it’s been a very, very good idea to get involved.”

Funding method

Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made by 13th July 2025 at 12:00pm