About AWVT
The Association of Worship & Venue Technicians (AWVT) is a collaborative initiative uniting individuals and organisations who recognise the vital role of volunteer technicians in over 100,000 Houses of Worship and community Arts Venues across the UK — spaces that simply couldn’t function without them.
Our mission is to equip a new generation of skilled, confident, and recognised volunteer technicians — people who faithfully serve behind the scenes, enabling worship, creativity, and community connection. We’re developing a shared pathway for training, certification, and peer support that’s practical, accessible, and grounded in real-world experience.
Our Core Values
- Volunteer technicians matter — they are the backbone of worship and community venues across the UK.
- Every professional started as a volunteer — passion, not pay, is where excellence begins.
- Confidence comes from clarity — you perform best when you understand both what you’re doing and why.
- Growth is always possible — no matter your experience, there’s always room to improve.
- Learning transforms practice — you get better by learning, then applying what you’ve learned in real-world settings.
What We Do
Standards & Curriculum Development
We are developing national training standards and a structured curriculum across eight key technical disciplines:
Stage Systems · Audio · Projection · Lighting · Video · Broadcasting · ICT · Technical Management.
Our aim is to ensure accessible, relevant training rooted in the realities of worship and community venues.
Certification
AWVT offers independent assessment and certification, enabling volunteer technicians to demonstrate their skills with confidence — to peers, leaders, and potential employers.
Support for Trainers & Organisations
We connect churches, venues, and individuals with qualified trainers, tailored course materials, and peer-reviewed certification pathways — ensuring consistent, high-quality learning experiences across the UK.
Why The AWVT Matters
Since the invention of microphones, amplifiers, and stage lighting, Houses of Worship and Arts Venues have embraced modern technologies to enhance communication and performance. But in 2020, the COVID-19 lockdowns fundamentally changed the landscape. With public gatherings suspended, many churches and venues turned to broadcast and streaming technologies — often with the help of furloughed or out-of-work professional technicians.
When lockdowns ended, the professionals returned to work — and the volunteers left behind were often unprepared, staring at unfamiliar systems without adequate training or support.
For decades, it has been widely recognised that many professionals in the AV and live events industries began their journeys as volunteers in these very venues. Yet for today’s volunteers, structured learning is almost non-existent. Few have access to university or apprenticeship routes, and there’s no formal curriculum tailored to the needs of grassroots technicians serving in churches or community arts settings.
While pockets of ad-hoc training have existed, the landscape has remained fragmented:
• No national curriculum
• No consistent training standards
• No scalable or accessible certification system
In response, a coalition of volunteer technicians and professionals came together in 2023 and 2024 to address this gap. Their discussions led to the founding of the Association of Worship & Venue Technicians (AWVT) — and the development of a national framework based on eight technical disciplines and a flexible, granular curriculum model that anyone can access, regardless of background.
In January 2024, AWVT was formally incorporated as a membership organisation. Its purpose:
• To own and manage national standards
• To coordinate curriculum development
• To link trainers, trainees, assessors, and venues
• To provide a pathway from novice to recognised technician
Volunteer technicians are the unseen backbone of countless worship services, events, and performances. By giving them access to proper training, support, and certification, AWVT ensures their dedication is recognised — and their skills continue to grow.
Get Involved
Do you want to support AWVT’s mission?
We’re building a national framework to equip and empower volunteer technicians — and we can’t do it alone.
We’re actively seeking passionate individuals and organisations who can contribute in areas such as:
• Web & database development (Linux/PHP)
• Photography & videography for training materials
• Trainers, teachers, and assessors
• Subject matter experts (e.g. stagecraft, audio, lighting, video, broadcasting, ICT)
• Volunteer technicians from any level of experience
• Church, venue, troupe, or band leaders
• Administrators and project organisers
• Regional co-ordinators
• Social media and digital outreach support
If you believe you can help shape the future of technical training in worship and arts venues, we’d love to hear from you.