The Scout volunteers at C4R-FEST work closely alongside other Scouts volunteers, as well as volunteers from the Festaff organisation and the event team representing themselves, Scouting, C4R-FEST and the event partner charities. A typical shift is usually between 6-8 hours in duration. In previous years Scout volunteers have carried out some of the following as part of their volunteering shifts:
- Working on the wristband exchanges, checking visitor tickets and allocating them the correct access passes according to their ticket – these volunteers are often the first smiling faces of the event visitors see after queueing up to park their cars
- Campsite patrols, which involves patrolling the campsites ensuring that visitors keep out of the fire lanes and do not spread out too much when pithing their tents. We have also been known to have been asked to help people pitch their tents (especially those with the price tag still attached)
- Shower block and toilets, which involves maintaining orderly queues and keeping visitors informed of any issues, or directing to the nearest facilities if out of order. Volunteers are not asked to clean/maintain the facilities, but are expected to report any issues or problems brought to them by visitors
- Arena patrol, which involves monitoring the visitors in the man arena area, maintaining the fire lanes and access routes, and reporting any issues or incidents
- Track crossing, which involves assisting the BMMC marshals at the various crossing points along the track, keeping visitors informed of approximate times the crossing points are open and ensuring steady movement through the crossing points when open
- Working with “feature” providers within the event, which involves working with some of the various content and feature providers at the event, helping them to deliver the different content and features to the public at the event.
- This is not an exhaustive list, and occasionally volunteers are asked by the organisers to carry out other duties, although when this happens it is optional and voluntary for each individual to consent to
When you arrive on site you will be accredited for the event, and choose the shifts you would like to work (note that shifts are allocated on a first come basis). Volunteers are asked to work two 8 hour shifts, or the equivalent, over the course of the event. This means that you will still have plenty of time to go around the event and see the many attractions on offer, you will probably have a whole day of free time to enjoy yourself.
(If you are attending as an Explorer Unit or Network group then please contact us direct via email as we will look to allocate you a team shift as opposed to individual shifts)
This year there is not a designated Scout Stand within the event offering activities, although we are working on teaming up with other feature providers to offer somewhere the public can go for information about Scouting. This means that we are focussing more on the volunteering aspect of Scouting, as we will be the first and last faces every visitor to the event will see.
Outside of the “shifts” they work on, volunteers time is their own, to enjoy the Festival and the various attractions and features, including the track and car displays, the food displays, the celebrity appearances and talks and the evening musical acts.
INTERESTED? Click the link below to join the team:
SCOUT VOLUNTEERS AT UK EVENTS AND FESTIVALS 