Sidmouth Volunteer Teams 2025

Access/Welfare Officer

30th July- 8th Aug

Approx. Volunteers required 1

A couple of hours each month pre-festival, two online meetings with Directors, 3-5 hrs per day at Festival.

Help ensure all areas of the festival are inclusive & accessible, assist with accessible seating, provide support to attendees with disabilities, and delivering the festival Access Plan. Managing the access attenders database & responding to access@ emails. Training in accessibility (preferred but not required), patience, and a helpful attitude, a commitment to inclusivity.

Admin: Admin Office

27th July – 2nd Aug

Or 1st Aug- 8th Aug

Approx. 12 Volunteers Required

Minimum Hours 35

A small team who work with the Festival General Manager to

provide accurate and timely financial data before and during the festival.

Liaise with all areas of the Festival via Team Leaders and Deputies. For this

role, experienced Sidmouth Festival-goers are desirable. Experience in

banking/accountancy/mathematics plus a sense of humour and a willingness to be

flexible around the needs of the job is helpful.

All Saints: Venue

1st -8th Aug

Approx. 18 Volunteers Required

Minimum Hours 35

This is an indoor venue within the town, mainly shooting roots workshops and some evening family events. Team member’s tasks include checking and selling tickets, manning fire exits, cleaning between events,. Experience – Good customer skills and a happy disposition.

Anchor Gardens: Venue

1st-8th Aug

Approx. 7 Volunteers Required

Minimum Hours 35

Anchor team consists of one venue manager who is on call throughout the week as well as having scheduled shifts, and 6 stage managers.

It is an outdoor venue that has a capacity on 550 customers. Stage managers are required to keep all fire exits clear, assist the band’s entrance and exit to/from the venue and stage, introduce bands, deliver health and safety announcements, time management to ensure bands are on and off stage on time, run interference for the sound team, move chairs/tables/benches between events, check attendee numbers, collect donations. The venue manager has the same responsibilities along with liaising with the pub staff and security, making the 'tough calls', organising changes/replacements to the line-up.

Artist Housekeeping

1st -9th Aug

Approx. 4 Volunteers required (Priority given to returning/regular volunteers and chosen by Tash Daly)

Variable Hours see below

4 volunteers are required to help facilitate the self-catering accommodation for artists by making beds and delivering towels at the beginning of the week and collecting bedding and towels on Friday 9th and Saturday 10th Aug. Some bed changes may also be needed mid-week. Own transport an advantage as accommodation is often out of town.

Artists Liaison

1st -8th Aug

Approx. 12 Volunteers Required (Priority given to returning/regular volunteers. New volunteers to this team to be confirmed by Tash Daly)

Minimum Hours 35+

The Artist Liaison Team is responsible for keeping the programme running as planned and on time and making sure the artists are looked after, where they should be and generally happy. Part of the team roves all the concert and ceilidh venues checking all is well, passing on information and dealing with artists' needs including drinks, food and general assistance.

There are also team members at the Bulverton and the Ham Marquee working alongside the technical and venue management teams and the MCs to keep the events running smoothly. All Artist Liaison members work closely with the Artistic Administrator and the Artistic Director. The role gives the opportunity to work at the artistic centre of the festival and requires good people skills, a reasonable knowledge of the folk scene and preferably of Sidmouth Folk Festival. Hours are variable and negotiable, usually confirmed at the start of the festival.

Admin: Artists Reception

29th July-8th Aug

Approx. 15 Volunteers Required (Priority given to returning/regular volunteers. New volunteers to this team to be confirmed by Tash Daly)

Minimum Hours 35

This team is based at the festival’s admin centre at Sidmouth Primary School and is responsible for meeting and greeting artists as they arrive at the festival and dealing with their queries throughout the week.

This involves dealing with festival passes, camping wristbands, meal vouchers, and vehicle passes etc. and generally helping the artists navigate the festival. There will be three team leaders drawn from more experienced members of the team and all will be supported by the festival’s Artistic administrator.

Artists arrive from Wednesday 30th July. Most shifts are from Thursday 31st July onwards. The Artist Reception is open from 9am to 10pm each day (with an early finish Friday 8th)

Artists Liaison Transport

1st -8th Aug

Approx. 6 Volunteers Required (Priority given to

returning/regular volunteers. New volunteers to this team to be confirmed by Keith Budd or Tash Daly)

Minimum Hours 35

This team operates as part of the Artists Liaison across all venues within the festival. You will be responsible for collecting and returning artists from station or to the airport, and between their accommodation and the venue where they are performing at. You will also assist other artist Liaison teams with moving equipment and supplies to and from venues. There are no fixed hours to the work, however the team members can expect to work an average of 5 hours a day (some days could be more). The vehicles used include a hired 9 seater car, possibly cars supplied by a festival sponsor, and team members own vehicles. Experience required for Transport Team - for those driving the large car and cars from the sponsor - a clean driving licence. For those driving their own vehicle, they should have insurance enabling them to drive for business purposes.

Build and Break Production Team Volunteers

23rd July-12th Aug

Approx. 6 Volunteers required

For 2025 we are looking to create a new team to support the build and break phases of the event working alongside contractors and suppliers to ensure the Festival looks amazing for when the guests arrive and helping top pack it all down at the end.

Due to the nature of the role and the extended dates we are offering an enhanced volunteer package only for this role.

Starting on or around the 23rd July and completing build on the 1st August.You can then take the festival week off to enjoy the festival to the maximum and return for the derig phase on the 9th and completing the derig on the 12th August

Whilst the campsite is being built at the start of the project and at the end of the derig we will provide B&B accommodation for you. You will be provided with a food allowance for all the days on site including during the festival week itself and free camping throughout at the Festival campsite with power hook up if so desired.

You will provided with all the other standard volunteer benefits. You may be offered training in specific tasks such as telehandler/fork training for example prior to the event.

Hours will be 0830 – 1730hrs daily and potentially a couple of later evenings during the build. We need physically fit volunteers who want to work as part of the production team, want to learn new skills, potentially add some great experience to a CV, whilst having the ability to take in the entire Festival week.

You may already have skills that would be of help to the event – if so, that’s even better but not essential. If you want to know more please email the Event Production Director (John Radford) direct on john@jreventservices.co.uk

Blackmore/Bulverton Bar

1st -9th Aug

Approx. 50 Volunteers Required

Minimum Hours 35

Blackmore/Bulverton Bar - Set up, run and dismantle bar in Blackmore/Bulverton Marquee. (Volunteers are specifically chosen by bar Manager – do not apply for this role unless you know you are part of this specific team)

Blackmore Dance Marquee & Gardens: Venue

1st -8th Aug

Approx. 20 Volunteers Required

Minimum Hours 35

This area has a Marquee venue within the gardens and is situated in the centre of town. It has dance workshops, displays and ceilidhs. Team members' tasks include staffing fire exits, cleaning between events, checking and selling tickets, The role also includes supervising events and gates in the gardens themselves. Experience - Good customer skills, venue and crowd management

Bulverton/Betsy's Lounge: Venue

30th July -8th Aug

Approx. 35 Volunteers Required

Minimum Hours 35

This is a late-night venue and can be very busy at times due to the calibre of bands performing. During the day it is predominately a workshop venue. Responsibilities are with the day to day running of the venue including car park. Car park duties are directing and parking cars, greeting people, selling car parking tickets and bus passes, handling money. This is an indoor/outdoor role. The venue roles vary from being responsible for fire exits and backstage gates. Front of house on the door involves checking ticket, selling tickets, and counting members of the public in and out. Roaming stewards in the venue are responsible for overseeing generally and reporting any issues to team leaders. All stewards are expected to tidy the venue before and after events. Stewards may be required to use a radio. This role includes a free bus pass.

Campsite Box Office

29th July-8th Aug

Approx. 12 Volunteers Required

Minimum Hours 35

Campsite Box office involves checking pre-booked tickets confirmations & issuing the correct Festival passes & wristbands. We also take cash payments for Festival passes, camping, programmes etc. and deal with ticketing enquiries. We are very busy from the Wednesday before the festival starts until the Sunday after which time it generally gets quieter. There are usually 4 people working at busy times reducing to 2 as required. This role entitles volunteers to a free festival bus pass.

Children’s Festival: Venue

2nd -8th Aug

Approx. 30 Volunteers Required

Minimum Hours 35

Volunteers will join a team which supports events for children and families. They will not be required to deliver workshops or events but to support the artists and workshop leaders who have been booked for this. Tasks are varied although generally volunteers work within the same venue (the Children's Festival has several) with the same time slots each day throughout the week. The Children's Festival programme events run morning, afternoon, and early evening. Volunteers who work within the Children's Festival are expected to relate well to children but equally so with adults/parents/carers. They need to be flexible and have a 'can do approach'. Another very important area of Volunteering in the Children's Festival is having people who are happy to be out in Peacock Lawn talking with families and most importantly collecting. Most Children's Festival Volunteers also help out with the Children's Festival during the Torchlight Procession.

Collections

1-8 August

Approx. 20 Volunteers Required.

Minimum Hours 28

The volunteer collections team members provide a vital role in helping to boost festival income. Collectors visit several locations in the town including Blackmore Gardens, the Anchor Garden, Market Square and the Esplanade, collecting donations from visitors and festival goers at free events, processions, informal events including street theatre and music performances, dance displays and outdoor ceilidhs. Collectors are mobile and go where things are happening! It’s a great way of finding out what’s happening around the festival. Collectors are generally chatty, enjoy meeting people and have an engaging personality. Some collectors work in tandem. There are morning, afternoon and tea-time shifts, and some volunteers run the office. We avoid early starts and late finishes. Collecting starts on Saturday, although if some volunteers can start on Friday, that would be great! All collectors get the opportunity to be a part of the last night Torchlight Procession. This is a friendly team, whose members’ contributions are very much valued.

Festival Box Office

28th July-8th Aug

Approx. 15 Volunteers Required

Minimum Hours 35

This role involves checking pre-booked ticket confirmations and issuing the correct Festival Passes and event tickets. We also sell Festival passes, event tickets, camping, programmes etc. and deal with ticketing and other enquiries. The festival Box Office is open 11 hours each day and has different peaks and troughs throughout the two-week period. Desired skills – Excellent customer facing skills, a good knowledge of the town and festival, working within a team and answering phone enquiries. At peak times a calm, level head is required as it can be very busy.

Festival Campsite

29th July-9th Aug

Approx. 35 Volunteers Required

Minimum Hours 35

The festival campsite is situated just out of town. During the folk festival it is serviced by a circular bus route to the town centre. The campsite team welcome and site campers into the right areas of the campsite (general, campervans/caravan, accessible etc), Check wristbands and passes on the gates, make sure fire lanes are kept clear. Answer any customer questions and manage any problems that arise appropriately, calling for help if required. It is a very friendly team with campsite managers on hand at all times. This role entitles volunteers to a free festival bus pass.

Guide HQ: Venue

2nd - 8th Aug

Approx. 12 Volunteers Required

Minimum Hours 35

Experience desired for the venue is of running a folk club or concerts, both as front-of-house (checking tickets, selling tickets, managing the queues including having to turn customers away from sold-out events) and behind the scenes (setting up the room for each event and cleaning it between events, greeting performers and MCs), and being aware of health and safety requirements. The Guide HQ is a low-key venue with a programme of acoustic traditional performances, storytelling, and ballads.

Harbour Hotel: Venue

3rd-8th Aug

Approx. 12 Volunteers Required

Minimum Hours 35

Experience of running a venue desirable. Roles include front-of-house (checking tickets, selling tickets, managing the queues, including having to turn customers away from sold-out events) and behind the scenes (setting up the room for each event and cleaning it between events, greeting performers and MCs), and being aware of health and safety requirements.

Kennaway Cellar: Venue

1st-8th Aug

Approx. 20 Volunteers Required

Minimum Hours 35

The volunteer team work afternoons and evenings. They assist in managing queues, ticket checking, setting the room, working with the festival technical team and Kennaway manager and staff. Kennaway is a small venue and can be very popular so keeping track of queue numbers is important to minimise customer disappointment if a ‘full house’ has to be called.

Lost Property Manager

1st -9th Aug and beyond

Approx. 2 Volunteers Required

Minimum Hours 35

Manage lost property received during the event from venues etc and handle lost property enquiries & returns to owners during and post event. Friendly demeanour with a logical approach to cataloguing and handling lost property. Ideally local to Sidmouth for handling returns post festival.

Manor Pavilion & Arts Centre: Venue

2nd-8th Aug

Approx. 20 Volunteers Required

Minimum Hours 35

This is a venue with several rooms within it and has concerts in the theatre, and a variety of events in the arts centre. There are also workshops and sessions within the building. Experience required checking tickets, selling tickets, managing the queues including managing sold-out events, setting up the rooms, cleaning between events, greeting performers and MCs and being aware of health and safety requirements.

Merchandise

1st -8th Aug

Approx. 12 Volunteers Required

Minimum Hours 35

Merchandise Team - To sell official Folk Festival

Merchandise. Looking after 2 outlets (Blackmore Gardens and The Ham) from Friday to Friday inclusive. To interact with the public and potential customers visiting the stand. To take an active interest in the merchandise, upsell wherever possible- take a pride in the display of goods.

Accurate record keeping of sales and handling of money. Reliability and honesty. Needs a pleasant, friendly welcoming disposition.

Methodist Complex: Venue

1st -8th Aug

Approx. 25 Volunteers Required

Minimum Hours 35

Managing up to 4 simultaneous events within the Methodist Complex. Events include dance, performance, youth events and workshops. Main duties: greeting/helping customers and checking/selling tickets; ensuring bands, workshop leaders and performers have everything they need; operating lift and stair lifts, clearing up after events and ensuring the building is secure, in co-operation with Church members. May include moving chairs, tables, as needed.

Mixed Smaller Venues: Venue

2nd - 8th Aug

Approx. 12 Volunteers Required

Minimum Hours 35

Including but not limited to: Stowford Rise, Conservative Club, Unitarian Church (Dissenters). These are indoor venues within the town, mainly dances & workshops, storytelling, and acoustic concerts. Team member’s tasks include staffing fire exits, cleaning between events, checking and selling tickets. Experience - Good customer skills and a happy disposition. If selecting this role, you may be asked to make up hours required for a full week pass by helping out at other areas/venues during the week.

Rugby Club: Venue

1st -8th Aug

Approx. 15 Volunteers Required

Minimum Hours 35

The venue requires that chairs and/or tables are set out for the morning workshops. Checking season tickets and selling workshop or individual tickets is a key part of each event. As the venue is on the 1st floor, some assistance is sometimes required to help attendees up the stairs with large instruments. A disabled chair lift is also available on the emergency stairs. These stairs are staffed during the performances. At the end of each event the venue is tidied ready for the next session. The programme comprises workshops, mainly instrumental and some dance, singing sessions and evening sessions.

St Teresa’s Church Hall: Venue

1st -8th Aug

Approx. 18 Volunteers Required

Minimum Hours 35

This is an indoor venue within the town, mainly dance workshops and evening dances. Team member’s tasks include staffing fire exits, cleaning between events, checking and selling tickets. Experience – Good customer skills and a happy disposition.

Shooting Roots Youth Workshops: Venue

1st - 8th Aug

Approx. 8 Volunteers Required

Minimum Hours 35

Based indoors at the All Saints Church complex. There are usually 3 or 4 workshops each day. The volunteer role consists of collecting tickets from Admin office, checking tickets and/or selling tickets on the door. Volunteers are not required to work evenings and would finish approx. 18:00/19:00. If selecting this role, you may be asked to make up hours required for a full week pass by helping out at other areas/venues during the week.

Sidmouth C of E Primary School Rooms (Workshops): Venue

1st -8th Aug

Approx. 6 Volunteers Required

Minimum Hours 35

There are two rooms used for workshops - The Classroom and the School Hall. There are usually 5 or 6 workshops each day spread between the two rooms and the volunteer role consists of helping the workshop leader set the room depending on the type of workshop (Music or dance), collecting tickets from Admin office, checking tickets and/or selling tickets on the door. Volunteers are not required to work evenings and would finish approx. 18:00/19:00. If selecting this role, you may be asked to make up hours required for a full week pass by helping out at other areas/venues during the week.

Site Decoration

24th – 30th July

Approx. 3 Volunteers Required

Minimum Hours 35

A small team to help put up banners, signage and other decorations to help create a great festival atmosphere. If you are interested in getting involved in creating decorations in advance please contact Tash Daly – tash@sidmouthfolkfestival.co.uk

Tech Operations Team

1st-8th Aug

Approx. 10 Volunteers Required

Minimum Hours 40+

This will be part of Doug Bailey’s ‘tech support team’ and will require approx. 10 people to provide the technical support (sound, lighting and stage management) for the Manor Pavilion and other venues around town. The team requires experienced sound engineers familiar with digital desks and lighting people, with some experience of stage lighting. Team members also need to be familiar with the use of different microphones and plugging up a stage at sound check time ready for a performance. The team members will be working with the artists to provide their technical requirements for the performance. We do have a very limited number of spaces for younger engineers who might not have all the skills we require but have some background and training in sound engineering.

The Ham: Venue

31st July-8th Aug

Approx. 40 Volunteers Required

Minimum Hours 45+

This is the festival's main concert venue, seating 1200 and running 3 concerts a day, but as a team we performers parking area that are both attached to the venue. There are various roles within the team, which include working both indoors and outdoors, litter picking, cleaning tables, managing parking, checking tickets, and monitoring doors to both public and backstage areas. All roles can be trained on the job but any experience of working in a festival concert venue would be an advantage.