Sidmouth Volunteer Teams 2025

Admin: Admin Office

27^th 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 and St Teresa’s Church Halls: Venue

2nd -8th Aug

Approx. 18 Volunteers Required

Minimum Hours 35

These are indoor venues close together within the town,

mainly dance workshops, evening dances and some evening family events. Team member’s tasks include staffing fire

exits, cleaning between events, checking and selling tickets. 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 bands entrance and exit to 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, collecting 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 10^th Aug. Some bed changes may also be needed mid-week. Own

transport an advantage as accommodation is often out of town.

Artists Liaison

1^st -8^th 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

29^th July-8^th 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 through 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 31^st July, most shifts are from

Thursday 1^st Aug onwards. The artist Reception is open from 9am to

10pm each day(with an early finish Friday 9^th)

Artists Liaison Transport

1st -8^th 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. Responsible for collecting and returning artists

from station or airport and between their accommodation and the venue that they

are performing, and assisting the accommodation team with moving linen and

towels around the town. There are no fixed hours to the work, however the team

members can expect to work an average of 4 hours a day (some days could be

more). Hours are variable and negotiable, usually confirmed at the start of the

Festival when artist travel plans are fixed.

The vehicles used are a minibus and team members own

vehicles. Experience required for Transport Team - for those driving the

minibus - a clean driving licence with D1 category. For those driving their own

vehicle, they should have insurance enabling them to drive for business

purposes.

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

2nd -8^th 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, and 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

2^nd -10^th Aug    

Approx. 30 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

29^th July-8^th Aug              

Approx. 12 Volunteers Required

Minimum Hours 35

Campsite Box office involves checking pre-booked ticket

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 -8^th 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) and 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-8^th 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-10^th Aug           

Approx. 35 Volunteers Required

Minimum Hours 35

The festival campsite is situated just out of town. During

the folk week 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 required 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

1st-8th Aug

Approx. 12 Volunteers Required

Minimum Hours 35

Experience of running a venue desirable, roles include 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.

Kennaway Cellar: Venue

1st-8^th Aug

Approx. 20 Volunteers Required

Minimum Hours 35

The volunteer team assist in managing queues, ticket

checking, setting the room, both afternoons and evenings, moving chairs and

tables plus liaising 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.

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) 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. Pleasant friendly welcoming disposition.

Methodist Complex: Venue

1st -8^th 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 -8^th 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.

Shooting Roots Youth Workshops: Venue

2nd - 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 and 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

2nd-9^th 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.

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 also manage the food court and the

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.