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Tolpuddle
Martyrs

Crew Roles

Volunteering at the Tolpuddle Martyrs’ Festival

Our festival is built by the people who show up and make it happen. It simply wouldn’t exist without the commitment, care and solidarity of our crew.

We need support across all areas of the festival.

Crew members are usually asked to take on average 4 shifts, each around 3 hours, and spread across the festival weekend (Friday–Sunday). Some volunteers may also be involved in setup and derig, which take place from Monday through Thursday and the subsequent Monday.

Where possible, we aim to keep your shifts within the same area so you can settle into the role without needing to learn lots of different systems. That said, depending on need, you may be asked to take on shifts in two different areas during the weekend.

We’ll always do our best to balance the needs of the festival with your preferences and capacity.

Car parking & Road management 

This area can include: road and traffic management, helping and meeting arrivals, directing to car parks and spaces, camping assistance, coach movement, etc.

Shifts will be between the hours of:
Friday: 0800 – 2200
Saturday: 0800 – 2200
Sunday: 0730 – 1900

Festival check-in: All check-in areas and entry/exit points

This will include: scanning QR codes for all people coming onto site, issuing physical wristbands and passes, and gate stewarding.

Shifts will be between the hours of:
Friday 0800-2200
Saturday 0800-2200
Sunday 0800-1400

Festival Care Crew: Site Care (Toilets & Showers)

The festival works with local contractors who are responsible for emptying waste and recycling bins across the site, as well as emptying, cleaning and servicing the toilets and showers.

As part of the Festival Care Crew, you’ll therefore help us keep the site welcoming, safe and sustainable. This role involves working in small teams to litter-pick around the festival site, collect cups and loose waste using litter-pickers, restock toilet paper and hand wash, and generally keep shared spaces pleasant for everyone.

You will never be expected to clean toilets or showers. If you come across a toilet that is unusable, you’ll simply place an out-of-order sign on it and report it to event control.

This is an important, visible role that helps make the festival a comfortable and enjoyable space for all.

Friday 0800 – 2300
Saturday 0730 – 2300
Sunday 0730 – 1930

The Martyrs’ Marquee

The largest tent at the Festival is one of our busiest areas. With campaign and information stalls, debates and music taking place, we need a lot of help to keep it running smoothly.

Support for the marquee includes tasks such as helping stall holders set up, ensuring health and fire safety, supporting the smooth running of the marquee, staffing the info point.

Shifts take place between Friday – Sunday 0800 – 0030. Please indicate in your application if you are unable to work late evenings.

The Tolpuddle Martyrs’ Shop

Crew will support this area by: helping to move stock from the main shop and storerooms into shop’s festival marquee, restocking where required, greeting and serving customers, using the till and card machine.

Friday 0930-1800
Saturday 0930-1800
Sunday 0930-1900

Information Points & Gates

Crew in this role will be a friendly point of contact for festival-goers, stationed at the information tent. You’ll help answer questions from the public about getting around the site, transport options (including taxis and bus services), the festival programme, and where different areas and activities are located. The access gates will also be monitored in three areas of the festival checking passes.

This role is all about being approachable, informed and helpful, making sure people feel welcomed, oriented and able to enjoy everything the festival has to offer.

Safeguarding at the festival is managed by the Information Team. You will be fully briefed and supported in this critical role.

Friday 0800-2200
Saturday 0800-2200
Sunday 0930-close of festival

General role

As part of the General Crew, you’ll help bring the festival to life by supporting a broad range of activities. You may be involved in a range of tasks across the weekend, including:

  • Taking part in bucket collections to help fund and sustain the festival and Tolpuddle charity
  • Helping with tent and campervan counts to support planning and accessibility
  • Supporting Fringe events, helping create welcoming and inclusive spaces
  • Writing and updating chalk boards to share information, messages and calls to action.

This role is shaped by the needs of the festival and the strengths of volunteers. You’ll be briefed, supported and encouraged to work together.

Shifts can be allocated at any time during the festival between the hours of 0800 – 0030.

Stewarding – procession and wreath-laying (Sunday only)

Supporting and stewarding the Sunday procession and wreath-laying (approx 12.30-16.00)

Talking in Tents & Stages

This includes support for our speaker sessions (including ensuring water supply for speakers, managing the roving mic, ensuring speakers are present for sessions as much as possible) and supporting our backstage green rooms.

Shifts are between 0915 – 1700 for the speaker sessions and until 0030 for backstage support.

Setup and derig

The setup and derig crew work outside festival hours to prepare and dismantle the site respectively.

This includes roles such as assisting with marquee installation, delineating the car parking areas and tent areas, coordinating with on site contractors, setting up the key functional areas, managing inventory, and a wide variety of other tasks as deemed necessary by team leads and Event Control.

Volunteers for this crew are provided with basic sustenance (sandwich lunch & crew dinner) on the days they are rostered to work. Members of these teams often build strong friendships with each other as there is a strong sense of camaraderie in ensuring everything is ready on time for the doors of the festival to open punctually at 9:00 on Friday.

 

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