Actionaid Volunteering at Reading Festival 2012
ActionAid Volunteering at Reading Festival 2012
So what is the ActionAid tent?
The ActionAid tent is a big marquee located on the main festival site. During the day we have seating and games like table tennis, table football, giant jenga and giant connect 4 for people to play. In the evening the games are packed away, seats are moved to the side of the tent and our resident DJs take over until 3am. At all times there is a large table where people can sign up to find out more about how to get involved with ActionAid or help themselves to stickers and leaflets.
The ActionAid tent by day
…. and the ActionAid tent at night!
Meeting, opening & closing times:
Wednesday 22ndAugust
4.30pm – Volunteers meet at Reading festival entrance and walk on site
5pm– Set up tents, then back to the ActionAid tent for staff and volunteer social
7pm – Quick briefing and social in “closed ActionAid” tent
Thursday 23rd August
1pm – 4pm – full briefing session
6pm – tent opens
9pm – DJs start up
3am –tent closed and tidied up.
Friday 24thAugust
2.30pm – daily meeting
3pm – tent opens
9pm – DJs start up
3am – tent closed and tidied up.
Saturday 25th August
2.30pm – daily meeting
3pm – tent opens
9pm – DJs start up
3am – tent closed and tidied up.
Sunday 26th August
2.30pm – daily meeting
3pm – tent opens
9pm – DJs start up
3am – tent closed and van packed.
Monday 27th August
12pm (onwards) – Volunteers leave Reading festival site and make own way home
Why are we there?
The main goal at Reading festival is to inform lots of people about the work ActionAid does and how they can help by doing something they love.In the past we have campaigned about HIV & AIDS and hunger at the festivals. This year we are taking the issue ofeducation to Reading, highlighting that 67 million children are missing out and asking people to show they believe everyone should have the chance to go to school.
What will I be expected to do?
You will be working on a rota of 2 x2.5 hour shifts each day from Thursday until Sunday. You will be expected to work around 20 hours in total over the four days. You will be given two ActionAid t-shirt that you must wear while working your shift.
Your jobs will include:
- Explaining what work ActionAid does to festival goers and encouraging them to get involved
- Talking about how education gives people the freedom to escape poverty. Getting festival goers to take a photo action show their support for education.
- Taking festival goers photos and their details using a PDA (Hand held computer)
- Standing outside around the entrance to the tent handing out stickers and chatting to punters
- Keeping the tent tidy and helping move games and seating in the evening
In order for things to run smoothly we will need to work as a team and be flexible with our shifts. If you repeatedly fail to turn up for shifts or meetings then we will have to ask you to leave.
Getting to the festival:
You are required to make your own way to the festival – preferably by public transport as we are not able to provide parking spaces for volunteers.
Everyone must arrive on site by 4.30pm on Wednesday 22nd August to set up tents and attend the Bollocks to Poverty get together on Wednesday night. You must attend the training session on Thursday at 1.00pm and the daily meetings at 2.30pm.
Other responsibilities:
Everyone must also help pack up the tent when it closes at 3am on Sunday. With everyone helping this doesn’t take long, and means we can load the van quickly and leave early the next day.
BE PREPARED!
Don’t forget to bring the following!
- tent
- thick sleeping bag
- roll mat
- torch
- waterproof clothing and wellies – even if the forecast is good!
- warm clothes for night time
- suntan lotion
- insect repellent
- toilet roll
- water bottle
- any medication you need e.g. painkillers, hay fever tablets
- wet wipes
- an ipod / cd with Beach Break Live playlists on if you fancy DJing when you’re not on shift!!
Camping:
You will be camping in the crew camping area which is separate from the general public. There are toilets and showers in this camping area. You will not be able to camp in the public area.
Food:
You will be given three meal vouchers a day for the crew café which is situated near to the Bollocks to Poverty Tent. There will be a cold buffet provided on Wednesdayevening for our social party! Snacks such as crisps, fruit and cereal bars plus tea and coffee will be available for crew at the ActionAid tent throughout the weekend.
Wristbands:
It will be your responsibility to look after your wristband. We do not have spares so if you break or lose your wristband then security will force you to leave the festival!
Valuables:
Try not to bring anything of value to the festival – keep your belongings to the bare essentials. The crew camping ground is a restricted area, but cannot be guarded at all times. You should never leave anything valuable in your tent.
Out of bounds:
The ActionAid tent has a staff backstage area which you are very welcome to use. This area is for volunteers only. Friends are not allowed backstage at anytime.
As a volunteer you will not have a full site backstage pass.Do not trespass into areas that are out of bounds / backstage.This includes behind catering areas or anywhere that has a big fence sectioning it off. It may sound obvious but we have to say it. No fence jumping please!! You will be thrown off site immediately and could jeopardise ActionAid’s presence at Beach Break Live in the future.
Safety rules and advice:
You must make sure you stick to the festival organisers’ health and safety rules. Lisa will explain these to you at the briefing. Try not to wander around the campsite on your own – particularly at night. When you arrive, make sure you find out where the police and first aid points are.
Alcohol / Drugs:
When you are working you are representing ActionAid and so we ask that you do not drink alcohol on your shift or when wearing an ActionAid crew t-shirt.
You are responsible for your own actions at the festival, please remember that illegal substances are not allowed - drugs are just as illegal at the festival as they are anywhere else – and police will be patrolling the site.
About ActionAid
ActionAid is an international poverty charity. We work in over 50 of the world’s poorest countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America.
ActionAid doesn’t just hand out aid; we help poor people take control of their lives and end their own poverty for good. We work in partnership with communities to tackle the priorities and issues identified by the community themselves.
We educate people about their rights and give them the practical skills to access these rights. Helping community groups lobby their local government for things like school teachers, school buildings and a safe water supply.
ActionAid doesn’t see victims of poverty, we see people working to end it. It tales dedication to spend all day in the fields scrapping a living, then go back to your village and organise a committee to campaign for clean water. It takes unimaginable compassion to take in children orphaned by AIDS when you can barely feed your own.
As well as tackling the effects of poverty, ActionAid challenges the individuals and institutions that keep people poor. We put pressure on world leaders, governments and big business about their policies and practices that affect people in the south – like food rights, trade rules, access to education and HIV/AIDS.
But what makes ActionAid different?
We work in long term partnerships with communities and local organisations – basically, we stick around until the problem is solved.
89% of our staff are from poor countries and we are the only international development organisation to be run from one (our head office is in Johannesburg).
What are the main focuses of ActionAid’s work?
- food and hunger
- women’s rights
- the right to education
- HIV and AIDS
- responding to emergencies and conflicts
- accountability of governments
Are you a religious organisation?
We are non religious and have no affiliations with political parties.
You can watch a short video about ActionAid here: