Volunteer Opportunities at the
Edinburgh Mela Festival 2010
We’re still looking for enthusiastic and friendly volunteers to come along and be involved in the Mela weekend Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th August at Leith Links in Edinburgh as stewards, front of house, at the information point and generally helping out in the festival.
Just drop Karen an email or give Karen a ring to let her know you’re interested and free over that weekend. You’d also have to be able to come along to one of our training sessions: Tuesday 3rd Aug, 12–2pm or Wednesday 4th Aug, 5.30pm–8pm.
If you’re looking for a great, fun way to spend a weekend and gain some experience volunteering at a festival, then this is the opportunity for you.
We can provide travel expenses, food and refreshments, a ticket for the CARGO premiere and the Mela closing party, a volunteer thank you event and a reference.
Please contact Karen Veitch on 0131 332 2888 or email volunteer@edinburgh-mela.co.uk
Why volunteer?
You will be able to meet new people, build up your experience, share your skills and develop new skills, be involved in a major event and see some exciting shows. The internship roles provide fantastic opportunities for people who would like to gain behind-the-scenes experience in a Festival office.
What will I receive?
- A volunteer training session, which will give you a chance to meet your volunteer colleagues
- Travel expenses to and from the Festival
- A meal per shift plus refreshments from our hospitality area
- A Festival Programme
- A free ticket to the Mela closing party on Sunday 8th August
- An invitation to a volunteer thank you/ feedback event
- You will be able to ask for a reference on successful completion of your volunteer post
How long will each volunteer shift be?
- Shifts will last approximately 6 hours. You will have a break during your shift.
How old to I have to be?
- You have to be 16 years old or over to apply.
How do I apply?
The first step is to read over the volunteer role descriptions below and choose which one you think would suit you best. Then please email or write to the address below including:
- your CV
- a contact telephone number of a referee
- a short covering note (stating your availability, role choice and why you think you would be suitable)
Write to:
Karen Veitch,
The Edinburgh Mela,
North Edinburgh Arts Centre,
15a Pennywell Court,
Edinburgh,
EH4 4TZ
Telephone:
0131 332 2888
Email:
volunteer@edinburgh-mela.co.uk
The deadline for applications is Sunday 18th July 2010
What happens next?
If you are successful, then you will be invited in for a short, informal interview to talk more about the volunteer role. You MUST be available one of the following dates for this. Your interview will last 15 – 20 minutes, interview slots will be from 11am – 8pm on these dates: Wed 28th, Thurs 29th, Fri 30th, Sat 31st July.
After your interview you will be invited in for an obligatory 2-hour training session, which will take place on Tues 3rd or Wed 4th August (one will be during the day, the other in the evening).
Volunteer Roles
Artist Liaison Volunteers
This role involves supporting the Festival artists with the following:
- Welcoming artists & handing out passes
- Answering queries, responding to requests & giving directions
- Ensuring artists have correct event information
- Assisting with refreshments & food for artists
- Setting up dressing rooms & keeping them tidy
- Liaising between artists & production/ stage team
- Running duties
The majority of this role will be based at the check-in desk, where you will be meeting and greeting artists, ensuring they have the correct passes and showing them to the dressing rooms. You should be friendly and approachable and enjoy working in a busy Festival environment.
For this role, you are required to volunteer on both Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th August, morning/ afternoon or afternoon/ evening. Shift length = 6 hours.
(Please note that places for this opportunity are limited and interviews will be offered to those with most experience)
Audience Services Volunteers
This is a customer-facing role, so you should be a friendly, approachable person who enjoys meeting new people. You will be involved in all or some of the following areas:
- Welcoming visitors, giving directions & information, checking wristbands, helping with fire safety procedures such as keeping the fire exits clear of people in the venues, giving out Festival programmes and generally making sure visitors enjoy their Festival experience
- You could be volunteering at the Information Point, as Front of House in the Big Top or at the Outdoor Stage, at the Gates as a steward, or in the Hospitality area
- You could also be volunteering within the Children and Families Workshop Space, doing a front of house role or helping with workshops – please state if this is an area you’d be particularly interested in.
For this role, you are required to volunteer on both Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th August, morning/ afternoon or afternoon/ evening. Shift length = 6 hours.
Market Stalls Volunteers
You will be assisting the Stalls Manager with the food and craft market, including welcoming and checking in market stall traders, allocating Festival passes, giving out information and directions and dealing with enquiries.
You should be friendly, approachable and have experience with customer/ client service. You should enjoy working in a busy Festival environment.
For this role, you are required to volunteer on Friday 6th, Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th August, morning/ afternoon or afternoon/ evening. Shift length = 6 hours.
Photography/ Viral Video Volunteer
This is an excellent opportunity for someone who would like to gain photography and/ or filming experience within a festival/ event environment. You will be documenting Festival events, performances, staff and volunteers. Your documentation would then be shown on the Mela facebook, bebo and website.
You should be friendly, approachable and have your own camera or filming equipment. Please send in evidence of previous work with your CV, for example a link to your website or your flickr account.
For this role, you are required to volunteer as much as possible over Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th August.
Please note that the application deadline for all posts is Sunday 18th July.
If you have any questions, please contact Karen Veitch on the contact numbers/ email above. Thank you and we look forward to hearing from you!
Click here for more pictures of our volunteers at the2009 Edinburgh Mela Festival
