Let's face it, most people who volunteer are passionate about helping people - but for some influencing social change is also important. Volunteering for a campaigning organisation allows volunteers to help make things happen for large charities. Find out what the grass roots activists get up to here.

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Friday Aug 18, 2006

Stewarding at the BIG CHILL

If any of you are reading my blog and asking hasn't BIG CHILL already happened, you are right, it has - im just trying to get up to date with Blogging! Not really being one who is particularly into DJ's i really wasnt to sure what i was going to make of the BIG CHILL - i was pleasently surprised and came across some fantastic bands and (dare i say it) DJ's. As this was a very last minute decision i was unable to convince my boyfriend, who usually stewards with me, to come too as he was busy doing his dissertation for his Masters. Thankfully one of the stewards i had met at WOMAD was also going and offered to give me a lift to the festival so we got to know each other along the way. As many of our shifts clashed however i did find myself spending a lot of time alone during the days, checking out the interesting stalls and poping between stages (its a huge venue, so that took quite a bit of time). Being by myself during the evenings felt a little more awkward when it came to the partying! Thankfully i was stewarding two of the evenings, so this meant not only did i get to watch a lot of the performers on the main stage while taking care of the visibility platform, but i felt that my life had some kind of purpose! Although i felt more alone than usual i found myself chatting to a lot more stewards and it turned out that a larger number than i had expected had come alone, i had fun chilling out with one of them in the Body and Soul Zone one afternoon before visiting a 'make-believe' wedding ceremony! Apart from dealing with the odd drunk punter, stewarding on the visibility platform was fantastic and very rewarding.

Please note: Although the people who organise stewarding at festivals for Oxfam volunteers are ultra nice, its very unlikely that you are able to request where you are stewarding and which shifts you end up with - i was just lucky!

Posted by Helen Bryant ( 1:19 PM )
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