Mersea Island Festival Volunteer Reference Request

The role of the volunteer

The Mersea Island Festival is a 9-day camping residential on the coast of Essex bringing together young people and adults with or without a physical or learning disability. For many of our campers this is their only time away from home during the year and an opportunity to try activities that they are not able to do elsewhere.

Before the campers arrive the volunteers help set up the villages and different areas of the Festival. During the week, volunteers work in teams led by an experienced Team Leader to support the running of the Festival. This is primarily in one area, although they may be called on to help elsewhere if needed. The areas can be Art Tent (assist with art and craft activities), Dining Hall (setting out tables, serving food and clearing away), Entertainments (preparing areas and helping with activities) and Village Leading. While primarily assigned to one team, they may be called on to help elsewhere if needed. And finally, at the end of Festival, they’ll be helping to get things cleared up.

It’s not your average role, with some late nights, early mornings and long days. Our volunteers work hard – but they also have a great social time. They need energy; enthusiasm; to be reliable, happy to muck in whenever needed and the self-discipline to ensure they don’t run out of steam before the end of camp.

All our volunteers are required to attend a training day at the start of the camp, where the different aspects of the camp will be explained further. We address the different disabilities that volunteers may encounter and we look at the appropriate ways of helping those who are disabled. Our volunteer team are there to make sure that all our visitors have a great time but they are not required to provide care.  

Please provide information under as many of the following headings as you feel able to or are relevant to your knowledge of the applicant. If you have any questions regarding this request please contact the Festival Coordinator on 01206 383226 or email info@merseafestival.org.uk