Each year Bloomsbury Festival looks for volunteers to help steward festival events and welcome audiences, providing an enjoyable experience for all.
We need your help to ensure a smooth running of our events, walks and exhibitions we rely on volunteers to assist in welcoming the audience at events, information distribution, attendance checking, collection of handwritten feedback, and partner communications. Aiding our Staff to present successful events enjoyed by our audiences.
You will get to meet a variety of people, partners, professionals and creatives while also experiencing the behind-the-scenes tasks of an annual festival. You will also see some of the events at which you steward.
Volunteers are required throughout the Festival from Friday 17 to Sunday 19 October - plus at the opening evening event on Thursday 16 October. Some opportunities are one-off shifts and others can be multiple events spread across the festival period. You will be representing the Festival at live events (indoors and outdoors).
We only ask that if you become an Event Steward you are committed to the shifts you agree to, we are willing to work around your availability but require you to be realistic with your availability so we can best allocate you shifts.
You may be a new student just arriving in London, a local resident or someone looking to develop specific skills to broaden your career prospects – we can tailor your position to your availability and areas of interest. It is a great way to learn more about the Bloomsbury area and the people within it, as well as get to experience some amazing events in music, art, theatre, talks, and more.
The people you will get to meet are vast and of varying backgrounds, industries and careers, providing a brilliant chance to network and meet with creatives and professionals.
Designed for anyone (18+) who has an interest in supporting the festival and/or gaining additional skills and work experience.
This is the most flexible of our volunteer opportunities. You will be assisting our staff and box office team in welcoming the audience at events, directing them to the correct rooms and any necessary facilities, collecting handwritten feedback forms, and helping our team with audience control on bigger events. Altogether, aiding our Staff to present successful events across the festival.
You will be a key representative of the Festival at live events (indoors and outdoors).
You may occasionally be asked to help with set up or pack up of an event under the supervision of a staff member.
If you are allocated to a guided walking tour, you will be the main representative of the Festival during this walk. Ensuring audiences keep up with the tour guide and that the walk is proceeding with little issues.
We are constantly wanting to evolve the Festival but cannot be in multiple venues at once, Event Stewards assist our festival evaluations and reporting by prompting attendees to provide feedback.
You will be allocated events depending on your availability and we can offer some flexibility about the types of events you steward. We would hope you would be available for multiple days of the festival for a few hours each 'shift', however, we also offer places for those looking for one-off shifts and limited availability.
Event Partners will include multiple professionals within their field, as well as recognised artists, culture and academic institutions, and community organisations.
Interacting with the general public, you will also be working with fellow volunteer Event Stewards.
Depending on the events you steward you may also be working closely at the beginning of events with our Box Office team.
Wednesday 24 September - Introduction to the Festival and Team
Learn more about what Bloomsbury Festival does. Meet our Festival Team, hear more about their roles within the Festival.
Friday 26 September - Meet and Greet
An in person gathering to meet your fellow volunteers and some of the core festival team. Drinks and snacks on behalf of the festival. Details to be sent closer to the time.
Wednesday 1 October - Operational Briefing
Dedicated to cover what the tasks and responsibilities are expected of the Stewards. Daily tasks, where and who to report to each day, responsibilities, and any key details about the Festival Stewards should be aware of.
Thursday 9 October - Bloomsbury Venue Tour
A walking tour of the Bloomsbury area, passing by many of the venues which will host Festival events and exhibitions. Familiarise yourself with the various buildings and locations which work with the Festival, as well as the routes you can take to get to them during your shifts.
Additional training sessions may be added in September, including an introduction to Event Management and Box Office. Confirmed volunteers will receive updates regarding any additions.
Time commitment
We will need Event Stewards for various events and walks throughout the weekend of the 2025 festival (17th-19th October) plus for the evenings of preview events from Tuesday 14th - Thursday 16th October. However, if you let us know your availability beforehand we can allocate you to shifts that suit your schedule, we only ask that after the Stewarding schedule is confirm you are committed to attending your allocated shifts.
Festival days can begin early (generally from 10am) and can go on until late evening (on occasion until 10pm), depending on the events you sign up for. There is no expectation to do full days, you can organise with your supervisor to just attend morning, afternoon or evening sessions to work around any timetables.
Shifts can roughly equate to 2 hours per event. If you are available for a majority of a day you may be asked to steward multiple events within that time period, breaks will be offered as required but cannot be guaranteed for all shifts/one-off events.
Overall, there is no specific number of shifts Stewards are expected to attend during the festival. However, we do expect Stewards to be available for a few events throughout the festival.