Volunteering

Our 20th festival may be over but planning for the 2012 festival has already begun! Whether you want to get involved in the planning process throughout the year, helping once its get busy in the post-Easter period or helping over the festival weekend it would be great to hear from you.

Simply send an email with ROTW 2012 in the subject line to Jo and Alison at volunteers@rotw.org.uk. Please indicate if there is any particular area you would like to be involved in, and how much time you can give us. Or give them a ring: Alison can be contacted on 07834 363626, and Jo on 07879 487445.

Rhythms of the World (ROTW) is more than a music festival. It is a year-round community activity with the unique capacity to involve people of all ages, races, abilities and backgrounds. We want ROTW to become an example, of national importance, of what can be achieved in a spirit of community co-operation.

Volunteering for ROTW, you may have expertise that you can bring or you can gain new skills and experience to improve your CV, which can lead to other opportunities. You can make friends and will be making a difference by supporting an important local community charity.

We need your help!

As the festival grows we need new volunteers to join our enthusiastic and friendly teams:

Performance – liaising with high quality acts throughout the year and over the weekend
Event – helping with the event build and de-rig, preparing Hitchin Priory grounds and ensuring we have a safe festival
Volunteers – recruiting and managing volunteers and ensuring they are appreciated
Finance – securing sponsorship, advertising, bars and traders, organising fundraising events and offering accountancy support
Communications – marketing, PR, design, website, copywriting and social media.

For a list of specific roles we need to fill please see our Current vacancies page.

Why get involved? Because it’s fun!

Why do people volunteer to help run the annual Rhythms of the world festival? Because it’s fun and rewarding. Honestly – this is what our volunteers said when we asked them why they volunteer:

“Because I love it and love all the crew. It’s great fun but really hard work. Can’t wait for this year. Bring it on YEAY!”
Karen (sixth year of volunteering)

“It’s the best thing you can do – so rewarding and you meet some amazing people. I plan to do it every year from now on.”
Joe (sixth year of volunteering).

“Cos it’s great fun, the crew are all fun to be around and the work is hard, but the end result is so worthwhile. I went to Rhythms one year with my good friend Karen to support Blunt Beats at Bancroft Gardens. I got involved just by giving out flyers. I had such a great time, and over the years have got more and more involved to the point now I’m hooked, can’t wait for this year!”
Kim (sixth year)

“It’s long hard work, but with brilliant laughs with wonderful people. I bring more volunteers with me each year and they all have a fantastic time too.”
Chris (fifth year)

“A friend suggested it. Ended up lighting the market place stage in 2006 when the guy who was down on the list never showed up. After that it kinda stuck until the past two years where holidays have been poorly placed over the weekend.”
Alex (sixth year)

“I loved it and want to do the same this year. I arranged for the guy I support (in my job) to do it and couldn’t stop myself joining in! Plus my son Merrick has been volunteering for the three years.”
Barbara (first time in 2010)

“I wanted to do something other than work! Started out taking minutes at the meetings, then bucket shaking, and have more recently been involved with stewarding, out in the thick of it and behind the scenes. Really enjoy the mix of people and the satisfaction you get from the success of the ROTW.”
Sara

“I do it because if I don’t, who will?”
Leon (fourth year)