BE PART OF THE FESTIVAL OF TOMORROW: 09 - 18 FEBRUARY 2024
Festival of Tomorrow is Swindon’s dynamic celebration of the wonders of science, research, art and technology.
By sharing the latest knowledge and innovation, we provide opportunities for everyone to grow our understanding of how science works, and how it can shape our choices in a changing world.
We do this through cutting edge exhibitions, hands-on science, talks, shows and workshops and content that our visitors of all ages and backgrounds find surprising, entertaining, inspiring and accessible.
Making the Festival of Tomorrow happen wouldn’t be possible without the help of our volunteers. Whether it’s manning an information point, helping to manage smooth running of talks and demonstrations, or providing a warm welcome for visitors, event volunteers play a vital role in making the festival happen.
For some people it’s the excitement of event day and meeting new people. For others, it’s developing new skills and being ‘behind the scenes’ at talks and events. But most of all our volunteers are passionate about helping to inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers.
WHAT WOULD YOU BE DOING?
We need a team of friendly, engaging people to help visitors to have a brilliant experience. As one of our volunteer team, you may be asked to:
- Welcome visitors to the event
- Help direct visitors between different areas of the venue
- Hand out programmes or other literature
- Provide information for visitors
- Help with queue management and visitor flow around the venue
- Check tickets for talks and shows
- Help with set up and clear down for talks and demonstrations
- Keep a tally of the numbers of visitors in the exhibition and event spaces
- Act as runner for assisting with queries from exhibitors
- Help with directing visitors & exhibitors to car-parking spaces
- Assist with completing photography/videography consent forms with visitors
We're also looking for a few volunteers who are happy to get stuck in to helping out with specific activities, such as:
- Assisting creative practitioners in running arts and crafts activities for families
- Helping exhibitors with demonstrations or interactive activities
- Moderating hybrid/virtual talks and panels (responding to online comments / passing online questions to a presenter in the room)
Please let us know below which tasks you would be most interested in.
WHERE AND WHEN?
The Festival takes place across multiple venues around Swindon between 9 -18 February 2024
We are mainly looking for volunteers to support two key locations:
A) FESTIVAL OF TOMORROW ABOUT TOWN
Where: Steam, the Museum of the Great Western Railway, Firefly Avenue, Swindon, SN2 2EY
When: Monday 12 - Sunday 18 February.
B) FINALE EXTRAVAGANZA
Where: The Deanery CE Academy, Peglars Way, Wichelstowe, Swindon, SN1 7DA
When: Friday 16 - Saturday 17 February
WHAT SKILLS, EXPERIENCE AND ATTRIBUTES DO YOU NEED?
Along with having great communication and interpersonal skills, we ask that you are:
- Flexible and happy to get stuck in
- Willing to become familiar with and then follow the Fire Safety Procedures and Health and Safety Procedures at all times, including supporting the evacuation of visitors in an emergency
- Enthusiastic about research, science or the arts and the aims of the Festival of Tomorrow
- Willing to work as part of a team.
- Willing to work outside for limited periods if needed (eg helping direct visitors in the car park at the busiest times)
If you have specific skills or experience that might be useful please let us know below