In both 2004 and 2005 a wonderful range of people volunteered to make the One Voice for Veggies stand at Womad a real success. We'd love to see as many as possible of you again at any future One Voice for Veggies events, and would certainly welcome new positive friendly people too.

being a co-ordinator

The Vegetarian Society are co-ordinating and running the stand for Womad 2006. If you want to help them run it, Chris Show email address. would be really happy to hear from you. if you represent another organisation you could run it together under the One Voice for Veggies Banner.

being a volunteer for a One Voice for Veggies stand

With your help we can make it even better every time. There are many ways in which you can help, whatever your level of experience, veggieness and availability.

This page aims to give you an idea of the many ways in which you can help, and covers:

• help that will be welcomed from now on
• what kind of help and materials tend to be needed
• do you need experience, skills and/or personality?
• do you have to be veggie?
• do you have to have a ticket for the event?
• telling Chris you are interested: Show email address.

When to help

We look for help at any and all of the following times:

• with ideas and plans beforehand, via forum, email, phone or post
• at planning and dress rehearsal days
• setting up the stand
• volunteering a few hours or more on the stand
• taking down the stand
• transporting things to and from site by bike, car or foot

What help is needed

Many different kinds of help are needed, some of which you can do from behind your computer.

• design and planning input, particularly at planning meetings
• materials sourcing and creation:
  • document sourcing, writing and/or printing
  • display design, creation and/or printing
  • donating to the costs of production of these, and/or your facilities
• equipment sourcing, such as:
  • display stands, shelves, tables
  • rope, gaffer tape, general stationary
  • costume and prop making or sourcing
• transporting things, such as:
  • picking up materials and equipment beforehand
  • taking materials to and from the event
  • returning borrowed items and surplus materials to owners after the event
• giving publicity to the event: in local groups, on the web and in the media
• manning the stand (details under next topic).
• donating or fundraising for the cost of the stand.

Experience, skills and/or personality?

Most people are concerned they don't have enough experience. That's not at all essential. What is required a positive outlook, initiative, reliability and friendliness.

If you've run your own stalls, been involved in business management, organised any kind of group event yourself, or have handy facilities/equipment/skills at your disposal, then do say so.

It's handy to have someone with design skills, either amateur or professional, in the early planning stages in particular.

You don't need any experience to attend a stand planning day either - excellent spontaneous ideas often come from those who reckon they have none. And it's great to have people along who can make a little time to reliably get on with an action they've taken on.

For manning the stand at the festival, personality is particularly key. No need to be an extravert veggie guru, though they are very welcome. Good listeners, friendly people and those with initiative and a willingness to try their hand are fantastic. It's particularly good to have teenagers and older people represented.

If you are a bit rusty on veggie info, we'll give you lots of help with mugging up on it beforehand.

Do you have to be veggie?

You certainly don't have to be a vegetarian or vegan to help with the Womad stand, even when manning it. We welcome any pro-veggie people, who are open to ideas and relaxed about how vegetarian other people are. Preaching is not encouraged - informing and supporting is.

Do be prepared to mug up on veggie info beforehand as we are there to answer questions and help show how easy it is to become more and more veggie. We'll email you good sources of info beforehand to help.

Do you have to have a ticket for the event the stand is at?

This depends on the event, sometimes, as in the case of Womad, volunteers need to have their own ticket.

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tell us you are interested

Tell Chris at the Vegetarian Society if you are interested in helping out with the stand for Womad 2006: Show email address.. Lots of help would be welcome, in preparation as well as at the event.

Discussion forum

Browse and join in on our Womad One Voice discussion forum.