Volunteer Hub
Event & Festival Welfare Volunteer - Including The Warehouse Project
Organisation Details
W.E.L.Safe CIC
Activity type: Caring, Community Work, Counselling and Listening, Domestic Violence, Drugs, Alcohol and Addictions, Education, Event Support, First Aid, Health and Wellbeing, Mental Health, Mentoring, Befriending and Buddying, Music
Sub theme: Drugs, Alcohol and Addictions, Mental Health, Youth Work and Young People
Stellify Award: This opportunity is part of 'Make a Difference'
Organisation Description: W.E.L.Safe CIC is a not for profit organisation providing confidential and non-judgemental support and guidance around issues such as drugs and alcohol, mental health and wellbeing and sexual health at festival and events across the UK and overseas.
Volunteers will offer support to people who are attending the event, who may need a space to recouperate, relax and chat in confidential space away from the full impact of the night.
Our aim is to enable service users to stay safe in the night time economy and to offer support to people who may be experiencing problems as a result of their use of drugs and/or alcohol, as well as helping to reduce harm and risk taking behavior and safeguarding support for each individual and into the wider society. .
Volunteers will offer support to people who are attending the event, who may need a space to recouperate, relax and chat in confidential space away from the full impact of the night.
Our aim is to enable service users to stay safe in the night time economy and to offer support to people who may be experiencing problems as a result of their use of drugs and/or alcohol, as well as helping to reduce harm and risk taking behavior and safeguarding support for each individual and into the wider society. .
Description of role: **About W.E.L.Safe**
W.E.L.Safe CIC is a not-for-profit organisation delivering welfare, safeguarding and harm reduction support at live events, clubs and festivals across the UK and overseas.
We create calm, confidential, non-judgemental spaces where people can get support if their night, weekend or festival experience has become a bit too much. That might mean someone is overwhelmed, anxious, intoxicated, separated from friends, feeling vulnerable, struggling with their mental health, or simply needing a safe place to breathe for a while.
In short: we help people stay safer, feel supported and get back to enjoying the event when they can.
Sometimes that looks like a quiet chat and a cup of water. Sometimes it looks like supporting someone through a difficult moment until they are safe again. Sometimes it looks like calmly working out where someone’s tent is from a description that would emotionally challenge Google Maps.
**What you’ll be doing**
As a W.E.L.Safe volunteer, you’ll be part of a trained team supporting people attending events who may need welfare help.
Depending on the event, this may include working in a dedicated welfare space, supporting people who come to us for help, or joining roaming outreach teams around the venue or festival site.
You could be supporting people who are:
Feeling anxious, overwhelmed or emotionally distressed
Under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs and needing a safe space to recover
Separated from friends or unsure how to get home safely
Feeling vulnerable or unsafe
Looking for harm reduction information or practical support
Needing a friendly, calm, non-judgemental person to talk to
You won’t be thrown in at the deep end. We work as a team, and new volunteers are supported, buddied and guided throughout their first shifts.
**Responsibilities**
Volunteers help us to:
Be a friendly, calm and approachable face for people who come to welfare
Create and maintain a safe, inclusive and non-judgemental space
Support people who may be intoxicated, distressed, anxious or vulnerable
Promote harm reduction and safer decision-making
Work alongside team leaders, medical teams, security and event staff where needed
Treat people with dignity, compassion and respect
Ask for help when needed and work as part of the wider W.E.L.Safe team
You do not need to have all the answers. You just need to be kind, steady, open-minded and willing to learn.
**Where you could volunteer**
Once registered and trained, you’ll be able to sign up for a wide range of events throughout the year.
Our opportunities include club nights, live music events, large-scale festivals, outdoor shows and major event weekends.
Recent and upcoming opportunities include events such as:
The Warehouse Project
Leeds Festival
Green Man Festival
Lost Village
Magazine Open-Air
Truck Festival
Bug Jam
Outbreak Festival
Radar Festival
Kendal Calling
Parklife
Neighbourhood Weekender
Hay Festival
Silverworks Island
The Warehouse Project is a major part of our Manchester season, with welfare support across events at Depot Mayfield. These are busy, high-energy nights where welfare can make a real difference to someone’s experience and safety.
Festival opportunities can take you much further afield too, from huge camping festivals to more specialist music and cultural events. It is a brilliant way to gain experience, meet people, build confidence and be part of something genuinely meaningful.
**What you’ll get from volunteering**
Volunteering with W.E.L.Safe can be a great fit if you are interested in harm reduction, mental health, safeguarding, events, nursing, medicine, psychology, social work, youth work, public health, criminology, music, festivals, or simply being useful in a world that is occasionally held together by lanyards and cereal bars.
Benefits include:
Free training for all volunteers
Training in event and festival welfare, substance misuse, mental health, safeguarding, medical awareness and disability awareness
Travel expenses covered
Taxi home covered after late-night shifts where needed
Food provided at many events
Guestlist or free entry opportunities depending on the event and shifts completed
Experience supporting real people in real situations
A chance to develop confidence, communication and crisis-support skills
Opportunities to progress into team leader roles
Opportunities to volunteer at festivals across the UK and sometimes overseas
Meeting new people and becoming part of a genuinely supportive team
You’ll gain practical experience that can be especially valuable for students interested in health, care, community work, events, safeguarding, mental health, substance use, social justice or public-facing roles.
You’ll also meet some excellent humans and learn very quickly that festival welfare is never boring.
Who we’re looking for
We welcome volunteers from all backgrounds, courses and experience levels.
You do not need previous welfare or events experience. Full training is provided.
We are looking for people who are:
Compassionate
Non-judgemental
Reliable
Calm under pressure
Good listeners
Comfortable working as part of a team
Interested in helping people have safer, better event experiences
You must be willing to support people with dignity and without judgement, including people who may be intoxicated, distressed, vulnerable or having a difficult time.
**Support and training**
Before volunteering, you’ll complete induction training so you understand what we do, how welfare works, what your role involves and how to keep yourself and others safe.
At events, you’ll never be left on your own to manage something you are unsure about. There will always be team leaders and experienced volunteers around to support you.
We take the work seriously, but we also believe volunteering should feel welcoming, human and enjoyable. You’ll be joining a team that looks after each other as well as the people who come to us for help.
**Why volunteer with us?**
Because events should be fun, but they should also be safe.
Because sometimes the difference between someone having a frightening experience and a manageable one is a calm person, a safe space and the right support at the right time.
Because you’ll learn things no lecture theatre can fully teach you.
And because being part of a welfare team at a major event is genuinely rewarding, occasionally chaotic, often funny, and always worthwhile.
If you’re interested in supporting safer events, gaining real experience and joining a brilliant volunteer team, we’d love to hear from you.
W.E.L.Safe CIC is a not-for-profit organisation delivering welfare, safeguarding and harm reduction support at live events, clubs and festivals across the UK and overseas.
We create calm, confidential, non-judgemental spaces where people can get support if their night, weekend or festival experience has become a bit too much. That might mean someone is overwhelmed, anxious, intoxicated, separated from friends, feeling vulnerable, struggling with their mental health, or simply needing a safe place to breathe for a while.
In short: we help people stay safer, feel supported and get back to enjoying the event when they can.
Sometimes that looks like a quiet chat and a cup of water. Sometimes it looks like supporting someone through a difficult moment until they are safe again. Sometimes it looks like calmly working out where someone’s tent is from a description that would emotionally challenge Google Maps.
**What you’ll be doing**
As a W.E.L.Safe volunteer, you’ll be part of a trained team supporting people attending events who may need welfare help.
Depending on the event, this may include working in a dedicated welfare space, supporting people who come to us for help, or joining roaming outreach teams around the venue or festival site.
You could be supporting people who are:
Feeling anxious, overwhelmed or emotionally distressed
Under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs and needing a safe space to recover
Separated from friends or unsure how to get home safely
Feeling vulnerable or unsafe
Looking for harm reduction information or practical support
Needing a friendly, calm, non-judgemental person to talk to
You won’t be thrown in at the deep end. We work as a team, and new volunteers are supported, buddied and guided throughout their first shifts.
**Responsibilities**
Volunteers help us to:
Be a friendly, calm and approachable face for people who come to welfare
Create and maintain a safe, inclusive and non-judgemental space
Support people who may be intoxicated, distressed, anxious or vulnerable
Promote harm reduction and safer decision-making
Work alongside team leaders, medical teams, security and event staff where needed
Treat people with dignity, compassion and respect
Ask for help when needed and work as part of the wider W.E.L.Safe team
You do not need to have all the answers. You just need to be kind, steady, open-minded and willing to learn.
**Where you could volunteer**
Once registered and trained, you’ll be able to sign up for a wide range of events throughout the year.
Our opportunities include club nights, live music events, large-scale festivals, outdoor shows and major event weekends.
Recent and upcoming opportunities include events such as:
The Warehouse Project
Leeds Festival
Green Man Festival
Lost Village
Magazine Open-Air
Truck Festival
Bug Jam
Outbreak Festival
Radar Festival
Kendal Calling
Parklife
Neighbourhood Weekender
Hay Festival
Silverworks Island
The Warehouse Project is a major part of our Manchester season, with welfare support across events at Depot Mayfield. These are busy, high-energy nights where welfare can make a real difference to someone’s experience and safety.
Festival opportunities can take you much further afield too, from huge camping festivals to more specialist music and cultural events. It is a brilliant way to gain experience, meet people, build confidence and be part of something genuinely meaningful.
**What you’ll get from volunteering**
Volunteering with W.E.L.Safe can be a great fit if you are interested in harm reduction, mental health, safeguarding, events, nursing, medicine, psychology, social work, youth work, public health, criminology, music, festivals, or simply being useful in a world that is occasionally held together by lanyards and cereal bars.
Benefits include:
Free training for all volunteers
Training in event and festival welfare, substance misuse, mental health, safeguarding, medical awareness and disability awareness
Travel expenses covered
Taxi home covered after late-night shifts where needed
Food provided at many events
Guestlist or free entry opportunities depending on the event and shifts completed
Experience supporting real people in real situations
A chance to develop confidence, communication and crisis-support skills
Opportunities to progress into team leader roles
Opportunities to volunteer at festivals across the UK and sometimes overseas
Meeting new people and becoming part of a genuinely supportive team
You’ll gain practical experience that can be especially valuable for students interested in health, care, community work, events, safeguarding, mental health, substance use, social justice or public-facing roles.
You’ll also meet some excellent humans and learn very quickly that festival welfare is never boring.
Who we’re looking for
We welcome volunteers from all backgrounds, courses and experience levels.
You do not need previous welfare or events experience. Full training is provided.
We are looking for people who are:
Compassionate
Non-judgemental
Reliable
Calm under pressure
Good listeners
Comfortable working as part of a team
Interested in helping people have safer, better event experiences
You must be willing to support people with dignity and without judgement, including people who may be intoxicated, distressed, vulnerable or having a difficult time.
**Support and training**
Before volunteering, you’ll complete induction training so you understand what we do, how welfare works, what your role involves and how to keep yourself and others safe.
At events, you’ll never be left on your own to manage something you are unsure about. There will always be team leaders and experienced volunteers around to support you.
We take the work seriously, but we also believe volunteering should feel welcoming, human and enjoyable. You’ll be joining a team that looks after each other as well as the people who come to us for help.
**Why volunteer with us?**
Because events should be fun, but they should also be safe.
Because sometimes the difference between someone having a frightening experience and a manageable one is a calm person, a safe space and the right support at the right time.
Because you’ll learn things no lecture theatre can fully teach you.
And because being part of a welfare team at a major event is genuinely rewarding, occasionally chaotic, often funny, and always worthwhile.
If you’re interested in supporting safer events, gaining real experience and joining a brilliant volunteer team, we’d love to hear from you.
Skills / qualities associated with the role: Customer Service, Fundraising, Oral Communication Skills, Team Working
Are volunteer expenses available?: Yes
Duration of role: Ongoing / Long term
Opportunity times: Monday Evening, Tuesday Evening, Wednesday Evening, Thursday Evening, Friday Afternoon, Friday Evening, Saturday Afternoon, Saturday Evening, Sunday Evening
DBS required: Off
Can reasonable adjustments be made regarding additional needs?: Yes
Is this organisation part of the Sports Volunteering Scheme (SVS)?: No
Minimum hours commitment: None
Location:
St Wilfrids Enterprise Centre, 2 Birchvale Close
Manchester
M15 5BJ