Festival and Events Volunteers
Come and volunteer with us!
We are looking for enthusiastic volunteers to help at our festivals and events
New Writing North produces the Durham Book Festival each October, and programmes literary events in and around Newcastle throughout the year. On our New Writing North volunteer training programme, you’ll gain behind the scenes access to our literary events and join a supportive network. You’ll develop your knowledge, gain skills and meet new people.
Volunteers will receive half a day training, a welcome pack and a New Writing North volunteer t-shirt. Once you’ve completed your training, you’ll be added to a pool of New Writing North volunteers and will be offered opportunities to help out at literary events throughout the year. Volunteers will be reimbursed for all travel expenses.
Who is this for?
As a volunteer you will help our events run smoothly. You might be responsible for ushering, dealing with enquiries from the public, assisting authors, and helping with event set-up and book-signings. No experience is necessary, but we are looking for enthusiastic readers who want to get experience working in events or with charity volunteering.
We have limited places available for the first cohort of volunteers. Please note that thanks to funding from the North of Tyne Combined Authority, we are particularly interested in residents of Newcastle, North Tyneside and Northumberland.
How do I apply?
A half-day of training will be held on Saturday 7 October at Northumbria University from 10am – 1pm and all those selected as a volunteer must be able to attend.
Following the training, volunteers will begin their role at this year’s Durham Book Festival. The festival runs between 13-15 October and you will work a half-day shift over the course of the festival. As a volunteer, you’ll be allowed free entry to all Durham Book Festival events (subject to available space).
If you would like to apply to be a festival and events volunteer, please complete the online application form by Thursday 31 August. We will contact all the selected volunteers with further information by Thursday 7 September.
For any enquiries about this opportunity, please contact Amy Robson [email protected]
