To all new volunteers: welcome! You’re in for a very exciting few weeks as we build a festival together.

The first thing to do is to find a group. Group organisers (GOs) will recruit people to realise their vision: you don’t need a certain body type or practical skill-set to take part, but finding a group that you fit well is absolutely the key.

Our advice is:-

Try out for Many Groups

We all started as group members, and we know you need a backup plan. Sadly, numbers are limited, and not everyone can get into their preferred group. So don’t pretend to different Group GOs that they’re each your first choice — you’ll be found out quickly, and there’s really no need.

There are lots of different types of group; not all are a good fit for everyone. Some are highly performative, some are ritualistic, some need very high commitment or are very physical. Walkthroughs can be tiring, and if you decide to make a cloak, this takes a lot of time. Talk to the GOs about what you want to get out of this festival, and what you can commit to.

On that note, if you have individual accessibility needs and are worried about trying out for a group because of them, have a chat with the GOs; they can usually make accommodations for most needs.

Report any Worrying Behaviour

Most Beltaners are wonderful people; the average is more tactile and affectionate than most (some aren’t: it’s always better to ask than to assume).

It’s a fact that anyone can attend an open rehearsal — and in rare cases, some people don’t know how to behave. If you have any concerns about how someone acts, please report it to safeguarding@beltane.org, the Blues, or the GOs. All reports are treated in the strictest confidence, and the safeguarding team will investigate if needed, and act proportionately when they can, so that everyone is as safe as possible.

Remember: You’re not Alone

Very roughly, half the people in each festival are new. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, or contribute new ideas. Many GOs even seek out new members, as they don’t come with preconceptions from previous groups.

You’ll get to know your group well, but we are one big community and we encourage friendships between groups, performers and production alike. We are all unpaid volunteers looking to keep this society thriving.

Respect Ritual, Performance and Community

These are, loosely, the main reasons people join BFS. Some of us are practising pagans looking to celebrate a spiritual festival, but most of our traditions are invented and modern; we’re an inclusive organisation, welcoming volunteers of all spiritualities and none. Some join to learn performance skills or perform for an audience. Some take part because of the amazing community built over decades.

Our traditions change over time; not everything is written down, so don’t be afraid to ask why things are done the way they are, or to suggest changes. All things can change, especially at Samhuinn.

Individuals may have rituals, aspects of the festival, or ways of doing things, that are important to them. We can’t always accommodate everyone they way we’d like to, but you don’t have to follow a particular spirituality for something to be important to you.

We get a lot of different people, and different reasons for being involved; they may well change as you grow with the opportunities you find here.

Sara Thomas (pictured), may well have put it best:-

Nothing’s important apart from the bits that are, & everything is made up apart from the bits that aren’t.

Your Comfort Zone

Doing things that scare you can help to grow your boundaries, but doing only what you’re comfortable with can also be fun! Only you can decide where your limits lie; you can always say no, and should never feel forced into anything you don’t want to do.

If you’re ever not enjoying yourself, ask what you can do to make it fun, and find your joy in the community.

Be Frank About Money

There are a limited number of small hardship grants for those who couldn’t otherwise volunteer; beyond that, volunteers are unpaid. As a registered charity, we can’t ever draw a profit: all the money from tickets and donations goes to the many costs of running our festivals.

In fact, most groups will ask for donations from their membership to cover any relevant costs, and there are additional costs too — you’ll probably spend more on food, after-rehearsal pubs, and travel — and finding natural-fibre costume bases in charity shops is much harder for larger body sizes. Depending on what you’re doing, we recommend that photographers and some performers take out their own insurance too.

If money will be an issue for you, this is a good subject to talk to your GOs about.

Remember your Friends

For returning volunteers, Samhuinn and Beltane take up around four months of the year. Make time for friends outside of the society; disappearing completely for a third of the year can cause people to drift away.

You’ll make friends during the run-up to the festival. Some of these friendships will stay with you for years, others may simply leave once the festival is done. Make the most of these friendships while you can.

Get Involved!

There are many ways to get involved, and many experiences to be had as a volunteer. The open meetings for Beltane and Samhuinn are a great way to find out more about the groups each festival, but you can also get the essential details from the website. If you want to get involved, please get in touch; we’d love to hear from you.