Guarding

Oxfam steps up stewarding

by msecadm4921

With the summer festival season nearing, the charity Oxfam says it’s looking to expand stewarding beyond weekend festivals. Oxfam says it engages about 5,000 volunteers in stewarding each year, making it one of the UK’s largest private stewarding organisations.  In 2011 such stewarding raised almost £1 m for the charity through its work at weekend music festivals.  In 2012 Emma Parkinson was appointed to  double the size of this operation over the next few years by moving into day festivals and other music, sporting and community events.

 

 

Emma Parkinson said: “Our volunteer stewards, who encompass a broad demographic of people from young music fans to professionals and working mothers, are already known in the festival industry for their outstanding level of compassion, care, and commitment and we’re seeing an increasing market for this type of stewarding. We also see a great legacy opportunity for volunteering after the 2012 Olympics as the Game Makers programme will help raise awareness around the opportunities and benefits of volunteering at events and will train up hundreds of new volunteers.  We hope to encourage these volunteers to continue using the skills they’ve acquired in future years by giving their time.”

 

Emma Parkinson joined Oxfam as Stewarding Manager after a 20-year career in publishing and event management, which has seen her manage projects from Park Lane awards ceremonies, to heavy metal shows and stages at Glastonbury. She joins Oxfam after a masters degree in Emergency Planning, specialising in the study of risk perception in the events industry.

 

Richard Lee, Oxfam’s Head of Events and Community Fundraising Division, added: “We’re thrilled to have Emma on board and are looking forward to taking Oxfam’s Stewarding programme into new avenues.  In these economically challenging times, Oxfam Stewarding is a valuable example of how charities, businesses and the general public can work together in a mutual beneficial and highly effective way.”

 

Oxfam stewarding figures:

 

– 49 per cent of Oxfam’s stewards are over the age of 25, and 33 per cent are over the age of 35

– Most volunteer because they want to help Oxfam; however 54 per cent stated that they were interested in seeing a festival from a different angle and 38 per cent used it as a chance to meet new people

– More than 20 per cent of the stewards have worked with the organisation for over five years

– Over a quarter of work at more than one festival a year.

 

Notes to Editors:

In 2012 the Oxfam stewarding will be at festivals including: Download, Latitude, WOMAD, Camp Bestival, Boomtown Fair, Beautiful Days, WOWfest, Shambala, Reading, Leeds and Bestival.

Related News

  • Guarding

    Kingdom acquisition

    by Mark Rowe

    Kingdom Security has acquired Dougland Support Services Ltd, a Hampshire-based cleaning, maintenance and specialist projects company. Founded in 1970 and operating from…

  • Guarding

    Regional personnel awards

    by Mark Rowe

    The British Security Industry Association (BSIA) has announced the winners of its Regional Security Personnel Awards 2015. Now in their 17th year,…

Newsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter to stay on top of security news and events.

© 2024 Professional Security Magazine. All rights reserved.

Website by MSEC Marketing