Volunteers' Week is an annual celebration of the contribution millions of people make across the UK through volunteering in their communities.
Volunteers' Week takes place 1-7 June every year. It's a chance to recognise the fantastic contribution volunteers make to our communities and say thank you.
As well as helping others, volunteering has been shown to improve volunteers' wellbeing too. It's human nature to feel good after helping someone out. Volunteering can also help you gain valuable new skills and experiences and boost your confidence.
At Tonic, we have a core team of volunteers who support us throughout the year at events, gigs and festivals across the UK. Here's what some of our amazing volunteers had to say:
Working with Tonic has given me a new lease of life. I love going to different gigs and festivals, and talking to people. I have realised that there is a massive need for what Tonic does, and I love being a part of it.
Many people have been very emotional seeing a mental health charity at gigs - a humbling experience for me to be a part of. The help I give to Tonic is a real tonic for me, and I am still enjoying it in my 70s.
Tonic has been a part of my life for so long and it has truly shaped the person I have become. I have had so many opportunities that I never would have dreamt of.
In addition to our core team of volunteers, we welcome people to volunteer with Tonic as a one-off for larger festivals such as Boomtown.
This year, we are looking to recruit 300 volunteers to support us between 08-14 August 2023. We have a range of exciting roles including:
Confiscations
Camping Hubs
Never Mind The Stigma chill out area
Tonic Rider chill out area
Tonic Merch stand
To give you a flavour of what you can expect volunteering at Boomtown with Tonic, one of our volunteers from last year Max Monsen talks about his experience.
Harrods and TONIC
We luxuriated on vintage Harrods sofas, our drinks were upheld by beautiful occasional tables, and our nights were lit by a collection of warm lamps. Sheltered from the sun by three marquees, our phones were fully charged and our appetites fully sated thanks to our free meal vouchers. We had showers (sometimes even twice a day): we worked hard, but we played even harder.
The job
My role included selling clothes at the Tonic stand and processing (legal) confiscated items such as gas-cannisters and high-vis tops. The confiscated items were passed to us by security, and we stored them for the customer much like you would do in a cloakroom – it was very simple work. I arrived early on Tuesday and worked six-hour shifts on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. I had the whole of Saturday and Sunday off before working again on Monday after the festival to assist with returning confiscated items to customers.
The people
The Tonic family spans three-generations proving that you are never too young or old to volunteer with the team. The common denominator amongst all volunteers was a shared love of music, and this meant that there were interesting conversations to be had throughout the evening and in quiet moments whilst on shift.
Why should you volunteer?
At Boomtown 2022, the management team at Tonic provided the volunteers with an oasis of calm amongst the dust-filled chaos and fun. If you are curious about working at a festival or want to learn more about the charity and the work that we do, I strongly encourage you to get in touch. The people in Team Tonic are uncommonly kind, exceedingly generous and, most importantly, a welcoming and caring bunch of people to associate yourself with. The charity does some phenomenal work and has a very bright and exciting future ahead of itself.
Disclaimer:
You have to be 18+ to volunteer with Tonic (so there is such a thing as being too young).
The sofas were over 40 years old, and donated - we do not have the resource or inclination to purchase such things.
Showering was not compulsory!
If this blog has inspired you to volunteer at Boomtown Festival with Tonic this year, please gather your friends and sign up here:
For more information about this year's Boomtown visit:
