Volunteer in 2026

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Volunteer

with us!

We are looking for dedicated, enthusiastic people to get involved in the running of the carnival.

Here's how the Lantern Carnival happens.

Between Sept 2025 and Jan 2026 a small Organising Team of volunteers get planning and preparing. There are several roles in the Team, described below. None require special skills or particular experience. They do require a commitment of at least few hours each month. We support each other to make sure everyone succeeds.

The Team concentrate on these tasks:

Organising the adim & background stuff.
Organising the Materials for Workshops
Organising the Communications
Organising the Recruitment of other volunteers
Organising the Workshops
Organising the Carnival Day
Organising a Fundraiser Event

From January 2026 we recruit lots more volunteers to help deliver the Lantern Making Workshops. The Workshops start at the end of February.

The Carnival Day will be on Sunday March 22nd. We'll need extra volunteers to be stewards that day.

Find out more - please fill in this form and we'll get back to you: Contact Form 25-26

Team Lead
- can be one person, start planning six months before, a few hours each week.
  - Chair regular meetings for everyone to update and get support.
  - Do Event Application documents for the Council
  - Do insurance documentation
  - Develop relationship with the Police to ensure street procession
  - Apply for road closure permit from Council.

Organising the Materials
- can be one person, start two months before, a few hours each week.
  - Buy all materials online.
  - Check each week what’s needed.
  - Pay invoices for Room hire and Insurance
  - Keep a cashflow including donations in cash and online.

Organising the Communications
- can be one person, start three months before, a few hours each week.
  - Create Social media materials for other Leads to post.
  - Create Printed media.
  - Coordinate all Leads to contributes to social media.
  - Respond to SM comments and queries
  - Update the Website.

Organising the Recruitment of volunteers

- can be one person, start four months before, a few hours each week.
  - Recruit vols for Workshops first, then stewards as the workshops start.
  - Place adverts on VAS and Student sites.
  - Place adverts on FB.
  - Use a google form to collect incoming vols
  - Reply to everyone, keep them warm.

Organising the Carnival Day
- can be one person, start two months before, a few hours each week.
  - Coordinate with all parties, eg: Cemetery, Bands, Performers
  - Plan Carnival Day
  - Coordinate and Brief Stewards

Organising the Lantern Making Workshops
- can be one person, start three months before, a few hours each week.
  - Book the Workshops
  - Advertise the Workshops on FB.
  - Host the Workshops Training meeting
  - Coordinate the vols using Whatsapp.

Workshop Helpers
- about 20 people are needed to help families make lanterns at the Workshops.
- There will be about 12 Workshops during February and March 2026. On Saturday and Sunday afternoons and one weekday evening.
- Helpers only need to commit to doing two or three at the most.
  - No experience needed! We'll train you.
  - Setting up the Workshops and tidying up.

Carnival Day Stewards
- about 20 people are needed, just on the day; March 22nd 2026.
  - Attend a Stewards Breifing
  - Be friendly and helpful to everyone.
  - Litter-pick at the end.

Want to find out more about volunteering?

Please complete this form and we'll get back to you: Contact Form 25-26