What does becoming a member of the Welcome Team involved?

A strong team of volunteers welcoming and assisting the thousands of performers, speakers and audiences who make our Festival so special is vital to the success of the festival. Our Welcome Team shall be made up of local people who are interested in helping regularly at our events.

Tasks will cover a range of activities, including:

  • Welcoming visitors and assisting them with any queries
  • Providing useful information and guidance to audiences
  • Welcoming and assisting participants of events
  • Welcoming audiences into venues, assisting with seating and ensuring that they are comfortable throughout the event
  • Becoming Festival drivers; escorting artists and guests around Cheltenham and sometimes further afield

In advance of each Festival you will be asked to let us know when you are available to volunteer, enabling you to organise your time around any events you have booked to see. We will then contact you with your personal schedule of shift-times and duties.

As a member of the Welcome Team, you will receive an official Festival t-shirt and lanyard ID. In return for your time and support, we offer you the opportunity to enter any non-sold-out events on the day that you volunteer. You will meet other like-minded individuals, and we aim to ensure a rewarding, enjoyable and enriching experience.

The Welcome Team work alongside our team of full-time Festival-specific volunteers. Our Festival Volunteers are recruited at specific times of the year, and cater for anyone who has an interest in one particular Festival and wants to commit to volunteering full-time. The Welcome Team volunteers are scheduled shifts based on their own availability, volunteering on a part-time basis around their other commitments. Once you have registered for the Welcome Team, you will be added to our database and contacted in advance of each Festival in order to give your availability. You will not need to reapply for each Festival.

Apply now

Fill in our application form to register your interest and become part of the Cheltenham Festivals Welcome Team.

To find out more about volunteering contact

volunteers@cheltenhamfestivals.com or james.clay@cheltenhamfestivals.com