West Norwood Feast is run by volunteers and we need more people to help make West Norwood an even better place to live. Join us to support your community, meet new people, and have fun!
FEAST is a people-powered market that takes place the first Sunday of every month from April to December. At each FEAST you can explore the three hubs – Food Fair, Fresh ’n’ Green and Artisans’ Market, all brimming with fantastic stalls and friendly sellers – meet new people (some of them might even be your neighbours!), enjoy free entertainment from local performers and free children’s activities and perhaps even learn a new skill or two.
Since 2011 the market has been run by volunteers, with West Norwood residents and businesses working together to make it a success. Being a FEAST volunteer is a great way to make new friends and have a lot of fun at the same time as doing something really feel-good and positive for the local community. We’re a friendly group of locals and welcome new volunteers at any time, whether you can help out at Feast occasionally or want to take part behind the scenes.
You can:
- join us for two hours on Feast Sundays to welcome people to the market and meet fellow volunteers.
- help with community activities on the day, including chatting with local residents at our Tea and Talk stand.
- help to run one of our Feast market areas (Hubs), supporting traders on the day and organising behind the scene.
- organise activities and entertainment for each monthly market.
- support behind the scenes by coordinating our volunteers, posting on social media, fundraising and in many other ways.
Volunteers make Feast happen – come and join us! If you want to get involved contact volunteer@westnorwoodfeast.com
We also meet for a social on the Tuesday evening before and after each event.
What do volunteers do? Here’s a taste of some of the tasks:
ON FEAST DAYS
Stewards – the friendly face of FEAST on event days, welcoming visitors and dealing with queries.
First aid – we need at least one registered First Aider on call for each FEAST day.
Hub Leaders – help organise, select and support stallholders both on FEAST days and in the lead up to them.
Entertainment – help support, organise and book entertainers for each FEAST, including children’s activities.
Tea and talk – chatting with other people from the local community, over a cuppa and a slice of cake.
Van drivers and logistics – helping to move signs, chairs, first aid kits and other FEAST material to our Hubs in the morning and packing up at the end of the day. (We use a company to put up our gazebos, but you may need to move a small number of tables around.)
BEHIND THE SCENES STUFF AND OUTREACH
Marketing and communications – branding, print and production, social media, press and PR and more.
IT – help to manage and update the FEAST website and mailing lists as well as provide IT support to all FEAST roles and activities.
Community outreach – make contact and develops links with the local community groups and schools community.
Partnerships, sponsorships and fundraising – liaise with local businesses and potential sponsors and funders.
Volunteer organising – help coordinate volunteers to help on FEAST days and in between.
SUPPORT AND MANAGEMENT
Steering group – you can take part in the FEAST steering group, which deals with its finance, planning, management, governance etc.
Accountancy and bookkeeping – we always need volunteers to help with the FEAST finances.
Legal, HR and safeguarding advice – this is needed for support on governance, compliance etc.
Business development and project management – do you have experience/expertise you could share with FEAST?
If you’d like to volunteer on market days, help plan and organise in between Feasts, or find out more, send us an email volunteer@westnorwoodfeast.com
