Applications to volunteer with the We are the Church team at Creamfields are now open, and you can give financially to this year’s ministry at Creamfields as well. Around 80,000 people travel to Daresbury each year to enjoy the latest in electronic dance music from around the world at Creamfields.
In 2018, festival-goers were helped through their weekend at Creamfields by a team of 45 volunteers. The We are the Church team offered a warm welcome and a listening ear to those attending the electronic dance music festival, and who were in need of support.
Now into its third year, the ecumenical team behind We are the Church said 2018 was a great success and that many festival-goers appreciated them being there. This year the team is growing and have been asked by the organisers to host two church tents so that even more festival-goers can be served.
Revd Jane Proudfoot, Chair of the We are the Church team and Vicar of Grappenhall, Warrington, says: “We just want to be a safe place, give a listening ear and to serve people at the festival.
“We’ve had some amazing conversations with people about faith, God and all kinds of different things.
“We also helped people in real difficulty who couldn’t find their way back to their tent. We also came across people who had had too much drink or drugs and perhaps needed someone to keep an eye on them.”
Get involved
We need your help, time and energy to support festival-goers at Creamfields this year. If you can spare some time over the August Bank Holiday (and attend a day's training in July) and want to be part of this amazing team, get in touch with the We are the Church team or complete the volunteer sign-up form.
Following the 2018 event, messages of thanks and appreciation were shared with the team on social media. One young man wrote: “This is the person you looked after who was very cold that was found in the tent. I’m ok now and eventually did find my friend, I just wanted to say thank you very much for taking care of me, you’re all good people.”
Another festival-goer contacted the team following the event and said: “I’m thankful to you and honoured to have met you all!”
We are the Church volunteers at 2018 Creamfields
The team behind We are the Church, is made up of volunteers from Warrington, Runcorn, Widnes and beyond, and is supported by the dioceses of Chester, and Liverpool, and Warrington Youth for Christ. They have also received advice from Warrington Street Pastors who are familiar with some of the challenges that arise from supporting late-night revellers. Everyone who applies must provide a reference from their church leader, and if they are accepted to be part of the team, attend one of two training events.
This year’s training is taking place on 10 July and 15 July at Church House, Daresbury Park, Warrington – volunteers must attend one of these training dates.
Revd Jane Proudfoot adds: “We feel honoured to have been asked to double our presence by the organisers of Creamfields and we look forward to doing all we can to support the welfare of festival-goers and staff at the event.”
The team are returning this year with a larger team and an increased presence – you could be part of it. If you’re interested in volunteering or giving financially to We are the Church, get in touch with the team or complete the volunteer sign-up form.
Festival-goers at Creamfields 2018