"Glastonbury Festival".......a role to play

[Pete Hallett]

Hi all,

Living in glastonbury and the festival only being a few miles down the road at pilton i cant help thinking we could have a role to play in future festivals.



I may be opening up a can of worms here but i truly beleive that there could be a role for us at glastonbury festival, there are a lot of people doing jobs on site etc that the festival organisers pay charities/organisations for and Michael Eavis does seem to prefer charities. The idea of charities started with the local carnival clubs doing car parking etc.



What an advantage it would be to have us on site if it all went pear shaped or just a little rain which turns the car parks into very difficult places for cars entering/leaving.



My question being do people think we could raise some funds at future festivals by operating/marshalling some of the car parks in return for funds towards us as a charity? I think there is i just cant pin point where or how to go about getting the ball rolling!



Your ideas please as i think this could be a good one for us in the future.



Pete Hallett ;)

[stephendrabble]

Funds are always welcome.. ime sure come closeing time with mud wed be very welcome..

[BobWessex]

Hi Pete,



We have a specific role within the Glastonbury Emergency Plan i.e. our normal assistance to the CCU via SEVAG and the Somerset Concordat.



You will probably not be aware but during the heavy rains in previous years we have been placed on standby by the CCU. Last year when the Scrap Yard at Pylle caught fire we were not formally put on standby but I was kept advised by the CCU with regards to posssible food/water requirements for those being held at Castle Cary Station.



You should have received an E-mail yesterday just reminding all members that the Festival is this week.



Since last year we have also developed a good relationship with Avon & Somerset Police and can anticipate that if the need arises we will be called. I spoke to A&S Ops Planning last Monday & Somerset CCU last Wednesday.



Both GWAST and SWAST are also aware of what we can offer.



With regards to being on site permanently for the Festival that does require an extremely heavy commitment by our members. If we were to assume 4 vehicles per 8 hour shift that would mean at least 12 members for at least 5 days which is quite a committment for an organistion of our size.



I would mention that we have offered our services in the past (to an organisation that works on site) but unfortunately the organisation in question seemed less than keen to have us identifiable as a separate organisation. We can however always review it as we develop our relationships with the Blue light services.



Personally I believe that our PRIMARY role should it arise would be as on-site drivers. This can present problems to drivers due to the high numbers on site so would need careful risk assessment.





As we are likely to have a role in the 2012 Olympics, attendance at Glastonbury in 2010 /2011 could prove to be a useful training scenario i.e. Crowds, multiple user bodies, etc.





Added for those who don't know, as I've been asked



CCU= Civil Contingencies Unit (Was Emergency Planning) our parent CAT 1 Agency in the event of MOST Emergencies.

SEVAG= Somerset Emergency Voluntary Agencies Group. The Group of voluntary agencies likely to be called in an Emergency

GWAST= Great Western Ambulance Service Trust

SWAST= South Western Ambulance Service Trust

A&S = Avon & Somerset Constabulary



Somerset Concordat, an agreement between various voluntary & statutory agencies to provide mutual aid in emergencies basically outlining when the call should be made and what services each agency can offer their colleagues.

[Jim Wallace]

The Wales group have an MOU with the Llanfellan workhouse group who run a 3 day festival in July. We will be running the carpark and also have a pitch inside the ground for fundraising and use of a offroad course to take festival goers around for a nominal donation this is the second year now and hopefully be there again next year.

Last years pics can be found here http://s282.photobucket.com/albums/kk24 ... 0Festival/ (http://s282.photobucket.com/albums/kk249/Powys4x4Response/Llanfyllin%20Workhouse%20Festival/)

Looks a bit like Glastonbury with tents in water etc

[Jim Wallace]

You never know you may get a call out to Glastonbury if the forecast is right this time. :lol:

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/21/20090623/te ... 8abb3.html (http://uk.news.yahoo.com/21/20090623/ten-thunderstorms-threaten-glastonbury-5f8abb3.html)

[Pete Hallett]

Hi,



Bob i completely agree, there is already a role to play. Perhaps what i should of said is that im sure there is the potential for fundraising through services we can offer (in a non emergency) kind of way.



For example the AA and the RAC have stands on site next to the yellow gate again this year, they have a couple of shoguns etc among their fleet on road tyres but nothing like the cpability of most of the response vehicles (the AA/RAC probably dont have specific training to use them properly anyway).



Still any ideas welcomed as the flame of my enthuisiasm is not entirely extinguished :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry:

[BobWessex]

Hi Pete,



Not trying to extinguish the flame, but just point out that it's hard to get enough volunteers for a relatively small event. I know that one or two of our members are involved via day jobs etc. and can be tied up for a week.



Without naming names one member is off -call due to Glastonbury from Monday this week until Monday next. So we would really be asking people to take a week off work, which is a little different to being there as part of one's day job.

[peter willis]

I agree with Pete and not just at this event . We have a lot to offer as a group and as 4x4 response as a hole ,what we did in the snow and the floods showed how good we can do a job and very profesional about doing it and yes the more agreements we have with user groups the more usefull we will be ..



But .. I think we need to make are selfs more visable to the public what happens if theres no snow or floods this year or any other user call outs !! all the good PR we now have got people will forget ,so doing things like this event or the weston walk or just a fate or show car parking even just on the stand at a blue light event gets us out there recuriuting, fund raseing and just some good PR so when we are need people think of us and know who and what we are .

Also its good for us getting to know each other ,radio pratice and working togerther so when the time come’s to use it on call we work as one .



I know how much time and effort bob and others like him put into this so may be when volanters are ask for members need to be more responevie and come forward some groups seam better at this than others . but if we are to grow stronger and better

As a 4x4 family team we all need to do that little bit more not just wait for the call,,

[Pete Hallett]

As Bob says it is a big commitment but im sure there are a few people who would be willing to marshall car parks in exchange for some team bonding and training(Comms etc) as Peter says.



A ticket to the festival is also normally included for the volounteer, even if we only supplied two vehicles for each car park on the day of arrival and departure for 4x4 assistance where needed if the ground was a bit wet for example we would be invaluable!!.

[nigel leyland]

4x4RNE supports/Marshals a number of charitable events throughout the year........each provides a training opportunity and exposes us to the public. We also often recieve positive fveedback from the public and organisers. Which is exactly the intention posted above.



However, they are all one day events of a moderate size....committing to a week long event with huge attendances is another matter, and would stretch most if not all groups extensively!



It may be that a limited pressence could be provided on key days......ie main intake day on car park duties....and then again at the end of the festival ensuring everyone gets away.



Nigel

[BobWessex]

Just to add to everything posted above. I have been in touch with the CCU manager today, those who were at the Wessex AGM will know that we have a good working relationship. We were mainly concerned with Pandemic Flu but again confirmed our availability should the need arise and especicially mentioned that both organisations are keeping an eye on Friday's weather.

[nigel leyland]

Which promtly deteriorated as soon as the event was imminent.... :D !



Nigel.