Volunteers needed for Commonwealth Games opening and closing ceremonies

Want to be a volunteer at the Commonwealth Games? Then you have until Friday to apply.

A £200,000 funding package has been unveiled to support members of the Opening and Closing Ceremonies Volunteer Cast at the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games.

Around 3,000 enthusiastic and talented cast members are required for the Ceremonies, to be held at Celtic Park and Hampden, Scotland’s National Stadium, which will be seen by live audiences of more than 40,000 people and a potential global television audience of more than one billion.

Financial support to assist with costs will be made available to successful cast members and will be targeted to assist participation in the ceremonies by those facing challenges meeting costs including independent living support, carer costs, childcare, travel to Glasgow and ensure that they can complete their experience.

The mass cast recruitment for the ceremonies which herald the start and finish of Glasgow and Scotland’s biggest-ever festival of sport and culture will close on 14 February 2014.

For further information about how to apply to be part of the cast and for an online application form click here. 

The funding will be independently administered by Volunteer Scotland and Voluntary Arts Scotland which has developed detailed application criteria. For further information please contact info@volunteersupportpot.org.uk

Part of the fund will also ensure supported cast members can take their once in a lifetime experience back to their communities through a unique volunteer cast outplacement which will help cast members to use their new skills.

Whilst the content of the Ceremonies is being kept under wraps for now, spectators are being promised two evenings of delight and surprise which proudly and playfully reflect the culture of Glasgow and Scotland in a warm, welcoming way.

You could be part of Glasgow 2014’s big moments on a global stage if you are:

• Aged 18 or over by 1 March 2014
• Available to attend auditions in Glasgow
• Available to rehearse and attend the performances

Eileen Gallagher, Independent Director on the Glasgow 2014 Board and Chair of the Ceremonies, Culture and Queen’s Baton Relay Committee said:

“The Opening and Closing ceremonies will be a celebration of Glasgow and Scotland and we want to draw on the enthusiasm and passion in every community for our 3,000 cast members. The financial support now available to people who may otherwise have been deterred by costs associated with the rehearsals will give everyone the opportunity to put themselves forward for this once in a lifetime opportunity to be part of the Ceremonies Cast and an experience which will live with them forever.”

George Thomson, Chief Executive of Volunteer Scotland, said:

“At Volunteer Scotland we are passionate about the importance of valuing volunteers and the 2014 Commonwealth Games is a fantastic opportunity to do that. We are delighted to be supporting the Ceremonies Cast along with the clyde-siders, who will be vital to the success of the Games. We want to create a lasting legacy for the 2014 Games through the development of a new generation of volunteering in Scotland.”

There are a limited number of tickets still available for the Opening Ceremony. For details go to www.glasgow2014.com or call 0844 826 2014

The Opening & Closing Ceremonies of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games are being created and produced on behalf of Glasgow 2014 by Jack Morton Worldwide who also created the Ceremonies for Manchester Commonwealth Games in 2002 and Melbourne Commonwealth Games in 2006. They are the team behind some of the most high profile and critically acclaimed ceremonies on four continents – including Athens 2004 Olympic Ceremonies and the South Africa 2010 FIFA World Cup Ceremonies.