SUPPORT US
Leith Festival runs on the goodwill of Leithers including
The board, our members, and amazing volunteers
Leithers donating both time and money,
Sponsorship from local businesses
and ordinary people doing extraordinary things.
Read on to see all the ways you can support the festival, or get involved.
Volunteer
Join the Board
Whether you just want to do your bit, or you are looking to gain skills and experience in running community events and festivals, joining the board is a great way to get involved. Generally our board will meet from October to the end of June, with one or two review sessions over the summer. The frequency of board meetings changes during this period, beginning with monthly meetings, and increasing to weekly meetings in the lead up to the festival, before we take a mini break over the summer, before beginning the process again for the following year. This may change slightly from year to year, depending on whether we have plans to hold events or activities outside of gala day and festival week. We are very much a working board, and everyone chips in. Each board member has the opportunity to lead on aspects of the festival that interests them, whether it be event organising, volunteer management, fundraising, accounts, partner relations, marketing and promotion, and we all chip in and support each other when needed. We also have a paid festival coordinator, who manages many of the day to day tasks and admin.
Become a Festival Volunteer
If you don’t want to commit to becoming a board member, there are plenty of other opportunities to volunteer with us. We are always looking for volunteers – particularly in the lead up to the festival, during festival week, and on gala day and at the tattoo. However depending on what we are up to there are opportunities to volunteer throughout the year too. Volunteer roles can vary hugely. Some examples include: helping us with social media promotion, stewarding the pageant, stage management, photography, traffic steward, litterpicking, fundraising, and more.
Become a member
Membership of Leith Festival costs just £2 a year. This means you can vote in our AGM and if you choose to register for our newsletter, will be first to hear about what we are up to along with our Friends. Members can hold the board to account and help us make sure the festival is inclusive and meets the needs of the wider Leith Community.
Support us financially
Become a friend
Friends of Leith Festival commit to providing an ongoing donation or sponsorship payment throughout the year. This not only helps to cover our running costs, but also allows us to use this income to put on additional events without needing to meet criteria set by funders.
Individual Friends automatically become members, so can vote in our AGM, and are first to hear about what we are up to, if you choose to subscribe to out newsletter.
For individuals we suggest £5 a month, but you can choose to pay less or more if that’s what your circumstances allow.
If you are a UK taxpayer, and choose to gift aid your donation or friends payment, we can receive an additional 25p for every pound donated, so if you donate £10 we receive £12.50. If you are a higher rate tax payer, you can also claim tax relief on gift aid payments.
More about becoming an individual friend
Business Friends become festival sponsors, and receive benefits depending on the level of sponsorship they commit to over the year. we suggest £30 a month, but again you can choose to pay less or more as suits your circumstances. Business friends can also claim tax relief on charity payments – speak to your accountant to find out more.
Donate
We know that not everyone is in a position to commit to a monthly payment, and one off donations are always welcome – particularly in the lead up to the festival where our cashflow comes under more pressure than at other times of the year.
We also welcome donations in memory of friends or family. We know that the festival means a lot to people across the community, and are honoured when festival events are chosen as a way to remember a loved one, or when someone chooses to leave us a bequeathment in their will. If this is something you would like to do please contact us to discuss your needs.
Sponsor the festival
We love supporting and being supported by local businesses. We have a range of sponsorship opportunities to support most budgets, get in touch with us to find out what sponsorship opportunities are available.
Take an advert in our programme
By taking an advert in our annual festival programme not only are you supporting the festival, but you are getting your business in front of around 5000 local people. it’s a win win for any business looking to get their name out there.
Take part in the festival
There are various ways to get involved with and support Leith Festival other than the above.
PLay at gala Day or the tattoo
Are you a musician? in a band? Do you dance or perform in other ways? Are you part of a marching band, drumming group, play the pipes, or national instruments from other countries and cultures? We want to hear from you. We are always on the lookout for talent, especially if you are a local. Look out for our calls to play if you would be interested in performing on one of our stages, or at the end of festival Tattoo.
Take a stall pitch on gala day
Gala Day would not be what it is without the range of traders and community organisations who take a stall either to sell their goods, or raise awareness of their cause or activities. Generally we will begin advertising stall pitches in January each year. Standard stalls pitches, and hot/freshly prepared food stall pitches are both available. We do our best to keep the cost of these competitive while still ensuring that we have enough funds to provide the infrastructure and surrounding activities that bring people to the festival year on year.
Bring an Activity on site
We love our community partners – they provide a varied range of activities available on gala day, and contribute to the overall buzz and excitement. So if you are part of a local group doing something fun, and would like to run an activity, or provide a taster session, get in touch and we can see about finding you a space on site. We would especially love to hear from any one interested in organising fun races – think egg and spoon, wheelbarrows, three legged races, or hailing back to our whisky heritage barrel races! tug of wars and the like. If this is you, get in touch!
Take part in the Pageant
The original roots of Leith Festival and gala day, the pageant really kick starts the day. So get a group together, get dressed up and come along to join in the fun. Best dressed competition each year!
Organise a Festival Event
Whether you would be holding an event in June anyway, or want to organise something especially for Leith Festival, if you have something going on list it in the programme. A great way to promote your event while supporting Leith Festival, and provide entertainment for your fellow Leithers. Our events programme is as varied and wide ranging as you can get.