Case study: Donna at Paisley Book Festival

I became interested in volunteering for the Paisley Book Festival after attending a number of the events online during Covid in 2022, so when the Festival was back in person, I volunteered and I have continued to participate every year since then because I absolutely loved the experience.

The staff, organisers and programmers made me feel so welcome and like an integral part of the team. they talked me through everything that I might be required to help with. This included everything from meeting and greeting members of the public attending events, to showing the writers and performers around the venues and green room, to assisting with seating people in the theatre, helping with access requirements or being in charge of the roving mike for Q&A’s.

Not only did I get to feel like I was involved with an exciting literary festival in my home town, I got to be in the room at incredible events with interesting authors, poets and others from the literary, sporting, broadcasting and political worlds. I have met so many interesting people and been exposed to brilliant books I may never have bought had I not heard the authors talk about writing them. I have learned new skills and increased in confidence as a result. Volunteering with OneRen and the Paisley Book Festival is a golden opportunity and I look forward to it every year now