Festival Spirit – Turning dreams into reality
Festival Spirit is a new charity set up which brings together young, and not so young, disabled people with the aim of giving them the experience of going to festivals that they would not usually have.
In summer 2010 the Rotary Club of Abingdon Vesper, in partnership with the Jumbulance charity, took a group of 8 young people (or “VIPs”) to the WOMAD festival. All had life-limiting or very serious illnesses and most came from Douglas House Hospice in Oxford. Each had their own carer and were accompanied by 8 able bodied young people to “buddy” them, together with a support team of 6 Rotary club members and other helpers.
The logistics were not straightforward and we had to overcome various problems. Effectively it was a question of setting up a field hospital in the middle of a festival with special beds, ventilators, oxygen etc. Great support came from the army who provided tents and catering.
The weekend was a huge success and the VIPs had a once in a lifetime experience. Stornoway came to play a special set for them in their camping area whilst they were all taken back stage where Rolf Harris spent time with them.
This has all prompted us to ask how we can build on the experience?
What is Festival Spirit?
Simply we want to recreate the experience of those 8 young people at WOMAD for many, many more across the country. We have set up a registered charity to do this – Festival Spirit.
Our purpose is to provide a Festival experience for young people who would not normally be able to enjoy one due to life limiting illness or disability. Our vision is in time to have a presence at all major music festivals across the UK and Europe.
Our VIPs will come from hospices, ex services amputees, spinal injuries, social services and other charities.
Rotary is the world’s largest international service organisation, so our aim is to use that network to roll out the charity across the country and then beyond, through our sister clubs on the continent.
We will coordinate fundraising to give the charity financial stability until a full time organiser can be appointed.
Celebrity patrons
We are approaching well known people from the music and entertainment world to be patrons to Festival Spirit to help give the charity impetus and credibility, through whatever guidance, support and publicity they are happy to provide.
Those who have offered their support include Nicholas Lyndhurst , Robin Gibb, violinist Ruth Palmer (former Classical Musician of the year), Martyn Joseph and John Spiers, with hopefully more to follow.
Want to know more?
If you would like to know more or know of someone who might benefit from the charity’s support, then visit the Festival Spirit website or our Facebook page.
This year we have taken parties to Glastonbury and WOMAD. Plans are already under way for the 2012 festival season so keep checking the website: