Lighthouse | Radical Book Fair: CLOSED Call for Volunteers

Please note we're no longer looking for volunteers! We've had a wonderful response and have all the support we need helping to deliver the fair.

Do join us as a guest/browser/visitor, that's the next best way to support & make the fair the best it can be :)

Are YOU excited about the Radical Book Fair? Do you want get involved behind the scenes?

The Radical Book Fair (21-24th November) is just a couple weeks away and we could use a few extra hands to help our team make it extra special!

Radical Book Fair volunteering is not terribly glamorous, and the Roxy is pretty drafty, but there will be ample opportunities to talk about books and politics, see and speak to visiting authors, and ultimately be an integral part of a community event for like-minded folk!

We'd also love a hand ahead of the fair with distributing flyers & sharing events on socials and beyond, so if that's you please do let us know!

Please also note, that ecause of limited staff capacity for supervision & guidance, we are sadly not able to take on any volunteers under the age of 18 this year.

First things first - what's involved?

The main jobs at the fair are:

door welcome, keeping track of attendees & checking tickets for events
welcoming speakers and showing them around the venue
prepping the stage & signing tables for events
sanitising seating areas between events
running the odd errand to the bookshop (round the corner from the Roxy)
being on hand to answer questions from visitors about books, toilets etc
Thursday morning is unpacking and Sunday is packing (so some heavy lifting!)
Taking pictures for social media posts
encouraging people to take part in events/zine/stalls
hosting the snug space downstairs (where exhibitions/workshops/tea & coffee station will be)
Stall maintenance -Tidying up/ reorganizing stacks of books as they get moved & browsed! Making sure publisher books stay grouped together/ finding event stock when needed.

ADDITIONALLY this year, as the Book Fair takes place at the same time as the Push The Boat Out Poetry Festival volunteers may also help us

run book stalls (solo) at Dovecot, Scottish Storytelling Centre, and Pleasance Courtyard.

Shifts!

Because of limited resources for training, we can only take on volunteers who are able to commit to 4-5 hours on *at least* 2 days of the fair and a zoom training session on the weekend before the fair. This is so that we can get you properly trained up and you can feel comfortable and useful in the space.

If you can't do several shifts, you can still help us with these 3 things:

- promote the fair with flyer drops/social media before the fair

- help with set up

- help with set down

If you can do a few shifts, help is most needed at these times:

Thur 21st:

- 8.00am-1 Set up (this is quite labour intensive as it involves quite a few boxes! And if you can only help out on one shift then this would be the one)

- 4.30- 9.00 Events

Friday 22nd:

- 11.00 -3.00 (part of this will include a teen event, and serving food)

-4.30- 9.00 Events

Saturday 23rd:

- 11.00 -3.00 Events & stall maintenance

-3pm-8.00 Events & stall maintenance (we have a few big events that afternoon, so there will much need for moving chairs/checking in guests from 5-8pm)

Sunday 24th

-11 am- 6 Events & stall maintenance

- 1.00- 3.00 Helping serve community lunch/get activist stalls set up

-6pm-9 Taking down the festival (this is quite labour intensive too and could also be a solo shift if you can only do one!)

(but we welcome help at other times too, it just tends to be a little quieter :D)

What we're offering:

The Radical Book Fair is entirely bookshop run without any outside funding which is why we operate on a shoestring and need a little extra help for our big book fair.

We offer volunteers 35% discount on all books through to the end of the year, as many ‘proof’ books as you like/can carry and a Lighthouse tote bag of your choice!

For those who can do at least three shifts we also offer a £30 stipend to cover travel costs & food. It’s not much, but it comes with a side of our eternal gratitude!!

Please note: masks are required at all times inside the venue, and all team members should take lateral flow tests before coming in (we can get you some if need be). The venue is big and drafty, so dress warm & move lots!

Last, but definitely not least (!!) we ask all our volunteers to read our Safe Spaces policy and commit to its standards of behaviour : https://lighthousebookshop.com/contact-faq#6 If you have any questions about it - just shout.

Does this sound like something you'd like to do?

If you’re tempted to volunteer, please READ THE DETAILS BELOW and send your answers to Emma at rbf@lighthousebookshop.com by midnight Monday 11th November

IMPORTANT THINGS TO INCLUDE:

-a full name & pronouns, your phone number

-confirmation that you have read and agreed to our Safer Spaces policy

- any availability Thursday 14th November for a wee 5 minute phone chat with Emma. Something super informal, just to hear a little more about what kind of books you like, if any events or authors at the fair are of particular interest to you, if you have any special/unusual skills we can tap into. (If you can't do phone calls, pls flag in the email)

- your availability on Saturday 16th for max 1 hour group zoom training session (your chance to ask any questions too)

- precise availability for any of the shifts/within time windows listed above, to reiterate, we can only take on volunteers who are able to commit to 4-5 hours on *at least* 2 days of the fair.

- If there are any access arrangements that will help you navigate the fair in comfort please don't hesitate to let us know! We’ll never expect you to do a task you aren’t comfortable with/feel capable of so please do be open with us and we can plan accordingly :D