Volunteer
Join our Barnes Children’s Literature Festival Family
We are who we are at Barnes because of our volunteers.
The Festival is lovingly led by the original families but it takes a village to stage London’s largest kids’ books event. It just couldn’t happen without the hard work of the more than 150+ heroes from every local school, charity and community organisation as well as book lovers from all over who come to help us each year.
Our volunteers are in charge of making sure everybody has a brilliant time in Barnes and there are gazillions of ways you can get involved: from helping our families to find a seat, or an author to find their venue, to setting up and managing events or packing up when the party is over. We’re sure we’ll find just the thing for you. And that you’ll have huge fun too!
And do you want to know the best bit? You’ll get to see our amazing programme for nada!
What are you waiting for? getinvolved@barneskidslitfest.org
Note. Most of our roles are for folk who are over 18 but we have plenty to get stuck into for younger people too so you should still get in touch.
Proud Winners of The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service (2021) & Coronation Champions 2023
Barnes is a Festival fit for a King and Queen!
Barnes is the only literature festival to have won the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service (QAVS), the highest award for volunteering in the UK. Created in 2002 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of HM Queen Elizabeth II’s Coronation, it is regarded as the MBE for volunteer groups and is awarded for the lifetime of an organisation.
On 2 June 2021, Buckingham Palace announced that we were one of 241 charities, social enterprises and voluntary groups from across the UK to be awarded The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service in 2021.
We were also one of 164 awardees to receive a special designation recognising impactful support provided to our community during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In 2023, our Director Amanda Brettargh was named by King Charles III and Queen Camilla as a Coronation Champion, one of 500 inspiring volunteers from around the UK who have made an exceptional difference in their communities, as part of their official Coronation celebrations.
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/awards-and-accreditation/content/queens-award-for-voluntary-service ; Royal Gazette, 2 June 2021 issue 63366, page J8
Duke of Edinburgh’s Award
We are able to give young people the opportunity to volunteer at our events so do get in touch getinvolved@barneskidslitfest.org. This activity may count towards your Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Skills/Volunteering/Physical section, please check with your DofE Leader.
