Organised through the school’s DYW programme, the experience was designed to give young people the opportunity to engage with their local community, develop confidence and communication skills, and gain practical volunteering experience in a real-world setting. The activity also encouraged pupils to take on meaningful responsibilities while exploring the benefits of volunteering as a pathway to future education, employment and personal development.

Supporting a Community Event

The opportunity was created to help pupils explore volunteering and gain experience in a live events environment. Organisers were keen to involve local young people in the festival, recognising the important role volunteering plays in strengthening community connections and giving young people a sense of pride in their local area.

Eleven pupils participated throughout the day, working across morning and afternoon shifts. Their responsibilities included:

• Handing out information leaflets to visitors.
• Providing directions and assisting members of the public.
• Supporting event operations.
• Collecting litter and helping maintain the festival site.

By carrying out these tasks, pupils developed an understanding of the importance of teamwork, responsibility and customer service within a busy public event.

Going Beyond Expectations

In addition to supporting the festival’s day-to-day operations, pupils had the opportunity to experience many aspects of the event itself. They watched jousting displays, engaged with historical re-enactment groups and enjoyed live music performances throughout the day.

Two pupils chose to remain at the festival for over 11 hours, continuing to volunteer during the evening programme. This provided additional opportunities to work alongside event organisers, receive a behind-the-scenes tour and assist with stage set-up and equipment changes between performances.

The experience gave learners valuable exposure to the events industry and highlighted the wide range of skills required to successfully deliver large-scale community events.

Developing Confidence Through Volunteering

Throughout the day, pupils were encouraged to communicate with visitors, work independently and collaborate with event staff. These responsibilities helped build confidence, particularly when engaging with unfamiliar people and working in a busy environment.

The volunteering experience supported the development of a range of transferable employability skills, including:

• Communication and customer service.
• Teamwork and collaboration.
• Problem-solving.
• Responsibility and reliability.
• Confidence in public-facing roles.

The event also demonstrated the value of volunteering in helping young people gain experience and develop skills that will support them in future education, training and employment.

A Creative Opportunity

One particularly memorable outcome came when a pupil who plans to study Art and Art History at university spent time sketching throughout the festival.

Members of the music crew noticed the drawings and were so impressed by the artwork that they introduced the pupil to the musicians performing at the event. The musicians subsequently requested copies of the sketches to use on their social media platforms.

This unexpected opportunity demonstrated how volunteering can create valuable personal and professional connections while allowing young people to showcase their talents in real-life settings.

What Young People Said

Pupils spoke positively about the experience and the opportunities it provided.

“Some of the crew saw the doodles I was doing while the bands played and took us to show the musicians!”

“The jousting was so cool.”

“I am living my best Horrible Histories life right now.”

The feedback reflected the enthusiasm, enjoyment and engagement pupils experienced throughout the day.

Impact and Outcomes

The History Ambassadors volunteering opportunity delivered a range of positive outcomes for participating pupils, including:

• Increased confidence when communicating with the public.
• Development of teamwork and responsibility.
• Experience of volunteering within a live community event.
• Greater awareness of careers and opportunities within events, heritage and cultural sectors.
• Support towards Saltire Award volunteering hours.
• Opportunities to develop independence and leadership skills.
• Stronger connections with the local community.

The experience highlighted how volunteering can be a powerful tool for developing employability skills while helping young people feel connected to their local area. By taking on meaningful responsibilities and contributing to the success of a major community event, pupils gained valuable experiences that will support them both personally and professionally in the future.