Volunteer at our fundraising events
Thank you for your interest in volunteering at our fundraising events. We would love to have you as part of the team. They are a great opportunity to get involved and support Oxfam!
Trailwalker Volunteer Shifts Now Available
“It was an amazing day and truly inspiring seeing the runners after they had completed the race. All of the event staff were very helpful and friendly. I would like to thank you for giving us the opportunity to be involved with Oxfam on marathon day.”
Carly Vincent, Sports Massage Therapist
“I have to say that I thoroughly enjoyed the whole Trailwalker experience and it was absolutely brilliant to be part of the Oxfam team.”
Rebecca Short, Trailwalker UK volunteer
“It was fantastically well organised which we appreciated more and more as we went on and became more tired. It was a real treat to be greeted at every checkpoint, and sometimes in-between, by Oxfam staff and soldiers clapping, cheering and saying 'Thank-you'. It was a long day and night for everyone involved but even at 4am everyone looked as enthusiastic as they had at 4pm”
Carol Kefford, Trailwalker UK 2007 participant
Thank you to Oxfam’s amazing volunteers!
This year’s London Marathon took place on Sunday 13th April. We had incredible volunteers at both of the Oxfam Cheering Points, applauding and encouraging the fantastic Oxfam runners as they made their way along the 26.2 mile route.
Hannah, an Oxfam runner said: “I just wanted to say thank you for all your cheering supporters around the course on Sunday, I had an amazing day and am so pleased I have raised £1912.”
We also had brilliant volunteers at the post-race reception, which took place at the British Academy (right next to the finish area!) Our volunteers supported the runners every need, such as collecting their belongings and escorting them to the hot showers. A special thank you must go to our sports massage therapists who really pampered our runners.
Graham, another wonderful Oxfam runner, was quick to write in to say: “Thank you once again for the post race reception held after the marathon on Sunday. Once again Oxfam were brilliant with a heroes reception in the foyer and I was made to feel very special by your team and the band of volunteers who helped to and from the showers and in the much needed massage room.
It really made a difference after a very hard day on the course to feel so appreciated and looked after.”
We estimate that our London Marathon volunteers saved Oxfam an amazing £1,700 of staff costs. With that money Oxfam can build and kit out a classroom – so you really have made a difference!
If you’d like to be part of the Oxfam team at the 2009 London Marathon, or at any of our other events – register as a volunteer.
Related links
Trailwalker – 18-20 July 2008
Trailwalker is a 100km walk, in a team of four, in less than 30 hours. The event is organised in partnership with the Queen’s Gurkha Signals and will raise over £1 million for Oxfam and the Gurkha Welfare Trust.
We want volunteers to help with registration, cheering on participants at checkpoints, staffing the water point and welcoming them over the finish line – and specialist sports massage and chiropody volunteers too! The participants walk through the night, and it’s a great atmosphere when the night draws in – the camaraderie is amazing!
Frequently asked questions
What is the event all about?
Where are the events held?
Where will I be working?
Will I have to pay for my own travel expenses?
What will I be doing?
Will food and drink be provided?
How long will I be working for?
Will I get to see the event taking place?
What will I need to bring / wear?
Can I stay overnight? (Applicable to Trailwalker only)
What is the event all about?
London Marathon
The London Marathon is an annual event with over 35,000 people taking part in 2007. It is organised by the London Marathon Company and people take part from all over the world, including elite runners, club runners and those running for charity. Oxfam has had runners take part in aid of our work for many years and hopes to have 150 runners on the course in 2008.
Trailwalker
The challenge of Trailwalker is to get your team of four across 100 km in less than 30 hours, to raise money to help overcome poverty and suffering. It is organised in partnership by Oxfam and the Queen’s Gurkha Signals, in aid of Oxfam and the Gurkha Welfare Trust. The principal sponsor is State Street.
All the information about the event can be found at www.oxfam.org.uk/trailwalker
Where are the events held?
London Marathon
The course starts at Blackheath and crosses London through Greenwich, Docklands, past Tower Bridge, along Embankment and finishes on The Mall in front of Buckingham Palace. Oxfam has a cheering spot along the route, and a reception at the British Academy, just off The Mall.
Trailwalker
The route follows the South Downs Way, starting at Queen Elizabeth Country Park near Petersfield and finishing at Brighton Racecourse
Where will I be working?
London Marathon
There are two areas we need volunteers for – the post-race runners’ reception and the cheering spot on the route. The cheering spot is vital in ensuring our runners’ feel supported and it boosts their enthusiasm to keep going.
Trailwalker
There are opportunities to volunteer at the start, finish or at the checkpoints along the route. The start is at Queen Elizabeth Country Park, near Petersfield, Hampshire and the finish at Brighton Racecourse. The checkpoints are at 10 points along the route.
Will I have to pay for my own travel expenses?
Oxfam will reimburse you for your travel expenses, but please do try to use the most cost-effective means you can. If travelling by public transport you need to produce a train or bus ticket or receipt. If you are travelling by personal car, you will be reimbursed 30p per mile, up to 200 miles; thereafter we cannot cover the cost.
London Marathon
There is no parking available at either location. If we have too many volunteers, we will give priority to those living nearby to keep costs down.
What will I be doing?
London Marathon
Please check volunteer roles when they are published, for full details.
- Cheering Spot - Ensuring we have banners, bunting, signs etc to mark where we are. Spotting runners from further up the course and communicating back to the cheering team, cheering runners’, encouraging the public to join in and shout for Oxfam, giving out sweets to runners.
- Runners’ Reception - Welcoming and hosting runners and their supporters, escorting runners to the showers, supporting the sport massage therapists.
Trailwalker
Please check volunteer roles when they are published for full details, as it will depend whether you volunteer at the start, finish or checkpoints. But it will include the following:
- Start – welcoming participants, distributing registration packs, exchanging and selling t-shirts and merchandise, helping with directions and answering general questions about the event
- Finish - Cheering participants across the line, helping support crews with their queries and introducing them to the site, helping with medal presentations, supporting the commentator.
- Checkpoints –helping with directions, cheering participants on, and helping promote and distribute donated goods.
Will food and drink be provided?
London Marathon
There will be food and drink available at the reception primarily for the runners and their guests; this will also be available to you. Vegetarians will be provided for, but unfortunately we cannot provide for other dietary requirements.
If you are working at the cheering point for more than 5 hours, we are able to reimburse you for up to £6. You will need to bring your own food or buy it locally.
Trailwalker
At the start, there will be a BBQ on Friday night and basic cooked breakfast on Saturday morning. At the checkpoints, there will be drinks available but you would need to provide your own food (costs for this can be reimbursed up to £6 per shift if you are working more than 5 hours). At the finish there will be a hot curry available throughout the day and night from 18.00 on Saturday. Vegetarians will be provided for, but unfortunately we cannot provide for other dietary requirements. We recommend you bring other snacks and drinks along for your own consumption.
How long will I be working for?
There are a variety of shifts available lasting between 4 and 9 hours. We aim to give you regular breaks during this period, but times will depend on when we are busy.
Will I get to see the event take place?
London Marathon
If you are cheering on the route, then yes – we will probably have a position in the Docklands where you will see the runners’ go past twice. It’s a great atmosphere with lots of people. The reception venue overlooks the finish area, but not the finish line. We hope everyone will get the chance to see the finish line, but this does depend on how busy we are on the day.
Trailwalker
If you are on the start team you will get the opportunity to see at least one of the starts, at checkpoints you will see the participants coming through, and at the finish you will be watching participants cross the finish line. You are very welcome to go and see the event along the route in your own time.
What will I need to bring / wear?
You will be provided with an Oxfam t-shirt and cap to wear on the day. Please wear comfortable and practical clothing and be prepared for all weathers – bring sun cream as well as a waterproof coat! Wear comfortable shoes as you will be on your feet for most of the day.
You may find it helpful to bring the following items: waterproof clothing, sun cream, warm layers, umbrella, mobile phone, any essential medication, any special food not catered for e.g. halal, vegan.
Can I stay overnight?
