Liverpool City Council is looking for 500 people to volunteer ahead of the city hosting Eurovision later this year.
The biggest music competition in the world lands in Liverpool in May with the best vocalists, groups and performers Europe has to offer. Ukraine, last year's champions, had to pass on hosting duties to the United Kingdom after the European Broadcasting Union deemed it unsafe for the country to house the event given their ongoing conflict with Russia.
After a number of cities in the UK put in bids to host the competition, Liverpool was announced as the host city. On Tuesday, January 31, The Mayor of Turin, Stefano Lo Russo, gave Liverpool Mayor, Joanne Anderson the keys to Eurovision in a momentous ceremony. which marked the unofficial start of the event.
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Now, Liverpool City Council has announced a volunteering programme giving people the chance to be at the heart of the iconic event. Around 500 roles have been created to support the delivery of Eurovision, with volunteers being required for various periods starting from Monday, May 1 until Sunday, May 14.
The council created the roles after being "inundated" with requests from people who want to get involved.
Cabinet Member for Culture and Visitor Economy, Councillor Harry Doyle, said: "Since we found out we had the honour of hosting Eurovision on behalf of Ukraine, we have been inundated with requests from people who want to get involved and be part of the warm Liverpool welcome we are renowned for across the globe. The complexity around staging an event of this scale won’t surprise anyone – there is a dedicated team of people working hard behind the scenes with the ambition and determination to stage an unforgettable Eurovision which will do the UK and Ukraine proud. Our volunteers will play a vital role in helping us achieve this.
“Enthusiastic volunteers are what make our events great. Visitors from Europe and beyond will descend on our city from May, and despite potential language barriers, a friendly smile from one of our team may just make someone’s trip – and a positive experience will hopefully see them visit the city again in the future.”
Volunteers will be located across the city centre, at the Tourist Information Centre in Liverpool ONE, at the Eurovision Village on the Pier Head and at key transport hubs. Duties will include scanning event tickets, meeting and greeting visitors, or welcoming artists to backstage areas in the Eurovision Village.
Volunteers will have the chance to mix with people from different backgrounds, as well as the opportunity to gain skills along the way. To apply, volunteers must be at least 18 years of age, be friendly and approachable and have good local knowledge.
It’s also a bonus if candidates can speak a language other than English due to the international nature of the event.
The council said their ambition is to create a diverse and inclusive volunteering team, with a blend of local volunteers and volunteers with knowledge of the Ukrainian language and culture. The council are accepting applications from outside the UK, but they will need a work visa to take part.
Volunteers will not be required to work on site at M&S Bank Arena where the Eurovision Song Contest is taking place.
To register your interest in becoming a Eurovision Song Contest 2023 volunteer and to find out more about the roles available, visit the Culture Liverpool website. The closing date for applications is midnight, Tuesday, February 14.
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