Volunteers Will Bring Warmth to the City

Sarah Miller

When the team at United By 2022 was approached to help with the Birmingham Light Festival – the city’s transformation into a gallery of illuminated artworks for 4 nights only – it was immediately a no-brainer that we would want to get involved.

As the legacy charity from the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, we are passionate about our city and ways to bring people from across the West Midlands together. The Birmingham Light Festival will do just that, delighting residents and visitors alike with captivating light installations and over 50 exciting events and activities to make each night memorable. 

We are proud to be supporting the festival, putting together a team of passionate volunteers from across the region to help the festival shine even brighter.  

Volunteers played a massive role at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, welcoming visitors from around the world and showcasing their immense pride for their city. We launched the Volunteer’s Collective in June 2023 to capture that spirit and connect local volunteers with events and communities across the West Midlands.

Now over 2,100 members strong, the Volunteers Collective has supported numerous events across the region including major sporting championships, community-led events, and large-scale arts and culture festivals – much like Birmingham Light Festival. 

For all four nights, over 60 volunteers will be present across the city centre, interacting with guests, answering questions, and working alongside the production team to ensure the festival runs smoothly. They will bring an extra level of warmth that will welcome visitors at each artwork.

Trevor, one of our volunteers, is excited for the festival, saying: ‘Being part of the Volunteers Collective and volunteering at the Birmingham Light Festival gives me a real buzz. Being a member of a group of people passionate about their city and surrounding area makes feel proud to be a born and bred Brummie.’

The Birmingham Light Festival is a collaborative effort from people and organisations across the city, and that spirit continues perfectly through our volunteers. This event was born out of a shared love of Birmingham, and the volunteers will bring that same love to the streets of the city centre to make the festival brighter and more vibrant. We can’t wait to see you there!