HippFest, Scotland’s first and only festival of silent film with live music, is looking for Volunteers to help deliver its 2026 Festival!

How to apply:

If you would like to join our HippFest Volunteer team please complete our application form by Monday 2 February 2026 at 12:00 noon and return it by email to Kirsty Somerville, HippFest Producer, on Kirsty.Somerville@falkirk.gov.uk.

Applications will be read by our Festival Producer, Kirsty Somerville and, if required, you may be invited to a short interview on Wednesday 11 February 2026. All applicants will be contacted by Friday 13 February 2026 at the latest.

Please note, this role is purely voluntary, and this arrangement is not meant to be a legally binding one or an employment contract. More info below!

 

What is a HippFest Volunteer?

Each year we welcome a team of 15 Volunteers to help us deliver our busy programme of events. Our Volunteers come from a range of backgrounds and bring with them many different qualities and skills. The essential qualities for this role are:

• A welcoming, friendly and helpful manner
• The ability to follow instructions well
• Great attention to detail
• To be a presentable and enthusiastic team player
• Reliability, both in attendance and in carrying out tasks
• A can-do attitude
• An interest in learning more about silent film, the festival, and our brilliant array of guests

Previous experience of working with the public in a customer facing role, and a passion for cinema and/or live music, are also desirable but not essential.

 

What’s involved?

To ensure our Volunteers get a great experience across all aspects of the Festival we aim to involve them in each of the following areas throughout the Festival dates:

• Welcoming our audiences and being the ‘Face of the Festival’:
  • Providing great customer service and assisting with general queries from members of the public
  •  Supporting with queue management before and after events
  •  Maintaining a clean environment for audiences
  •  Supporting box office staff during busy periods
• Event co-ordination:
  • Supporting the technical team by providing a roving audience microphone for question and answer sessions
  •  Assisting our Festival team to deliver our Festival events at venues across Bo’ness (these will include the Festival Hub, Bo’ness Library, Dobbie Hall, and Bo’ness and Kinneil Railway)
  • Providing customers with programme notes at each screening
  • Assisting with guest hospitality where required
• Festival evaluation:
  • Gathering and collating feedback from our audiences about their Festival experience, both through conversation after screenings and by completing prepared surveys

 

What’s in it for you?

Volunteering with HippFest is a great chance to be part of an exciting cultural event. We are really grateful to each of our Volunteers for giving their time to the festival and in return you will:

• Gain hands on experience of working in festival delivery and venue/event management
• Have the chance to see a great programme of Festival films, performances and discussions for free (subject to availability
• Meet new people and have the chance to network with our Festival musicians, filmmakers and speakers
• Improve your interpersonal skills by working as part of a team and with our Festival audiences
• Get your own HippFest 2026 Festival t-shirt
• Receive travel expenses to cover your journey to and from Bo’ness, up to a maximum of £8 per day worked
• Be offered snacks and drinks when on-shift (we promise it won’t just be popcorn!)

 

What we expect from the HippFest Volunteers:

As part of our team you will be expected to:

• Be a welcoming, friendly, professional and approachable Face of the Festival

• Attend all shifts as agreed, and inform the Producer in good time if you are unable to make it

• Complete all tasks as requested

• Abide by the HippFest and Falkirk Council policies

• Arrange your own travel to/from the Festival and submit an expenses form as required

• Maintain a smart appearance, wearing the HippFest uniform to all shifts

 

How much time do you need to provide?

• Pre-Festival
  • All Volunteers are required to join us for a Festival Volunteer Induction meeting on Thursday 5 March 2026, 17:30 – 19:00 at the Hippodrome
• During the Festival
  • All Volunteers are expected to commit to at least 2 x 6 hours shifts between Tuesday 17 – Sunday 22 March 2026. These shifts will take place between 11:00 – 22:00
  • The Rota will be shared at least two weeks before, and take account of your availability
• Post Festival
  • After the Festival all Volunteers will be asked to complete a short evaluation about their experience with the Festival.

 

Where Will You Be Working

The majority of volunteering will take place at the Hippodrome Cinema, 10 Hope Street, Bo’ness EH51 0AA. 

Volunteering may also be required at other venues in Bo’ness including Food@34a, Bo’ness & Kinneil Railway Station, and Bo’ness Library.

 

Questions?

If anything is unclear or you would like to chat through what to expect as a Volunteer, please contact Kirsty Somerville on Kirsty.Somerville@falkirk.gov.uk