VOLUNTEERS make a vital contribution to County Durham’s communities, never more so than in the last year. This month, we talk to four of the brilliant people who have given their time to help make Lumiere happen through the Festival Makers scheme, alongside Julie Lavery, Volunteer and Skills Manager at Durham County Council.

Steph Whalen, Bob Jones, Helen Winterbone and Ann Ferguson all volunteered at Lumiere 2019.

They each volunteer for other organisations too, and have different reasons for initially choosing to volunteer. Steph said: “Originally, I began volunteering as a way to boost my confidence and people skills.

“When I initially found out I had bipolar affective disorder, although I didn’t show it, I felt shattered inside.

“My confidence took a battering for a long time. Through volunteering, I have built my confidence again and gone back into education and also recently work.”

Ann wanted to be involved in Lumiere because she thought she could offer her valuable knowledge of the city.

She said: “Having lived in Durham for the best part of 40 years, I know my way around and thought this would help tourists asking for directions.”

For Bob, the role of communicating with the general public “gives life purpose and is perfect for making you feel useful when you are retired.”

Similarly, Helen said: “Since retiring from work, mixing with new people whilst volunteering helps me remain confident. There’s a feelgood factor with giving something back too.”

Steph initially began volunteering at Lumiere because she participated in a project called Lift Off through East Durham College where she was a student, and wanted to find out more about the festival.

Lift Off saw a group of students produce a piece of light art that was displayed at Lumiere 2019.

Steph went on to apply and be selected for the Lumiere artist development scheme, BRILLIANT, this year.

She is currently working with Artichoke’s Production team to create her own piece of light art for the festival in November.

Steph said: “I feel very lucky to have seen Lumiere from 360 degrees.

“Lumiere 2019 allowed me to gain industry skills and insight that I would not have necessarily been able to find so easily.

“Now, I am finally starting The Northern School of Art in September and here I am, a BRILLIANT winner.”

The Festival Makers we spoke to each had a range of funny and moving memories of helping at previous editions of Lumiere:

Bob said: “I was asked the way to the “station” and pointed the way to the Railway Station, when in fact they wanted Mysticéte, the “whale installation” – we all fell about laughing!”

“I believe the saying goes, “Volunteers do not necessarily have the time; they have the heart,” said Steph.

“Everyone who volunteers will be doing so for a variety of reasons, but they are a community who work together to make the event happen and it is as important to us as anyone else there. I’ll be first in line to help again this year!”

Julie Lavery, who manages the Lumiere Festival Makers scheme, has worked for Durham County Council for 34 years engaging with communities and building resilience, removing barriers to support people to achieve their goals and upskilling communities.

She said: “At the moment, we have 2005 volunteers across the county.

“We work with these individuals on a regular basis to provide mentoring and upskilling opportunities to enable them to deliver a range of activities.”

“I am very passionate about supporting and providing a quality service for all the people I work with, whether they choose to volunteer to improve physical, social and mental wellbeing or to improve their skills and knowledge.

“Lumiere has given me the opportunity to work alongside hundreds of volunteers, supporting and mentoring them to be able to reach their goals.

“Volunteers contribute to Lumiere by raising awareness about the event, its profile and what it does.

“They build relationships within the community and contribute to supporting others, building legacies, and ensuring visitors receive a great experience and return to the city in the future.”

“Involvement and engagement are key to the success of any event and can certainly bring local communities together.

“Lumiere offers the additional benefit of encouraging volunteers to involve themselves in their community as well as in the event itself.”

She added: “We have seen a huge outpouring of community effort this year, not only through formal recruitment but also local people setting up groups on social media to offer support in their communities.

“For me, it has been overwhelming seeing volunteers step up to give their time to people in need, offering support to enrich the lives of people who need it most and helping them cope when things are hard and supporting community resilience.”

Cllr Amanda Hopgood, Leader of Durham County Council, explains how local people have always been at the heart of Lumiere.

She said: “From the early days of Lumiere, the event has attracted international attention, with striking images of County Durham landmarks and world-class light installations capturing the imagination of people across the world.

“And while this global recognition is important, the experience of local people is a vital part of what makes the event so special.

“County Durham residents are always at the forefront of our minds when we discuss the benefits our festivals will bring, whether that be boosting the economy, raising aspirations or creating uplifting experiences.

“The Festival Makers programme is a big part of this, providing opportunities for people of all ages to volunteer at the UK’s leading light festival.

“It is a chance to gain new skills, looks great on a CV, and is a wonderful way to meet new people and make friends.

“I would encourage everyone, whether they are seasoned volunteers or new to volunteering, to find out more at www.durham.gov.uk/festivalmaker.”

Open North Foundation is one of the organisations generously supporting Lumiere 2021.

Richard Swart, chair of the Open North Foundation, said:

“Open North Foundation is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to assisting the businesses and people of the North East to recover from the ravages of Covid-19.

“All who work for us do so free of charge and in addition to their day jobs. ONF has secured the support of leading North East businesses and organisations dedicated to rebuilding the North East economy.

“We are very grateful to have the support of Lumiere in highlighting our campaign and we are delighted to be an in-kind sponsor of its much-loved Lumiere festival from November 18 to 21.

“We look forward to an event which puts Durham on the map and, most importantly, brings people together in what has been for many a year of isolation.”