Leeds Festival Angels Press Release

Faith in the Festival:
Angels Make Welcome Return to Leeds Festival 2013

As the countdown begins to this weekend’s Leeds 2013 with headliners Eminem, Greenday and Biffy Clyro, a team of church volunteers are seeking to expand their usual activities by showing the love of God to festival goers.

Known as Festival Angels, the volunteers are returning to one of Europe’s premier music gatherings for the 3rd year with the blessing of organisers Festival Republic.

Offering a faith presence and a point of safety and support during the four day event, the Festival Angels form a wider network of volunteers providing well-being to music lovers at festivals all over the UK. In Leeds they are made up of Christians who are part of Churches Together, a multi denominational organisation, and Leeds Street Angels, whose teams regularly provide care to those in need on a night out in the city centre.

At Leeds Festival they will be patrolling the site, and be based at the Prayer Tent, a place of sanctuary where anyone can come to chat, pray, relax and be provided with low cost hot drinks.

Festival Angels co-ordinator is Reverend Andy Nicholson, of St Peters Church in Thorner, whose parish covers the festival site:

“We first came to Leeds in 2011, and the tent was only open from 10am to 4pm on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. We had 20 volunteers and it soon became apparent that we needed to provide a wider service of care.

This year, with the support of Festival Republic, we are pleased to have nearly 100 Festival Angels, from Thorner and across the North of England. So we are now able to run the prayer tent 24/7, and manage the Lost Property Tent from site opening on Wednesday afternoon to closing on Monday.”

Sarah Tschentscher from Festival Republic Said:

“The Festival Angels offer festival goers at Leeds a warm welcome, light refreshments and a listening ear. It is great to have the Angels onsite at Leeds Festival once again and we look forward to continuing our partnership with the groups from the local Thorner Churches.”