Angels have appeared at music festivals across the UK over the last few months!

Blog written for ROC website

Angels have appeared at music festivals across the UK over the last few months!

Festival Angels started life as a Prayer Cafe, the inspiration of the late Kate Dickinson. Aged 79 she had a vision to run a Prayer Cafe at Leeds Festival which was held every August Bank Holiday weekend in the neighbouring village. 

The first year, 2011, proved so successful that in year two it was rebranded Festival Angels with volunteer teams beginning to take on more roles across the Leeds Festival site. 

Kate, who passed away earlier this year, will be honoured by Festival Angels and Festival Republic with a special celebration and plaque unveiling on the Wednesday afternoon of Leeds Festival 2023. 

​The ministry and work of Festival Angels has grown at Leeds Festival and several other music festivals across the UK. The 2023 season started with a team at Porthleven Food Festival in April and has included Tunes in the Dunes, several festivals in Upton-upon-Severn, Download at Castle Donington, Parklife in Manchester, Yarty Party in East Devon, Kendal Calling, a DJ Back to Back Relay in Manchester, Creamfields North and, the biggest team of over two hundred volunteers, at Leeds. Festival Angels also supported the work of The Church at Glastonbury and Street Pastors at Reading Festival. 

​Paul Blakey MBE, the CEO of ROC Angels, who oversee Festival Angels, comments, "Music festivals are one of the biggest mission opportunities in the UK with tens of thousands of people taking time out, relaxing, enjoying great music, trying new experiences and meeting new people. Our Jesus Loves Festivals tattoos and selfie banners are a big hit with many asking questions or sharing thoughts on Jesus and faith. It is an amazing privilege when festival goers approach you to say that the reason they had the confidence to attend the festival was that with the Festival Angels on site they knew they would be safe and looked after. My thanks to all the amazing volunteers who make Festival Angels happen."

Temporary tattoos, proclaiming that Jesus Loves Festivals, have proved a must have festival accessory with many requests from people to 'give me Jesus!' The offer of a tattoo has sometimes led to in-depth conversations around Jesus, faith and life. 

​The 2023 festival season has seen over four hundred Festival Angel volunteers of all ages invest thousands of hours to be part of welfare support. 

Some of the Kendal Calling team posed for a selfie with musician Example, after his main stage performance, which became the lead photo on his Insta and Facebook profile reaching thousands of people. 

​For more details visit festivalangels.org.uk or search festivalangels on Facebook and TikTok or festivalangels1 on Instagram.