Out of Office

We're delighted to introduce another one of our volunteers, Sandie Fountain. Sandie was supported to volunteer by her employer, Standard Life Aberdeen. 

Picture: Sandie Fountain (right) with fellow volunteers on shift

For as long as I have lived in Edinburgh, and that’s some 17 years, I have loved the Edinburgh City Festivals!    

In my experience, your festival experience can be as high or low brow as you want it to be.  You can plan and book your perfect mix of festival experiences as soon at the Festival Brochures hit the stands or just turn up and drink in the atmosphere sampling the plethora of street performance and festival drop-ins.    

When I spotted the opportunity to be an Edinburgh City Volunteer pop up on my social media newsfeed it seemed a great way to get immersed in the festival season, to do more than just the odd show here or there at the weekends.  It was an opportunity to feel part of the Festival.     

Picture: Sandie Fountain (right)

I’m very fortunate that my employer, Standard Life Aberdeen supports all employees in the company with three days extra paid leave to take up volunteering opportunities with charitable organisations each year.  This allowed me the time to attend training and to sign-up to my volunteering shifts.  

As well as being supportive of their staff's individual volunteering endeavours Standard Life Aberdeen were also, coincidentally, the headline sponsor for the Edinburgh International Festival’s opening event the Five Telegrams.  

As we have trained, helped festival visitors and socialised together a wonderful sense of community has emerged amongst the volunteers and support staff.   

It was been a delight to meet so many different people, to share my own skills and to learn from others.  I am most impressed as to how there has been no distinction made as to how each individual has found themselves involved in the program.  It has been, in its construction by Festivals Edinburgh and Volunteer Edinburgh, a simple and triumphant example of equality and inclusivity.  

I’m very proud to have been involved.

Thank you, Sandie. We've loved having you as part of the FCV team. Hopefully see you next year!