With less than a month until the annual festival kicks off, Boardmasters has today outlined its continued commitment to creating an environment where people feel safe, supported and able to enjoy their festival experience with confidence.
Whilst no single event can entirely eliminate wider societal issues such as harassment, sexual violence, domestic abuse, spiking, vulnerability, poor mental health and antisocial behaviour, Boardmasters recognises that preparing for and responding to these realities is a fundamental part of its duty of care, ensuring that appropriate support is available to anyone who may need it and helping festival-goers access that support without judgement.
As part of its ongoing commitment to attendee wellbeing, Boardmasters is highlighting the extensive network of specialist support services available throughout the festival. While these services have long formed part of how Boardmasters is planned and delivered, many festival-goers, parents and guardians may not be fully aware of the breadth of support available across the site or the year-round multi-agency planning that takes place to prioritise safety.
The festival’s aim is simple – to ensure that everyone knows where to turn should they need help, advice or support at any point during the festival. No issue is too big or too small. Whether someone is feeling unwell, worried about a friend, experiencing a welfare concern, feeling vulnerable, requires medical assistance or safeguarding advice, needs practical assistance or emotional support, or is simply unsure where to turn, there are trained professionals available around the clock to provide support without judgement.
Festival-goers are often only a few minutes away from a trained welfare, safeguarding, medical or specialist support professional. The concentration of services available across the site means attendees can access a wide range of immediate support within walking distance, often more quickly and conveniently than they might in their day-to-day lives, helping to create an environment where people feel safe, supported and confident seeking help whenever they need it.
Behind the scenes, an extensive network of specialist teams works 24/7 to support festival-goers. This includes 24-hour welfare provision incorporating mental health practitioners, safeguarding professionals and medical clinicians, alongside a dedicated 24-hour SARSAS team providing specialist support for those affected by sexual violence, harassment or domestic abuse, whether related to an incident at the festival or an experience from elsewhere in their lives.
Boardmasters also operates a robust safeguarding framework designed to support attendees of all ages, including a dedicated safeguarding team made up of trained safeguarding officers who can be accessed through any festival service on site. These teams work closely together to ensure concerns are taken seriously, responded to appropriately and escalated quickly when required.
Support extends beyond the festival itself. Throughout the year, Boardmasters proactively engages with young people through school tours and educational initiatives, while also providing information and guidance for parents and guardians through industry-leading webinars, helping attendees arrive informed, prepared and aware of the support available to them.
Importantly, these services are not solely there to respond if something goes wrong. They form part of a wider approach centred on prevention, education, welfare and support, helping attendees feel informed, reassured and confident throughout their festival experience.
Rob Spring, Festival Director at Boardmasters, said: “Many of the services we are highlighting today have been part of Boardmasters for years, but not everyone may be aware of the breadth of specialist support available across the festival. Our approach is guided by a simple principle – providing the standard of care that we would want available for ourselves, our friends and our families. While we cannot single-handedly solve the societal challenges that exist beyond the festival gates, we can ensure that the right people, expertise and support are in place should anyone need them. No issue is too big or too small, and we will continue to prioritise and invest in creating an environment where people feel supported, respected and confident that help is available whenever they may need it, without fear or judgement.”
By raising awareness of the services available, Boardmasters hopes to ensure that attendees feel comfortable seeking help if they need it and confident that support is always close at hand. The festival also aims to give parents and guardians greater reassurance and confidence in the extensive welfare, safeguarding, medical and specialist support services available on site.
