ORGANISERS of the award-winning Festival of Thrift have made a renewed appeal for volunteers as they get set to welcome about 30,000 people.

The two-day thrifty extravaganza will be hosted for the second year at Darlington’s Lingfield Point where its 2013 debut event attracted 27,000 visitors.

The national festival is a celebration of thrift and creativity that is set to take place on Saturday, September 27 and Sunday, September 28.

Co-curated by the owners of Lingfield Point, internationally-renowned fashion designer Wayne Hemingway and his wife, Gerardine (correct), the event has been organised in a bid to encourage sustainable living.

Through a series of workshops and events, visitors can learn how to reuse, recycle and upcycle in a way that saves money and benefits the environment.

The festival organisers are now working with the Darlington Cares organisation to recruit more volunteers to help out in a variety of ways.

Stewarts are wanted to support the events, meet and greet the public and help with any queries while dressers can help to decorate the festival venues and put up signage around the extensive site.

More hands-on volunteers can get involved with technical and general assistance roles, which involve helping to move furniture and equipment as well as rigging and de-rigging before and after the festival.

Artist liaisons are required to help out the festival’s artists while more creative volunteers can assist with craft and skill-based workshops and models, make-up artists and hairstylists can get involved with Oxglam, the Oxfam fashion show.

Festival director Stella Hall said: “We’re looking for an array of people to take part, you could be a thrift lover and want to be part of something special, students who want to build up a CV, or maybe you just love festivals and meeting new people.

“Last year we couldn’t have done the event without our incredible volunteers and we’re relying on the same excellent, welcoming delivery from them again this year to make next weekend an even bigger and better festival.”

Volunteers, who must be over-16, are needed between Thursday, September 25 and Monday, September 29 with sessions split into three sections to allow flexibility and the chance to assist at numerous points across the weekend.

Anyone interested in volunteering should contact Katie Blundell by calling 07917-473992 or emailing k.blundell@tees.ac.uk.

For more information about the festival, visit festivalofthrift.co.uk.