Festival Republic, organisers of Carling Weekend: Reading and Leeds Festivals, invite our fans to help in overseas community projects alongside Cradle.

Cradle is a Non-Governmental Organisation, working with children and community development programs in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Albania and Thailand. They work without prejudice in areas that have been defined by ethnic hatred, they remain with those who need assistance long after the reporters have moved on to new stories, they listen closely to the communities they work with, to ensure that they provide what is really needed, rather than what is easiest to give.

Festival Republic, the former Mean Fiddler Music Group, have been involved with Cradle virtually since they formed in 1992. Our commitment has become greater and more hands on with new projects being taken on each year. We are eager to find new ways to introduce our audiences to this dynamic gem of a charity and engage them in their work. And so we are offering fans of Carling Weekend: Reading and Leeds Festivals the chance to experience first hand this vital and rewarding work.

Festival goers who attended this years Reading and Leeds festivals have the opportunity to apply to volunteer at one of the projects. Festival Republic will cover travel, accommodation, food and all project related expenses. Most assignments will last for one week at selected projects, including home building and refurbishing projects in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Albania, a school refurbishment project in Thailand which in addition supports children who have lost parents to the tsunami, and a music and arts project in Mostar in Bosnia that aims to help children who have been repressed to express themselves creatively and foster relationships with other children from different ethnic backgrounds.

Applicants must be over 18, energetic and keen to use their skills whilst remaining sensitive to the troubles of the communities and appreciative of their simple living conditions.

For more detail of the projects and to download an application form please visit www.festivalrepublic.com or www.cradle.org.uk

For more information contact jdempsey@festivalrepublic.com