Branch into the community with us!

Live Under The Stars is a week‐long celebration of music and theatre, taking place in the grounds of the iconic Cardiff Castle between the 1 st and 9 th August 2021. The events will support the Society’s charity partner, Shelter Cymru, who are the official charity for the festival.

Like many charities, Shelter Cymru has been hit hard over the past 18 months with so many of their fundraising events and activity having to be cancelled or postponed as a result of the Covid 19 pandemic. Live Under The Stars will provide Shelter Cymru with a much‐needed opportunity to fundraise and increase awareness of their work.

Kerys Sheppard, Head of Fundraising at Shelter Cymru said, “We’re now in our 40th year and yet we’re still not able to say that homelessness in Wales is a thing of the past. These events will be our first since February 2020 and are a critical opportunity for us to generate income so that we can continue to support those in housing need. Home is everything.”

Shelter Cymru defends the right to a safe home, providing advice and support to individuals and families who are either living in bad housing or facing/ experiencing homelessness. Through their campaigning work, the charity continues to fight the devastating impact of the housing emergency. Recent research has revealed that one in three people in Wales have been impacted by the housing emergency, so if it’s not affecting you, it’s affecting someone you know. The charity has never been more needed.

The recent easing of restrictions means that the event can now go ahead with a 500 strong audience able to attend each of the 29 performances. Crowds will be able to appreciate the music and sounds of West End, enjoy some family theatre, and simply have a great day out.

Dawn Gunter, Chief Operating Officer at the Society said, ‘Providing support for others is the reason building societies exist. It is a common sense of mutuality that drives us and, as a Society, we are committed to extending our support to the charitable causes and community programmes that are close to our hearts. By giving our time and support to Shelter Cymru, we are living the Society’s values in our everyday lives which is so important to our members and colleagues.’

Live Under the Stars will adhere to the latest Covid 19 guidance from Welsh Government to ensure the experience is both safe and enjoyable for those attending, performing, working, and volunteering at Live Under the Stars.

Volunteering roles will include stewarding the audience and supporting the Shelter Cymru information stand. Volunteers will be supported by a designated Volunteer Manager who will be on-site each day leading the briefing and assigning roles. Shelter Cymru staff will also be in attendance. To ensure there is adequate time for role allocation and volunteer briefing, all volunteers will need to arrive 2 hours before the first performance.

All volunteers will be given a Shelter Cymru t-shirt to wear for the duration of their shift, have access to water and be provided with a volunteer lanyard (this will need to be returned at the end of the shift).

If you can volunteer at any of the performances, please contact fundraising@sheltercymru.org.uk to register your availability with our friends at Shelter Cymru.

It's showtime! Here are your volunteering opportunities

Alternatively, if you would like to attend the event, there are still some tickets available through ticketmaster.