Midnight Walk Volunteer FAQs

There are lots of opportunities to help at the Midnight Walk. We are looking for people to marshal along both routes as well as; registrations, refreshments, bucket collections, water and toilet stops, merchandise sales and lots more!

Timings will very much depend on the role you are given, and all timings will be confirmed at least two weeks prior to the event. Not all roles will be needed from the beginning, or until the end of the evening. To give you an idea:

• Registration opens to participants from 7pm. If your role is at ITFC, you will be needed before this time for your briefing and to prepare. Time to be confirmed.
• Participants start walking both routes at 9.30pm
• Route maps are available here so you can see where you post may fall into the evening
• Official event end is 3am, although this could well be earlier.

All volunteers will be required to register their attendance on the day, before the start of the event. Timings on this will be confirmed shortly. Volunteers may register at either ITFC or St Elizabeth Hospice (Foxhall Road). You will collect your high visibility vest when you register. 

If you are marshalling, you may stand down once the participants have passed your post. Some posts will be passed more than once – this will be communicated to you when your post is confirmed so you know to wait for the second pass. 

This year, we will be starting at Ipswich Town Football Club on Portman Road. Our event village will be within the ITFC ‘Fan Zone’ with a registration tent (for participants), merchandise, entertainment and refreshments.  Participants of both routes will leave together at 9.30pm.

Whilst there won’t be dedicated parking, there are car parks around the town centre which are accessible 24 hours a day. For those close to Portman Road, the following surface car parks are around the stadium:
Portman Road A Car Park                                                               
Portman Road B Car Park                                                               
Portman Road C Car Park                                                               
Portman Road D Car Park                                                               
Princes Street Car Park 

For more information on car parks, please visit Ipswich Borough Council at the following link: https://www.ipswich.gov.uk/carparks 

For those marshalling further along the routes, please park considerately and take care when leaving and returning to your vehicle. Volunteers should avoid walking alone wherever possible, and support each other back to vehicles. ECAT and Raynet (security support teams) are assisting us, and will be available to escort you back to your vehicle if needed. 

Marshals will be positioned at intervals along both the 10 and 5 mile routes. These marshal posts are at key points where participants may need assistance; crossing roads, navigating junctions etc. Your role will be to ensure participants are heading in the correct direction, assisting with any traffic and crossing safely, encouraging and cheering the participants (particularly towards the end!) and acting as a point of contact for any issues, concerns etc. Please bear in mind that much of the routes will be through residential areas. We have notified all residents via post about the event, but ask that you act appropriately as a representative of St Elizabeth Hospice. 

Yes! If you know someone who would also like to volunteer, please do let us know and we can arrange for you to be together. They will need to register as a volunteer so we can assign them a role, but we are more than happy to buddy you up on the night.

Not as a volunteer. Whilst we would love the extra help, all volunteers need to register with us ahead of time and be assigned a role. This is for Health and Safety purposes; so we can account for everyone who is representing us, and have appropriate emergency contact details should they be required. If you think someone would like to come with you, do let us know as soon as possible and we can make contact.  

No. All volunteers will be posted in pairs, or more. If you are coming alone, we will ensure you are partnered with another volunteer, and can give you details of who this might be should you want to know. 

Participants will sign up to walk either a 5 mile or 10 mile route. Route maps are available here

We recommend that you wear comfortable clothes and shoes as you will be outside. The theme this year is Neon so we'd love to see your brightest outfits! 

Please note: you will be required to wear a high visibility vest, which will be provided when you register on the evening. 

Our retail team will be at ITFC on the night selling a variety of neon coloured items should you wish to purchase anything.

Volunteers in marshalling roles will be assigned a designated point on the route. These points are generally key junctions, roads, or navigations on the route where participants may require guidance. We ask that you stay in the area given to you to ensure that these key spots are covered. 

Some volunteers in earlier positions may be given a second spot later in the route. If this is the case, you will be notified when you are given your designated spot. Otherwise we ask that you remain in your position until all participants have passed. 

No. Whilst we appreciate there is a party atmosphere on the evening, volunteers will not be permitted to drink alcohol or smoke whilst representing St Elizabeth Hospice.  

Yes. There are lots of ways in which you can support St Elizabeth Hospice. Please spread the word amongst your colleagues, family, friends and neighbours and get them signed up too! The more that help with promoting this event, the more will sign up and get involved. They may like to volunteer with you, or even take part and walk a route.         

We are also looking for people that might be able to cheer along the route. If you know anyone who lives along the route and may be able to cheer from their house or driveway, or potentially have a feature such as a water stop, we would love to hear from them. 

If you work for a company that might be interested in sponsoring the Midnight Walk we would love to speak to them. There are lots of areas to sponsor. Please do pass this onto anyone you know that might be interested.

If you'd like to know more about the event, other events, or have a question relating to St Elizabeth Hospice and our fundraising, please email midnightwalk@stelizabethhospice.org.uk or call 01473 723600