Potentially the coolest job in the world – Anna is Oxfam’s Rights in Crisis Tour Coordinator, traveling the world and gathering volunteers for the campaign with Chris, Jonny, Guy, and Will.
Anna travels along with the band – going to every show and working with volunteers from the area. I got to ask her a few questions about her day and the show, volunteering and learn how the volunteers help sign people up and get to see Coldplay!!!!!
Anna, what does your day look like when a show is scheduled?
My day is really busy from start to finish. I arrive at the stadium around 10am and begin the day with a walk-around with the local Venue Coordinator so that I'm familiar with where the volunteers will be campaigning and where the Oxfam stand will be positioned. I then spend my morning setting up the Oxfam table and preparing the campaign gear for the volunteers, from making sure the tablets they collect signatures on are working to packing their campaign bags full of Stand As One wristbands.
My Oxfam volunteers arrive just after lunch time and I deliver a high-energy training where we get to know each other, learn about the campaign and practice ready talking about Stand As One for when the fans arrive. When the doors open to the public we're ready! We spend the next four hours engaging Coldplay fans with the campaign, asking them to sign their name in solidarity with people forced to flee. Everyone who signs gets a Stand As One wristband, and I love seeing people sharing their photos of them using #StandAsOne!
We finish campaigning 15 minutes before Coldplay take to the stage and the volunteers go to watch the show. (WATCHING COLDPLAY) I then pack down the Oxfam stand and during the show I take photos and videos to share live on from @oxfamontour on Snapchat, Twitter and Instagram. Some nights I also throw out the balloons during An Adventure of a Lifetime and fire the confetti cannons during the show - that's so much fun! Finally, when the concert finishes at 11pm I pack up my tour case and take it to the truck ready to be taken to the next stadium, then it's back to the hotel to get some much needed kip!
Do you have any personal goals that you wish to achieve on these tours?
For me, it's really important that the Oxfam volunteers who join us as campaigners have a brilliant time and enjoy their experience talking to fans about Stand As One. If it wasn't for them we wouldn't be able to do this, and it's their generosity in giving up their time to volunteer with us that means that Stand As One is such a big success and has the potential to make such a positive impact globally. So one of my main goals is always making sure that they have the best experience possible!
What is the campaign process like when Coldplay is off-tour or on breaks?
In the breaks in the tour I head back to London and work at the Oxfam office with the Campaigns and Communications teams to improve and build on how we deliver the campaign to fans. I have to say it's strange going back to an office after working in Crew Rooms - offices seem so quiet and tidy!
To join the human chain, learn more, and learn how you can volunteer for Oxfam –
Oxfam On Tour’s Website
Instagram
Twitter
Fans can also take action by downloading Oxfam’s Stand As One - Live At Glastonbury 2016 album, which features Coldplay’s live performance of Birds from Glastonbury festival as the opening track.
