Pioneering Solutions for Modern Welfare

iTHINK Welfare Solutions provide harm minimisation solutions to some of the largest events in the country.

We work alongside a bank of over 700 volunteers to offer professional services to events and festivals.

iTHINK Welfare Solutions was setup in 2021 by Steven Willshire and Matt Shipperly who between them have been providing enhanced Welfare Services for nearly 30 years.

Volunteer with Us
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We have a combined 40+ years in the substance misuse field and over 25 years experience working at festivals offering enhanced welfare and crisis intervention services to festival attendees.

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The project will also be looking at further tailored health projects for the wider community covering both emotional and physical health within the festival / events setting such as skin cancer and sexual health and wellbeing.

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We partner with other social enterprises and statutory bodies to offer brief interventions and promote informed choices around our clients’ substance use and their health choices.

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We would love to hear from you if you would like to volunteer with us or if you would like to discuss welfare for your event. Please get in touch!

Volunteer

iTHINK Welfare Solutions in action

Working with the top festivals the United Kingdom has to offer,
see our team in action.

Meet our Volunteers
ithink welfare services tent at a festival

The iTHINK Welfare Solutions Team

Steve Willshire of iThink Welfare Solutions

Steve Willshire

Director

Steve is a Harm Reduction Worker with 10 years’ experience in various street drug agencies in Wales. He spent 4 years as a Community Development Worker in Swansea for the local Authority. He has 20 years’ experience coordinating welfare and crisis intervention services at some of the country’s largest festivals and events. Steven also holds an IOSH Managing Safely Diploma.

Matt Shipperly of iThink Welfare Solutions

Matt Shipperly

Director

Matt is passionate about providing quality festival welfare and has done so for over 10 years. Matt has worked in substance misuse for over 20 years in both the NHS and the private sector. Specialising in harm minimisation, he has a keen interest in keeping up to date with the latest trends and current advice. Matt brings his vast amount of knowledge and experience alongside qualifications in Substance Misuse as well as Health and Social Care Management.

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2024 Festivals

This year we are pleased to be supporting a wide range of events ...


Love Saves the Day festival

Love Saves The Day
25-26 May


Glastonbury festival

Glastonbury Festival
25 June - 1 July


WOMAD festival

WOMAD
24-29 July


Boardmasters festival

Boardmasters
6-12 August


Massive Attack on the Downs - Bristol

Massive Attack on the Downs - Bristol
24-25 August


Leeds festival

Leeds Festival
20-26 August


Forwards Bristol festival

Forwards
31 August - 1 September


VOLUNTEERING / COME JOIN THE FAMILY

We are providing welfare services at some of the best festivals around! If you would like to get involved and volunteer with us click below and we will be in touch with you.

Volunteer with Us

What's involved, what to expect?
Don't take our word for it..

"Volunteering in the welfare tent is a staple of my summer every year- I love coming together with this fantastic team of people and being able to make a difference to the lives of people at festivals. It’s such an important service and it’s so well run. Volunteers are really well looked after and supported. We get a great campsite, free meals and lots of other lovely little perks.

I feel really lucky to be a part of this team. The people I have met through this service have become my best mates and at the end of each summer I have a whole load of new friends too! I can’t recommend this highly enough- come and join our big festival family! Come for the free wristband, and stay for the community!!"

Laura

"It’s a privilege to be a iTHINK Welfare volunteer, to offer a helping hand to festival goers in times of need. Sometimes challenging but always rewarding. But there’s always plenty of time to put on your glittery jacket and let your hair down! Making memories in a field with new friends…"

Ellis

"My 1st festival with iTHINK Welfare Solutions as a volunteer at Leeds 2022 was an amazing experience. Festival welfare goes hand in hand with any festival in my personal opinion/experience. Each and every member of the team is a brilliant human being, offering free welfare and substantial support when needed to festival goers. It's given me the push I needed to start training as an adolescent mental health nurse (thanks Helen Caddick Regan) and I am now a youth mentor in my own town. My training will be primary with my future with iTHINK.

I've worked within substance misuse and sexual health along with the homelessness sector for 30 years yet I am deeply dedicated to my volunteer role with iTHINK Welfare Solutions. The services are extremely essential when compared with the yearly statistics that they provide. A safe and friendly environment with lovely people, so much fun and very grounding.

Thanks iTHINK."

Andrea