A FAMILY friendly festival has announced it is taking part in a national campaign helping fund festival tickets for young people who missed out on the experience due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Deva Fest - taking place between August 11 and 13 at Cholmondeley Castle this year – is getting involved with The Association of Independent Festivals’ (AIF) latest pioneering initiative, ‘First Festival Campaign’.

The idea of the campaign is to help fund attendance to festivals across the UK for hundreds of thousands of young people, aged 18 and above, who may have missed out on the experience due to festival cancellations during the pandemic.

The ‘First Festival Campaign’ has come to fruition in response to the Covid-19 related conditions and restrictions presented during lockdowns between March 2020 to December 2021.

Larger events were cancelled, in line with Government rules, meaning many people had to delay their ‘first festival experience’.

With the expectation that young people generally attend their first festival when turning 18, the initiative supports those who may have missed the opportunity, plus those feeling the effects of the current cost-of-living crisis.

The ‘First Festival Campaign’ is open to anyone who was/is 18 years old between September 1, 201,9 and August 31, 2023.

Those interested in attending one of the AIF’s member festivals can sign up here through the First Festival’s website to register their place.

For any who wants to support the campaign, whether it’s on an individual basis or through their organisation, donations are accepted through Crowdfunder.

As well as Deva Fest, there are a number of other festivals that have signed up to the initiative, including fellow Cheshire festival bluedot.

Phil Marston, CEO and founder of Deva Fest, said: “We’re delighted to be a member of the AIF and be able to support their latest fundraising cause for ‘First Festivals Campaign’.

“With the cost-of-living crisis and Covid lockdowns, many people have missed their rite of passage to attend a festival when they turn 18.

“We understand how difficult the last few years have been and we’re doing everything we can to keep our festival affordable and inclusive.

“We have recently made the decision to freeze our ticket prices so they remain at the cheapest we can physically offer.

“It’s all about creating a space that is fun and accessible to all, and we believe all young people should be able to enjoy their first festival experience without any worries so we’re proud to be involved in such an amazing campaign!”

As and when funding targets are met, tickets will be released to eligible 18-year-olds who have signed up to the online waiting list.

All those who have registered their interest will have chosen their preferred festival, and when a ticket is available will be requested to pay £18 for their ticket as part of the process.