The search for 3,000 volunteers to take part in the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of Glasgow 2014 was launched last month.

Both Ceremonies will be created and produced by events company Jack Morton Worldwide, who also created the events for Manchester 2002 and Melbourne 2006, as well as working on Athens 2004 Olympic Games and the FIFA 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

Financial support to assist with costs will be made available to successful cast members and will be targeted to assist participation in the events by those facing challenges meeting costs, including independent living support, carer costs, childcare and travel to Glasgow.

The funding will be independently administered by Volunteer Scotland and Voluntary Arts Scotland.

"At Volunteer Scotland we are passionate about the importance of valuing volunteers and the 2014 Commonwealth Games is a fantastic opportunity to do that," said chief executive of Volunteer Scotland George Thomson.

"We are delighted to be supporting the Ceremonies cast along with the Clyde-siders, who will be vital to the success of the Games.

"We want to create a lasting legacy for the 2014 Games through the development of a new generation of volunteering in Scotland."

Part of the fund will also ensure supported cast members can take their once-in-a-lifetime experience back to their communities through a volunteer cast outplacement which will help cast members to use their new skills, according to Glasgow 2014.

The Opening Ceremony of Glasgow 2014 is due to take place at Celtic Park on July 23, while the Closing Ceremony will be staged at Hampden Park on August 3.

"The financial support now available to people who may otherwise have been deterred by costs associated with the rehearsals will give everyone the opportunity to put themselves forward for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be part of the Ceremonies Cast, and an experience which will live with them forever," said chairman of the Glasgow 2014 Ceremonies, Culture and Queen's Baton Relay Committee, Eileen Gallagher.

To become a cast member for the Ceremonies applicants need to be 18-years-old or over by March 1, and the application deadline is February 14.

For more information about how to apply and for an online application form, click here.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


Related Stories
January 2014: Glasgow 2014 marks six months to go by launching search for Ceremonies cast
August 2012: Glasgow 2014 appoint Jack Morton Worldwide to deliver Opening and Closing Ceremonies