The importance of being valued: Solo ‘grey nomads’ as volunteers at the National Folk Festival

AbstractThe national Folk Festival (NFF) is a premier annual tourist event in Canberra, Australia. The NFF management team of six paid and six volunteer workers relies on over 1400 volunteers to provide the services required at the NFF. Many of these are regular volunteers who combine volunteering at the NFF with a vacation. Using an interpretive research perspective and a process of narrative inquiry, this study explores the motivational factors of a group of solo female ‘grey nomads’ who are regular volunteers at the NFF and also members of the solo grey nomads group. Data was obtained from loosely structured in‐depth interviews, overt personal observation during two NFF festivals, and content analysis of the Solo Grey Nomads online forum. The data indicated that there are a number of key themes related to motivational factors among this group of volunteers that apply both to their membership of the solo grey nomads group and to volunteering at the NFF. These were the social benefits provided by the camaraderie and security in being part of a larger, supportive group; the self‐esteem provided by being a valued participant in activities of the group; ‘insider enjoyment'; and pride in achievement.