That means we are going to need lots of volunteer stewards to help make the day a well-run, family-friendly event. Good events need about one steward for every 50 people attending, so that tells you how many we will need.
But first it's worth stressing what the job doesn't involve, as we know a wrong impression can put people off volunteering.
Volunteer stewards are not being asked to deal with any trouble-makers the event might attract. Of course we are planning this to be a massive, peaceful and friendly event, but in the unlikely event that a few fringe trouble-makers do cause difficulties, our volunteers are not expected to do anything other than report problems to senior stewards.
So if that's what the job isn't about, what do these two roles involve?
Travel stewards
We are asking every group of people travelling together to the event to nominate at least one person as a travel steward.
The travel steward's role is to make sure that people get to the right place at the start, can brief people on what to expect during the day and know how to get home again. We will make sure that you have any last-minute information you need, and will be able to keep in touch on the day by text.
We know that anyone organising a coach or block booking to the event will already be fulfilling most of this, but we would like to know who you are and make it easier for you to your job.
If you want to register as a travel steward, please do so here:
http://www.tuc.org.uk/economy/tuc-19001-f0.cfm/formbuilder/118/p/1
Travel stewards do not have to help steward the march, but it would make sense to also volunteer to be a route steward as well - as the people travelling with you will already know who you are.
Route stewards
The job of route stewards is straightforward. The main task is simply to keep the march moving. There's a terrible tendency for marches like this to slow down, but we need to keep people moving briskly so that everyone can get into Hyde Park for at least some of the rally.
The next job is to be able to answer questions and deal with issues raised by those attending. We will be providing briefing sessions in advance all round the country, and providing written briefing notes.
Next stewards will be briefed on what to do if any problems arise. Common examples of such issues are a lost child, someone being taken ill or injuring themselves. The answers to most of these will be to contact a senior steward or the march control centre, and full briefings will be given on different contingencies and what to do. As we have said this does not include any intervention if there is any disruption beyond polite requests to keep moving. This would be when you hand over responsibility to senior stewards and the police.
Again we will use text messages to send any urgent information to stewards, and senior stewards will be in radio contact with each other and the march control centre.
So what's needed is common-sense, a mobile phone and a desire to help make this the most effective and efficiently organised demonstration against the cuts that is possible.
If you want to be a route steward sign up here.
http://www.tuc.org.uk/economy/tuc-19001-f0.cfm/formbuilder/118/p/1
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