Twestival to end after five years

17 Feb 2014 News

The Twitter-based global fundraising event Twestival, which has raised $1.84m for 312 charities since 2009, will not continue into 2014.

The Twitter-based global fundraising event Twestival, which has raised $1.84m for 312 charities since 2009, will not continue into 2014.

The social media fundraising initiative has drawn to a close after founders decided it had run its course and it was time to give the Twestival brand a rest due to time commitments. In 2013 a localised approach to the event was tried out.  

Amanda Rose, one of the founders of the event, told civilsociety.co.uk: “I've decided to bring Twestival to a close after five years. It is time as Twitter has evolved as a community and I didn't have the time to put into leading it this year.

“This is why we switched to a model that was flexible and organisers could select their own dates as it's easier to manage. There were a handful of cities (particularly in Africa) that never had a chance to participate, so this year was to accommodate them. ”

She added: “Twestival doesn't just happen with a bit of tweeting, it takes a lot of effort to mobilise.”

Twestival Local, which allowed local organisers to select their own dates, was chosen as a model as it was easier to manage and allowed some cities to participate who had previously not had a chance.

London Twestival, which was raising funds for BeatBullying, was called off in September, citing low ticket sales and a lack of support from the tech community. Ticket-holders were offered a refund and the event was expected to take place this year.  

On Twestival’s website, Rose wrote that the event was a lot of hard work involving thousands of volunteers.

She said: “I am immensely proud of the passion that everyone has poured into Twestival and grateful for their eagerness to share this fun and rewarding dream.”

Rose, who is now focusing on her own projects, asks anyone interested in holding an event like Twestival to give it a different name, but offers encouragement and some resources to help make it happen.

In 2013, UK Twestival events took place in Farnham, Edinburgh, Chester and Manchester.