It is incredible how people of all ages from the village get involved and do whatever they can to help,” says Steph Forman, Director of the Dorchester Festival.

The festival, which takes place in Dorchester-on-Thames, has raised almost £50,000 for local charities and Dorchester Abbey since it was started by volunteers in 2005.

This year from April 20 to May 12, around 200 people will volunteer their time to make the festival a success, raising money and the profile of the Abbey and the 2013 Dorchester Festival charity SpecialEffect.

There will be 50 events to enjoy and volunteers will be doing everything from making around 1,200 cakes to selling tickets.

SpecialEffect is a local charity that uses technology to transform the lives of disabled people by loaning and supporting gaze-controlled computers for people who have been paralysed, adapting and developing games technology so that disabled children can do their physiotherapy, and working with hospitals, hospices and special schools to find the right technology for those young people who need it most, when they need it most, through roadshows.

Dorchester Festival aims to encourage audiences of all ages to be entertained within the stunning historic Abbey building and the cloister gardens which surround it. Music lovers will enjoy Armonico Consort’s critically acclaimed production of Too Hot To Handel; an amazing production of Oliver! with full orchestra and professional lighting, Come and Sing with Brian Kay, or a big band evening with the BBC Elstree Concert Band. Families can have tea with Peppa and Buzz, enjoy an afternoon of science shows and workshops, Arsenal football coaching, and a Comic Art masterclass with the brilliant KevF.

The festival also includes a 5k Fun Run, a great comedy night and a mouthwatering Food Fair with cookery demonstrations including Jamie’s Italian and Nick Galer (Heston’s Head chef), and a whole day of busking in the Abbey.

But it’s the audience that makes the festival a success. Dorchester welcomes people of all ages to come along with friends and raise money for a couple of really worthwhile local charities at the same time.

Go to www.dorchesterfestival.com for a full day-by-day list of events and times or to buy tickets, or phone 0844 8700 887. Follow the Festival on twitter @dorfestival or facebook.