This year’s Saltaire Festival might still be some months away but the volunteers who make it happen have been hard at work behind the scenes since the start of 2010.

The programme is taking shape for this year’s festival, which runs between September 9 and 19 and will offer many new attractions alongside returning popular favourites.

The community ball is back with a new theme after 2009’s sell-out success, with more music and entertainment on offer on the Piazza Stage, while arts lovers are sure to enjoy the makers’ fair and open houses, which promise some new surprises this year.

Bringing together the community is one of the festival’s key aims and this year a spectacular schools’ event will celebrate the completion of the restoration of Roberts Park. It will play host to a wide range of attractions throughout the festival.

The theme of the 2010 festival is AireBorne, celebrating inspiring artists, writers and musicians with connections to the Aire Valley.

Many of the thousands of visitors who flock to the Unesco World Heritage Site each September for ten days of attractions in the picturesque village setting will be unaware that the festival remains a true community event, organised and run by volunteers.

“Of course we are hugely grateful for support from Bradford Council, the Salt Foundation, Salts Mill and our commercial sponsors, especially Pace,” said festival committee chairman Ros Garside.

“However, we could not make the festival happen without the help and backing of volunteers from the local community, who contribute in ways large and small to the running of an event which now attracts in excess of 40,000 people to the finale weekend.

“We love welcoming visitors to share our beautiful village and are always keen to hear from new volunteers who want to help us to make the festival even better.”

Last month festival directors Ros Garside, Carole Moss and Maggie Smith were honoured as Shipley Area Community Heroes. The team was nominated by festival volunteer Susan Hinchcliffe, who said: “It always amazes me that so much is created with so little.”

Anyone wanting to get involved with this year’s festival, as a volunteer, performer or supporter, can contact info @saltairefestival.co.uk. Use the same address to sign up for regular newsletters with festival updates.

The festival website – saltairefestival.co.uk – is about to relaunch.