Each venue has a team of leaders that spend months leading up to ROOTS hard at work preparing for the almost 5000 people that will be in Southport for the May bank holiday weekend. Leading the Big Top venue this year will be Jani Rubery, Bev Thomas (pictured left) and Gary Bishop (pictured right).

Jani has been a key leader of ROOTS since it began in 1994. She is a soldier at Guildford Corps and is passionate about inspiring people to mission wherever they are, regardless of vocation, age or location.

Bev joined the ROOTS team last year, and has been an outstanding addition to the Big Top venue. As a leader and trainer in social justice and 'race' issues, she brings depth of character and an understanding of diversity in our ever-changing world.

Gary Bishop is the pastor for a church plant of the Salvation Army in Openshaw, Manchester. This 'Eden' project has been a catalyst for building relationships and teaching Jesus in one of the poorest sections of this urban area.

Worship in the Big Top will be led by Geraldine Latty and her band. Geraldine has been in the leading worship for large national and international events for many years and has released two albums, Devoted and Make Me a Channel of Your Peace.