Volunteering

[fewcloudy]

Yes.

In 2016 Festaff and Oxfam were in 2 different fields right next to one another. They shared the showers and toilets, but entered the area from different directions. From the Oxfam field there was a check of ID to and from the toilets and showers. I don't know if there was the same at the Festaff side.

And the showers were available for a couple of hours in the morning and the same in the evening, IIRC.

fc

Edited October 9, 2016 by fewcloudy

[Woz101]

I worked for Oxfam last year and it was brilliant. The night shift is a bit of a killer, but you do everything with the same group and make friends. To be honest I barely slept - did a full day at the festival, then the night shift, then the following day at the festival  

It's fantastic and I'd definitely do it again - I was lucky enough to get a ticket this year though. It's a shame that Oxfam can't advertise before the main ticket sale...I didn't want to risk missing the tickets in the sale in case I also missed Oxfam. 
I'm planning on doing other festivals with them as they have trouble filling them generally.

As for the camp site - you'd be INSANE to not use it. The facilities are excellent (this year it even had a lovely pool and duck pond right in front of my tent  )
Seriously though - the food is epic...I even instagrammed it -  you get a free meal per shift plus it's really well priced for any extra meals you want. The showers are good (be warned, this year there were male and female but were basically an open shower room for each sex with little privacy). The toilets are excellent and cleaned regularly. 
The staff are naturally brilliant, as you're one of them
 

Also, the site is *spotless* when everyone has gone. It really makes you proud to be part of it.

In addition - it actually makes a lot of money for them - everyone wins. You get in free, Oxfam make money and Glastonbury get excellent stewards.
For Oxfam, you need to attend a training course well before the festival - I came away from it feeling inspired.

Basically, do it

[Woz101]

Oh oh oh! You also get in before everyone else! I walked 18 miles on the first day I got there - explored the whole place with no public there. Epic

[glasto-worker]

9 hours ago, M!!! said:

Thanks, thats really useful - I'll get myself on some mailing lists

I started volunteering at Latitude 8 years ago and have gradually worked my way up so I'm now employed directly by Production there and run a team of 14-16 so have experience which could hopefully count towards something...

 

Then bang out a few e-mails and list that at the top as they may wish to contact you direct - I know Melvin { as he used to be with the WBC before Vince hired him } and I ended up working direct for the Mean Fiddler at The Phoenix in the 90's - Now this may sound a Nuts idea but there is a good reason why I am pointing it out - last year on this site a person posted looking for Volunteers although they were really after was Team Leaders - it was to inspect the work of the toilet Cleaners - which sound a really shitty job but ' the Team Leaders were not doing any cleaning themselves ' and shifts were ' in the daytime only '  shifts were 6/8 hours - it was in April/May 2015 that they posted { have no clue why they waited that long to look for people } - sure its not a fancy title as working for Production but what the hell as there is many people who would like a day time shift.

 

Have tried a search but cant find it as I cant recall who was doing the looking. The only real difference between Latitude and Glastonbury is unlike Latitude at Glastonbury there is crew Camps spread all over the place - don't be put off about claims that a specific Crew camp ' is outside the wall ' as its only feet outside the wall - some people think they will be camped Miles away - when I first started in 1989 my crew camp was outside the old fence { the same area that Shelter/Avalon now use } and over the years that crew camp has moved all over the place - sometimes inside and sometimes outside - it really does not matter. if you keep on the ball then it should not be a problem - just spell out the crucial details and see what response you get.Its important to mention when you will be free because there is some jobs that start and end before the public are even let in - the more flexible you are the better.

 

There is some jobs that are never advertised as they prefer to use people they have used before which makes sense to me - I am a Organiser and Team Leader and have ran a Team of 25 Volunteers but it was my decision who got places so I made certain they were clued up and they were all used to working together - trying to run a team of 25 strangers would be a right Nightmare.

[arcade fireman]

I'm a doctor by day but the last thing I'd want to be doing at Glasto is my day job (so not particularly keen on applying to do FMS). Should be able to convince Oxfam my first aid skills could come in handy though 

[Woz101]

38 minutes ago, arcade fireman said:

I'm a doctor by day but the last thing I'd want to be doing at Glasto is my day job (so not particularly keen on applying to do FMS). Should be able to convince Oxfam my first aid skills could come in handy though 

Pretty sure they would explicitly tell you that if you used them it would be entirely your decision and at your own risk. Insurance issues you see...I think it was mentioned during the course. 

You'd be best to check in advance. 

[mungo57]

I applied yesterday for pre-information from Oxfam, Shelter and Festaff for next years festival. Has anyone here ever volunteered for Shelter and can vouch for what they are like? 

Also, was just wondering if I end up going on my own to volunteer, would that be seen as a bad thing? Are they more or less likely to take groups for example? My girlfriend doesn't want to go this time as we missed out yesterday and as a result likely won't be able to use campervan so it seems unless I can talk her round in time for the resales then I will be in on my own.

Also again - if I end up with a volunteer place then get a ticket in the resale and drop out of volunteering (I can see myself taking a place then the GF last min deciding she wants to come) do I lose my deposit or would I not have paid it by then? 

[fewcloudy]

8 minutes ago, mungo57 said:

Also, was just wondering if I end up going on my own to volunteer, would that be seen as a bad thing? Are they more or less likely to take groups for example? My girlfriend doesn't want to go this time as we missed out yesterday and as a result likely won't be able to use campervan so it seems unless I can talk her round in time for the resales then I will be in on my own.

Also again - if I end up with a volunteer place then get a ticket in the resale and drop out of volunteering (I can see myself taking a place then the GF last min deciding she wants to come) do I lose my deposit or would I not have paid it by then? 

No going on your own to volunteer would not be seen as a bad thing. It will not affect being accepted.

Signing up with Oxfam to steward does not cost you a deposit. It is only once you sign up for a specific festival that they take a deposit.

If you sign up for Glastonbury the deposit will be £238 and will be taken as soon as you get that place. If you then drop out you will not get the deposit back.

Last year the deposit came out of my bank on 2nd March and it was returned to my bank on 29th July.

I don't know when the resale takes place as I don't buy tickets for festivals.

fc

[mungo57]

Just now, fewcloudy said:

No going on your own to volunteer would not be seen as a bad thing. It will not affect being accepted.

Signing up with Oxfam to steward does not cost you a deposit. It is only once you sign up for a specific festival that they take a deposit.

If you sign up for Glastonbury the deposit will be £238 and will be taken as soon as you get that place. If you then drop out you will not get the deposit back.

Last year the deposit came out of my bank on 2nd March and it was returned to my bank on 29th July.

I don't know when the resale takes place as I don't buy tickets for festivals.

fc

Thanks for the info about Oxfam. I will register and see where that takes me - by the beginning of March I hope to have things sorted anyhow with regards to my lot and the resale.

The resales are a few weeks after the balance deadline - have got tickets through them before. Hopefully we will all just stick together and try for resale tickets. Not up for paying for a deposit, losing it through dropping out and then having to pay again for a normal ticket! Worst case I will work and pay a deposit and the others can pay and camp with the general populus. If I have to I can move from the workers field and to them after they've arrived.

Good info mate, thanks a million.

[fewcloudy]

2 hours ago, arcade fireman said:

I'm a doctor by day but the last thing I'd want to be doing at Glasto is my day job (so not particularly keen on applying to do FMS). Should be able to convince Oxfam my first aid skills could come in handy though 

There are numerous doctors and nurses, and all types of jobs represented by Oxfam stewards. Definitely no chance that because you are a doctor you would be doing medical related work. Oxfam shifts are almost all wristbanding, checking wristbands/accreditation depending on when and where you are working. Eyes and ears of the festival, friendly face, helping the public with directions and general enquiries, that sort of thing.

fc

Edited October 10, 2016 by fewcloudy
spelling

[Rose-Colored Boy]

Oxfam is brilliant, the only issue is that you can't request certain shifts and don't know what you're going to be given until you get there. They have a system whereby you can swap with someone else if they want to swap with you, but if you really really really want to see specific acts - particularly those that clash with the shift changover times (from memory, 13:45-14:00 and 21:45-22:00) - you're risking being disappointed.

[arcade fireman]

1 hour ago, fewcloudy said:

There are numerous doctors and nurses, and all types of jobs represented by Oxfam stewards. Definitely no chance that because you are a doctor you would be doing medical related work. Oxfam shifts are almost all wristbanding, checking wristbands/accreditation depending on when and where you are working. Eyes and ears of the festival, friendly face, helping the public with directions and general enquiries, that sort of thing.

fc

Sounds good! I've been to the festival enough times to be more of an expert on it than a fair few medical specialities anyway! 

[mungo57]

2 minutes ago, Zac Quinn said:

Oxfam is brilliant, the only issue is that you can't request certain shifts and don't know what you're going to be given until you get there. They have a system whereby you can swap with someone else if they want to swap with you, but if you really really really want to see specific acts - particularly those that clash with the shift changover times (from memory, 13:45-14:00 and 21:45-22:00) - you're risking being disappointed.

thats good to bare in mind.

I've looked at their site and it seems they also allow for early shifts at the bigger festivals - you can volunteer to get a days work done early ie: the Monday or the Tuesday if needs be.

I will be going for Oxfam and Festaff for definite, maybe Shelter too. There will always be at least one person who wants to switch shifts I am sure. Shame they don't give them out in advance but atthe same time at least you can still do part of the festival no matter when your shifts are.

[Earthwindandfire2205]

3 hours ago, arcade fireman said:

I'm a doctor by day but the last thing I'd want to be doing at Glasto is my day job (so not particularly keen on applying to do FMS). Should be able to convince Oxfam my first aid skills could come in handy though 

I've worked for FMS for the last 7 Glastonburys and 4 Reading festivals. They are great to volunteer for, we have a quiet secure field with own showers and toilets, own bar and canteen and the number of shifts you do mean you get to see so much of the festival.

i would not volunteer for anyone else at the festival.

Edited October 10, 2016 by Earthwindandfire2205

[Rose-Colored Boy]

16 minutes ago, mungo57 said:

thats good to bare in mind.

I've looked at their site and it seems they also allow for early shifts at the bigger festivals - you can volunteer to get a days work done early ie: the Monday or the Tuesday if needs be.

You can put your name forward but usually those places tend to be given to long-standing volunteers - not because they have any sense of cronyism, they definitely don't, but they can't afford to risk picking a newbie for those earlier shifts because they don't know whether someone is reliable until they've gone with Oxfam before, and there isn't anyone to cover someone who doesn't turn up. It's also awkward for people arriving at the festival via public transport to do those shifts because they don't tell you whether you've been given those shifts far enough in advance to book said transport.

16 minutes ago, mungo57 said:

There will always be at least one person who wants to switch shifts I am sure.

In theory, yeah, but there's no guarantee. Depends on what shifts you're given. At Latitude 2015, for example, I was given 14:45-23:00 on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, so obviously nobody wanted to swap with that. But that's rare. Definitely give it a try and if you don't like it then that's a shame but you'll know for next time whereas if you do enjoy it then great you've saved yourself £250 a year As you rightly say, you're still going to Glastonbury, you aren't going to have the most miserable week of your life just because you had to be on Ped Gat A rather than watching Radiohead.

Edited October 10, 2016 by Zac Quinn
wanted to clarify that there's no cronyism involved

[mungo57]

4 minutes ago, Zac Quinn said:

You can put your name forward but usually those places tend to be given to long-standing volunteers. It's also more awkward than necessary for people arriving at the festival via public transport to do those shifts because they don't tell you that you've been given those shifts far enough in advance to book transport in accordance with needing to be on site early.

 

In theory, yeah, but there's no guarantee. Depends on what shifts you're given. At Latitude 2015, for example, I was given 14:45-23:00 on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, so obviously nobody wanted to swap with that. But that's rare. Definitely give it a try and if you don't like it then that's a shame but you'll know for next time whereas if you do enjoy it then great you've saved yourself £250 a year As you rightly say, you're still going to Glastonbury, you aren't going to have the most miserable week of your life just because you had to be on Ped Gat A rather than watching Radiohead.

thats my problem. If I find I am working during Radiohead I will likely be forced to do a runner! lol

Nah, wouldn't do that, but it would suck massive bollocks to have to work during Radiohead!

[glasto-worker]

1 hour ago, mungo57 said:

I applied yesterday for pre-information from Oxfam, Shelter and Festaff for next years festival. Has anyone here ever volunteered for Shelter and can vouch for what they are like? 

Also, was just wondering if I end up going on my own to volunteer, would that be seen as a bad thing? Are they more or less likely to take groups for example? My girlfriend doesn't want to go this time as we missed out yesterday and as a result likely won't be able to use campervan so it seems unless I can talk her round in time for the resales then I will be in on my own.

Also again - if I end up with a volunteer place then get a ticket in the resale and drop out of volunteering (I can see myself taking a place then the GF last min deciding she wants to come) do I lose my deposit or would I not have paid it by then? 

I have not worked for Shelter but I know all about Avalon as they are a split away group from the WBC - { Avalon will be in charge }

 

first thing I would like to say is ' you need to make up your mind now ' as its crazy looking at it as a ' second option '

 

You also would be wise not to think about moving your tent from the Crew Area because if you are spotted you may find yourself barred from ever working again - these Crew areas have Security and they are not daft - if its in the terms and conditions that you must use the crew area then use the crew area - you also risk being kicked out { of the festival site }   - sure some will gamble but others do get caught.if they are overstaffed then it is a possibility - you get kicked out - you can kiss your shelter deposit away and a life time ban even before you have started one shift.

 

Working for Shelter/Avalon is a good deal but they wont stand for anyone breaking the rules - there is very good reasons why they want Volunteers to camp in the crew area.

 

All the Volunteer groups all take deposit at various times so they have various deadlines so its a impossible question to answer without knowing which one you are going for and its common practice now to withhold some of the money as a administration fee - I know the deposit Shelter/Avalon in 2013 was £200 but I am sure its higher now.

 

By the way if they don't know you - they will expect you to go to a training day - miss it and your place will go to someone else.

 

looking at your other posts I am surprised you think ' you can switch shifts ' some may allow this ' others will not '

 

You have to be prepared that shifts will not fit into your plans - its a common problem - if you want to be free to do what you want when you want then forget about becoming a Volunteer.

[dondo]

43 minutes ago, mungo57 said:

thats my problem. If I find I am working during Radiohead I will likely be forced to do a runner! lol

Nah, wouldn't do that, but it would suck massive bollocks to have to work during Radiohead!

Well you could do the litter picking as even their afternoon shifts are finished by 6/7pm.

Before I got the veteran shifts I used to do the 6am starts which yes was early but meant that I would only miss the bands that were on at 11am as was finished at noon

[mungo57]

1 hour ago, glasto-worker said:

I have not worked for Shelter but I know all about Avalon as they are a split away group from the WBC - { Avalon will be in charge }

 

first thing I would like to say is ' you need to make up your mind now ' as its crazy looking at it as a ' second option '

 

You also would be wise not to think about moving your tent from the Crew Area because if you are spotted you may find yourself barred from ever working again - these Crew areas have Security and they are not daft - if its in the terms and conditions that you must use the crew area then use the crew area - you also risk being kicked out { of the festival site }   - sure some will gamble but others do get caught.if they are overstaffed then it is a possibility - you get kicked out - you can kiss your shelter deposit away and a life time ban even before you have started one shift.

 

Working for Shelter/Avalon is a good deal but they wont stand for anyone breaking the rules - there is very good reasons why they want Volunteers to camp in the crew area.

 

All the Volunteer groups all take deposit at various times so they have various deadlines so its a impossible question to answer without knowing which one you are going for and its common practice now to withhold some of the money as a administration fee - I know the deposit Shelter/Avalon in 2013 was £200 but I am sure its higher now.

 

By the way if they don't know you - they will expect you to go to a training day - miss it and your place will go to someone else.

 

looking at your other posts I am surprised you think ' you can switch shifts ' some may allow this ' others will not '

 

You have to be prepared that shifts will not fit into your plans - its a common problem - if you want to be free to do what you want when you want then forget about becoming a Volunteer.

Hi Glasto Worker,

 

1) I only mentioned switching shifts from Oxfam as they specifically mention this on their website, I never said about the other companies. I don't expect this to happen but its nice for the option.

2) I don't expect to be able to do what I want all the time as you put it - I expect to have to work at 'unsociable' times etc but it is nice to be able to switch shifts in the event someone also wants to. Means I won't end up working each evening and missing all the headliners. If Radiohead and Roses both play for example I would like to be able to see one of them so I would attempt to work only 1 of their sets.

3) Thanks for the tidbits about Shelter. 

4) Didn't know that about moving sites, thanks for that. Will bare that in mind.

 

[mungo57]

1 hour ago, Scruffylovemonster said:

Pretty sure @Zoo Music Girl registered to volunteer the other year but then got a resale ticket and didn't lose any money cos they had a waiting list. Not sure who with though. 

I looked at Oxfam's T's and C's - they have a cut off date for dropping out and getting money back, providing there are people on the waiting list. Thanks

[mungo57]

50 minutes ago, dondo said:

Well you could do the litter picking as even their afternoon shifts are finished by 6/7pm.

Before I got the veteran shifts I used to do the 6am starts which yes was early but meant that I would only miss the bands that were on at 11am as was finished at noon

I'll be looking into litter picking too - forgot that you could volunteer for that.

Only thing I won't volunteer for is cleaning the portaloos - as much as I want to go to Glasto I have seen what a state they get in.... I think I would literally rather die!

[danegg]

This is super helpful, thanks to everyone who's contributed on here. 

[incident]

3 hours ago, mungo57 said:

I've looked at their site and it seems they also allow for early shifts at the bigger festivals - you can volunteer to get a days work done early ie: the Monday or the Tuesday if needs be.

I will be going for Oxfam and Festaff for definite, maybe Shelter too. There will always be at least one person who wants to switch shifts I am sure. Shame they don't give them out in advance but atthe same time at least you can still do part of the festival no matter when your shifts are.

A few small notes on Oxfam / early shifts related to this..

At Glastonbury the early shift is seperate to the main shift. Unlike most festivals they cover, it's not possible to do just a single day early, it'd be for all your shifts or none. You can't swap onto the early shift - you either get selected for it or you don't. It's massively oversubscribed so the odds of getting given an early shift are really long - they've said in the past that "nearly everyone" ticks the box to apply for an earlies.

In most cases the shift pattern for this would be to arrive Saturday, work Sunday/Monday/Tuesday (usually the same time window each day). The final "early" shift finishes at 6am on the Wednesday morning at which point they hand over to the regular crew.

Someone posted on here this year that they were given instructions to arrive by Saturday 8am - presumably to help with registering the early arrivals in which case they likely would have worked Saturday, Monday, and Tuesday on the registration desk in the marquee - not a bad gig.

[fewcloudy]

4 minutes ago, incident said:

A few small notes on Oxfam / early shifts related to this..

At Glastonbury the early shift is seperate to the main shift. Unlike most festivals they cover, it's not possible to do just a single day early, it'd be for all your shifts or none. You can't swap onto the early shift - you either get selected for it or you don't. It's massively oversubscribed so the odds of getting given an early shift are really long - they've said in the past that "nearly everyone" ticks the box to apply for an earlies.

In most cases the shift pattern for this would be to arrive Saturday, work Sunday/Monday/Tuesday (usually the same time window each day). The final "early" shift finishes at 6am on the Wednesday morning at which point they hand over to the regular crew.

Someone posted on here this year that they were given instructions to arrive by Saturday 8am - presumably to help with registering the early arrivals in which case they likely would have worked Saturday, Monday, and Tuesday on the registration desk in the marquee - not a bad gig.

Hi incident,

That would be me... My shifts were Saturday, Monday and Tuesday 7.45am - 4.00pm

All were on Gate D, checking letters of accreditation, letting in other staff, traders etc. About an hours walk from Oxfam campsite, had to set off at an ungodly hour to be there for 7.45am and it was too wet and muddy most days to run or walk quick.

It seemed random as to who were doing these 'early' shifts; some old hands but many first timers, and some in between. For some it was there first ever stewarding gig for Oxfam, never mind Glastonbury!

I was glad to get these shifts for sure, and I'm not moaning, but there are pros and cons. The obvious pros are not missing ANY music that you might want to see. And getting the work done before the festival is even open to the public. The cons were; 10 nights in my smallish tent as I had to arrive the day before first shift, so I was a bit stiff and sore after about 5 nights, and the festival hadn't even opened. Not too much to do but sit in my tent or sit in the Oxfam marquee till about Tuesday. That changed once I was able to wander around but there's not a lot to see 5 days before it opens. The fact that it was mostly pissing down with rain and already wet and muddy probably didn't help I guess. Also had to take more annual leave off my work of course.

But as you say, not a bad gig.

fc

[glasto-worker]

1 hour ago, mungo57 said:

Hi Glasto Worker,

1) I only mentioned switching shifts from Oxfam as they specifically mention this on their website, I never said about the other companies. I don't expect this to happen but its nice for the option.

2) I don't expect to be able to do what I want all the time as you put it - I expect to have to work at 'unsociable' times etc but it is nice to be able to switch shifts in the event someone also wants to. Means I won't end up working each evening and missing all the headliners. If Radiohead and Roses both play for example I would like to be able to see one of them so I would attempt to work only 1 of their sets.

3) Thanks for the tidbits about Shelter. 

4) Didn't know that about moving sites, thanks for that. Will bare that in mind.

 

well your words were ' I will be going for Oxfam and Festaff for definite, maybe Shelter too. There will always be at least one person who wants to switch shifts I am sure. '

 

and your other posts stated ' I applied yesterday for pre-information from Oxfam, Shelter and Festaff for next years festival. Has anyone here ever volunteered for Shelter and can vouch for what they are like? '

 

I don't know about Oxfam and Festaff but I do know about Shelter/Avalon - when the page becomes live you will see they mention ' that if friends apply at the same time they will try to keep them together but there is no guarantee of it - nor is there any guarantee what shifts a person gets. All these Shifts would have been sorted out even before the bars have been built { they have software that will allocate all the names when they know them - its all very random }   

 

Now I have knowing some of the directors of Avalon for 28 years and I know how they run things and its a mirror copy of the WBC.

 

They don't have time to mess about with people wanting to swap shifts because there is always a joker who will fail to show up for the swapped shift and its not him/her who gets in trouble but the person who was supposed to be working that shift

 

Shelter are being paid money for all the volunteers work and if there is a problem with a Shelter volunteer then they are fined so it would be a very risky option for them to offer ' shift swapping ' + for every Shelter volunteer who fails to show up { unless the person drops down dead } for any shift ' Shelter are fined '   

  
Avalon know how many staff they need - any shortfall reduces takings

 

They also have to remain flexible as some people will Vanish or fall ill hence why they like everyone to camp together so that if they need to make changes they can speak to people direct.

 

its all in the T&C and anyone wanting to be a volunteer for years has to remain flexible - in my time I have lost count on how many double shifts I have worked and it always comes right at the end of the shift - one second I am pouring out my last pint and just as I am about to walk out some joker from staffing comes up with ' We have a Problem ' { last time it happened I was all set to watch Prince but two Teams Failed to show up and I was stuck so I had to do a double shift on my own }

 

Each bar is independent of each other so some Tent Managers will let ' some people away ' but this tends to go to people they know ' as they have to be certain a person will return when they are expected ' - it all breaks down if people don't do as they promise.

 

I see new volunteers come and go - most just cant believe they have such bad shifts although they are happy to accept the good ones. the more critical the job the more restrictions they have .