Volunteering 2025

[maelzoid]

Re: Love the Farm. I got the offer from a personal contact, so it’s not an open application or anything. I was initially told that it was full up, but then a last minute place cropped up, by which time I had got my Springsteen trip all booked up. They are a fairly small crew and involved in raising awareness about not pissing on the land.

[MrZigster]

Is it me, or are Avalon the ONLY volunteer organisation that don't get to bring their cars (except for a few (who have to car share))?

 

Anyone else not allowed?

[NotSinisterJustShy]

On 12/05/2025 at 12:58, Sophie89 said:

Thanks for the encouragement! I was fortunate enough to secure work in 2019 the Monday before the festival started (not with Oxfam, but still) so I'm not giving up hope just yet!

In 2019 I got a spot with Oxfam one week before the festival, and in 2023, 3 weeks before (I narrowly missed out last year again about a week before), so don’t give up, be prepared good luck everyone, 🫡

[Steve Holt]

14 hours ago, Jay Pee said:

It will be purple to start with mate but when punters have headed home Monday and Tuesday you can sometimes move your car to the parking field literally the other side of the lane from Tom's Field and Brimley.

 

It's a real bonus for loading the car when heading home. 

 

I'm also doing ten day's on site this year but arriving the Friday before 

Moving the car closer would be a nice way to end, especially after 4 days hard graft. 

 

Very much looking forward to seeing a different side of the festival.

[dunbar_beans]

Hi there 🙂 does anyone have any idea where Mycause are camping yet? I am with Oxfam but my boyfriend and mum got a position with Mycause so I'm hoping we might be near each other 🤞

[sloan97]

Didn't make it onto the Refresh West team again this year 😣

 

 

[Leyrulion]

2 hours ago, dunbar_beans said:

Hi there 🙂 does anyone have any idea where Mycause are camping yet? I am with Oxfam but my boyfriend and mum got a position with Mycause so I'm hoping we might be near each other 🤞

 

No but once gates are open you could, but you're not supposed to, move to general camping if you're miles away and would prefer to be together.

[stuie]

28 minutes ago, Leyrulion said:

 

No but once gates are open you could, but you're not supposed to, move to general camping if you're miles away and would prefer to be together.

 

Leaving Oxfield on Wednesday morning carrying a tent is a big red flag! 🙂 

[kerplunk]

44 minutes ago, stuie said:

 

Leaving Oxfield on Wednesday morning carrying a tent is a big red flag! 🙂 

 

I did it last year albeit carrying someone else's tent I was putting up for them on big ground - nobody bothered me

[Leyrulion]

3 hours ago, stuie said:

 

Leaving Oxfield on Wednesday morning carrying a tent is a big red flag! 🙂 

It's a red flag but there's not much they can do when you tell them you're taking your friends tent into the festival like  @kerplunk (legitimately!).

 

 

[glastoandy84]

On 13/05/2025 at 16:09, Johnnyseven said:

 

Are you using the mobile app or the desktop app? From memory the mobile app doesn't work very well so use the desktop app and you can open the web page and log in to you account when setting up the alert.  

Thank you - given that a try, desktop app works well. Keeping fingers crossed but with no official or unofficial resales/drops of places (when this normally would have happened by now) I think chances are diminishing…

[Johnnyseven]

1 hour ago, glastoandy84 said:

Thank you - given that a try, desktop app works well. Keeping fingers crossed but with no official or unofficial resales/drops of places (when this normally would have happened by now) I think chances are diminishing…

 

I'm trying too so hopefully some come up. I've got a spot a couple of weeks before in the past so I have hope. Good luck.

[Wellieboot]

Supper excited to have been offered a position on the recycling crew for the first time! Does anyone know if all shifts meet/ start near Toms field or at litter pick up area?  Will be on blue naughty corner team (Trying to think of ways to maximise sleep where possible haha)

[Sophie89]

13 hours ago, glastoandy84 said:

Thank you - given that a try, desktop app works well. Keeping fingers crossed but with no official or unofficial resales/drops of places (when this normally would have happened by now) I think chances are diminishing…

Yes I'm a bit disheartened by the fact that there's been no drops of places yet, especially as normally they'd have been an official release of places from all those that cancelled after the resale/before Oxfam's cancellation deadline. I wonder why this year is different? Less dropouts than normal? A change in the number of places they need (as was the case with MyCause)? Being oversubscribed so dropouts are already covered by the excess? I guess we'll never know, but it's not looking very promising...

[Talcroft]

On 13/05/2025 at 23:45, MrZigster said:

Is it me, or are Avalon the ONLY volunteer organisation that don't get to bring their cars (except for a few (who have to car share))?

 

Anyone else not allowed?

I've said it before and I'll say it again, we're the poor relations. Not allowed to arrive till Tues, no routine parking, currently still don't even know where we'll be camped this year (I'm hopeful this has been decided by now behind the scenes and they'll communicate it to us in the training, but things are seriously late this year even by Avalon standards). I'm giddy. 

[incident]

6 minutes ago, Sophie89 said:

Yes I'm a bit disheartened by the fact that there's been no drops of places yet, especially as normally they'd have been an official release of places from all those that cancelled after the resale/before Oxfam's cancellation deadline. I wonder why this year is different? Less dropouts than normal? A change in the number of places they need (as was the case with MyCause)? Being oversubscribed so dropouts are already covered by the excess? I guess we'll never know, but it's not looking very promising...

 

I would say - if you go back to look at last years thread there was plenty of despair as the festival drew closer, with people thinking it was getting too late and too quiet, and the chance had gone for the year. Until suddenly very late on places dropped and the ones who'd hung on mostly got sorted.

 

My view would be that while it would definitely be frustrating a late and unannounced release is probably a better outcome for the ones keeping the faith than them posting it all over social media and attracting more interest (competition).

[This_Fields_Good]

10 hours ago, Wellieboot said:

Supper excited to have been offered a position on the recycling crew for the first time! Does anyone know if all shifts meet/ start near Toms field or at litter pick up area?  Will be on blue naughty corner team (Trying to think of ways to maximise sleep where possible haha)

Recycling Crew shifts start at the Team pick location, so in your case in the SEC.
There is a blackboard by the cabin ("Office") in Tom's Field with a map that clarifies exactly where the meet-up points are for each team.

[This_Fields_Good]

40 minutes ago, Sophie89 said:

Yes I'm a bit disheartened by the fact that there's been no drops of places yet, especially as normally they'd have been an official release of places from all those that cancelled after the resale/before Oxfam's cancellation deadline. I wonder why this year is different? Less dropouts than normal? A change in the number of places they need (as was the case with MyCause)? Being oversubscribed so dropouts are already covered by the excess? I guess we'll never know, but it's not looking very promising...

Last year the one-and-only unannounced drop was about five days before the festival.
I managed to hook a place for someone, but it was so late on that they could not accept the place, having made other plans by then...
Madness, I know !! 😉

[Doug85]

I'm usually on the early morning Pyramid litter picking shift but i'm taking one for the team this year (for childcare) and moving to the green afternoon teams around the site. Bit worried i'll miss most of the music during the days but it is what it is i suppose. The morning shifts used to get done around 11am, do the afternoon teams get as much leniency does anyone know? Hoping to get back and make the most of the rest of my evenings. 

[broken monkey]

After the MyCause spot I had originally being cancelled, I’ve now been very fortunate to have a place confirmed last night on the Recycling Crew via a personal recommendation.

 

As I'm on the post festival cleanup team, I wont be arriving until Wednesday AM earliest. It also sadly means I’ll be attending without my better half this year (and abandoning the family for 10 days 😬).

 

Being able to contribute to the festival cleanup is oddly a dream of mine as I’m pretty passionate about recycling. I’m also extremely excited to see the festival from a whole new perspective.

 

Any tips or advice for a first time RC volunteer are very welcome. 🙂

[Lucy92]

3 hours ago, broken monkey said:

After the MyCause spot I had originally being cancelled, I’ve now been very fortunate to have a place confirmed last night on the Recycling Crew via a personal recommendation.

 

As I'm on the post festival cleanup team, I wont be arriving until Wednesday AM earliest. It also sadly means I’ll be attending without my better half this year (and abandoning the family for 10 days 😬).

 

Being able to contribute to the festival cleanup is oddly a dream of mine as I’m pretty passionate about recycling. I’m also extremely excited to see the festival from a whole new perspective.

 

Any tips or advice for a first time RC volunteer are very welcome. 🙂

Amazing news! Congratulations 🙂 

[dondo]

15 hours ago, Wellieboot said:

Supper excited to have been offered a position on the recycling crew for the first time! Does anyone know if all shifts meet/ start near Toms field or at litter pick up area?  Will be on blue naughty corner team (Trying to think of ways to maximise sleep where possible haha)

I think over the years it has varied. When I did morning litter pick we met at the cabin/office at Tom's Field and then walked down. But I've also heard in subsequent years it has been meet at pick site which looks like is the case from what @This_Fields_Good has said above.

 

 

Edited May 15, 2025 by dondo
Hadn't read other posts

[dondo]

3 hours ago, broken monkey said:

After the MyCause spot I had originally being cancelled, I’ve now been very fortunate to have a place confirmed last night on the Recycling Crew via a personal recommendation.

 

As I'm on the post festival cleanup team, I wont be arriving until Wednesday AM earliest. It also sadly means I’ll be attending without my better half this year (and abandoning the family for 10 days 😬).

 

Being able to contribute to the festival cleanup is oddly a dream of mine as I’m pretty passionate about recycling. I’m also extremely excited to see the festival from a whole new perspective.

 

Any tips or advice for a first time RC volunteer are very welcome. 🙂

Excellent news. 

 

This year will be my 10th on recycling crew but I've never done after festival 

 

Tips wise I'd say make sure you've comfy footwear as you will be walking miles. Also think about food as after the festival it will only be recycling crew catering available so maybe bring extra snacks or Pot Noodles etc. that you just add hot water to if you don't want to bring your own stove. 

 

Also if you haven't already invest in a good comfy sleeping mattress/ air bed as you are away a good few nights. 

 

If you have any other questions feel free to drop us a message. 

[MrZigster]

 

7 hours ago, Talcroft said:

I've said it before and I'll say it again, we're the poor relations. Not allowed to arrive till Tues, no routine parking, currently still don't even know where we'll be camped this year (I'm hopeful this has been decided by now behind the scenes and they'll communicate it to us in the training, but things are seriously late this year even by Avalon standards). I'm giddy. 

 

Yes. And miss the crew bar crawl on the Monday.

 

Their communication (or lack thereof) has been appalling this year (I've mentioned not receiving any replies to pertinant emails, until immediately after I queried why in this thread. I think they may have got the hump with me for that).

 

I'm guessing the lack of replies I received to my parking query in here confirms the theory that they are the only ones operating this policy then? It is surely demonstrably not "sustainably green" for anybody living closer to the festival than they do to Bristol. Greenwashing at its most obvious. 

 

Edit: When are the training dates?

Edited May 15, 2025 by MrZigster

[Johnnyseven]

I've been back on Distill since Tuesday and seen a bit of movement with some of the other festivals coming and going from being available. Seems Oxfam stewards can't make their mind up, so it seems odd that nobody would have given up a Glasto place this year - so I figure some must be coming up at some point, just hope it's not on a day when i'm not working at home.