Volunteering 2025

[efcfanwirral]

26 minutes ago, Johnnyseven said:

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. 

They definitely kept them all back for releases last year, so I don't think they go back into the pot one by one like the other festivals. At least you know Distill is working!

Edited May 16, 2025 by efcfanwirral

[ukmountie]

21 hours ago, MrZigster said:

 

 

...

 

Edit: When are the training dates?

 

May 20th to 29th, with a 2pm as well as 6:30 on the 29th.

 

It looks like the same deal as last year with car-park passes.

[MrZigster]

4 hours ago, ukmountie said:

 

May 20th to 29th, with a 2pm as well as 6:30 on the 29th.

 

It looks like the same deal as last year with car-park passes.

Thanks.

 

Unfortunately, not the same deal for me as last year with car-park passes.

 

I am shocked and absolutely disgusted with how Avalon have treated my application this year. Received an email a couple of days ago full of inaccuracies, excuses and tenuous reasons as to why they aren't reconsidering me. Tempted to post the whole thing in here along with my response pointing out how much nonsense it is, as I think they need publicly shaming.

 

Why bother to ask the question, “Do you have any access requirements?” in the application process, if they are then going to subsequently ignore said access requirements? I stated I would need to travel by car and why in my initial application and offered to pay for my own parking pass. They accepted my application and took my deposit, then when I emailed to point out that deposit refund deadline day was looming, will I be able to bring my car?, they replied (eventually, see previous posts of mine in here),  "...we don't know about parking passes yet and don't want to muck you about, so here is your deposit back". They hadn't responded to said emails until I posted in here about not getting any replies or acknowledgements, and then ignored further emails until I got GFL involved.

 

Their reasoning for not letting their volunteers bring their cars? "...we are committed to working closely with the festival on supporting sustainability issues.  To that end, it is our preference and very important that all volunteers are able to travel to the festival via the coaches". Oh. But they'll let people car share. Tough if you actually, physically, need to travel by car and have no-one to double up with. I'll say it again. This is not surely not greener, fossil fuel burning wise, for anyone who lives closer to the festival than they do to Bristol.

 

And they've left their judgement too late for me to realistically try volunteering with anyone else. I don't have the ability to sit by a laptop for weeks, on the off chance that a spot with someone pops up for a few brief moments, and am not techy enough to set up page change monitors and the like.

 

Anyone know if I have grounds for breach of contract? I offered them my services, stating from the offset that I would need to bring my car. They accepted my offer and took my deposit, then welched on the deal. The bastards.

 

 

 

 

[StoneCircle]

This is an absolute disgrace @MrZigster I hope someone on eFestivals with a legal background can advise and assist you. 🤞🏻🙏🏻

 

 

[tays9]

I'm honestly not sure what's happened in that specific case, but the festival is really trying to cut down on vehicle use (on the festival site especially, but also encouraging crew/volunteers to think about other ways to arrive)

[MrZigster]

12 hours ago, tays9 said:

I'm honestly not sure what's happened in that specific case, but the festival is really trying to cut down on vehicle use (on the festival site especially, but also encouraging crew/volunteers to think about other ways to arrive)

I've yet to hear of anyone but Avalon not letting their volunteers make their own way there.

 

No idea if this is at GFLs behest or just on them

 

As @Talcroft said, feels like they're the poor relations. Hopefully with the camp move, at least they might be able to get some sleep this year.

 

 

[sloan97]

Has anyone heard anything from Event Bars yet?

[Johnnyseven]

39 minutes ago, sloan97 said:

Has anyone heard anything from Event Bars yet?

 

I've not applied this year but when I applied to them in 2023 I heard nothing back from them at all.

[sloan97]

16 minutes ago, Johnnyseven said:

 

I've not applied this year but when I applied to them in 2023 I heard nothing back from them at all.

Yeah i've heard they don't reply to unsuccessful applicants, just wondering if people have had places confirmed yet🤔

[lemons]

Anyone know how long the Avalon bar training sessions last this week?

[MrZigster]

Anyone know where the new Avalon campsite is?

[croiz]

3 hours ago, MrZigster said:

Anyone know where the new Avalon campsite is?

 

According to the training slides it's here: https://maps.app.goo.gl/euz8eWkf2AQfdhhbA

[Johnnyseven]

5 minutes ago, croiz said:

 

According to the training slides it's here: https://maps.app.goo.gl/euz8eWkf2AQfdhhbA

 

That's next to Oxfam's field.

[MrZigster]

4 hours ago, croiz said:

 

According to the training slides it's here: https://maps.app.goo.gl/euz8eWkf2AQfdhhbA

 

4 hours ago, Johnnyseven said:

 

That's next to Oxfam's field.

Yeah that doesn't really help much. Can someone put an X on a Glasto map or something please. If it's where I think that is it's further from an entry gate than the old one but not far enough away from SEC to avoid the noise.

[oakdown]

19 minutes ago, MrZigster said:

 

Yeah that doesn't really help much. Can someone put an X on a Glasto map or something please. If it's where I think that is it's further from an entry gate than the old one but not far enough away from SEC to avoid the noise.

 

If it's next to the Oxfam field then it's about 10-15 mins outside Ped B - there is some noise at night up there, but it's easily mitigated with earplugs in my opinion.

[StoneCircle]

25 minutes ago, MrZigster said:

 

Yeah that doesn't really help much. Can someone put an X on a Glasto map or something please. If it's where I think that is it's further from an entry gate than the old one but not far enough away from SEC to avoid the noise.

 

See the ringed area near Gate B on a staff map from 2022.....😊

[MrZigster]

2 hours ago, StoneCircle said:

 

See the ringed area near Gate B on a staff map from 2022.....😊

 

Not where I was thinking then. I think Oxfam have at least the two right most fields. Certainly the most right. Camped there with Shelter in 2011 I think. Or it may have been the one next door.

 

2 hours ago, oakdown said:

 

If it's next to the Oxfam field then it's about 10-15 mins outside Ped B - there is some noise at night up there, but it's easily mitigated with earplugs in my opinion.

 

It'll be quieter there than a lot of inside the fence! Be a relief for many I think. A longer trek to get inside and to a lot of the bars maybe. Better for parking though (for the fortunate few). 

 

Anyone know if that changes things coach wise? Used to get dropped off behind Acoustic field iirc for the old gate C site. Will volunteers still have to make their way to yellow gate on the Monday? Or are they still not sure?

[ukmountie]

I did this for a friend. Based on the training info it’s in the highlighted areas to the right with a D. Gate B is circled. I think I prefer last years location, but this isn’t bad.

[MrZigster]

24 minutes ago, ukmountie said:

I did this for a friend. Based on the training info it’s in the highlighted areas to the right with a D. Gate B is circled. I think I prefer last years location, but this isn’t bad.

 

Thanks but I'm still confused I think. Is that the field above Mary's Gate in @StoneCircle s post?

[StoneCircle]

14 minutes ago, MrZigster said:

 

Thanks but I'm still confused I think. Is that the field above Mary's Gate in @StoneCircle s post?

Here's another map, the red arrow is Oxfield....

[Leyrulion]

10 hours ago, MrZigster said:

 

Thanks but I'm still confused I think. Is that the field above Mary's Gate in @StoneCircle s post?

Right based on what everyone is saying it sounds like Avalon is going to be in guppies staff camping this year.

 

You can see that campsite here. It isn't shaded in a light green on the 2025 staff map but it is staff camping.

 

[Johnnyseven]

Does anyone know how easy it is to pick up a taxi from Castle Cary station to the festival site on the Monday/Tuesday the week of the festival? Is there a cab firm based there or one nearby?

[dondo]

19 minutes ago, Johnnyseven said:

Does anyone know how easy it is to pick up a taxi from Castle Cary station to the festival site on the Monday/Tuesday the week of the festival? Is there a cab firm based there or one nearby?

They do run shuttle buses on the Monday and Tuesday albeit on a less frequent service

[Johnnyseven]

1 minute ago, dondo said:

They do run shuttle buses on the Monday and Tuesday albeit on a less frequent service

 

Do you know where the shuttle buses run to at the festival site? From what I read it might not be the side of the festival I would need, hence why I was looking at a taxi option.

[sedra]

15 minutes ago, Johnnyseven said:

 

Do you know where the shuttle buses run to at the festival site? From what I read it might not be the side of the festival I would need, hence why I was looking at a taxi option.

I would assume all shuttle buses go to the bus station. It’s usually why staff/volunteers are asked how they are arriving so they know which gate to get accredited at or picked up at by minibus? Have you checked with the organisation you are volunteering at?