Volunteering 2025

[Greenelk]

A friend of ours got one last night as well.  Distill tells me that they went up at 23:20 and were gone at 23:23 which is bloody ages given the main drop was gone in second.  I had it checking every 5 seconds!

I wonder if some people that got spaces in the earlier one got caught out by the Oxfam Coach/Bike/Car Share stipulation and ended up putting them back.  Though that would be extremely painful and seem unlikely

[Pipine]

That’s great news!  Congratulations to everyone that nabbed a late space and good luck to those still trying.  

[runningbear]

Do we take this reply about no more cancellations being released with a pinch of salt or do we keep trying. I know some people have had them right up to festival start time. 

 

Yesterday felt like my last opportunity, then again I've been 8 of the last 11 so I've had a good crack at it. Still painful to miss out this year though!

[whoisjarv]

4 minutes ago, runningbear said:

 

It does say as of yesterday afternoon there will be no cancelled places being released - which doesn't seem to cover last night's drop..🤷‍♂️

[runningbear]

Yeah, who knows. Well, looks like it's a month of refreshing the page for me then

[Johnnyseven]

1 hour ago, runningbear said:

Do we take this reply about no more cancellations being released with a pinch of salt or do we keep trying. I know some people have had them right up to festival start time. 

 

Yesterday felt like my last opportunity, then again I've been 8 of the last 11 so I've had a good crack at it. Still painful to miss out this year though!

 

TBH, i've never seen such a definitive answer from Oxfam on FB - usually it's 'keep an eye out on the website, some might get put back up for grabs'. Make of that what you will, but I wouldn't get my hopes up but always worth keeping trying.

Edited June 4, 2025 by Johnnyseven

[Johnnyseven]

1 hour ago, whoisjarv said:

It does say as of yesterday afternoon there will be no cancelled places being released - which doesn't seem to cover last night's drop..🤷‍♂️

 

It's just semantics I think, the cancelled places would have been known yesterday afternoon - just released onto the site last night.

[Pipine]

I wonder how close to the planned number of places they have to get? In 2019 I got my place the Friday before the festival, I did online training over that weekend if I remember rightly and was there on the Tuesday.  I’m guessing someone dropped out in the last week… and they wanted to fill the place. Not sure why it would be any different any other year. 

[Someoni]

Super big smiles reading from all those that snagged a spot then on the sneaky late night drop too!! Perseverance pays!

 

Glad to see so much joy and hopefully we get some more in the next couple of weeks

[glastoandy84]

6 hours ago, runningbear said:

Do we take this reply about no more cancellations being released with a pinch of salt or do we keep trying. I know some people have had them right up to festival start time. 

 

Yesterday felt like my last opportunity, then again I've been 8 of the last 11 so I've had a good crack at it. Still painful to miss out this year though!

Would be strange if they can’t process any new volunteers “in time” given (a) it seems they have done in previous years, sometimes only a few days before; and (b) you can still grab places for Download and IoW which are a few weeks before Glastonbury. 

[Jen out of 10]

Newcomer on this feed but been lurking here for a while. My little sister and cousin are going to Glasto for the first time this year and I'm desperate to go so I can be with them and see it through their eyes as first timers. ❤️

 

I've just applied for Events Bars bar work and My Causes. I tried for the Oxfam slots yesterday but missed out like everyone. 😞  Does anyone know how likely I am to get vol/work through Event Bars/ My Causes at this stage? I'm guessing not high... but not impossible? 🍺🙏

[stuie]

26 minutes ago, Jen out of 10 said:

Newcomer on this feed but been lurking here for a while. My little sister and cousin are going to Glasto for the first time this year and I'm desperate to go so I can be with them and see it through their eyes as first timers. ❤️

 

I've just applied for Events Bars bar work and My Causes. I tried for the Oxfam slots yesterday but missed out like everyone. 😞  Does anyone know how likely I am to get vol/work through Event Bars/ My Causes at this stage? I'm guessing not high... but not impossible? 🍺🙏

mycause had to cancel a load of places so I’m surprised that they are still taking people on their wait list. I don’t know about event bars but best of luck to you 😀

[Johnnyseven]

I applied through Event Bars in 2023, never heard anything back from them.

[dutchbikes]

 

9 hours ago, glastoandy84 said:

Would be strange if they can’t process any new volunteers “in time” given (a) it seems they have done in previous years, sometimes only a few days before; and (b) you can still grab places for Download and IoW which are a few weeks before Glastonbury. 

Can’t seem to see the Oxfam reply on Facebook. Have they deleted it or is it just my phone not showing it?

[TheBoz]

I was trying for a mate and after missing out I emailed and asked if there would be any more last minute places. They confirmed all slots had been filled but interestingly denied there was a release at 11:30pm on Tuesday night which we know isn't the case so make of that what you will!

I'm keeping my Distill running but can't get it to keep running without logging out! 

[balti-pie]

hmmm, thats hella weird, cos they absolutely did release more places at 11.30! 

[TheBoz]

1 minute ago, balti-pie said:

hmmm, thats hella weird, cos they absolutely did release more places at 11.30! 

Only thing I can think is they were meant to be released at 14:30 but an IT error meant they didn't go live until 23:30! But without knowing their system we won't know for sure. Definitely seems like it wasn't planned

[stuie]

1 hour ago, TheBoz said:

I was trying for a mate and after missing out I emailed and asked if there would be any more last minute places. They confirmed all slots had been filled but interestingly denied there was a release at 11:30pm on Tuesday night which we know isn't the case so make of that what you will!

I'm keeping my Distill running but can't get it to keep running without logging out! 

 

Strange reply from Oxfam - I usually find them to be more transparent!

[Pinhead]

I've been given Oxfam early shifts!!

 

It says Purple route has changed - I used to know it as past Brown then just past Hedge lane on the right as you're going south down A37. Anyone know where it is this year?

 

Done earlies at other fests but Glasto is a whole different ballgame in scale. What do these shifts typically involve these days for anyone familiar with them?

[stuie]

26 minutes ago, Pinhead said:

I've been given Oxfam early shifts!!

 

It says Purple route has changed - I used to know it as past Brown then just past Hedge lane on the right as you're going south down A37. Anyone know where it is this year?

 

Done earlies at other fests but Glasto is a whole different ballgame in scale. What do these shifts typically involve these days for anyone familiar with them?

 

Same as all shifts at Glasto I believe, gates and more gates... unless your in or on the Oxfield, setting up or doing... er... gates!

 

Tip:  Some friends who were on earlies last year managed to blag loads of area wristbands for Block9 and Shangers... which they then traded for meal tokens and drinks!

[Pinhead]

7 minutes ago, stuie said:

 

Same as all shifts at Glasto I believe, gates and more gates... unless your in or on the Oxfield, setting up or doing... er... gates!

 

Tip:  Some friends who were on earlies last year managed to blag loads of area wristbands for Block9 and Shangers... which they then traded for meal tokens and drinks!

 

Lol - I'd keep hold of them personally.

 

Gates on earlies means all the vehicle gates yeah for crew, caterers and other staff? Didn't they used to stick Oxfam stewards out on the roads coming in as well doing directions?

[Debani]

1 hour ago, Pinhead said:

I've been given Oxfam early shifts!!

 

It says Purple route has changed - I used to know it as past Brown then just past Hedge lane on the right as you're going south down A37. Anyone know where it is this year?

 

Done earlies at other fests but Glasto is a whole different ballgame in scale. What do these shifts typically involve these days for anyone familiar with them?

Great news, well done on getting earlies!  I love early shifts - main advantages to me are that I can start sorting who I want to see straight away, don't have to wait for shifts to plan the fun.  Also, as I get older, I am grateful to have the full festival to enjoy at a more leisurely pace - my days of running around trying to squeeze everything in are long gone!

 

There are 3 shift patterns and you will get three of the same, eg early roughly  6am-2pm,  mid 2pm to 10pm, late/night 10pm to 6am.  The lates are definitely more of a challenge, especially after Monday when the Oxfield starts filling up with understandably  excited new arrivals, and it can be difficult to sleep in the day. But the overnight Tuesday shift is great, seeing everyone arrive in the queues and getting the party started.

I believe all shifts are in gates or in the Oxfield, some of the vehicle gates are extremely busy during the day and the shifts are a lot of fun and fly by. Other gates are frankly pretty dull no matter what the time of day.  

There is a Co-op pop up shop near the farm where you can get beer, cider, milk, sandwiches, toiletries etc.  It is quite small so stock can be a bit hit and miss but it is quite handy - it shuts once the big co op opens on Weds.

Usual stuff about crew bars etc, there is always a party or ten going on somewhere and there is the party "train" that rounds everyone up and brings them home in the evening/early hours - also useful during the day for getting to it from far off shifts.

Hope you have a blast.

 

[Pinhead]

5 minutes ago, Debani said:

Great news, well done on getting earlies!  I love early shifts - main advantages to me are that I can start sorting who I want to see straight away, don't have to wait for shifts to plan the fun.  Also, as I get older, I am grateful to have the full festival to enjoy at a more leisurely pace - my days of running around trying to squeeze everything in are long gone!

 

There are 3 shift patterns and you will get three of the same, eg early roughly  6am-2pm,  mid 2pm to 10pm, late/night 10pm to 6am.  The lates are definitely more of a challenge, especially after Monday when the Oxfield starts filling up with understandably  excited new arrivals, and it can be difficult to sleep in the day. But the overnight Tuesday shift is great, seeing everyone arrive in the queues and getting the party started.

I believe all shifts are in gates or in the Oxfield, some of the vehicle gates are extremely busy during the day and the shifts are a lot of fun and fly by. Other gates are frankly pretty dull no matter what the time of day.  

There is a Co-op pop up shop near the farm where you can get beer, cider, milk, sandwiches, toiletries etc.  It is quite small so stock can be a bit hit and miss but it is quite handy - it shuts once the big co op opens on Weds.

Usual stuff about crew bars etc, there is always a party or ten going on somewhere and there is the party "train" that rounds everyone up and brings them home in the evening/early hours - also useful during the day for getting to it from far off shifts.

Hope you have a blast.

 

Nice one for that, thanks.

 

For the vehicle gates - that will be crew and logistics presumably, and doing their vehicle pass checks?

[balti-pie]

17 minutes ago, Pinhead said:

Nice one for that, thanks.

 

For the vehicle gates - that will be crew and logistics presumably, and doing their vehicle pass checks?

Predominantly that, I was up on a locked vehicle gate by the farmhouse and basically had to tell people it was locked and we didn’t have a key, for 3 x 8hr shifts 🤣 

sent them around to the next open gate, and it was 95% ‘oh, ok, fine, thanks’ and 5% ‘you rotten arseholes, you’ve delayed me all of two minutes, I hate you all’ which was at first perturbing, and then slightly amusing. People can be dicks, even working people before the fest even opens to the public at large.
 

Bring a decent amount of food, cos the caterers in the oxfield don’t start til perhaps Monday first knockings, and there’s very little to be had in the festival site til Monday afternoon at the very earliest - the Sat and Sun are really quiet and sleepy, I really enjoyed it before everyone starts rocking up and energising the place 

[Bike_Like_A_Mum]

Hey everyone,

Trying to arrange last minute transport seeing as there is no more parking available. Not sure there's any places left on the shuttle from Bristol but also just weighing options up... We'll be travelling down on the Monday. Thinking about getting the train down from Ipswich to Shepton Mallet. I know the advice on website says not to risk taxis as they never know their way to the oxfield (but surely we can do that bit and direct them via the route maps). Surely this is the only option on the Monday especially if there aren't shuttle places left? I don't know...

 

Has anyone got experience of getting a taxi from SM station to Oxfields I suppose is my question...

 

More of a palarva than we thought not being able to take the car 🤣