Volunteering 2025

[sedra]

3 hours 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?

Me too-I also got earlies as well so see you there!! I’ve been told it’s more  likely to be overnight shifts and vehicle gates but 3 of the same whatever the shift pattern. Glad I have a F&B tent and ear plugs 😂

Does the 2025 map show a new route for purple? 

[StoneCircle]

2 hours ago, Bike_Like_A_Mum said:

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 🤣

 

 

Are there any trains into Castle Cary station? I know of friends who have got taxis from there? There also used to be a staff shuttle, not sure if it still runs though. 🤞🏻 Update - old thread - 

 

Edited June 6, 2025 by StoneCircle

[Johnnyseven]

2 hours ago, Bike_Like_A_Mum said:

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 🤣

 

 

Pretty sure there's no station in Shepton, Castle Cary is the nearest station. There are staff shuttles but they go to bronze gate/pga and it's a long walk to tbe Oxfield. If I got an Oxfam.place my plan was to taxi from CC, maybe call up some local firms to see if they'll take you?

Edited June 6, 2025 by Johnnyseven

[incident]

6 hours ago, Pinhead said:

Didn't they used to stick Oxfam stewards out on the roads coming in as well doing directions?

 

To the best of my knowledge - Only where it's effectively part of the operation of the gate. For example at Blue Gate, directing appropriate (site bound) traffic off Blue Route and into the Gate.

[About Today]

How far do people reckon the walk from Bronze gate to the oxfield is pre festival. I have the option of a private coach on a Tuesday so working out if I can walk across the outside of the festival Tuesday afternoon 

[Bike_Like_A_Mum]

Sorry!! I did mean Castle Cary (brain working faster than I can type trying to think of everything!)

 

Thanks all 👍🏼

[Debani]

5 minutes ago, Bike_Like_A_Mum said:

Sorry!! I did mean Castle Cary (brain working faster than I can type trying to think of everything!)

 

Thanks all 👍🏼

Hi, there is a specific Glastonbury lift share thread on the Oxfam Festivals Chat Facebook.  May be worth posting a "wanted" from Castle Cary for the Monday arrival - I'm sure there will be lots driving past and someone may have room for you and your gear.  Worth also asking if anyone is travelling from Ipswich?

[Bike_Like_A_Mum]

3 minutes ago, Debani said:

Hi, there is a specific Glastonbury lift share thread on the Oxfam Festivals Chat Facebook.  May be worth posting a "wanted" from Castle Cary for the Monday arrival - I'm sure there will be lots driving past and someone may have room for you and your gear.  Worth also asking if anyone is travelling from Ipswich?

Hi,

 

Yes I try to avoid Facebook pages and groups where I can is it takes over your thread but starting to think I might have to resort to this! 🤪

 

Lol

[Aragorn]

At first glance looks like purple entrance is further back up the A37 to me than last year. Possibly a shorter route in than going all the way around the farmers fields. This is Purple Car Parking Pass I have 

 

Only odd thing is the petrol station is further down the road past the old purple route entrance as opposed to how close it looks on the map

 

On a second check against googlemaps it looks the same as last year. Opposite Thornes farm shop

Edited June 7, 2025 by Aragorn

[sedra]

1 hour ago, About Today said:

How far do people reckon the walk from Bronze gate to the oxfield is pre festival. I have the option of a private coach on a Tuesday so working out if I can walk across the outside of the festival Tuesday afternoon 

It will be a fair trek and roads will be busy with vehicle traffic. You might be able to hitch a lift round to Mary’s gate or gate B if you are lucky?  

[This_Fields_Good]

1 hour ago, Debani said:

Hi, there is a specific Glastonbury lift share thread on the Oxfam Festivals Chat Facebook.  May be worth posting a "wanted" from Castle Cary for the Monday arrival - I'm sure there will be lots driving past and someone may have room for you and your gear.  Worth also asking if anyone is travelling from Ipswich?

 

There is also the Liftshare website, with a dedicated Oxfam group :
    https://liftshare.com/uk/community/oxfam
It must be getting some traffic, as I've got me a punter from it this year !

[stuie]

13 hours ago, Bike_Like_A_Mum said:

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 🤣

 

 

I'll be arriving at 2pm on Monday and could fit a couple in the van to get you to Oxfield if it helps?  Could pick up from train station or pub or something. 

[Bike_Like_A_Mum]

2 hours ago, stuie said:

 

I'll be arriving at 2pm on Monday and could fit a couple in the van to get you to Oxfield if it helps?  Could pick up from train station or pub or something. 

Stuie legend! This would be great and would be lovely to meet you. I'll send a DM 😊

[StoneCircle]

4 hours ago, stuie said:

 

I'll be arriving at 2pm on Monday and could fit a couple in the van to get you to Oxfield if it helps?  Could pick up from train station or pub or something. 

 

1 hour ago, Bike_Like_A_Mum said:

Stuie legend! This would be great and would be lovely to meet you. I'll send a DM 😊

 

I have picked a friend up twice from Castle Cary Station on Tuesday morning at 7am. The main car park on the front is closed during the festival as this is used for shuttle buses. I have managed both times to loiter in the rear car park to collect her. I am unsure if this is still the case as I haven't done it since 2019. The Brooke House Inn is less than half mile away but there aren't any pavements so I would recommend trying to collect near the station or in the rear car park, if this is still open. Perhaps @parsonjack can assist further?

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited June 7, 2025 by StoneCircle

[Emmilou182]

Hey everyone,

First time posting on here as I have only just found the forum due to the disappointing circumstances I find myself in. Have volunteered with Oxfam for the past 2 years but unfortunately didn’t get on with them this year on both drops of volunteer releases. Did have a place with MyCauseUK until I got cut from that. 
I’ve been reaching out to places that I know have already filled their quota for volunteers in the hopes places open up. Not very optimistic as most require you to have previously volunteered with them which makes things more difficult.

If anyone has any advice or motivation they could channel my way would be greatly appreciated, just feeling defeated right now.

[Someoni]

7 hours ago, stuie said:

 

I'll be arriving at 2pm on Monday and could fit a couple in the van to get you to Oxfield if it helps?  Could pick up from train station or pub or something. 

Awesome man

[parsonjack]

4 hours ago, StoneCircle said:

 

 

I have picked a friend up twice from Castle Cary Station on Tuesday morning at 7am. The main car park on the front is closed during the festival as this is used for shuttle buses. I have managed both times to loiter in the rear car park to collect her. I am unsure if this is still the case as I haven't done it since 2019. The Brooke House Inn is less than half mile away but there aren't any pavements so I would recommend trying to collect near the station or in the rear car park, if this is still open. Perhaps @parsonjack can assist further?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yes the rear car park would be my best recommendation also. It should still be open Monday as it's also used by The Creamery restaurant (which is very nice....) at the station and they are open for lunch on Monday/Tuesday.

 

Entrance to the rear car park is just 50m along the A371 turning into Station Road to access it.

[Johnnyseven]

1 hour ago, Emmilou182 said:

Hey everyone,

First time posting on here as I have only just found the forum due to the disappointing circumstances I find myself in. Have volunteered with Oxfam for the past 2 years but unfortunately didn’t get on with them this year on both drops of volunteer releases. Did have a place with MyCauseUK until I got cut from that. 
I’ve been reaching out to places that I know have already filled their quota for volunteers in the hopes places open up. Not very optimistic as most require you to have previously volunteered with them which makes things more difficult.

If anyone has any advice or motivation they could channel my way would be greatly appreciated, just feeling defeated right now.

 

Have you tried contacting Avalon Bars? A guy posted on Facebook a week or 2 ago asking if they had spaces, I replied saying there's a waiting list for people that applied earlier in the year but weren't offered places. On Monday I was offered a place and he was too, despite him not being on the original waiting list - so they still might have some spots.

[Emmilou182]

10 minutes ago, Johnnyseven said:

 

Have you tried contacting Avalon Bars? A guy posted on Facebook a week or 2 ago asking if they had spaces, I replied saying there's a waiting list for people that applied earlier in the year but weren't offered places. On Monday I was offered a place and he was too, despite him not being on the original waiting list - so they still might have some spots.

I haven’t personally but I think my friend may have. There were two of us left in the same position but I’ll send them an email. 
So far I’ve messaged some glamping place called pod pads and I’ve expressed interest in refresh west. 
I’ve also consistently emailed my cause just in case something opens up. I’ve also reluctantly accepted an interview request for ethical staffing for the internal traffic management. The hours are just not great.

[Crazyfool01]

Just now, Emmilou182 said:

I haven’t personally but I think my friend may have. There were two of us left in the same position but I’ll send them an email. 
So far I’ve messaged some glamping place called pod pads and I’ve expressed interest in refresh west. 
I’ve also consistently emailed my cause just in case something opens up. I’ve also reluctantly accepted an interview request for ethical staffing for the internal traffic management. The hours are just not great.

stick with it ... I dont know if youve set up monitoring for oxfam others better to advise on this than me , I reckon more will become available at some point just depends on how patient you are 

[Emmilou182]

24 minutes ago, Crazyfool01 said:

stick with it ... I dont know if youve set up monitoring for oxfam others better to advise on this than me , I reckon more will become available at some point just depends on how patient you are 

I’m patient so I’m still trying.

 

I tried to set up distill but when I look at the monitor page it’s like I’m not logged in even though the link I’ve copied into it i did log into if that makes sense.

 

Im so gutted i missed the 11:30 drop after the Tuesday drop. I was at a DJO gig in Manchester when the tickets went up on Tuesday so didn’t have much luck due to rubbish signal on the train.  

[balti-pie]

There’s often a few food vendors etc who stick up a desperate plea for help in the last week or two before the festival, they’d be paid roles but may well involve more hours than you’d want them to; if you just want to be there (and I’m much the same, don’t mind missing a few acts as long as I’m there for the weekend) then I hope they come up. Good luck! 

[Helsbels]

3 hours ago, Emmilou182 said:

Hey everyone,

First time posting on here as I have only just found the forum due to the disappointing circumstances I find myself in. Have volunteered with Oxfam for the past 2 years but unfortunately didn’t get on with them this year on both drops of volunteer releases. Did have a place with MyCauseUK until I got cut from that. 
I’ve been reaching out to places that I know have already filled their quota for volunteers in the hopes places open up. Not very optimistic as most require you to have previously volunteered with them which makes things more difficult.

If anyone has any advice or motivation they could channel my way would be greatly appreciated, just feeling defeated right now.

Im so sorry to hear that this has happened. I don't have any advice but really hope you get sorted x

[Timtim182]

5 hours ago, Emmilou182 said:

Hey everyone,

First time posting on here as I have only just found the forum due to the disappointing circumstances I find myself in. Have volunteered with Oxfam for the past 2 years but unfortunately didn’t get on with them this year on both drops of volunteer releases. Did have a place with MyCauseUK until I got cut from that. 
I’ve been reaching out to places that I know have already filled their quota for volunteers in the hopes places open up. Not very optimistic as most require you to have previously volunteered with them which makes things more difficult.

If anyone has any advice or motivation they could channel my way would be greatly appreciated, just feeling defeated right now.

I’m in the same boat.Have had toe annual leave booked for a year. My partner got a place with Oxfam in the original release and I’ve been trying ever since.I’ve tried contacting Avalon and MyCauseUK too. Holding out hope for both of us with stories of people getting super last minute spots last year🤞🏻

[sloan97]

How far is the walk from the oxfam bus drop off to the campsite? Trying to judge whether i'll need a trolley or something similar