Volunteering 2025

[incident]

Just now, stuie said:

FMS camp next to Oxfam, outside the fence!  In terms of perks, they only have to do 2 shifts but that's about it.

 

I'm pretty sure that for at least some of the FMS roles, they have the perk of being able to bring a partner (who doesn't need to do shifts), which is a pretty big one.

[stuie]

Just now, incident said:

 

I'm pretty sure that for at least some of the FMS roles, they have the perk of being able to bring a partner (who doesn't need to do shifts), which is a pretty big one.

 

You are correct! And I actually got a ticket this way one year when I didn't get an Oxfam place first off, but got it refunded when I got a place.  My best mate does FMS and gets this option, subject to doing 2 FMS festivals a year and Glasto the previous year. 

[MJP]

Plus FMS have showers, proper loos, excellent cheap catering, near car parking and power to the tent. They're well looked after by their organisation!

[stuie]

34 minutes ago, MJP said:

Plus FMS have showers, proper loos, excellent cheap catering, near car parking and power to the tent. They're well looked after by their organisation!

power to the tent is optional for £50, same car park as Oxfam…

 

they still have to walk up and down muddy bloody lane to even get to the fence, which was the original point! 😂

[Pinhead]

At all festivals I have regularly stewarded since 2005, the trend has always been to move us further and further outside the festival. I was in Toms in 2005 Glasto; first Bearded in 2014 we were where the second stage is now - last year we were all the way out in the Rugby ground. Boomtown and BD have also moved us further and further out over the years. As sites grow, pressure builds for land etc.

[efcfanwirral]

5 hours ago, Skip997 said:

Not sure where to post this. Every year more staff are having their camps moved outside the fence. Latest to suffer are some of the SE corner crew This is a deal breaker for me. One more possible reason why this year might be my last. 

Would you buy normal tickets if you got through? 

[Skip997]

Just now, efcfanwirral said:

Would you buy normal tickets if you got through? 

I wouldn’t even take a free normal ticket if offered to me. Fair play to all of you, but after decades of crew perks, there’s no way I could go through what punters do. Plus I couldn’t deal with missing out on short cuts, crew bars and the hideous SE corner queue nonsense.

[kerplunk]

4 hours ago, Leyrulion said:

 

Should check out where they've been moved to this year. Looks like a dedicated site only just outside the fence with it's own footbridge (yes bridge) into SEC. 

 

Appreciate it's a big change but it might not be that bad? 

 

4 hours ago, Skip997 said:

Interesting. I’ll find out on Monday when I get onsite 

 

Sounds good to me, just outside the fence from SEC - you might like it

 

Curious what the footbridge is about. What's it going over - cockmill lane?

[Skip997]

3 minutes ago, kerplunk said:

 

 

Sounds good to me, just outside the fence from SEC - you might like it

 

Curious what the footbridge is about. What's it going over - cockmill lane?

I’m still in Dragon Field this year. We’ll see what 2027 brings 

[Leyrulion]

1 hour ago, kerplunk said:

 

 

Sounds good to me, just outside the fence from SEC - you might like it

 

Curious what the footbridge is about. What's it going over - cockmill lane?

Yeah looks like it goes over the road. So potentially a convenient way for the crew to not have to fully "leave" the festival and go to another gate. 

.

[Pinhead]

Was the new land purchase off Cockmill Farm?

[philipsteak]

3 hours ago, tarw said:

I think the key point is that you are looking it from the perspective of someone that has always camped outside the fence. I am lucky enough to camp inside and it would be a big deal to me-probably a deal breaker. 
We all do different jobs at the festival and get different perks. I couldn’t do Skip’s job and I don’t begrudge him his perks. 
Medics always used to have some of the best perks. I certainly couldn’t do their job and even if I could I wouldn’t want to. 

 

My first few years were inside the fence, and as much as I loved Tom's Field it's really no biggy being outside.

Can't actually remember when Oxfam moved. 2009 maybe?

[balti-pie]

I really like the oxfield. It’s got its own cadence and atmosphere. The cars being in the field next door is great, it’s a short walk to gate b, and I like the separation between site and sleep, it makes ‘on’ time and ‘off’ time clearly delineated for me. Literally the only thing I’d change would be a ski lift up muddy lane, cos it doesn’t half get knackering after a week of traipsing up it at dogshit o’clock in the morning 

[Skip997]

4 hours ago, tarw said:

I think the key point is that you are looking it from the perspective of someone that has always camped outside the fence. I am lucky enough to camp inside and it would be a big deal to me-probably a deal breaker. 
We all do different jobs at the festival and get different perks. I couldn’t do Skip’s job and I don’t begrudge him his perks. 
Medics always used to have some of the best perks. I certainly couldn’t do their job and even if I could I wouldn’t want to. 

Out of reactions, but thanks. Good to see someone understands. I’m not alone in seeing this as a deal breaker. I know one person who has stopped attending due to being moved outside the fence (Glade crew). I spoke to my immediate boss who’s already onsite about this today, it’s a deal breaker for him. GFL could lose some extremely experienced and valuable crew over this 

[Skip997]

3 hours ago, stuie said:

 

 

 

Prime land should be for production, or those that pay for the pleasure... just my opinion! 

 

 

You won’t be surprised to read that I totally disagree. Crew have to be in certain places at certain times to do certain things. Punters don’t actually HAVE to do anything 

[stuie]

36 minutes ago, Skip997 said:

You won’t be surprised to read that I totally disagree. Crew have to be in certain places at certain times to do certain things. Punters don’t actually HAVE to do anything 

travelling to work isn’t a new concept… most people do it every day! 

[Pinhead]

1 hour ago, philipsteak said:

 

My first few years were inside the fence, and as much as I loved Tom's Field it's really no biggy being outside.

Can't actually remember when Oxfam moved. 2009 maybe?

2008 to Big Lickle iirc

Edited June 11, 2025 by Pinhead

[Pinhead]

52 minutes ago, Skip997 said:

You won’t be surprised to read that I totally disagree. Crew have to be in certain places at certain times to do certain things. Punters don’t actually HAVE to do anything 

But they do pay 350 quid or whatever at the end of the day to be there. That said, staff who help to run it and at the end of the day make it happen should get some recognition for their time spent and holiday sacrificed in some cases. All about balance.

[philipsteak]

10 hours ago, Pinhead said:

2008 to Big Lickle iirc

 

Makes sense, I didn't go in 2008

[ukmountie]

So in a chat today for Avalon it was mentioned that vans may not be allowed into Purple crew parking as it's for cars. Has anyone experienced this? I understand they don't want people sleeping there, but that isn't the intent.

I had no issues last year and seemed to me there were plenty of vans in the field. My van takes up no more space than an average car.

 

Just a bit nervous as if I get turned away I'm not sure what I would do.

[balti-pie]

26 minutes ago, ukmountie said:

So in a chat today for Avalon it was mentioned that vans may not be allowed into Purple crew parking as it's for cars. Has anyone experienced this? I understand they don't want people sleeping there, but that isn't the intent.

I had no issues last year and seemed to me there were plenty of vans in the field. My van takes up no more space than an average car.

 

Just a bit nervous as if I get turned away I'm not sure what I would do.

There's always been vans in those car parks, i cant see them banning em - theyre some people's day to day vehicles, as long as people arent sleeping in em then im sure it would be fine. Never heard of anyone being turned away, and it wouldnt make any sense, even more so for the staff parking

[giantkatestacks]

Maybe what they mean is that they might be sent to other places rather than turned away entirely?

[philipsteak]

Yeah sounds more like someone getting the wrong end of the stick to me. You can't sleep in your van in the car park has turned into no vans in the car park.

 

My van is my only vehicle. If I missed out on a campervan spot for Oxfam I'd still have to drive down in it

[Skip997]

41 minutes ago, ukmountie said:

So in a chat today for Avalon it was mentioned that vans may not be allowed into Purple crew parking as it's for cars. Has anyone experienced this? I understand they don't want people sleeping there, but that isn't the intent.

I had no issues last year and seemed to me there were plenty of vans in the field. My van takes up no more space than an average car.

 

Just a bit nervous as if I get turned away I'm not sure what I would do.

My early entry vehicle pass specifically states that ALL vehicles with an expired pass are entitled to park in purple or orange car park. Not sure if this applies to you 

[ukmountie]

22 minutes ago, Skip997 said:

My early entry vehicle pass specifically states that ALL vehicles with an expired pass are entitled to park in purple or orange car park. Not sure if this applies to you 

I don't know if there are different passes. I'm with Avalon so we don't arrive until Tuesday, and carpark spaces seem more of an issue than Oxfam. We are suppose to show up at Purple parking gate, get parked up, then go get accredited and our carpark pass, the go back to the van to put the pass in the window.
 

33 minutes ago, philipsteak said:

Yeah sounds more like someone getting the wrong end of the stick to me. You can't sleep in your van in the car park has turned into no vans in the car park.

 

My van is my only vehicle. If I missed out on a campervan spot for Oxfam I'd still have to drive down in it

 

I suspect this is the case as well. Just don't want any surprises when I turn up. If someone on gates gets that briefing please let me know. Otherwise I'm going to plan to van.