GLASTONBURY, ENGLAND – JUNE 25: The crowd reacts as AJ Tracey performs on the Pyramid stage during d (Image: Dave J Hogan/Getty Images)
Cash-strapped music fans could get free entry to many of the UK’s top festivals after Oxfam announced “unrivalled” volunteering opportunities this summer
The charity is looking for 9,000 volunteers to steward at some of the UK’s biggest festivals this summer – including Glastonbury, Latitude and Isle of Wight – with more festivals on offer than ever before.
Applications open to the public today (Tuesday), where people can sign up to be a volunteer with the bonus that they gain free entry to the festival in exchange for time spent stewarding.
Volunteers are required to work three eight-hour shifts during the festival period, leaving them plenty of time to soak up the atmosphere, enjoy the live acts and revel in a sense of community with their newfound “Oxfamily”.
Glastonbury headliner Olivia Rodrigo? (Image: FilmMagic)
Potential headliners rumoured for the 2025 Glastonbury line-up include Olivia Rodrigo, Sam Fender, Taylor Swift, Eminem and Madonna, whilst Rod Stewart is favourite to top the Sunday afternoon ‘legends’ slot.
Last year top acts included Dua Lipa, Coldplay and Shania Twain.
There are a number of different stewarding roles available, including checking tickets and wristbands at the gates, patrolling the arenas and campsites, supporting accessible viewing platforms by the stages, staffing campsite hubs and information points and helping with public enquiries.
INDIANAPOLIS, IN – FEBRUARY 05: (L-R) Nicki Minaj, Madonna and M.I.A. perform during the Bridgeston (Image: FilmMagic)
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As well as free entry to the festival, the volunteers have access to Oxfam’s secure campsite, a free meal voucher per shift, free tea and coffee, free phone charging and access to crew-only showers and toilets.
Last summer, Oxfam festival volunteers gave over 213,000 hours of their time and helped raise an incredible £1.8 million to support Oxfam’s poverty fighting work. Volunteers also encouraged over 43,000 people to sign up for Oxfam’s Climate Justice campaign.
Michael Lever, Oxfam’s Head of Festivals and Events, said: “We are thrilled to offer people unrivalled access to volunteer with Oxfam at more festivals than ever before this summer.
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Gerry Cinnamon at Leeds Festival 2024 (Image: -)
“As well as getting the chance-of-a-lifetime experience to go to a festival for free and see some of the biggest and best bands out there, Oxfam volunteers have the chance to meet new people, make new friends and help make a real difference.
“We have such an amazing community of volunteers at our festivals, with stewards returning year after year because of how much they loved their experience.
“Whether you come alone or as a group, you are bound to make new friends and get the chance to experience a festival like you never have before. No matter what your age or experience, there is something for everyone.”
The full list of festivals for 2025 includes:
Beautiful Days
Boardmasters
Boomtown
Cardiff Blackweir Live
City Splash
Cross the Tracks
Crystal Palace Park
Download
Field Day
Glastonbury
Gunnersbury Park
Isle of Wight
Latitude
Leeds
Lytham Festival
Mighty Hoopla
Powderham Presents
2000trees
Reading
Shambala
Wilderness
Wide Awake
Volunteers can apply for as many festivals as they like with one deposit which will be returned to them once they have completed their shifts.
By volunteering at two or more festivals in one season, volunteers are awarded priority status for the following year and able to sign up before applications open to the general public. This gives applicants a better chance at securing a role at their festival of choice or more popular festivals such as Glastonbury.
All Oxfam volunteers receive training and have the chance to develop skills in leadership, communication, mental health awareness and accessibility. Oxfam is also committed to making festival volunteering as accessible as possible and can offer support.
Existing Oxfam shop volunteers also have the chance to volunteer at the Oxfam festival shop onsite, which raised over £300,000 last year. There is also the opportunity to engage with Oxfam’s campaigning work at the festival. Campaigning and shop volunteering applications open at 10am on the 20 February.
For more information visit the Oxfam festival website