Volunteering 2024

[rebus]

1 hour ago, Jay Pee said:

I volunteer each year and almost always on the train and swear by a 2 litre plastic water bottle of Aldi Brandy.  It's so ubiquitous and adaptable.

It can be drank warm or cold and with or without mixer. It's a win hands down. Take that and a decent sized hip flask and you can buy the cider / beer on site as and when and always have a shot (or two) in the day sack.

Think I've got some of that in the liquor cabinet, will give it a bash!

[SteveGlastonbury]

On 3/27/2024 at 7:52 PM, Lisanextdoor said:

I got loo crew today. I’ve volunteered with oxfam 3 times and was hoping to get a late space there. Quite interested to try a new type of work at the festival and grateful to be in. Has anyone done it before? How was it? Was thinking of hanging on for late oxfam space but reading the chat in here it’s probably best to take the actual offer rather than three more months of refreshing the oxfam page. 

Hi Lisa,

Full disclosure, my preference would be to just buy a ticket but cannot face the idea of watching Glastonbury on the tv so needs must and when I've missed out on a ticket I've volunteered for Oxfam in 2019, WaterAid 2023 and Avalon this year!

I'm pretty squeamish when it comes to public toilets but is wasn't that bad, breath through your mouth, wear the gloves provided and never look down!

Campsite is in a great spot, behind the Eavis's farmhouse, with hot showers and great catering in the next field with a subsidised bar (shared with the recycling crew) though the camping field does have quite a slope and you're packed in but everyone was friendly and respectful, but take ear plugs.

Our Loo crew Shifts were 4x 6 hours, but spread over the 24 hour clock and five days so as an example we worked: Wed. 6pm - midnight, Thu. midnight to Friday 6am, Sat. 6am - noon and Sunday 6pm - midnight. But has been mentioned 'travel time' is included, so on early shift you could roll out of bed fifteen minutes before you start, sign in in the camping field and then walk to your starting point, we were SE Corner that took at least forty minutes to walk there, longer if it was crowded and then the same going home, so if you're volunteering at a far point the shift ends up being closer to four hours rather than six.

You also get reasonable breaks during your shift and as been mentioned you can be in the middle of the action as you walk around the site and people are SO grateful for what you're doing, imagine the SE Corner loos at 4am, quite the spot, but tens if not hundreds of people thanked us for the cleanish loos!

Of course Oxfam has it's advantages, parking next to the campsite, more space etc., I had eight hour shifts on a quiet vehicle gate that did drag, but I could breath through my nose...

Either way you're in the fields and not watching on the tv, good luck!

Steve

[Nuthugger]

when the loo crew spray the high pressured jet at the toilets is it just water or is there some sort of disinfectant in it. i have memories of strolling on a hot glasto day and feeling/inhaling a lovely cool spray then seeing it was the loo crew lol. i just want to know what diseases I might develop in old age

[SteveGlastonbury]

14 minutes ago, Nuthugger said:

when the loo crew spray the high pressured jet at the toilets is it just water or is there some sort of disinfectant in it. i have memories of strolling on a hot glasto day and feeling/inhaling a lovely cool spray then seeing it was the loo crew lol. i just want to know what diseases I might develop in old age

Ahh, I'm afraid they don't let the volunteers loose with anything more than a mop and some marigolds..

[Jay Pee]

16 minutes ago, Nuthugger said:

when the loo crew spray the high pressured jet at the toilets is it just water or is there some sort of disinfectant in it. i have memories of strolling on a hot glasto day and feeling/inhaling a lovely cool spray then seeing it was the loo crew lol. i just want to know what diseases I might develop in old age

Its Novichok mate.  They do it for Lolz

 

[Jay Pee]

1 hour ago, SteveGlastonbury said:

Hi Lisa,

Full disclosure, my preference would be to just buy a ticket but cannot face the idea of watching Glastonbury on the tv so needs must and when I've missed out on a ticket I've volunteered for Oxfam in 2019, WaterAid 2023 and Avalon this year!

I'm pretty squeamish when it comes to public toilets but is wasn't that bad, breath through your mouth, wear the gloves provided and never look down!

Campsite is in a great spot, behind the Eavis's farmhouse, with hot showers and great catering in the next field with a subsidised bar (shared with the recycling crew) though the camping field does have quite a slope and you're packed in but everyone was friendly and respectful, but take ear plugs.

Our Loo crew Shifts were 4x 6 hours, but spread over the 24 hour clock and five days so as an example we worked: Wed. 6pm - midnight, Thu. midnight to Friday 6am, Sat. 6am - noon and Sunday 6pm - midnight. But has been mentioned 'travel time' is included, so on early shift you could roll out of bed fifteen minutes before you start, sign in in the camping field and then walk to your starting point, we were SE Corner that took at least forty minutes to walk there, longer if it was crowded and then the same going home, so if you're volunteering at a far point the shift ends up being closer to four hours rather than six.

You also get reasonable breaks during your shift and as been mentioned you can be in the middle of the action as you walk around the site and people are SO grateful for what you're doing, imagine the SE Corner loos at 4am, quite the spot, but tens if not hundreds of people thanked us for the cleanish loos!

Of course Oxfam has it's advantages, parking next to the campsite, more space etc., I had eight hour shifts on a quiet vehicle gate that did drag, but I could breath through my nose...

Either way you're in the fields and not watching on the tv, good luck!

Steve

A good honest account Steve and the only thing i would add is that the SE corner loos are the only ones that are an overnight stint for fairly obvious reasons.  You pulled the hardest shift there which i am sure you are well aware of 🙂

[Lisanextdoor]

2 hours ago, SteveGlastonbury said:

Hi Lisa,

Full disclosure, my preference would be to just buy a ticket but cannot face the idea of watching Glastonbury on the tv so needs must and when I've missed out on a ticket I've volunteered for Oxfam in 2019, WaterAid 2023 and Avalon this year!

I'm pretty squeamish when it comes to public toilets but is wasn't that bad, breath through your mouth, wear the gloves provided and never look down!

Campsite is in a great spot, behind the Eavis's farmhouse, with hot showers and great catering in the next field with a subsidised bar (shared with the recycling crew) though the camping field does have quite a slope and you're packed in but everyone was friendly and respectful, but take ear plugs.

Our Loo crew Shifts were 4x 6 hours, but spread over the 24 hour clock and five days so as an example we worked: Wed. 6pm - midnight, Thu. midnight to Friday 6am, Sat. 6am - noon and Sunday 6pm - midnight. But has been mentioned 'travel time' is included, so on early shift you could roll out of bed fifteen minutes before you start, sign in in the camping field and then walk to your starting point, we were SE Corner that took at least forty minutes to walk there, longer if it was crowded and then the same going home, so if you're volunteering at a far point the shift ends up being closer to four hours rather than six.

You also get reasonable breaks during your shift and as been mentioned you can be in the middle of the action as you walk around the site and people are SO grateful for what you're doing, imagine the SE Corner loos at 4am, quite the spot, but tens if not hundreds of people thanked us for the cleanish loos!

Of course Oxfam has it's advantages, parking next to the campsite, more space etc., I had eight hour shifts on a quiet vehicle gate that did drag, but I could breath through my nose...

Either way you're in the fields and not watching on the tv, good luck!

Steve

Thanks for taking the time to reply Steve. I’ve done oxfam the last three festivals after zero luck in ticket sales. Have hardly missed a festival since 2010 but seems that getting a ticket just doesn’t happen for us anymore. I spoke to friends who’ve done water aid and I reckon I can handle it. I’m not that squeamish. I love the fact that shifts start in the field so you don’t have the risk of waking for an hour like you can with oxfam. I’m not on the night shifts at SE corner so all my shifts are done by midnight. My friend got Avalon this year but I wasn’t lucky in the drawer but reading these forums all the different volunteering options have pros and cons. And all better than missing out and watching on the tv. 

[ibilly99]

On 3/27/2024 at 8:34 PM, Jay Pee said:

Its a good gig.  I have done it and its never as bad as you think it may be.  Your team / crew will help you and the crack is great and the WaterAid permanent staff are incredibly well in tune with your health Safety and well-being.

The shift times are really well split and one of the things I love is that no matter what role you have with them, you are in the middle of all the action and get to hear music and be in the atmosphere when on shift.  I know many returning loo crew staff and know very few who say "never again"

Veteran recycler here now on my 9th year doing the sheds after festival. Big shout out to Water Aid and the loo cleaners  - they always do a brilliant job and I never forget to thank them and try to clean up anyway after I have finished if necessary. I think Water Aid have taken on a lot a more few years back I had finished in the Other Stage and was thanking a lady who was cleaning, and she didn't understand a word I was gibbering. Brexit has finished all of that now, sadly, so it's only home-grown cleaners now. The loos in my humble opinion have never been better - Michaels' infrastructure project with the Mark IV long drops with their 20000 gallons capacity means most don't need emptying at all until after the festival bar the main areas. Thankfully the pilot with the roof has gone as well as it just kept the pong even more concentrated around the drops. They seem to be cleaned after each use by the Water Aid workers who take their job seriously and doping an amazing job. Same with the sinks and soaps as well. It's rare and welcome we see very few hired expensive plastic loos any more. In house infrastructure works - if only the Tories had taken the same approach to ours.

[marathonsteve]

1 hour ago, ibilly99 said:

Veteran recycler here now on my 9th year doing the sheds after festival. Big shout out to Water Aid and the loo cleaners  - they always do a brilliant job and I never forget to thank them and try to clean up anyway after I have finished if necessary. I think Water Aid have taken on a lot a more few years back I had finished in the Other Stage and was thanking a lady who was cleaning, and she didn't understand a word I was gibbering. Brexit has finished all of that now, sadly, so it's only home-grown cleaners now. The loos in my humble opinion have never been better - Michaels' infrastructure project with the Mark IV long drops with their 20000 gallons capacity means most don't need emptying at all until after the festival bar the main areas. Thankfully the pilot with the roof has gone as well as it just kept the pong even more concentrated around the drops. They seem to be cleaned after each use by the Water Aid workers who take their job seriously and doping an amazing job. Same with the sinks and soaps as well. It's rare and welcome we see very few hired expensive plastic loos any more. In house infrastructure works - if only the Tories had taken the same approach to ours.

Water Aid Volunteers do a Absolute Brilliant Job

[marathonsteve]

5 minutes ago, marathonsteve said:

Water Aid Volunteers do a Absolute Brilliant Job

 Why would you buy a ticket when you can Volunteer

[ibilly99]

22 minutes ago, marathonsteve said:

 Why would you buy a ticket when you can Volunteer

Very true missed out in the ballot in 2011 and found the way in via recycling and thanks the recycling gods we did. Plus I'm retired now so work after festival so am on site from Sunday before to Friday after an amazing experience and people in every way.

[Gnomicide]

Bar work at Arcadia and Shangri-La 

https://refreshwest.eventmaster.jobs/events/ogYjp0Dk7q1JCbHkjN6T

 

[e_p]

5 hours ago, Gnomicide said:

Bar work at Arcadia and Shangri-La 

https://refreshwest.eventmaster.jobs/events/ogYjp0Dk7q1JCbHkjN6T

 

Anyone ever done and work with refresh west? Any details - where car park and campsite is etc 

[Nuthugger]

On 4/2/2024 at 6:50 PM, SteveGlastonbury said:

Ahh, I'm afraid they don't let the volunteers loose with anything more than a mop and some marigolds..

o right. any idea who gets to do the spraying?? its definitely a thing. not imagined lol

[marathonsteve]

On 4/2/2024 at 8:29 PM, ibilly99 said:

Veteran recycler here now on my 9th year doing the sheds after festival. Big shout out to Water Aid and the loo cleaners  - they always do a brilliant job and I never forget to thank them and try to clean up anyway after I have finished if necessary. I think Water Aid have taken on a lot a more few years back I had finished in the Other Stage and was thanking a lady who was cleaning, and she didn't understand a word I was gibbering. Brexit has finished all of that now, sadly, so it's only home-grown cleaners now. The loos in my humble opinion have never been better - Michaels' infrastructure project with the Mark IV long drops with their 20000 gallons capacity means most don't need emptying at all until after the festival bar the main areas. Thankfully the pilot with the roof has gone as well as it just kept the pong even more concentrated around the drops. They seem to be cleaned after each use by the Water Aid workers who take their job seriously and doping an amazing job. Same with the sinks and soaps as well. It's rare and welcome we see very few hired expensive plastic loos any more. In house infrastructure works - if only the Tories had taken the same approach to ours.

Excellent account. Loo cleaners are the best people at Glastonbury in my very humble view

[marathonsteve]

On 4/2/2024 at 8:07 PM, Lisanextdoor said:

Thanks for taking the time to reply Steve. I’ve done oxfam the last three festivals after zero luck in ticket sales. Have hardly missed a festival since 2010 but seems that getting a ticket just doesn’t happen for us anymore. I spoke to friends who’ve done water aid and I reckon I can handle it. I’m not that squeamish. I love the fact that shifts start in the field so you don’t have the risk of waking for an hour like you can with oxfam. I’m not on the night shifts at SE corner so all my shifts are done by midnight. My friend got Avalon this year but I wasn’t lucky in the drawer but reading these forums all the different volunteering options have pros and cons. And all better than missing out and watching on the tv. 

Go for it 

[ibilly99]

The fact that it is literally a "sh*tty job" means that if you can take it, it's probably the easiest one to do and maybe get. No lugging loads of stuff around and breaking your back. Once you realise that everything is just a state of mind then there is probably a Zen like state if you can only find it, just don't look down. That said, if you do, you see a load of arse cheeks reflected in the piss lake. A Glastonbury moment as it were...

 

 

 

[marathonsteve]

One of my friends brought plimsols to the festival one year to wear on his feet,  even though they would be walking a considerable distant each day through volunteering. They lived to regret it. Walking boots the following year. 

[GlastoBabe2024]

Any info/experiences of Greenpeace volunteering? I’ve seen this year is 5x8hr shifts 😬 so virtually no day off.

What is the camp like? If you can’t park there, how far away is parking? 

What perks are there? 
Oxfam looks like good fun with a big team, can’t find any info about Greenpeace.

thanks

[wickmiller]

Apologies if this question has been asked before on here, but what is the view on when the next drop of Oxfam places will be?

I already have a place but won’t take it up unless my wife secures a stewarding role as well or we are both successful on the resale.

I know there is an 8 week window (before start of the festival) for getting a refund on my own position so don’t want risk passing that date.

[Leyrulion]

2 hours ago, wickmiller said:

Apologies if this question has been asked before on here, but what is the view on when the next drop of Oxfam places will be?

I already have a place but won’t take it up unless my wife secures a stewarding role as well or we are both successful on the resale.

I know there is an 8 week window (before start of the festival) for getting a refund on my own position so don’t want risk passing that date.

Next Oxfam drop is probably going to be after the Glastonbury resale and probably after the 8 week cancellation. 

 

They do that so they know how many places are actually available.

[CharlotteB]

On 4/4/2024 at 9:11 PM, ibilly99 said:

The fact that it is literally a "sh*tty job" means that if you can take it, it's probably the easiest one to do and maybe get. No lugging loads of stuff around and breaking your back. Once you realise that everything is just a state of mind then there is probably a Zen like state if you can only find it, just don't look down. That said, if you do, you see a load of arse cheeks reflected in the piss lake. A Glastonbury moment as it were...

 

 

 

 

I suppose the shifts are quite varied too (because the shits are quite varied).

[marathonsteve]

On 4/2/2024 at 5:45 PM, SteveGlastonbury said:

Hi Lisa,

Full disclosure, my preference would be to just buy a ticket but cannot face the idea of watching Glastonbury on the tv so needs must and when I've missed out on a ticket I've volunteered for Oxfam in 2019, WaterAid 2023 and Avalon this year!

I'm pretty squeamish when it comes to public toilets but is wasn't that bad, breath through your mouth, wear the gloves provided and never look down!

Campsite is in a great spot, behind the Eavis's farmhouse, with hot showers and great catering in the next field with a subsidised bar (shared with the recycling crew) though the camping field does have quite a slope and you're packed in but everyone was friendly and respectful, but take ear plugs.

Our Loo crew Shifts were 4x 6 hours, but spread over the 24 hour clock and five days so as an example we worked: Wed. 6pm - midnight, Thu. midnight to Friday 6am, Sat. 6am - noon and Sunday 6pm - midnight. But has been mentioned 'travel time' is included, so on early shift you could roll out of bed fifteen minutes before you start, sign in in the camping field and then walk to your starting point, we were SE Corner that took at least forty minutes to walk there, longer if it was crowded and then the same going home, so if you're volunteering at a far point the shift ends up being closer to four hours rather than six.

You also get reasonable breaks during your shift and as been mentioned you can be in the middle of the action as you walk around the site and people are SO grateful for what you're doing, imagine the SE Corner loos at 4am, quite the spot, but tens if not hundreds of people thanked us for the cleanish loos!

Of course Oxfam has it's advantages, parking next to the campsite, more space etc., I had eight hour shifts on a quiet vehicle gate that did drag, but I could breath through my nose...

Either way you're in the fields and not watching on the tv, good luck!

Steve

You Absolutely Beautiful Loo people. Once you're in . You're In for evermore.

[dondo]

Recycling crew that go direct- check your emails 😃

[Aragorn]

1 hour ago, dondo said:

Recycling crew that go direct- check your emails 😃

Got it. Happy :)