Volunteering 2024

[amfy]

50 minutes ago, Leyrulion said:

Oh same happened to us, but we didn't really see the point of staying around for some official to formally stand us down. 

The conversation literally went "what are they going to do evict us? It's Elton!" The stewards all ran off at about 8:40 and we followed behind them, bit of a stewards revolt if I'm honest. I still feel bad for the team leader, but saw him at wilderness and he was fine. 

Gate C? 
 

[stuie]

1 hour ago, Leyrulion said:

Oh same happened to us, but we didn't really see the point of staying around for some official to formally stand us down. 

The conversation literally went "what are they going to do evict us? It's Elton!" The stewards all ran off at about 8:40 and we followed behind them, bit of a stewards revolt if I'm honest. I still feel bad for the team leader, but saw him at wilderness and he was fine. 

 

9 minutes ago, amfy said:

Gate C? 
 

Now you’ve got me wondering who you all are as I was a supervisor on Gate C and also at Wilderness! 😂

[amfy]

It was a bit mad. I really wanted to let everyone go because we were literally doing nothing and everyone really wanted to try and see Elton. I’d already had to tell people to take their hi viz off because it looked so bad that we’d just been standing around for half an hour. Then some stewards said that some had gone to the loo and not come back, so I exaggeratedly said something like ‘How terrible! Have people really gone to the loo and not come back? I could never condone that but I’m just going to walk all the way over there’…..& everyone who was left duly took the hint and errrm went to the loo…

When the bloke came to stand us down he said he was going to blacklist every single one of us which was a horrible end to it all, and I felt sick, but the Team Leader did manage to smooth it over the next day. Oxfam obviously always want to do a thorough job, but at the end of the day they do also know when the job is done!

[Leyrulion]

17 minutes ago, amfy said:

It was a bit mad. I really wanted to let everyone go because we were literally doing nothing and everyone really wanted to try and see Elton. I’d already had to tell people to take their hi viz off because it looked so bad that we’d just been standing around for half an hour. Then some stewards said that some had gone to the loo and not come back, so I exaggeratedly said something like ‘How terrible! Have people really gone to the loo and not come back? I could never condone that but I’m just going to walk all the way over there’…..& everyone who was left duly took the hint and errrm went to the loo…

When the bloke came to stand us down he said he was going to blacklist every single one of us which was a horrible end to it all, and I felt sick, but the Team Leader did manage to smooth it over the next day. Oxfam obviously always want to do a thorough job, but at the end of the day they do also know when the job is done!

Oh how wrong to make threats like that 🙄, sorry you had to experience it. Guy sounds like a bit of a tool tbh.

[Skip997]

7 hours ago, balti-pie said:

Its not for everyone, it is knackering, but i really dont fancy a normal ticket any more - i'd miss the camping, the staff bars, the getting in early. Its a great way to see the festival from a different perspective. 

 

7 hours ago, stuie said:

It's a great place to be on Monday and Tuesday too.  I bang on about it a lot but it's nice to explore in the day and find some parties in the night before the masses arrive on Weds. 

I know I say this frequently, but it is the way to do the festival.

Wouldn't take a punter ticket if it was free.

[philipsteak]

9 hours ago, stuie said:

They will make reasonable adjustments for medical issues, age and disability in a lot of cases, but as for if you’ll have the energy to go out after your shift, only you will know that! 

Of course, RA isn’t possible for some positions, if you aren’t able to litterpick or serve bars for hours, for example. 

This is something for people to consider. I have met a handful of stewards over the years who've struggled to do much else other than their shifts because they are just too tired. Not many, but there have been a few. 

[philipsteak]

I actually prefer the Glastonbury shift pattern to other festivals. Yes, the 4.45 start is a real killer (especially as my last two festivals I've been at Sticklinch) but the overnight finishing at 4.45 means it's easier to at least try and get a few hours sleep before it gets too hot/light. Finishing at 7/8am pretty much rules that out for me. And finishing at 9pm means that you can make a headliner. Even 10pm depending on where you are and where you want to be. There is the potential problem of two headliners being ruined, but I don't think that's happened to me so that must mean I've never had that shift pattern. And I think it could only happen with that one shift pattern. 

I can handle the weird shifts and disruption to sleep better than a lot of people as I'm an insomniac who works shifts. So stewarding at festivals and the exhaustion it causes is just more extreme version of what I normally feel like! I'm used to not having enough sleep. I've adapted to be able to function when I'm permanently knackered.

I mean, it's also shortening my life, so, you know, swings and roundabouts!

[amfy]

Yes I do think it’s the pattern that is always referred to as ‘the dreaded’ D shift.

It was made worse for me because I didn’t mean to be a supervisor and had ticked that box accidentally, so Mr Amfy was on the same gate as me, but an hour behind! I lost a bit of the advantage in the finish time because of that. I’d just nodded off when he got in and had to get to sleep all over again! 

[deepkittycaz]

22 hours ago, Leyrulion said:

Having done an 11:45-8am Monday shift at Shambala I am a really big fan of the Glastonbury 9/10pm-5/6am overnights. Just feels a bit better as you can get some proper sleep. 

Midnight to 8am feels like it ruins 2 days. 

The Lockups overnight shift is midnight till 8am - and yes, it's tough the next day!

[oakdown]

22 hours ago, Festival Sounds Podcast said:

Probably worth posting what those shifts were so people understand what they could end up with

Oh it wasn't the actual shifts themselves that were a problem, I just got massively heatstroked on the Friday and struggled to get well again.

Having said that, my mate and I did have an issue with getting putting on opposite patterns despite having each other down as shift partners. Never had a problem with it in the past but it's worth keeping in mind that there is a chance you'll end up working solo, even if you sign up with pals. I did my first four years with Oxfam solo though, so it's not the end of the world! Just worth considering.

 

Edit: it was the dreaded D shift pattern I ended up on for the record

Edited November 21, 2023 by oakdown
Extra info

[Johnnyseven]

On 11/20/2023 at 12:09 PM, Jay Pee said:

It is about time that i drop in the usual line that virtually all WaterAid roles are daytime only and not through the night. you get to maintain some semblance of a normal sleep pattern although there is the occasional 06:30 start which does impact on partying slightly.

Trade off being a lot of them are Loo Crew but as i have said many times, its not as bad as one may imagine it to be.

My mate worked for Wateraid in 2023, I worked for Oxfam. He was on the Loo Crew and his shifts sounded a lot easier then mine. Basically you had a start time and a group of bogs to clean and once you'd done them you could end your shift. Whereas with Oxfam you do a full 8 hours and one of the shifts will most likely be overnight.

[JayDiesel]

36 minutes ago, Johnnyseven said:

My mate worked for Wateraid in 2023, I worked for Oxfam. He was on the Loo Crew and his shifts sounded a lot easier then mine. Basically you had a start time and a group of bogs to clean and once you'd done them you could end your shift. Whereas with Oxfam you do a full 8 hours and one of the shifts will most likely be overnight.

I'd heard murmurs that this was the case, and am delighted to hear it's true. Don't care if it's cleaning the minging bogs, you best believe I'll be cleaning them at the speed of sound knowing that I'm free after.

Is this a seperate application, or just all luck?

[mjfromthelane]

For the Loo Crew, I assume that just involves the cleaning of all the parts of the toilets that punters use? And not some sort of involvement with the toxic waste?

Either way, I think that is one volunteering option the other half won't be so keen on.

[stuie]

13 minutes ago, JayDiesel said:

I'd heard murmurs that this was the case, and am delighted to hear it's true. Don't care if it's cleaning the minging bogs, you best believe I'll be cleaning them at the speed of sound knowing that I'm free after.

Is this a seperate application, or just all luck?

I'm not sure this is totally true but @Jay Pee will let us know! 

Edited November 21, 2023 by stuie

[incident]

12 minutes ago, mjfromthelane said:

For the Loo Crew, I assume that just involves the cleaning of all the parts of the toilets that punters use? And not some sort of involvement with the toxic waste?

Either way, I think that is one volunteering option the other half won't be so keen on.

My understanding is that it's pretty much spraying down and wiping down the inside of each long drop seat and surrounds, and then moving on. Using tools that mean you don't have to get too "up close and personal". And if there's something that needs more attention than that, calling for the specialists.

[Johnnyseven]

28 minutes ago, JayDiesel said:

I'd heard murmurs that this was the case, and am delighted to hear it's true. Don't care if it's cleaning the minging bogs, you best believe I'll be cleaning them at the speed of sound knowing that I'm free after.

Is this a seperate application, or just all luck?

Luck, if your idea of luck is cleaning up other peoples' turds.

[Jay Pee]

1 hour ago, Johnnyseven said:

My mate worked for Wateraid in 2023, I worked for Oxfam. He was on the Loo Crew and his shifts sounded a lot easier then mine. Basically you had a start time and a group of bogs to clean and once you'd done them you could end your shift. Whereas with Oxfam you do a full 8 hours and one of the shifts will most likely be overnight.

Yep, that isn't strictly true and is a bit of a sliding scale depending on distance of toilet blocks you are assigned from WA camp site, how big they are and level of use.

In 2019, we had a block near the road crossing from camp site to Silver Hayes and one on edge or the wood other side from Woodsies tent itself.

Fair and reasonable that we got round both blocks of stalls twice in a shift. 

The key with WaterAid is shirking shafts the next shift and does not go down well at all. 

[stuie]

1 minute ago, Jay Pee said:

Yep, that isn't strictly true and is a bit of a sliding scale depending on distance of toilet blocks you are assigned from WA camp site, how big they are and level of use.

In 2019, we had a block near the road crossing from camp site to Silver Hayes and one on edge or the wood other side from Woodsies tent itself.

Fair and reasonable that we got round both blocks of stalls twice in a shift. 

The key with WaterAid is shirking shafts the next shift and does not go down well at all. 

I thought it couldn’t be a case of clean once and clock out! However challenging the work can be 😂

[JayDiesel]

39 minutes ago, Johnnyseven said:

Luck, if your idea of luck is cleaning up other peoples' turds.

The price I pay to mong out in a field of dreams for free

[Johnnyseven]

49 minutes ago, Jay Pee said:

Yep, that isn't strictly true and is a bit of a sliding scale depending on distance of toilet blocks you are assigned from WA camp site, how big they are and level of use.

In 2019, we had a block near the road crossing from camp site to Silver Hayes and one on edge or the wood other side from Woodsies tent itself.

This is another thing that my mate said was good about Wateraid shifts, you start you shift signing on at the Wateraid campsite - rather at where your shift is based as it is with Oxfam. If you're based in one of the faraway Oxfam locations (but not far enough away for a lift) it can take 30 to 45 mins extra each way to get you to and from your shift. Had I not got a ticket for 2024 I was definitely looking at volunteering with Wateraid this time. Don't get me wrong, there's anything wrong with working for Oxfam, i'd still consider it as an option to get to the festival if I was ticketless, I just fancy giving Wateraid a try.

Edited November 21, 2023 by Johnnyseven

[Jay Pee]

3 minutes ago, Johnnyseven said:

This is another thing that my mate said was good about Wateraid shifts, you start you shift signing on at the Wateraid campsite - rather at where your shift is based as it is with Oxfam. If you're based in one of the faraway Oxfam locations (but not far enough away for a lift) it can take 30 to 45 mins extra each way to get you to and from your shift.

Yes, agreed. Its WaterAid every time for me for many reasons but we all get quite parochial around our charity of choice.

It's all year round for me also.  A charity is for life .. not just for Glastonbury 🙂

[Leyrulion]

1 hour ago, Johnnyseven said:

If you're based in one of the faraway Oxfam locations (but not far enough away for a lift) it can take 30 to 45 mins extra each way to get you to and from your shift.

The lifts don't make much of a difference anyway (IMO), they leave 30 mins before shift starts from the Oxfam campsite. 

So if you're based near stick lynch with a 1:45pm shift start by the time you  get to Oxfam field for the 1:15 bus you'd probably be better off just going straight there  (from most places on site) swinging by Oxlyers lock ups for your tabard.

Edited November 21, 2023 by Leyrulion

[Leyrulion]

1 hour ago, Johnnyseven said:

This is another thing that my mate said was good about Wateraid shifts, you start you shift signing on at the Wateraid campsite - rather at where your shift is based as it is with Oxfam. If you're based in one of the faraway Oxfam locations (but not far enough away for a lift) it can take 30 to 45 mins extra each way to get you to and from your shift. Had I not got a ticket for 2024 I was definitely looking at volunteering with Wateraid this time. Don't get me wrong, there's anything wrong with working for Oxfam, i'd still consider it as an option to get to the festival if I was ticketless, I just fancy giving Wateraid a try.

 

2 hours ago, mjfromthelane said:

For the Loo Crew, I assume that just involves the cleaning of all the parts of the toilets that punters use? And not some sort of involvement with the toxic waste?

Either way, I think that is one volunteering option the other half won't be so keen on.

 

2 hours ago, JayDiesel said:

I'd heard murmurs that this was the case, and am delighted to hear it's true. Don't care if it's cleaning the minging bogs, you best believe I'll be cleaning them at the speed of sound knowing that I'm free after.

Is this a seperate application, or just all luck?

Worth reading this guardian blog on water aid experience in 2023. 

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2023/jun/26/fetch-mop-code-brown-diary-glastonbury-toilet-cleaner

Put me off somewhat. It's not the work exactly it's the thought of being around that smell for 6 hours.

[philipsteak]

5 hours ago, oakdown said:

Oh it wasn't the actual shifts themselves that were a problem, I just got massively heatstroked on the Friday and struggled to get well again.

Having said that, my mate and I did have an issue with getting putting on opposite patterns despite having each other down as shift partners. Never had a problem with it in the past but it's worth keeping in mind that there is a chance you'll end up working solo, even if you sign up with pals. I did my first four years with Oxfam solo though, so it's not the end of the world! Just worth considering.

 

Edit: it was the dreaded D shift pattern I ended up on for the record

Happened to me in 2022. Group of 6 split 4/2. Only time it's happened in about 9 years of putting shift partners down. Especially as it was our first post COVID Glastonbury.

f**k ups happen I guess, just frustrating when it happens to you. Even more so in your case I guess, being just the two of you. 

I think it is very rare though. You're the only other person I've heard of it happening too.

[thewomble]

On 11/19/2023 at 12:14 PM, BillieBobs said:

Hi friends! 👋 Congratulations to you lucky lot who’ve bagged tickets. Sadly after 7 years on the bounce I’ve hit my unlucky year. I don’t want to wait until the resales so looking at volunteering opportunities. Registered with Oxfam, Water Aid and Festaff. 
 

Can anyone point me in the right direction for anything else? Thank you 

I'm starting to have a look at options for volunteering too - not sure I can face the disappointment in the resale 🙂

 

On 11/19/2023 at 1:29 PM, Leyrulion said:

It's updated for 2024

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1JAcEC1skr5YsqgyIYUwy6_1HSRh0Fw_Ud0RkQaQIPkM/edit?usp=drivesdk

I have tickets this year though so might be paying a little less attention to it in the run up!

I'd sign up to all the mailing lists you can today and read up on options and what's best for you. 

Oxfam is a route for many but it's pretty competitive if you don't have priority. Shelter and water aid are a bit less of a bun fight. 

Thanks for sharing this! Will have a good look through this sheet and in the meantime I'm interested to hear different views for people who've worked the various volunteer roles so will see what groups I can find on FB. From an initial look I'm leaning towards Oxfam! Would actually be quite nice to see the festival from a different perspective and meet some new people along the way