Volunteering 2025

[amfy]

  On 1/31/2025 at 8:51 AM, sedra said:

Email from Oxfam this week- anyone requiring reasonable adjustments for shifts etc need to apply to Nimbus first which has upset people who don’t meet Nimbus criteria but still need some RA. I can see it’s going to be helpful for the organisers to arrange shifts for those with specific disabilities and ensure right support but doesn’t take into account those people who may need minor adjustments and whose medical/other needs are manageable outside of the festival environment. Having said that there were a few people on my shifts last year who basically were not able to actually do much work at all on shift so they might as well not have been there. 

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I’m reading this as Nimbus doing a specific Oxfam Nimbus card which will allow for those issues which wouldn’t normally qualify you for a nimbus card, but would require RAs as a steward.

 

The email lists a Nimbus card which costs £15 and last 3 years (which you could use to apply for an Oxfam RA) OR a ‘Nimbus Oxfam Digital Access Card’ which is free to you although Oxfam will be charged for it, and is only used in relation to reasonable adjustments for Oxfam volunteers.

 

 

Also from Oxfam today - a new priority points system for next year where you don’t get any points for Glastonbury! (But obviously will be better having priority points to get into Glastonbury).
 

All other festivals are 3 points for a weekend festivals and 1 point for a day festival. For priority you need 6 points from the previous year or 21 points from the last 7 years.

It’s not clear whether the Glastonburies from previous years still count at this stage! 

Edited January 31 by amfy
To add the pints system update.

[Skip997]

Shambala confirmed 🤩

[Kashkin]

  On 1/31/2025 at 5:33 PM, amfy said:

I’m reading this as Nimbus doing a specific Oxfam Nimbus card which will allow for those issues which wouldn’t normally qualify you for a nimbus card, but would require RAs as a steward.

 

The email lists a Nimbus card which costs £15 and last 3 years (which you could use to apply for an Oxfam RA) OR a ‘Nimbus Oxfam Digital Access Card’ which is free to you although Oxfam will be charged for it, and is only used in relation to reasonable adjustments for Oxfam volunteers.

 

 

Also from Oxfam today - a new priority points system for next year where you don’t get any points for Glastonbury! (But obviously will be better having priority points to get into Glastonbury).
 

All other festivals are 3 points for a weekend festivals and 1 point for a day festival. For priority you need 6 points from the previous year or 21 points from the last 7 years.

It’s not clear whether the Glastonburies from previous years still count at this stage! 

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Can I ask where this info is? I haven't had an email from Oxfam and can't see anything new about priority on the website 

[balti-pie]

So the new Oxfam system means you have to do two non-Glastonbury festivals to guarantee a Glastonbury slot; that’s ridiculous, anyone who’s working basically has to use at least two weeks of annual leave a year just for festivals! They’ll lose a lot of working people, and I’d say the majority of people able to do this will be retired. Good for them, but crap for the rest of us . . . 

[CaledonianGonzo]

Not a single festival north of the border either.

[balti-pie]

  On 1/31/2025 at 6:12 PM, CaledonianGonzo said:

Not a single festival north of the border either.

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There’s a real southern slant, the furthest north used to be Bearded Theory and that’s midlands. The Lytham thing has equalled it up, but it’s 5 x day festivals rather than a proper camping festival (and it’s still a decent drive from Scotland anyways)

wonder why they don’t look at belladrum or others? I’d absolutely love a spin up there for a festival 

[philipsteak]

  On 1/31/2025 at 6:11 PM, balti-pie said:

So the new Oxfam system means you have to do two non-Glastonbury festivals to guarantee a Glastonbury slot; that’s ridiculous, anyone who’s working basically has to use at least two weeks of annual leave a year just for festivals! They’ll lose a lot of working people, and I’d say the majority of people able to do this will be retired. Good for them, but crap for the rest of us . . . 

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Or if you live in London and don't work weekends then do a load of day festivals

 

I work weekends so I already have to use more AL than most.

 

Edit

The 21 points does mean that as long as you do one extra every year you'll keep qualifying

 

Edited January 31 by philipsteak

[philipsteak]

  On 1/31/2025 at 6:18 PM, balti-pie said:

There’s a real southern slant, the furthest north used to be Bearded Theory and that’s midlands. The Lytham thing has equalled it up, but it’s 5 x day festivals rather than a proper camping festival (and it’s still a decent drive from Scotland anyways)

wonder why they don’t look at belladrum or others? I’d absolutely love a spin up there for a festival 

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Leeds

[amfy]

  On 1/31/2025 at 6:09 PM, Kashkin said:

 

Can I ask where this info is? I haven't had an email from Oxfam and can't see anything new about priority on the website 

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it was on the website but it has been taken down which I think is probably to re-write it to include some of the questions that have immediately been raised.

[StoneCircle]

  On 1/31/2025 at 5:33 PM, amfy said:

I’m reading this as Nimbus doing a specific Oxfam Nimbus card which will allow for those issues which wouldn’t normally qualify you for a nimbus card, but would require RAs as a steward.

 

The email lists a Nimbus card which costs £15 and last 3 years (which you could use to apply for an Oxfam RA) OR a ‘Nimbus Oxfam Digital Access Card’ which is free to you although Oxfam will be charged for it, and is only used in relation to reasonable adjustments for Oxfam volunteers.

 

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Nimbus took over the assessment of Glastonbury Accessible Facilities applicants last year which makes sense as they are qualified to make the correct decision. This move was very much needed as the amount of applicants wanting to use the Accessible Facilities had exceeded the amount of spaces available.

 

As with Oxfam there is the choice between a 3 year Nimbus Card for £15 or a free Glastonbury Digital Access Pass. 

 

Nimbus understand that even just attending and getting around the festival is more demanding than normal day to day life, so they judge each application fairly based on the evidence they are provided with. 

 

However I would be very surprised if the criteria differs to qualify for the card or the pass. 

 

I would highly recommend getting the full Nimbus Card as it is recognised by many venues and attractions both in the UK and worldwide. 😊

[sedra]

  On 1/31/2025 at 7:12 PM, StoneCircle said:

 

Looks to have changed already...

 

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This is the current priority system- they are going to be changing it for points but the website hasn’t  been updated yet. Not sure where the points info came from 

Edited January 31 by StoneCircle
Removed link

[StoneCircle]

  On 1/31/2025 at 7:14 PM, sedra said:

This is the current priority system- they are going to be changing it for points but the website hasn’t  been updated yet. Not sure where the points info came from 

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Thanks for the update, I have removed the link to avoid confusion! 😊

[Skip997]

Green Fields Stewards website opens at midnight for those who use it 

[Leyrulion]

Well Glastonbury not counting towards priority would put a spanner in the works, that's a bit sh*t. 

 

[Leyrulion]

Thinking about it this can't be right. 

If you volunteer for Glastonbury with Oxfam and want to do it the year after you'd have to do two more non Glastonbury festivals. 

 

That's such a higher bar than every other volunteer org and would surely be screening out a load of people they actually want to come back who have experience. 

[balti-pie]

  On 1/31/2025 at 8:49 PM, Leyrulion said:

Thinking about it this can't be right. 

If you volunteer for Glastonbury with Oxfam and want to do it the year after you'd have to do two more non Glastonbury festivals. 

 

That's such a higher bar than every other volunteer org and would surely be screening out a load of people they actually want to come back who have experience. 

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I’m presuming this was an outline proposal and some donut put it live on the website, cos it’s taken down now; they’ll get a bit of feedback that it’s a spectacularly dumb idea, and they’ll row back on it a bit.
 

At least i hope they will, or I’ll be jumping ship and finding an alternative volunteering route! wateraid seems ok, wouldn’t mind them at all 

[Leyrulion]

  On 1/31/2025 at 8:59 PM, balti-pie said:

I’m presuming this was an outline proposal and some donut put it live on the website, cos it’s taken down now; they’ll get a bit of feedback that it’s a spectacularly dumb idea, and they’ll row back on it a bit.
 

At least i hope they will, or I’ll be jumping ship and finding an alternative volunteering route! wateraid seems ok, wouldn’t mind them at all 

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It doesn't even sound like such a bad idea they just need to give people credit for actually volunteering for Glastonbury. 

 

I can only think they want to stop people who are now set in a pattern of only doing Glastonbury each year and having a space guaranteed, but I can't understand why that would be a problem. 

[amfy]

  On 1/31/2025 at 8:49 PM, Leyrulion said:

Thinking about it this can't be right. 

If you volunteer for Glastonbury with Oxfam and want to do it the year after you'd have to do two more non Glastonbury festivals. 

 

That's such a higher bar than every other volunteer org and would surely be screening out a load of people they actually want to come back who have experience. 

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You haven’t got to do 2 other festivals to do Glastonbury, you’ve got to do 2 other festivals to get priority applications for Glastonbury. Anyone can still go for Glastonbury only, just with a bit less chance of getting it.
Given that there have always been non-priority places, and pretty much everyone who sticks with it gets one, it really doesn’t mean you have to do 2 other festivals, especially as there will no doubt end up being less people with priority if they use this criteria.

I think this is the route they’ve decided in because they are now getting over subscribed for priority, & in respect of Glastonbury at least, people currently expect to get Glastonbury on 2 festivals a year.

[Pinhead]

They've finally clocked that the only reason anyone works for them is because they wanted a guaranteed Glastonbury insurance policy in place.

[Leyrulion]

  On 1/31/2025 at 9:04 PM, amfy said:

You haven’t got to do 2 other festivals to do Glastonbury, you’ve got to do 2 other festivals to get priority applications for Glastonbury. Anyone can still go for Glastonbury only, just with a bit less chance of getting it.
Given that there have always been non-priority places, and pretty much everyone who sticks with it gets one, it really doesn’t mean you have to do 2 other festivals, especially as there will no doubt end up being less people with priority if they use this criteria.

I think this is the route they’ve decided in because they are now getting over subscribed for priority, & in respect of Glastonbury at least, people currently expect to get Glastonbury on 2 festivals a year.

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I'm confused now. 

If I volunteer at Glastonbury and one other festival would I or wouldn't I have priority for applying for Glastonbury the following year? 

 

 

[Pinhead]

They surely can't change this year's Glastonbury priority? But next year, working Glastonbury the previous won't count for sh*t.

[Skip997]

  On 1/31/2025 at 9:08 PM, Pinhead said:

They've finally clocked that the only reason anyone works for them is because they wanted a guaranteed Glastonbury insurance policy in place.

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Of course 

[balti-pie]

  On 1/31/2025 at 9:08 PM, Pinhead said:

They've finally clocked that the only reason anyone works for them is because they wanted a guaranteed Glastonbury insurance policy in place.

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I feel seen 😊

 

tbf it’ll remain to be seen what happens with supervising, if that skips to the side of the priority points thing then that’ll probably force my hand in doing that. A decent compromise I reckon 

[Pinhead]

What with the other dropped regular festivals, does anyone get the sense that Oxfam Festivals is under new management....?

[Pinhead]

  On 1/31/2025 at 9:10 PM, balti-pie said:

I feel seen 😊

 

tbf it’ll remain to be seen what happens with supervising, if that skips to the side of the priority points thing then that’ll probably force my hand in doing that. A decent compromise I reckon 

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They've dropped the supervisor 2 year rule haven't they?