Volunteer FAQs
You can find information on the following topics here:
Can I work my shifts / have free time with my partner / friend / family member?
How does the festival look after my Safeguarding / Wellbeing?
You also have general FAQs about the festival, which you may find helpful.
How much time do I have to commit?
On festival days (Sat / Sun / Mon), we ask for a minimum of 5 hours of your time, and will gladly accept more. This will be broken into scheduled 1h / 2h / 3h shifts, with breaks between them for you to eat, drink and generally enjoy the festival.
For other duties (setup / teardown / leaflet drops) we don’t have any minimum time - we’re happy for you to just do what you can, when you can.
Do I get free tickets?
Volunteers who work shifts on festival days will get free access for the whole weekend, via your Crew wristband. Please collect your wristband at the gate or the Volunteer Check-in desk when you arrive on the first day of the festival (or the first day you attend).
Anyone who does leaflet drops but is unable to help during the festival will get one day free entry on a day of your choice, which will be via a complimentary day ticket.
Do I have to pay a deposit?
No. Unlike some festivals, we recruit our volunteers directly, and don’t ask for a deposit (aka discounted ticket); we trust that you will work the shifts that have been assigned to you, and you get in free (for the amount of time described in the Crew Perks) on that basis.
Can my friends, family, etc volunteer too?
Of course! Please ask them to complete our volunteer form
How are the shifts scheduled?
Festival days: Sat / Sun / Mon
For scheduled shifts during festival days (Sat / Sun / Mon), we use a scheduling app called Sling. We will invite you to create an account there to see your shifts if you don’t already have one from previous years.
Note that to keep costs down, we “hibernate” all users between the end of one festival and the start of the next, so your account will only be active from shortly before the festival until shortly afterwards.
You can see your own shifts (colour coded by shift type) in the iOS or Android app (or on desktop), and can opt to get notifications about shift start times in the mobile apps. You can also offer to take on any additional shifts that have not been assigned to anyone.
During the festival, gates open at 11am, and we have 1 hour, 2 hour or 3 hour blocks for various different roles (some of which start before gates open). You will have formal timed shifts which may be scheduled throughout the day. We ask that you arrive promptly for all of your shifts, to allow other volunteers to take their own breaks and enjoy the festival too. The Sling app can be set to notify you when you have a shift due to start soon.
There will also be a printed daily schedule (in tiny print!) available in the onsite Festival Office (near the public entrance gate) and/or the Volunteer Check-in desk.
Setup / Teardown days
On setup and teardown days, we don’t have formal shifts for each individual. We do block the time out as a scheduled shift in Sling, but on those days you are under no obligation to be there for the whole time. We typically start at around 8:00 am (exact time TBA, once we have arrival times for the various contractors and deliveries), and get on with jobs as they arise … much of which will depend on when the various contractors and equipment arrives; there’s a plan, of course, but we have to be flexible.
You may find that there are periods when there’s nothing we can do, and equally, periods when it’s all hands to the decks. We’ll have hot and cold drinks to grab as and when you can, and a distinct meal break for all at an appropriate point during the day. We typically finish each day no later than 4:00/5:00pm. On teardown day, we aim to be in the pub as soon after 2:00pm as possible 😉. If you can’t get there at the start of those days, or need to leave before the end of any of them, that’s absolutely fine.
Volunteer Briefing / Social
This will be scheduled for everybody in Sling, but although it’s strongly encouraged, you are under no obligation to attend. It is a great opportunity to familiarise yourself with the layout of the event field though, and to get to know some of your fellow volunteers and ask any questions you may have before we all get really busy in the days to come. We do also use it as an opportunity to ensure that the bar is in good working order 😇
Do I need to be physically fit?
Different roles require different levels of fitness, but the work can be demanding, and most duties do require at least some element of being on your feet (whether standing or walking) for relatively long periods, and interacting with the public at some level. A brief assessment of what’s required from each shift type is described on the volunteer page and registration form.
Having said that, many of our regular volunteers are well past the first flush of youth and into retirement, with various niggles, which do not preclude them from volunteering.
If I register, will I definitely get accepted?
In the majority of cases, yes.
If we can determine from your initial registration that we will not be able to offer you any / enough suitable shifts, we will inform you as soon as we can.
We also keep an eye on the number of people registering, and will close registrations once we have enough volunteers to cover the necessary shifts.
Occasionally, we may restrict availability, or reopen registration for particular roles where we do not have enough volunteers for specific duties.
On rare occasions, we may find that when we create the detailed rota we turn out to have an imbalance of volunteers with particular duty preferences and the number of those shift types available, and are therefore unable to meet your preferences. In that case, we will have to decline your offer to volunteer. However, if there has been a change in ticket prices since the date of your application, we will offer a ticket at the price that was in force at the time of your initial registration, so that you do not lose out.
Will I get a break?
Although you will have duties scheduled for 5 or more hours during the day as a whole on Live Festival days, we schedule in multiples of one hour blocks, so you will have breaks of at least 1 hour at a time between your shifts. There are no breaks within a shift block, so please make sure you’ve eaten if necessary, and have been to the loo before you start.
There’s a band playing that I’d particularly love to see. Can I have shifts that don’t clash with their stage slot?
Yes, if you tell us BEFORE we start designing the rota.
Unlike other festivals where you may get a chance to offer a preference about type of shifts, and then get what you’re given in one big block, we do try very hard to take people’s preferences into account, and to be as flexible as possible.
Our stage manager at the festival makes sure that everything runs like clockwork, so if your favourite artist is due to be on the main stage from 4:45-5:30 on Sunday, we can be confident that they’ll be playing then 😎.
In early August, shortly before we start designing the detailed rota, we will contact everybody who has registered to ask for their precise availability and preferences - including a list of bands (in priority order) that you’d like to see. We can usually make sure that everybody gets to see at least their first choice artist, and often many more too. Of course, the more everybody lists, the more difficult it will be to accommodate them all, but we WILL try!
BUT … designing a complicated rota that works for around 50 volunteers, each with their own various different preferences and restrictions is tricky. It’s only possible if we have all of the information about ALL of EVERYBODY’s restrictions before we start. There are lots of interactions between shifts, which means that swapping things around after we’ve already taken everybody else’s preferences into account is at least 10 times as difficult as designing it in from the start, and is sometimes totally impossible - please help us to save a huge amount of time and effort by letting us know before we start on it.
I need a break at a certain time to pick my kids up / take the dog for a walk / watch my team on TV / care for an elderly relative / whatever. Can I have shifts that work around that?
Yes, if you tell us BEFORE we start designing the rota, and it still leaves you with 5 hours available in the day with shifts of your preferences that we need.
In early August, shortly before we start designing the detailed rota, we will contact everybody who has registered to ask for their precise availability and preferences - including times when you’re not available. We can usually make sure that everybody gets their choice of breaks required for other commitments. Of course, the more everybody lists, the more difficult it will be to accommodate them all, but we WILL try! We may ask you to be a bit flexible with your outside commitments if you are able to move things around a little to dovetail better with the shift patterns if we’re finding it tricky though.
PLEASE remember … while we do work really hard on your behalf to take everybody’s needs into account, designing a complicated rota that works for around 50 volunteers, each with their own various different restrictions is tricky. It’s only possible if we have all of the information about ALL of EVERYBODY’s restrictions before we start. There are lots of interactions between shifts, which means that swapping things around after we’ve taken everybody else’s preferences into account is at least 10 times as difficult as designing it in from the start, and is sometimes totally impossible.
Can I work my shifts / have free time with my partner / friend / family member?
Yes, if you tell us BEFORE we start designing the rota.
In early August, shortly before we start designing the detailed rota, we will contact everybody who has registered and ask for their precise availability and preferences - including asking whether you would like to WORK with another volunteer, or just to have FREE TIME at the same time as another volunteer (they have to tell us they want the same, of course!)
Some duties (such as the bar and ticket desk) need multiple people at a time. For those, we can easily pair up people who have the same availability and preferences to work together.
Other duties (such as the Merch desk or Artist gate) only ever need one person at a time. So although we could schedule shifts (and therefore free time) for you both at the same time, we clearly can’t schedule you both for the same duties at the same time. There may occasionally also be other interactions between other shifts on the rota which mean that we may have to schedule one hour each in the day when one of you is working and the other isn’t. We will do our best to keep this to a minimum, but we may have to ask you to be a bit flexible if we are unable to match all shift times up exactly.
PLEASE help us to help you. We put in a lot of work to design a complicated rota that works for around 50 volunteers, each with their own various different restrictions - but it’s not as easy as you might think. It’s only possible if we have all of the information about ALL of EVERYBODY’s restrictions before we start. There are lots of interactions between shifts, which means that swapping things around after we’ve taken everybody else’s preferences into account can take at least 10 times as long as designing it in from the start, can sometimes involve almost starting from scratch again (which is unfair for every other Volunteer involved), and is sometimes totally impossible. We want to do our very best for you, so we do ask that you make it as easy as you can for us.
Can I eat and drink on shift?
Water is fine at any time. Food and other drinks should be consumed when you are off duty please.
For those Volunteers working shifts on the bar, you will need to abide by the Bar Manager’s policies.
Alcohol consumption should be kept within reason at all times, so that you are able to perform your duties safely, and behave in a manner that always promotes a positive impression of the Festival and its crew.
Can I swap my shifts?
Sometimes. But we’d much rather avoid the need for it.
We want all of our volunteers to be able to enjoy the festival too, so we’ll ask you well in advance for the types of shifts that you can or can’t do, and times when you’re not available (e.g. because there’s a particular band that you want to watch, or you have other commitments, need to catch the last bus, etc.), and we’ll try as hard as we can schedule around that wherever we can to minimise the need to swap shifts later on.
See the paragraphs above about giving us as much information in advance about what does or doesn’t work for you, so that we can minimise the need for swaps.
The Sling app also has a feature that allows you to request additional shifts that we need cover for. All requests need to be approved by Julie or Bex, so that we can prioritise the most important ones and make sure that there are no clashes.
What if I have shifts scheduled, and then can’t do them?
We get it: life happens, and things change.
Please let us know as soon as you possibly can if something happens and you realise that you won’t be able to cover your scheduled shifts for any reason. We won’t judge!
But the sooner you tell us, the easier it will be for us to find somebody to cover for you, so we really do appreciate you telling us as early as possible, to help us make an alternative plan in plenty of time.
Am I guaranteed the shifts that are scheduled for me?
In general, yes, although we may sometimes have to make some adjustments to the published rota if - despite all our requests - somebody realises after the rota has been published that they can’t do the shifts they’ve been scheduled to do.
And of course, as previously mentioned, life happens and we sometimes have to make changes at short notice. If that is the case, we may ask you to be flexible and cover for somebody who can’t do their own scheduled shift.
What do I get in return for volunteering?
We hope you will be proud of the part you played as a important member of an amazing team of people who helped thousands of attendees, artists and traders to have a great time at the Festival. You may learn new skills. You may make new friends. You WILL have the undying gratitude of Julie, Dean, Andy, Chris, Helen and Bex.
But that’s not really what you meant, is it?
The chart below shows what perks we offer to our amazing volunteers, depending on how and when they help out.
*broken into 1h / 2h / 3h shifts
Meal vouchers can be used at nominated food stalls
Drink vouchers can be used at the TBF bar (not Tin & Glass), or at the Coffee stall
Note that we are unable to provide secure storage for your personal possessions, and can take no responsibility for anything that happens to them at the Festival.
“Quiet space” in this chart is a relative term! There will be live music playing on one stage or the other all day long. The space available to volunteers enables a break where you can sit away from the public and the stages, and make yourself a cup of tea or coffee.
If space allows, we will also have an area where volunteers can enjoy the Festival music together too, when off shift. (Please bring your own chair.)
Do I get free food and drink at the festival?
On non-festival days (setup and teardown), the festival will provide food and drink for volunteers.
If you are on shift on festival days, you will receive meal and drink vouchers according to the number of hours worked that day. Your vouchers can be exchanged for meals or drinks at the nominated food traders stalls. Vouchers are valid on the day of issue, and are to be used for your own consumption only, and must not be given to anyone else.
Vouchers may not be exchanged for non-meal food items (such as sweets or cakes from stalls selling them to take home), but if you prefer not to eat a hot meal, they may be used at the dessert stalls (e.g. for ice creams, etc).
We also have an urn with DIY tea and coffee making facilities for Volunteer Crew in the “Quiet space” behind the bar.
All of the traders where vouchers are accepted will be along the right hand side of the field, looking from the main entrance / bars towards the main stage.
What Health & Safety concerns should I be aware of?
If you have an accident or witness one (no matter what the cause), or if you feel ill, please inform one of the Organisers or Volunteer Coordinators immediately (they will all be wearing purple Festival branded hi-vis jackets). We have a duty of care, and need to establish details of what happened as quickly and as accurately as possible. We do have a First Aid tent on site, and that will usually be the first port of call to deal with any injury or illness.
How does the festival look after my Safeguarding / Wellbeing?
If anything happens at the event that makes you feel uncomfortable, please inform one of the Organisers or Volunteer Coordinators immediately, or as soon as you feel able to do so if it is too distressing to tell us straight away (they will all be wearing purple Festival branded hi-vis jackets). Alternatively, please inform one of our independent Security team.
We take your wellbeing very seriously, and will not tolerate inappropriate behaviour towards any of our volunteers.
I have no experience, but I’d like to volunteer
We’re a friendly approachable bunch, and have some really experienced volunteers who have helped out in previous years and will be more than happy to show you the ropes. We don’t ask our volunteers to take on any roles that are difficult.
You will have an opportunity to tell us a little about yourself when you complete the form, and if there are any roles that you feel particularly suited to, or any that you absolutely don’t want to do (e.g. heavy lifting, or bar work), please let us know. We do invite you to be as flexible as possible though. For instance, people with no previous bar experience have thoroughly surprised themselves by how much they have enjoyed working the Festival bar. There are no spirits or fancy mixers - just a range of beers, ciders and soft drinks, with a pictorial till that does all the work with the prices and payments for you … and plenty of other people around to help if you need it.
For any of our roles, all you need is a willingness to get stuck in, and a happy smile.
And if you’ve volunteered at our festival before, but fancy being a bit more adventurous about your duties, let us know: we’ll be delighted to help you spread your wings a bit.
We encourage you to ask any questions by email before the event, or at the Volunteer briefing / Friday evening social.
How do I find somebody in charge during the festival?
If you need to ask questions or have any concerns about something that you see during any part of the vent, including setup and teardown, please raise them with one of the Organisers or Volunteer Coordinators as soon as possible (they will all be wearing purple Festival branded hi-vis jackets). If we can’t deal with it ourselves, we will have radios and be able to contact somebody appropriate to help.
You’ll usually find Julie and/or Helen in or around the main office at the main entrance gate (but we do theoretically get breaks too, or may get called away to deal with other things that arise). Bex will also be floating and can answer most questions you may have.
Volunteer Terms & Conditions
You will need to agree to our full Volunteer Terms and Conditions to volunteer.
Last updated 17 June 2026