Safety and welfare

It is important for you to be prepared for your Oxfam Festivals experience. You are responsible for your own transport to site ahead of the festival – you can offer or request a Liftshare with fellow volunteers.

You need to bring your own camping equipment and clothing suitable for the full range of British weather. A sturdy pair of footwear is essential. We will provide you with a voucher for a free hot meal for every shift you volunteer, so make sure you bring enough food or money to feed yourself beyond this. Also make sure you remember to bring a mug with you as we provide free hot drinks throughout, but not cups. If you have any physical or mental health conditions that Oxfam should be aware of, please let us know so we can facilitate your experience. Medical and accessibility requirements

Information is really important to staying safe. We ensure you'll be fully trained in your role before you arrive on site, and then we'll also brief you at the festival site when you arrive about the specifics for that event.

As a steward, you will also receive a copy of our digital Stewarding Guide, which provides a wealth of useful information. Please make sure you read through it before your first shift. If there is anything you are still unsure of, do not hesitate to ask an Oxfam member of staff or your supervisor – they are there to help and support you.

We all have a duty to keep ourselves safe. On festival sites, Oxfam provides items which can help you stay safe, known as Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). This includes your hi-vis tabard, but may also include ear protection, sunscreen, a dust mask or a two-way radio. If you are asked to use an item of PPE by Oxfam, it will be for your own welfare.

Festivals are packed with amazing things to do and we want you to enjoy your free time as well as your volunteering. You are always responsible for your own welfare, whether on or off shift. If you are planning to party, always remember that you need to be fit and sober for your shifts. The Oxfam coordinators are always available to support you on site if you are not feeling well or need to talk.

You can read more detail in our Terms of Reference.

We are very proud of our volunteer community and we encourage everyone to be friendly and welcoming. We have lots of experienced volunteers who are happy to share their knowledge and volunteering tips. You can ask previous volunteers questions in our Facebook Forum. We don’t tolerate antisocial behaviour and expect everyone to feel safe and secure in our community.

Oxfam is committed to creating a safe and rewarding environment for our staff and volunteers.

Whilst on site you are representing Oxfam, and we expect your conduct to be consistent with Oxfam’s values and standards. By signing up to volunteer with us, you have agreed to our code of conduct and our terms of reference. This means treating everybody with respect and dignity and challenging any form of harassment, discrimination, intimidation, exploitation or abuse.

If you come across anyone falling short of these standards in any way please report it to us. Oxfam Festival Coordinators are trained to treat anything you disclose with strict confidentiality and can take action to resolve issues on site. You can go to Oxbox or call the on-site number and ask to speak to them. If you don’t feel able to report something on-site, but would like it to be followed up, you can also contact Oxfam centrally at safeguarding@oxfam.org.uk. If you wish to report a concern anonymously, you can use a confidential external reporting route and contact www.oxfam.ethicspoint.com/, or by phone on 0808 234 9797.

Oxfam treats all allegations very seriously and investigates each one thoroughly. Further information, including Oxfam’s safeguarding policies, can be found here.