Volunteer Stories

On my way to shift, I made a friend, turns out they also live in the same city. Basically, every shift you could make a life-long friend. Volunteering brings out another side of you. If you're not actually sure, then you should do it— because you're going to grow, and be more independent as well as make new friends and have a good time doing it. I've been stewarding for Oxfam for at least five years. It’s an amazing feeling to feel like I'm actually helping Oxfam do their work to raise money and really being part of it. You can come solo, and I've done it a lot of times, solo stewarding. You meet people, everyone's up for a chat. You can just go and hang out and be social. It's definitely got a different feeling because you're part of something now. You're not just individuals. I think it's a friendlier way to do a festival. I danced for eight hours on one shift. It was great. I was like, ‘this isn't like work!”

Tessa

This is my first time volunteering. I was interested in supporting the running of festival. I’ve supported Oxfam in the past, so I was absolutely over the moon when I found out I got it— I felt it was an amazing opportunity. Initially, I was a little bit anxious because my partner didn't manage to get a place. I turned 50 last year and thought, 'I need to start doing some of these things that I keep saying I might do.' So I thought I'm still going to push through and do it on my own. I was a little bit nervous about speaking to people, but when I got on my shift, people were so lovely and friendly. And then by my second shift I made some wonderful friends, I met some really, really lovely people. The supervisor was amazing, very caring. The friends that I made, we were having a bit of a giggle, but we were getting the job done. It felt really good. I felt really proud of being here. I was initially nervous about staying on, but I've never felt safer. You feel like you could talk to anybody, and they're going to be absolutely lovely. I wasn’t fully aware until the briefing how much of a contribution working here makes, which has made me feel even happier.”

Emma, first time steward

I started volunteering with Oxfam in 1993 and worked my way through the ranks. I’ve pretty much done most jobs on site since that time. I'm very passionate about Oxfam. It's sort of become part of my bloodstream over the years. The reason I come back is because of the Oxfam community and the friends I've built up. The festivals are almost secondary; I could quite happily come here and camp with this amazing community without the festival being on at all. I've seen people grow through Oxfam. We've got 18 to 84 year olds, all getting on as a fantastic community. It brings back the community that’s sadly missing in society, it's outside, it's raising money for a good cause. It’s given me a lot, especially in dealing with personal issues. This community has been a lifesaver for me, and I owe it a lot.”

Mark, Oxfam Festivals Coordinator

I really enjoy it. I really, really do. The campaigning team that we have here is so lovely, really, really welcoming and I love having interesting conversations with people. Some people, all the people have very different styles essentially. So don't think that one type of personality is the only type of personality who should campaign. In general, the people who go to Oxfam are just all lovely and anyone who comes will make friends and be invited into community. Honestly, I want to do festivals every single summer for the rest of time. That's my annual leave. Let's go! Done.”

Oxfam campaigner, Sophie

I’ve been volunteering for 19 years. I’ve done 104 festivals in that time. It’s something that gets infectious because once you do it once or twice you really appreciate all of the benefits and the fun that you can have. It’s a really great community to work with. It’s very inclusive. There are people of all ages and different backgrounds. I started a bit older than other people, but it keeps me young. It’s very fulfilling at other times in my life. After the festival when I go back into my own community, it makes me feel more empowered to be able to help people. It’s called the Oxfamily. Everybody’s welcome, everybody’s included.”

Long-term Oxfam Steward, Desmond

The big perk about being an Oxfam volunteer is getting to experience different festivals you wouldn't normally think of going to, and also being part of the Oxfam family. Genuinely, it's been one of my favourite parts - I've got a hundred new friends sat here up in the tent, up in the campsite, that I always talk to. Everyone's so friendly, from the management, through to first time volunteers - you can just speak to anyone. So, if you are doing it on your own, you're never alone. For me, as a person of colour, I do feel that there's maybe a stigma around music festivals as being very single cultured but I've seen that within the Oxfam family there's full acceptance. It doesn't matter your gender, your sexuality, your race, your religion, how old you are. I think everyone's welcome to be part of the family and it's something for me. If you are thinking about doing it, take the chance.”

Oxfam steward, Ajay

You have the campfire where you just hear all these stories from all these people, from all different places in the UK but also from all different jobs and all different experiences. And I think just find it really fascinating. Like all the stories of the people and all the people that you meet. People are really supportive and welcoming. We raise a lot of money too. Here at Glastonbury, over a £million for 3000 stewards and that’s amazing. You get free tickets to the festival, but also you experience the festival in a totally different way.”

Oxfam steward, Johannes

I turned 50 last year and I thought, I need to start doing some of these things that I keep saying I might do. So I thought I'm still going to push through and do it on my own. When I got here it was a little bit daunting. I don't normally camp, but people were very friendly and very helpful. I was a little bit nervous about speaking to people, but when I got on my shift, people were so lovely and friendly. By my second shift I made some wonderful friends, I met some really, really lovely people. It felt quite good to be looking after the festival a little bit. It felt really good. I feel really quite proud of being here.”

Oxfam steward, Emma

It’s such a nice family feel between all the stewards. You see the same faces every year, it’s lovely. As a disabled customer it’s nice that you can join all these festivals and events and feel looked after. Everyone looks after each other but it is also very nice to think about supporting Oxfam especially in the times that we’re living in at the moment. Obviously you need to respond to things as and when they’re happening and to feel like you’re a little cog in a big wheel feels nice.”

Oxfam steward, Michelle

I started volunteering for Oxfam 10 years ago. I just needed to get a little bit more experience. I'd never had a job before. I just went into my local Oxfam shop and I loved it that much that I'm still there and now I'm assistant manager in that shop, which is really nice. So I've been there for a very long time. There’s a lot of perks to volunteering with Oxfam. Obviously festivals is one. I got so much out it when I started because I was quite shy and I didn't really know to talk to people and now I just love it. It's helped me so much as a person. I think a lot of people do it for so many different reasons. It’s also just like a nice, nice place to have a little distraction from whatever else is going on in your life. And it does make you feel good, knowing that the stuff you're doing is helping people as well. If you’re considering volunteering with Oxfam, you should definitely do it. I think you'll surprise yourself at how much you enjoy and how much you'll get out of it and all of the amazing people you'll meet from all over the world. So definitely give it a go.”

Oxfam shop volunteer, Clara