What is festival stewarding?
How do I apply?
Applications for 2025 festivals will open on the 11th of February, 2025. In the meantime, please do register your interest to get all the latest news, and receive the latest updates and opportunities .
Why volunteer with Oxfam?
When you volunteer as a steward with Oxfam, you’ll get to meet lots of amazing people who you can enjoy spending time with on and off shift. The Oxfam community is super friendly so you’re sure to make new friends and have a great time! And with just 3 shifts you'll have plenty of time to explore the festival together and enjoy lots of great acts.
Plus, by volunteering with us, you'll be supporting Oxfam's life-changing work around the world. Because for every shift you work, Oxfam gets paid for your time. Each year, our stewards raise over an incredible £1.3 million!
What does stewarding involve?
Our stewarding roles vary across festivals, depending on what the festival needs support with. Some of the main roles our stewards carry out each year include:
- Checking tickets and wristbands on the gates.
- Patrolling the arena or campsites.
- Helping with public inquiries such as directions.
- Supporting the accessible viewing platforms in the arena.
- Staffing fire towers, campsite hubs, or information points.
What shifts will I work?
Shift patterns will differ across festivals but they generally follow a similar pattern: 3 x 8 1/4 shifts including a morning, day, and night shift.
What benefits do Oxfam festival stewards get?
.
-
Secure camping in our Oxfam campsite
-
A free food voucher for every shift you complete
-
Free tea and coffee 24 hours a day
-
Access to crew only showers and toilets
-
Free phone charging facilities in our campsite
How does festival stewarding work?
Getting started is quick and easy!
- Choose your top festival and pay one refundable deposit
- If you want to attend more festivals, you can add them one by one. You’ll only pay more if these festivals have a higher deposit amount
- Complete each section of your profile
- Attend an online training session
- Attend a briefing on-site and meet the team
- Work your three 8 1/4 hour shifts and enjoy the festival in your free time
- Get your deposit refunded to you 4 weeks after your last festival (6 for Glastonbury)
Being here on the Oxfam field, you feel as if you are being looked after. Because we've got constant hot water, luxury of showers. Everybody's very friendly. You feel as if you know who you can go to if there is a problem”
Jessica
Everyone's come with the same idea. They want to come and help. They want to make new friends. And the shift patterns are great. Either way, you're gonna learn a new skill or observe the festival goers in the wild, which is always very entertaining.”
Jordan and Alex
You might want to know
Which festivals can I steward at?
We have stewarding places available at 17 of the UK’s best festivals. From big names like Glastonbury and Reading, family favourites Wilderness and WOMAD, to the more niche like ArcTanGent and Beautiful Days. No matter your interests or musical tastes, we have a festival for you!
Do you cater for medical and accessibility requirements?
We believe that festival volunteering should be for everyone, which is why we are dedicated to making stewarding as accessible as possible. We welcome deaf and disabled volunteers and those with health conditions. All you need to do is let us know of any access requirements when you sign up and we will get in touch to discuss how we can support you the best we can on-site.
How does the deposit work?
When you sign up, you are required to pay a refundable deposit. The deposit will be returned to you no later than 4-6 weeks after your final completed festival, or if you cancel your volunteering place early on. You only need to pay one deposit no matter how many festivals you sign up to.
