What is festival stewarding?
How do I apply?
Most of our festival places are now full. However, applications are currently open for a small number of places. Create or log in to your account to find out which festivals have availability and to sign up.
Want to join us next year?
Sign up for our newsletter to receive the latest updates and opportunities and be among the first to know when applications open for 2025.
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?
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Secure camping in our Oxfam campsite
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A free food voucher for every shift you complete
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Free tea and coffee 24 hours a day
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Access to crew only showers and toilets
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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)
Sam Baggette
It's very nice just to be with other people. You know you are helping to raise money as well as having fun. I think that's very interesting and a very good way of getting into festivals. So without having to break the bank to come here, without having to worry too much about getting tickets. Just to have fun and just to enjoy yourself."”
Marco and Alejandra
Everyone we've met has been amazing. We've come in a group of four friends and we've actually made new friends who we've been with the whole time. We've had a really, really nice time just around camp and just mingling. It’s been nice to be here before the festival kicks off as well.”
Nick
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.
