- Festival season 2010
- Save up now
By Jasmine Birtles, financial expert from Moneymagpie.com
You don’t have to fork out a fortune to go to a festival this summer. Organise it now and you can get cheap and even free tickets. Volunteer for Oxfam or other charities and you’ll only have to do a few shifts – then you can enjoy the music for the rest of time. Or if you don’t fancy working at all then there are plenty of festivals which are free to attend. Here’s how you do it:
Work for Oxfam
Oxfam’s presence at summer festivals is massive. They can be seen at all of the big ones campaigning for climate change. They are also asking people to sign petitions and donate money. Campaigners work shifts which vary depending on the festival (for Glastonbury it’s three shifts of eight hours during or before the five day festival) and in return, you get a free ticket to the festival. They also employ people to be stewards.
Their role is to keep people safe and main duties will include checking tickets, directing people away from restricted areas and helping with car parking.
As a steward, you are required to work three shifts of 8 and a quarter hours each. One will be in the morning, one in the afternoon/evening and one overnight. You need to make sure that you’re available to work not only for the duration of the festival but also before and after, as stewards are needed for setting up and clearing away.
Make sure you check out the specified dates for stewards. If you have been a steward with Oxfam in the last three years then you are eligible for a priority application. You’ll be sent an application e-mail when this process opens on 12th February. Applications for the general public will then open a week later on the 19th February.
You’ll only be able to apply online and applications will close as places get filled up so you will have to be quick. You can’t just sign up to do it [http://www.oxfam.org.uk/get_involved/stewarding/index.html]. There are a few things that you’ll need towards your application:
- A £185 deposit
This is refundable – you’ll get it back as soon as you turn up. But if you don’t turn up, Oxfam will keep the money to cover the price of your ticket. For this, you’ll need to have a credit/debit card. They don’t accept payment by cheque or American Express.
- Food and shelter
You’ll be sleeping in a separate camping area and you’ll get a meal ticket per shift as part of the job, however you will need your own food for the rest of the time. You also need your own tent.
- Transport details
You have to provide the details of how you’re going to get to the festivals so Oxfam can send you any relevant passes. Some of the festivals will provide transport for the Oxfam team, however it’s not guaranteed.
- Training
You’ll need to attend a health and safety training course before the festival if you haven’t worked for Oxfam in the last four years. There are training sessions all over the country. They aren’t festival specific and they last about three hours.
- A photo
You’ll need to upload an up-to-date photo of yourself for your application. The photo should be a JPEG (.jpg) file type, less than 50kb in file size and no larger than 3.5 x 4.5 cm.
- A reference
If you’ve worked at less than two festivals then you’ll need a referee. You’ll need to include their contact details including an email address and telephone number.
- Emergency contact details and doctor’s information
This is needed just in case something happens to you while working at the festival. Give the details of someone who you are not at the festival with and who would be available in case of an emergency – i.e. not on holiday! The details will only be given to medical personnel.
- Shift partner’s details
Finally, if you want to be put on the same shifts as your mates, all you’ve got to do is give their details, such as their full name and date of birth. Then Oxfam will do its best to pair you up so you can spend your free time together. Working at festivals isn’t just for younger people. If you want to go to the festivals and you have children you are allowed to bring them along.
This year you do need to register any children of 13, 14 or 15 years and tickets are the same price as adult tickets. However children under 12 are often admitted for free. See the individual festival website for more details. If you’ve got everything you need to apply, all you do is click here and apply online.
Event Recycling
Festivals generate a lot of waste. Event Recycling [http://www.eventrecycling.co.uk/volunteers.html] is the contractor in charge of tidying up at several of the big summer festivals like WOMAD, The Big Chill, SHambala Festival and Beachdown Festival and if you volunteer to work for them they’ll give you a festival pass for free. The job involves litter picking and recycling as well as emptying bins and handing out waste bags at the entrance. It isn’t the most glamourous job, but if it’s sunny you can meander along with your litter picker and enjoy the music and atmosphere.
You’ll only do a set amount of shifts (usually 4 x four-hour shifts) and the rest of the time you’re free to have a good time. They will kit you out with protective gloves and a high visibility vest, but you’ll need old work clothes and sturdy shoes. You’ll get a free meal ticket for every shift you work which you can use at selected stalls at the event.
You also get to use the company’s camping site which has toilets and showers – a little bit of luxury compared to the other sites. Like the Oxfam passes you’ll need to put down a deposit to ensure you turn up for your shifts.
For Event Recycling it’s around £150 and you’ll get it back within two weeks of completing your shifts. You’ll only get it back if you turn up on time and fit for work, so make sure you’re on form and on time. If you’re up for it, have a look at the festivals available and apply online [http://www.eventrecycling.co.uk/volunteers.html]
Other volunteer positions
Lots of festivals organise their own stewards so you have to apply directly to their websites. There are loads of different jobs – mostly stewarding and litter picking. You can also be a green messenger encouraging people to be green and instructing them how to throw away their waste. Here are the links to the sites of the major festivals where you can get the info you need:
Leeds [http://www.leedsfestival.com/info/index.aspx?id=418]
Latitude [http://www.latitudefestival.co.uk/eventinfo/index.aspx?id=396]
Glastonbury [http://www.glastonburyfestivals.co.uk/information/jobs/]
Womad [http://womad.org/festivals/charlton-park/other/#volunteers]
