Campaigning at festivals for Oxfam:
Frequently Asked Questions 2010
Questions about cancelling and dropping out of a festival:
- What is the cancellation deadline?
- Will I get my full deposit back if I cancel?
- Why has the admin fee gone from £10 to £20?
- Why are the Cancellation Deadlines so much more in advance of the festival than they used to be?
- What is the latest I can cancel without forfeiting my deposit? (minus the administration fee?)
- What happens if I just don't show up to a festival?
- What happens if I can't come because I'm sick?
- Cancellation policy explained
- What happens if I get drunk or intoxicated at a festival and don’t turn up for a shift?
- If I have to cancel, can I get one of my friends to take my place?
What is the cancellation deadline?
This used to be called the drop out date. This is the last date you can tell us you need to drop out without losing your full deposit.
Below is a list of our festivals and our cancellation dates.
Please remember that this information may be subject to change.
| Festival | Cancellation deadline |
| Isle of Wight | 21/05/09 |
| Glastonbury | 04/06/09 |
| Latitude | 25/06/09 |
| Womad | 02/07/09 |
| V-Stafford | 30/07/09 |
| Leeds | 06/08/09 |
| Bestival | 20/08/09 |
Will I get my full deposit back if I drop out?
If you cancel before the deadline, you will lose a £20 admin fee from your deposit. If you cancel two or more festivals at the same time, the admin fee will be £40, but if you cancel two or more festivals on separate occasions, you will be charged £20 admin fee each time you cancel, up to your full deposit.
Why has the admin fee gone from £10 to £20?
We have calculated how much money it is costing Oxfam every time someone cancels, in terms of administrating their application, arranging an early refund, finding someone to replace them, and all the staff hours and communications involved. This increased fee now covers these costs.
Why are the cancellation deadlines so much more in advance of the festival than they used to be?
We have learnt by experience that having cancellation dates within a week of the festival doesn't give us enough time to find replacements, and inform them accordingly.
What is the latest I can cancel without forfeiting my deposit? (minus the administration fee?)
Please refer to the Festival specific FAQs (273KB pdf).
What happens if I just don't show up to a festival?
If you don't turn up, and have made no effort to contact us, or have no good reason, you will lose you full deposit, and your place at future festivals may be cancelled.
What happens if I can't come because I'm sick?
If you can't make it to a festival at the last minute because of illness, or some other unavoidable complication, please call us to let us know. If you provide a valid sick note or other documentary evidence, we will consider your case regarding getting your deposit back, minus an admin fee.
Cancellation policy explained
Cancelling before the cancellation date
If you cancel one festival before the cancellation date, you will lose £20 of your depositif you cancel two or more festivals before the cancellation date, on separate occasions, you will lose £20 deposit per cancellation, up to your full deposit if you cancel two or more festivals before the cancellation date on the same occasions, you will only lose £40 of your deposit.
Cancelling after the cancellation date
If you cancel one or more festivals after their cancellation dates, you will lose your full deposit
If you cancel one or more festivals after the cancellation date, but have a place at a future festival, we may contact you to assess your reliability for future festivals. If we decide to keep your place at a future festival and you work all your shifts, you will lose £40 of your deposit
Cancelling Glastonbury
If you cancel Glastonbury BEFORE the cancellation date, but after we have sent you your pre-festival letter, we need the letter and it’s contents back to refund your deposit minus £20.
If you cancel Glastonbury AFTER the cancellation date we will refund your deposit minus £60, if you return the pre-festival letter and all it’s contents. (There is a return address on the back of the envelope)
No shows
If you don't turn up to one or more festivals and don't contact the office to let us know, you will forfeit your full deposit, and be denied from applying to future festivals with Oxfam, and other Glastonbury festival stewards / volunteering organisations.
-
If I have to cancel, can I get one of my friends to take my place?
No, we’re sorry but we are not able to transfer deposits from one steward to another. Therefore if you are cancelling and your friend wants to campaign, they need to apply independently.
What happens if I get drunk or intoxicated at a festival and don’t turn up for a shift?
We know that people go to festivals to have a good time, but we are asking you to commit to staying sober for certain periods so you can do your work. If you simply don’t show up for one or more shifts, you will be marked as not working and will lose your deposit. If you come to see us when you are due to start your shift, regardless of the reasons for not being able to work, and we can rearrange it so you can cover a later shift, you will not be penalised, but we will make a record of the situation. So basically, we would ask you to be responsible about your attitude to working and your behaviour on site.
If I have to cancel, can I get one of my friends to take my place?
No, we’re sorry but we are not able to transfer deposits from one campaigner to another. Therefore if you are cancelling and your friend wants to campaign, they need to apply independently.
