Campaigning at festivals for Oxfam:
Frequently Asked Questions 2009
Questions about working at a festival:
- Do I get fed?
- What if my favourite band is playing and I'm supposed to be working?
- Can I be a campaigner supervisor?
- When can I find out when my shifts are?
- When will we have to register?
- Does working as a campaigner entitle me to a back stage pass?
- Can I do my shifts with my friends?
- Do you provide transport to the festivals?
- I find it hard to get time off work, why do I have to be on site so early?
Do I get fed?
You will be given one meal ticket per shift you work, i.e three meal tickets. (Except at Glastonbury you get one per day i.e five meal tickets). These will be redeemable at a specific caterer, generally crew catering provided by either the festival or Oxfam.
We aim to cater for both meat eaters and vegetarians, and we also notify them of vegan numbers. At some festivals, meals are supplied as part of the contract, and at others Oxfam pays for campaigner's meals. Where Oxfam supplies the catering, there may be extenuating circumstances where only vegetarian catering is available.
We have learnt by experience that you can never keep everyone happy when it comes to food, so we do our best to get caterers who can supply good, healthy, sustainable meals with variety. If you want to recommend a caterer, please email details to festivalcamapigners@oxfam.org.uk.
What if my favourite band is playing and I'm supposed to be working?
There will be an opportunity to change your shifts with other people at the beginning of the festival before the shifts begin.The responsibility to do this lies with you as Oxfam staff will be extremely busy during the festival.
Can I be a Campaigner Supervisor?
If you are interested in supervising, please fill out the supervisor part of the application form.
Please read these carefully, and only choose a role at a level of responsibility you are confident with. We generally select shift leaders from people who have had supervisory experience.
All supervisors will be working three shifts, each lasting eight and a quarter hours.
When can I find out when my shifts are?
Shift allocations tend to be carried out in the last two weeks before a festival, therefore you will be told what shifts you are working when you arrive on site to register. This information will not be available via the phone line, or by emailing us!
When will we have to register?
This is announced in your pre-festival email (or letter for Glastonbury) sent two weeks before the festival. It is usually the Wednesday or Thursday prior to the festival beginning, We will always need you to arrive the day before the festival opens to the public
Please see specific festival FAQ’s over the next few months.
Can I do my shifts with my friends?
We will try to ensure that your shifts are at the same times as your friends, but we will probably ask you to Campaign in a team with someone you don't know.
I find it hard to get time off work, why do I have to be on site so early?
The day/evening before shifts start, we need all campaigners to be registered, to be briefed on their specific role, and to orientate themselves before they start shifts
If you arrive on site to register and your first shift doesn't start until Friday morning you are not obliged to stay on site. If you leave site, please take into account how long it will take you to get back on site in time for your first shift. And don't lose your wristband!
