Stewarding:
Frequently Asked Questions 2009
Questions about stewards' training:
In 2009, we are running three hour, off site, Stewards Training sessions from March through to early September. There will be sessions held in various locations around the country, please see the training section on our home page and book on to a training session while you complete your application.
Training sessions run throughout the summer, but if you book onto a session, please make sure it is BEFORE your first festival. (i.e. the training sessions in August would be attended by people who are only applying to steward at Leeds, Reading, Shamabala or Bestival)
If I attend Supervisor Training, does that mean I will definitely be a supervisor?
If I book a place at a training session and then can’t attend, what happens?
What happens if I can't come to training because I'm sick?
I’m only applying to steward at Glastonbury, but all the Glastonbury Training is full, should I apply for Non-Glastonbury training?
No. If you are only stewarding at Glastonbury, do not book onto non-Glastonbury training, as it will not be relevant to you.
I’m not applying to steward at Glastonbury, but all the Non-Glastonbury training is full, should I apply for Glastonbury Training?
No. If you are not applying to steward at Glastonbury, do not book onto Glastonbury Training, as it will not be relevant to you
I’m applying to steward at Glastonbury and also at other festivals – which training should I apply for?
Please attend Glastonbury Training. Only book the Non-Glastonbury training if the Glastonbury session near you is fully booked. You do not need to attend both training sessions.
I’ve already supervised for you, and I have completed the Stewards Training in the last 4 years, so do I need to attend Supervisor Training?
No. Supervisor Training is particularly aimed at people who have never supervised before. People who have supervised before and attended standard Stewards Training in 2005 or later do not need to attend. People who have supervised before could attend if they need to renew their training or would like to polish their supervisory skills.
I haven’t stewarded before and there isn’t a Steward Training Session anywhere near where I live, can I still steward?
Yes. We try to offer sessions around the country to enable as many people as possible to attend training, but we would not expect you to travel more than an hour from your home, so if there is not a session near you, please don’t feel you must attend, we will ensure that you have all the information you need before you start your stewarding or supervisory duties.
If I attend Supervisor Training, does that mean I will definitely be a supervisor?
Not necessarily, it depends on how many people offer to be a supervisor at each festival. If you attend this training and are not needed as a supervisor in 2009, we will note this, and if we need a steward to stand in as a supervisor during a festival where you are stewarding, we will ask you to act as a supervisor. Supervisor training is valid for four years so attending in 2009 will enable you to be ready and trained to supervise in future years if you do not supervise in 2009.
I’d really like to supervise this year, but I can’t get to any of the Supervisor Training sessions, will that affect my supervisor application?
Not necessarily. It will depend on any other experience you tell us about. You should tick the supervisor box on your application form and make sure you tell us why you think you’d be a good supervisor and what relevant experience for supervising you’ve had.
If I book a place at a training session and then can’t attend, what happens?
We need you to let us know at least 7 days in advance, so we can allocate your place to someone else. If you don’t give us 7 days notice that you can’t attend, it could affect your application and an admin fee of £20 may be applied. If you cancel your stewarding place, you will need to cancel your training place too.
What happens if I can't come to training because I'm sick?
If you can't make it to training at the last minute because of illness, or some other unavoidable complication, please call us to let us know, and we will consider your case regarding charging you an admin fee.
I've suddenly had something urgent come up, can I change my training session to another session / date / location?
Please contact us at stewards@oxfam.org.uk with the subject line of TRAINING + the training venue and it's date in the subject line or call us on 0300 200 1266 and we will try to help.
Q55. Can I get a lift with other stewards to the training?
Try the stewards forum: http://www.oxfam-stewards.org.uk
Where are the Training Sessions taking place?
Only the town is named on the application form. If you book a place at a Training Session when you apply, your confirmation email will include further details of the actual address and time of your session.
We will update this answer with more information on specific Training Sessions nearer the time.
Please do not attend a Training Session if you have not booked a place, as numbers are limited.
