FAQ

When you arrive at the festival site you first need to collect your Worker’s Pass to enter the festival.

You then need to make your way to Tom’s Field, our crew camping area. This is situated near the Site Office and the Farmhouse. You can access it via Muddy Lane or walking up the Row Mead or Big Ground paths from the Pyramid Stage towards the Red Barn.

Tom’s Field Office, which is there to help you if needed, is based at the bottom-right as you look at Tom’s Field. At some point on the day of your arrival you will need to visit the office to register and collect your crew t-shirt and festival programme.

Tom’s Field is solely for the Recycling Crew and has hot showers and clean toilets. We also have our own marquee based in Ivy Mead in which you will find free tea and coffee, our catering and our bar, one of the cheapest onsite we might add.

 When you’re not at work you have the same access to the festival as a full ticket holder.

 We aren’t going to lie – our work is hard, mucky and outdoors, so be ready for it. However, it is also really rewarding, and the vast majority of our crew return year after year.

Here’s a list of things we suggest you bring

1. Why do I need to prove I have the Right to Work when I am volunteering?

The UK law states that we need to do Right to Work checks on both paid and volunteer workers.

You can prove your right to work in the UK with the following documents:

-           a UK or Irish passport (this can be current or out of date).
Or
-           a UK birth certificate, Irish birth certificate or a certificate of registration or naturalisation as a British citizen AND a copy of an official document from either a previous employer or a government agency which shows both your name and NI number (eg, P45, P60, pay slip, benefits letter, pension letter, NI card, etc)
Or
-           A visa check code – you can get one here gov.uk/prove-right-to-work/get-a-share-code-online 

2. Can I change the times of my shifts?

No, shift times are set. 

3. Can I change my shifts?

No, not once they have been allocated. 

4. Transport

See our Travel Info section. 

5. What are the postcodes or What3Words coordinates for Public Gate A and Public Gate B?

·  Public Gate A = access through Red Gate.

Postcode - BA4 4EE.

W3W - hides.dripping.frozen 

·  Public Gate B = park in Purple car park and walk down to the gate.

Postcode – BA4 6TA

W3W - hitters.motivator.lazy

If you are driving using a satnav  follow the directions given until you see the festival’s signage, then follow the signs. 

6. When can I get onsite?

·  Recycling Crew volunteers can get onsite from the Sunday before the gates open to the public. You will be sent the opening times for our accreditation cabins.

·  If you arrive before Sunday you will be turned away.

·  The site is still being built from Sunday to Tuesday, therefore you will need to complete the festival’s  Health & Safety Induction if you arrive during this time. The festival states that everyone onsite must wear hi-viz to move about the site. As you are not working during this time we will not provide a hi-viz for you.

·  The public start queuing for the car parks on Tuesday evening, and the vast majority of the public arrive on the Wednesday -  this can affect how long it takes you to get to our accreditation cabins so please factor this into your traveling time as our cabins are not open 24 hours. 

7. Can I have a car park pass if I am driving to site?

Yes, we provide parking passes for the crew car parks; they will be posted out with your confirmation letter. We have a limited number of these passes so only request one if you are the driver.

The festival encourages everyone attending the festival to car share or use public transport where possible. Useful websites to look at are:

-           nationalexpress.com

-           thetrainline.com

-           liftshare.com

-           pastyconnection.com 

8. Which gate do I use to get onsite?

Our crew enter the site through Public Gate A (PGA) if coming by public transport or Public Gate B (PGB) if coming by car. You will collect your Worker’s pass from a cabin outside of these gates.

You should have selected your arrival gate on your web account - see On-site Details section

Please let us know in advance of your arrival if you need to change your arrival gate. If you arrive at the wrong gate you can significantly delay your entry to the site. 

9.  When will I get my Worker's pass?

We do not post out Worker's passes, you collect them from our accreditation cabins outside of either Public Gate A (PGA) or Public Gate B (PGB).  You will be sent a letter in early June which allows you access to your designated gate where you collect your pass. Don’t lose it! 

10. I have Access requirements – what support can I have?

Applicants should be aware that the positions on the Recycling Crew are labour intensive; whilst we can make reasonable adjustments to accommodate those with disabilities, this work may not suit everyone.

Glastonbury Festival has a brilliant Accessibility Team to support those with mobility issues around the site. You can find out more about Access support on the Glastonbury Festival website.

Do not apply to the Access Team using the link on the Festival’s website; we will send you a crew application link once you are accepted. The deadline to apply is May. 

11. Is food available between the Sunday and Wednesday?

You receive the meal tokens for your free meals on the days you work. Our crew catering starts selling food on the Monday before the gates open to the public. Traders generally start selling food from the Wednesday. If you arrive onsite before Monday remember to bring food with you. 

12. Can I leave site once I am accredited and camped-up?

·  Yes, however the car parks close at 10pm on the Sunday and Monday before the gates open to the public. If you aren’t in the car parks by 10pm you will not be able to enter the site.

·  On Tuesday the festival closes all of the gates to the site sometime after midnight for the ‘grand-opening’ on the Wednesday. 

13. I hear there’s a party on Thursday night?

Yes, from about 7.30pm on Thursday in Tom's Field Marquee. Bar, live music and presentations! 

14. Where do I camp?

·  The Recycling Crew is mostly based in Tom’s Field, however we also have some additional camping areas nearby. We will send you more information closer to the festival.

·  Families can camp in Cockmill Meadow Campsite, which is near to Tom’s Field, if they wish.

Our crew camping areas are for tents only - caravans, camper vans and cars are not permitted.

Do not put any tents in the festival camping areas before Wednesday – security will remove them. Once the public arrive you can camp in these areas if you wish. We recommend that you camp in or near to Tom’s Field so that you are near to our crew caterer and Tom’s Field office who offer support if needed. Some teams meet in Tom’s Field each morning for their shift. 

15. Is there a limit to the tent size I can bring?

Yes. We have limited camping space so please be considerate with the tent  you bring.

Do not bring a gazebo – security will remove it. 

16. How does the crew catering work?

You will be given 2 or 3 meal tokens, depending on the shifts you are doing, after you have completed each shift. These can only be used in our crew catering marquee in Ivy Mead. You access the marquee through Tom’s Field. 

17. What food does crew catering provide?

Meat, vegetarian and vegan meals. They will also accommodate for dietary requirements such as gluten-free, lactose free and food allergies. A food matrix will be produced by the caterer to show which meals accommodate which dietary requirements.

Please ensure you have detailed any dietary requirements you have on your account. 

18. Are there showers?

Yes. Due to the nature of our work the Festival provides our crew with showers. 

19. When will I be refunded?

3 to 5 weeks after the festival. If you haven’t received your refund by early August please contact us.

Please ensure you sign in and out of work at the start and end of each shift. This will help avoid any issues with your refund. Please let Tom’s Field office know of any changes to the shifts you have done.

IMPORTANT: If you have to leave the site for any reason, please either:

·  tell the staff in Tom’s Field office so that they can record this on your account.

·  email us if Tom’s Field office is closed. 

20. Can I bring my bicycle?

Yes, but not onto site. See our Travel Info section. 

21. If I come by motorbike do I need a car pass?

No, but you must use Gate A – See our Travel Info section. 

22. I’m working on the after festival shifts - where do I park my car?

The cars for all post festival crew must be moved to Purple 1 car park from 6pm on the Monday after the festival. No cars will be allowed onsite. 

23. Can I leave my tent?

No! Please take your tent and all of your belonging’s home with you. As a member of the Recycling Crew you must set a good example and leave your camp area clean. 

24. Can I bring my dog?

No. Animals are not allowed on site as a stipulation of Glastonbury Festival’s licence. 

25. Is there a map of the site?

The map can be found on the Glastonbury Festival website here

26. Will I get a crew t-shirt?

Yes, when you register at the Recycling Office in Tom's Field you will be given a Recycling Crew t-shirt. Enter the size you would like in the On-site Details section.

27. Will I get a festival programme?

Yes, when you register, providing there are enough. 

28. What will happen if I don't do any/all my shifts?

If you intentionally fail to turn up for work or complete your shifts you will lose your security payment and you will be unable to volunteer with The Recycling Crew again.

If you fall ill or have to leave site for an emergency you must tell the staff in Tom’s Field office. If the office is closed you will need to contact us by email to inform us why you are unable to complete your shifts.

If you don’t let us know why you are unable to complete your shifts you will lose your refund. 

29. Festival buses and the after-festival shifts.

The festival buses stop on the evening of the Monday after the festival. See our See our Travel Info section.

30. What should I bring with me?

See our Packing List section - And definitely don’t forget your Confirmation Letter!

We will provide you with specialist protective gloves, however, you must ensure that you wear your own protective clothing and sturdy footwear. We recommend that you wear old clothes and do not wear trainers or sandals; steel toe-capped shoes or boots are the ideal footwear and are essential if you're working on the tractors.  

31. Will wet weather affect travel to site?

Yes, it could do. Be prepared for queues and delays getting to site, and factor this into your travel time as our accreditation cabins are not open 24 hours. 

32. Can I bring my children?

Yes, but this must be arranged in advance. Children can camp with parents in Tom’s Field or Cockmill Meadow Family Camping.

·  Children 12 years or under are free but will need to provide proof of age (eg birth certificate).

·  Children 13+ need an ordinary ticket which you must purchase (see Glastonbury Festival website on how to apply here).

You will need to provide us with the following for each child: their name, age, relationship to you, date of arrival, and a photo of each child. They will be given a Tom’s Field security wristband.

Children cannot accompany their parents when working; you must ensure they are supervised by an adult while you are working.

Meals are provided to Recyclers when they work but not to their children, though they can be purchased in Tom’s Field marquee

If you arrive whilst construction or dismantling of the site is underway onsite please ensure your children are supervised at all times and are wearing hi viz for safety reasons. 

33. Can I bring a litter pick tool?

Litter pick tools are only to be used as a mobility aid by those with significant mobility issues.