How to volunteer at a festival

Written by Natalie South-Law 

Volunteering at a festival can be a really fun experience, providing opportunities to meet new people, develop skills, and immerse yourself in the festival world. If you’re a disabled person interested in volunteering at a festival, there are a few things to think about to ensure an enjoyable and accessible experience. 

Researching festivals

Unfortunately, not all festivals are equally equipped to accommodate disabled volunteers, so it’s important to research your options carefully and identify accessible volunteering opportunities. 

Local and national disability organisations may advertise festival volunteering opportunities, as well as directly through the festival themselves. 

Choosing the right festival

Look for festivals that have a strong commitment to accessibility. Some key indicators of a festival’s accessibility include: 

  • Availability of accessible facilities (e.g. toilets, viewing platforms, camping areas) 
  • Clearly advertised accessibility information on their website 
  • A dedicated access team or coordinator 
  • Engagement with Attitude is Everything 

Contacting the festival’s access team

Once you’ve identified a festival you’re interested in, reach out to their access team or volunteer coordinator. Ask specific questions about the accessibility of the event and the types of volunteer roles available.  

Some questions you might consider include: 

  • What accessible volunteering roles are available? 
  • What adjustments can be made to support me? 
  • Is there an accessible campsite? 
  • How does the festival support volunteers with invisible disabilities or chronic illnesses? (if appropriate to you) 

This conversation will help you determine whether the festival can meet your needs and how best you can contribute. 

Applying for a volunteer role

When applying for a volunteer role, it’s essential to be upfront about your needs and expectations. Being clear and honest about your access requirements will help the festival team make necessary arrangements to accommodate your requirements. 

Some festivals may require a discussion before confirming your volunteer role. Use this opportunity to: 

  • Reiterate your needs and the support you require 
  • Discuss any potential challenges and how they might be addressed 
  • Highlight your strengths, skills, and enthusiasm for volunteering 

This step ensures that both you and the festival team are confident in your ability to participate effectively. 

Planning and preparing for the festival

Pre-festival training

When you’ve been selected to volunteer at your chosen festival, you will need to undertake pre-festival training. This could be in the form of online training modules to complete in your own time, virtual sessions at specific times or in-person sessions. In conjunction with the training, you will receive a training handbook to look through.  

Both the training and handbook should be available in formats to suit your access requirements. Some adjustments for the training could include providing training slides in advance, accessible toilet at the training venue, having a BSL interpreter, or captions available if the session is online. 

Some adjustments for the handbook could include large print or Easy Read formats, and alt text of any images for online documents. 

If you feel like you would benefit from adjustments for the training and handbook, reach out to the festival team who can help. 

Camping preparations

If the festival is a camping festival, part of your handbook should detail what to expect on the campsite, along with what to pack. In addition, consider the best way for you to travel to and from the festival with your equipment. And when thinking about equipment, consider what you may need with you for staying a few nights away. For example, is there anything you may need during the night to help manage your disability? 

Having these essentials on hand will help ensure your comfort and well-being during the festival. 

On site

Arrival

When you arrive at the festival, this process should be detailed in the handbook and any pre-event information that was shared with you. Typically, you will head to the gate specified, where you will be met by the access team. They will provide you with accreditation for the event, so it’s important at this point to make sure you have the right accreditation for any access facilities you may need on site, such as accessible toilets.  

Briefing

When you’ve arrived and set up your pitch, the first afternoon or evening usually includes a volunteer briefing. If this is going to be challenging for you (perhaps your energy levels may be impacted at that time of day), be sure to let the team know, and consider sending your PA to the briefing for you. 

On shift

Before the festival, you will be given role information about the available roles, where you can pick which role would be the most appropriate for you. There are a number of adjustments you can request to make your time on shift as easy as possible for you. This could include flexible shift times, including splitting your hours across the day. You could also request a seat for your shift if it is primarily a standing role.  

Prior to the festival, the team should share your shift times and break times, along with any walking distances to the location of your shift. If you have any questions on any of the information shared, make sure to talk to the team who can assist you.  

PAs

Before the festival, you may decide to bring a PA along to support you. As well as supporting you on shift, a PA can assist with a variety of roles. This can include helping you to navigate the festival, providing emotional and physical support and helping with medical procedures.  

You will be required to provide your own PA. They could be a friend or family member, or someone in a paid position.  

The PA can support you both on shift, and during your downtime. But bear in mind that if they are to support you on shift, they will be expected to attend any pre-event training and briefing sessions. The festival may ask your PA to agree to a set of expectations of them while they are supporting you onsite.  

Post-festival: Reflecting on your experience

After the festival, you may leave on a high after a great experience, but it’s important to take some time to reflect on your experience and consider any feedback you might have for the organisers. 

Many festivals appreciate feedback from volunteers, especially when it comes to improving accessibility. Your insights can help the festival enhance its accessibility for future events.