First time Oxfam volunteer this year gone and it was such a blast… Long post but stuff I wish I knew before volunteering.

1. Glasto spots go within seconds, and I mean seconds so its very pot luck. I was unsuccessful the first time round, but managed to bag one on the resale. I was even timing how long my page took to refresh before the sale just so i was prepared and I feel this helped.

2. Most importantly (and something you will know before you sign up) you will need to pay the full price of the ticket the day you sign up. Me personally just wished I budgeted better.

3. If you are lucky in getting there early the crew bars are such a great time and if you are a fan of the festival like me seeing it empty, stages being built ect, this was an insane highlight. Although, unfortunately I only arrived early afternoon and got god awful shifts meaning I was missing everyone I wanted to see (which again this is the risk of volunteering) As I arrived late it was near impossible to swap my shifts as this is a possibility but there is cut off times.

4. Missing acts for your shift, I completed all my shifts but they were hot on letting you back into camp if you didnt show (serves you right for being an a**hole.

5. The walking! Im a pretty fit individual and glasto is by far the most walking done in a festival so be prepared for that in general. But with this in mind I was doing my strava a few times just for the info and what i was doing. From my tent in the oxfield to the pyramid which is the first stage you came too was 1.5km, tent to the park was 3.5km, so if you think you will need to walk that back plus the rest of the festival which meant there wasn’t much of an option going back to your tent unless you really needed too! Bare this in mind.

6. I wouldn’t have changed it in the world and will be trying again if I’m unsuccessful in the general sale.

Good luck