Register your interest in volunteering with WaterAid at Glastonbury Festival in 2027 and be among the first to hear when further details are announced. Festival volunteers help deliver essential water, sanitation and hygiene services while speaking with festivalgoers about WaterAid’s global mission. Most volunteers undertake four six-hour shifts, leaving plenty of time outside their rota to enjoy the festival. Roles can be active and practical, making this opportunity well suited to people who are ready to work hard, meet others and support a meaningful cause.
About WaterAid
WaterAid is an international charity working to make clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene a normal part of everyday life for everyone, everywhere.
At UK festivals, its volunteers provide practical services that help keep large events running while raising awareness of the charity’s work. At Glastonbury, WaterAid teams support sanitation facilities, water refill points and hygiene services used by more than 200,000 festivalgoers.
The Role
WaterAid offers several types of volunteering roles at Glastonbury. You can indicate which areas interest you during the application process, although roles are allocated according to operational needs, relevant skills and previous experience. First-time volunteers are most likely to join the Loo Crew, and almost all positions involve some cleaning and speaking with members of the public.
Depending on your allocated team, responsibilities may include:
- Cleaning toilets and collecting litter around sanitation areas
- Refilling hand sanitiser and helping maintain the Good Loos
- Explaining how the women’s urinals work and managing queues
- Providing tap-water refills and distributing pre-ordered water bottles
- Selling WaterAid bottles and other merchandise
- Cleaning sinks, taps and water refill points
- Reporting faults or problems with facilities
- Directing festivalgoers to their nearest water or sanitation point
- Talking confidently about WaterAid’s work and the importance of clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene
- Supporting volunteers and coordinating shifts if selected for an experienced team leader or supervisor role
Most Glastonbury volunteers complete four shifts of approximately six hours. Shift times and exact responsibilities depend on the role allocated and may include early mornings, late finishes or overnight work.
Company Culture
WaterAid welcomes applications from disabled people and provides space within its application process for candidates to explain any reasonable adjustments they may need. Depending on individual circumstances, support may include adjusted shifts or break times, accessible camping, equipment assistance and financial help with expenses or deposits.
Volunteers work in small teams and receive training, on-site guidance and access to a dedicated welfare space. A WaterAid duty manager is also available throughout the festival.
Benefits and Perks
- Entry to Glastonbury Festival while completing the agreed volunteer shifts
- Time outside your shifts to explore and enjoy the festival
- A dedicated WaterAid campsite with toilets and showers
- Access to a communal marquee, hot drinks and a volunteer welfare space
- At least one free meal or meal token for each completed shift
- Up to £35 towards travel expenses, subject to WaterAid’s expenses process
- Online, webinar-based and on-site training
- Practical experience supporting services at a major UK festival
- The opportunity to meet other volunteers and contribute to WaterAid’s mission
Requirements
Previous festival volunteering experience is not required. However, you should understand that most roles are practical, involve cleaning and require regular interaction with festivalgoers.
To volunteer, you will need to:
- Be at least 18 by the start of the first festival you attend
- Have the right to volunteer in the UK, as WaterAid cannot support volunteer visa applications
- Be available for the entire required festival period
- Complete all compulsory online, webinar and on-site training
- Stay in WaterAid’s designated volunteer campsite during the festival
- Be prepared to work outside in different weather conditions
- Be comfortable completing active shifts that may involve standing, walking, carrying equipment or using steps
- Communicate positively and confidently with festivalgoers about WaterAid
- Work reliably as part of a team and complete every allocated shift
- Provide two satisfactory references if requested as part of WaterAid’s safeguarding process
- Arrange your own travel to and from the festival
Successful applicants are normally required to pay a refundable deposit when accepting their place. This is returned after the festival when all agreed shifts have been completed, and the volunteer terms have been followed. Financial assistance may be available where cost would otherwise prevent someone from volunteering.
Some roles do have additional conditions, for example, the women’s urinals team is open only to volunteers who identify as women or non-binary. WaterAid will provide further information before applicants accept a particular role.
Click Apply Now to head to WaterAid’s website, learn more about volunteering at Glastonbury and register your interest in its 2027 festival plans.
