The volunteer scheme taking first-timers to Glastonbury

The volunteer scheme taking first-timers to Glastonbury 2024: ‘We’re reaching people who wouldn’t get to go’

For financial or cultural reasons there are many who may never get the chance to enjoy the magic of Glastonbury. But now, a volunteer scheme is aiming to change that by offering places to refugees and others

Glastonbury Festival means many different things to the 210,000 people who turn up in Pilton, Somerset, for five days at the end of June. There’s the Pyramid stage lot, hyped to secure their front-of-crowd spot for the headline acts; and the ravers who shake off the stresses of regular life on the dancefloor up in Block9. There’s the blissed-out crowd watching the sunrise from the Stone Circle; the culture vultures making a beeline to hear talks from artists and other great thinkers; or those who crave peace and healing who head straight to the Green Fields.

It’s the immense size and scope of this creative wonderland that makes it one of the country’s most loved events – and why the £355 tickets always sell out in record time. However, this year, a group of festival first-timers will get to take in the wonder and spectacle of Glastonbury as volunteers and have their expenses covered.