Thanks for your interest in volunteering at Cambridge Folk Festival 2026.

Here is a summary of the following volunteers application and the information being collected from you:

 

• Your contact information
• Eligibility - confirmation that you are aged 18 or over, have the right to volunteer in the UK and and an unspent convictions declaration
• Your preferences & availability - including the days you are available, whether you have a ‘shift partner’ you would like to volunteer with, and your top three artist preferences for the Festival
• Your experience - including why you want to volunteer, what makes you a strong team member, how you have handled a challenging situation in the past, any customer-facing experience, and any relevant voluntary or paid experience at festivals or events, as well as any relevant skills or qualifications
• Additional information – such as accessibility requirements or any further comments you wish to include
• Your consents, declarations & agreements – including the refundable bond, shift and cancellation terms, code of conduct, drugs and alcohol policy, confirmation that the role does not constitute employment, and GDPR and data storage consent.

 

Please read the information contained within the form below carefully.

As part of your application to volunteer at the Cambridge Folk Festival, you are required to declare any unspent criminal convictions, as defined under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.

You are not required to disclose spent convictions unless the role is exempt from the Act (for example, where a DBS check is required).

Having a criminal record will not necessarily prevent you from volunteering. Any information disclosed will be treated in confidence and assessed only in relation to the role applied for.

If you are unsure whether a conviction is spent, you may wish to seek independent guidance before completing your declaration.

Please note that only individuals who have the legal right to volunteer in the UK will be accepted. We carry out right-to-volunteer checks and may require documentation before participation is confirmed. Applications that do not meet this requirement will not be considered.

 

Roles & Areas Available

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Campsite Teams Responsibilities:

• Helping campers
• Reporting issues
• Queue management
• General information
• Welfare signposting 

Volunteers will be present around the campsite to help create a safe and welcoming environment, and to make sure attendees know where to go if they need help or want to raise any concerns or issues.

 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Box Office / Accreditation Team Responsibilites:

• Wristbanding
• Ticket scanning
• Queue management
• Entry support
• Guest welcome

 Important/This team needs:

• Reliability
• Attention to detail
• Calm under pressure

Supporting the controlled issue of tickets, passes, and accreditation to authorised individuals, ensuring secure access to the event and accurate verification of credentials.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Environmental/Green Team Responsibilities:

• Recycling support
• Waste sorting
• Campsite clean-up
• Encouraging responsible camping

Helping to reduce the environmental impact of the event by encouraging and supporting sustainable practices across site operations.

 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Artist / Backstage Support Responsibilities

• Runner duties
• Hospitality support
• Transport coordination

Important:

• Professionalism is required
• Confidentiality is expected
• This is not a fan-access role

Supporting the delivery of artist and backstage operations to help ensure activities run smoothly, safely, and effectively.

 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Wellness / Welfare Area Responsibilities:

• Supporting chill spaces
• Welcoming guests
• Keeping areas tidy
• Helping workshop hosts

Supporting the delivery of the wellness and welfare area by helping to provide a calm, safe, and supportive environment for attendees and volunteers.

 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Build & Break Crew Responsibilities:

• Decor installation
• Site dressing
• Pack-down
• Signage
• Infrastructure support

Important:

• Different arrival/departure dates

Supporting day-to-day site operations through a range of practical tasks, including runner duties, assisting with setup and movement of equipment, furniture, and site installations.

 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Main Arena Patrol Volunteers Responsibilites:

• Main arena patrols (under manager instruction)
• Welfare monitoring
• General customer information
• Emergency exits / pathways checks
• Stage area check-ins
• Incident / hazard reporting
• Visible safety presence across arena

Helping to support safety in the main arena through patrols, welfare monitoring, keeping exits and pathways clear, and checking in with stage teams.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

General Festival Volunteers Responsibilities

• Welcome attendees and provide a friendly first point of contact
• Give directions and answer general questions about the site, facilities, and what's on
• Help visitors locate stages, activites, toilets, camping areas, first aid, merchandise and exits
• Support accessibility needs where possible and report any additional assistance required
• Monitor crowd flow in busy areas and help prevent congestion
• Assist with queue management at entrances, bars, toilets, or attractions
• Encourage safe movement around the site and help keep emergency routes clear
• Observe for potential safety concerns and report them promptly
• Assist with ticket scanning or wristband checking where assigned
• Patrol assigned areas regularly
• Report hazards such as spills, damaged fencing, trip hazards, or anti-social behaviour
• Keep an eye out for lost property, vulnerable persons, or welfare concerns
• Help maintain a clean and tidy environment
• Follow all event safety procedures and steward briefings
• Immediately report accidents, suspicious activity, aggressive behaviour, or emergencies to supervisors/security
• Assist emergency services or security teams by directing them to incidents
• Never put yourself at risk or attempt to physically intervene in confrontations
• Assist with setup or pack-down tasks where required

 

Welfare & Professional Expectations

• Arrive on time for shifts and attend steward briefings
• Wear steward identification/high-visibility clothing as provided
• Remain approachable, professional, and calm under pressure
• Stay hydrated, take allocated breaks, and look after your own wellbeing
• Follow radio procedures and communication protocols if issued equipment

 

What Volunteers Should NOT Do

• Physically restrain attendees unless specifically trained and authorised
• Consume alcohol or drugs while on shift
• Share confidential or sensitive event information
• Leave assigned areas without informing a supervisor

 

No previous experience is necessary for most volunteering roles. Full briefing, guidance, and supervisor support will be provided during the event.

I understand that I may be required to pay a £50 refundable bond.

Upon satisfactory completion of agreed volunteer commitments and shifts, bonds will be refunded to volunteers after the festival.

If I fail to complete my agreed shifts, I understand that I may forfeit my bond and risk being required to leave the site.

This is non-negotiable - please only select 'Yes' if you meet these criteria. 

Please note that successful volunteers will be contacted by the Festival’s Volunteer Coordinator with further information about paying their bond.

I understand that if I choose to cancel my volunteer place, deductions will be made from my £50 bond as follows:

15th June to 30th June – £30 deduction
After 30th June – the full bond will be forfeited in full

This is necessary as late cancellation disrupts the successful build and running of the festival.

Please note that successful applicants will be contacted by the Festival’s Volunteer Coordinator and offered shifts, where possible, in line with the preferences submitted in their application.

Cambridge Folk Festival Volunteer Code of Conduct

 

Behaviour Expectations and Positions of Trust

Please review the following list of expected behaviours, including do’s and don’ts, which all volunteers are required to follow while working on site at the Cambridge Folk Festival.

 

 DO NOT:

 

• Intimidate, threaten, bully, coerce or undermine anyone.
• Use racist, sexist, homophobic, transphobic or other language or behaviour that is derogatory, discriminatory, or oppressive to others.
• Comment on anyone’s appearance, perceived sexuality or anything about the way they look to you.
• Play inappropriate games or have physical contact with anyone.
• Make suggestive remarks or gestures, tell jokes of sexual nature, or engage in inappropriate verbal banter.
• Drinking or taking drugs whilst working.

 

DO:

 

• Maintain professional boundaries at all times.
• Encourage regular discussion about general safeguarding issues amongst staff, volunteers, young people and families.
• Report all health and safety, and safeguarding issues without delay.
• Create a safe and welcoming environment.
• Treat everyone with respect.
• Look after your physical and mental health.
• Be a positive role model and behave in a way that you wish others to follow.
• Respect people’s right to personal privacy, unless you need to share information to safeguard. If unsure, speak to the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL).
• Report any behaviours that make uncomfortable, no matter how small.
• Create an environment in which people feel comfortable in pointing out attitudes and behaviours they don’t like.
• Report and challenge all inappropriate and/or abusive activities, including ridicule, threats, intimidation, bullying and discrimination - take a zero-tolerance stance to these behaviours.
• Report all concerns

 

When arriving for a shift, you must not be under the influence of alcohol or present with any odour of alcohol, and you must be fully fit and competent to carry out your assigned duties.

Being under the influence of illegal or prohibited substances while on duty, or engaging in the sale or unauthorised distribution of staff T-shirts, passes, or other accreditation, will be treated as gross misconduct.

No exceptions.

As a reminder, successful applicants will be contacted by the Festival’s Volunteer Coordinator and offered shifts, where possible, in line with the preferences submitted in their application.