People always ask me how I manage to do some many festivals each summer, and my usual answer is, well I don’t go on holiday ever! 😛 But also I have a trick up my sleeve. I love to volunteer. Working at festivals is hands down the best way to meet people, see behind the scenes, and best of all save a ton of money whilst still attending as many festivals as possible each summer!

I’ve spoken in a previous blog about my time volunteering with Oxfam, now it’s the turn of another of my favourite companies, My Cause UK! Still a charitable organisation, however they work in a different way. You the volunteer get to choose which charity to donate your time to! So you can be having the best time at festivals all summer, whilst simultaneously raising money for whichever cause is closest to your heart.

My Cause UK was set up and is run by a wonderful human called Robin W, who has worked in events management for years. He has some incredible stories! My Cause has grown massively over the 4 years they’ve been around. In 2015 they were at just one festival, Boomtown Fair. Now, in 2018, their volunteers can be seen in their bright pink tabards at 14 different festivals over the summer. This shows the amazing hard work put in by Robin and his team, and I can personally vouch that these guys look after their volunteers so well. They will become your friends and family over the event! They have a killer lineup of festivals this year, which I’ve listed below, then I’m going to highlight some of my favourites.

In 2018, you can volunteer with My Cause at the following festivals:

• All Points East Presents
• Love Saves The Day
• All Points East
• Noisily
• Lovebox
• Citadel
• Boardmasters
• Boomtown Fair
• Download
• Bestival
• The Downs
• Tokyo World
• Bestival

Like most volunteering gigs, you will get: early access to the festival, a secure campsite, access to showers, hot water/drinks and phone chargers. You will also be fed for each shift you work. You have to put down a deposit before the festival, this is to ensure you actually show up to do the shifts, and then at the end of your final festival with My Cause you will receive that money back into your bank! Simple!

Some of my highlights from My Cause‘s list of festivals:

All Points East Presents:

Do you love Catfish & The Bottlemen? The National? Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds? These three bands are playing individual headline gigs as part of APE Presents. Each gig will be essentially a one day festival from the organisers of Coachella. These are obviously not camping events, however if you work with My Cause they guarantee your shift will end in time for you to see the headline set. Essentially you work one 8 hour shift over an afternoon, finishing by 7pm, then get to watch the band for free! Plus you get free lunch! Result!

NEWS: My Cause have just had confirmed NVQ Level 2 Spectator Safety Training for this event, so if you volunteer at All Points East Presents you can even get yourself a qualification! And it costs you nothing! 😮 

Noisily:

Noisily grew out of the underground EDM scene from four friends banding together in the autumn of 2011. It’s an independent festival that has managed to maintain it’s ethos of friendship, equality, love, passion and nature. The headliners this year are Patrice Baumel and Roni Size, two heavyweights in the electronic scene, plus also on the bill are my favourites, Stanton Warriors and Black Sun Empire. Enjoy this EDM oasis with My Cause and raise money for your favourite charity.

Boardmasters:

Are you one of those people for which a festival isn’t quite enough on it’s own? Well, firstly, I think you’re crazy, but secondly, Boardmasters is the place for you! Take a festival, place it next to Fistral Beach in Newquay, and you get the ultimate amalgamation of surf holiday and music festival. Spend your days catching waves and your nights dancing the robot. With the Chemical Brothers headlining this year, you’ll definitely be in for a treat. Volunteer with My Cause and you’ll even have extra time on site to enjoy the beach!

I volunteered with My Cause UK at Boomtown Fair 2016 and have worked with Robin at other events for a few years now. I can’t recommend them enough!

Check out the list of available festivals here and sign up you and your friends now! 

Not only will you have an incredible summer, but you’ll be raising money for your favourite charity in the process! What’s not to love?

Still not quite convinced?

Why not chat to the people who’ve been there, done that? Join the My Cause Volunteer Facebook group and talk to previous festival volunteers about their experiences. My opinion isn’t gospel after all… 😛

Here are some photos of my time as a My Cause Volunteer Supervisor for your amusement!