'Never a dull' moment for Glastonbury volunteers

Thousands of volunteers help at Glastonbury Festival every summer

Tickets to the UK's biggest festival are notoriously hard to come by, with hundreds of thousands of fans trying from around the world - and only 210,000 people succeeding.

But there are also thousands of people who secure tickets by swapping a few hours a day for shifts to help keep Glastonbury Festival running smoothly behind the scenes.

From Oxfam and Shelter, to campsite crews and sensory calm spaces for people with neurodiversities, volunteers help every summer in return for a free ticket.

The BBC spoke to some of the volunteers about why they do it, and how it is more than a free way into Somerset's Worthy Farm.

'A bit of a thrill'

Stuart Saunders has volunteered every year since 2007, starting as a Park Stage fire steward, and now is one of a dozen supervisors who look after more than 300 volunteers at the same site.

The area around Park Stage famously includes the ribbon tower, the Glastonbury signs on the hill, several music spaces and areas and more.

Although he said he has met some of his heroes while volunteering, he said the best part has been watching the area "evolve into being a part of something".

Stuart Saunders has volunteered at Glastonbury Festival since 2007

"There's a team of people who work really hard to make it all happen, knowing them and they're such a diverse bunch," he said.

"All walks of life, all backgrounds. And the only thing they have in common is they just want to deliver an amazing show and just being part of it is, in a small way, is a bit of a thrill.

"Every year, there's little changes and it gets a little bit better. Better for the crowd, better for the people working there."

More than 300 volunteers help out around the Park Stage area

Sensory calm spaces 'vital'

Joel Aughey volunteers for Diverse UK, which sets up the sensory calm spaces dotted around the festival for neurodiverse people who are feeling overwhelmed.

Since 2022, they have gone from one space to five and now has thousands attending across the festival's five days each year.

Mr Aughey, who has ADHD, says the spaces are "vital for neurodiverse people".

"It's been so interesting and fulfilling for me," he said.

"Things are happening that add additional stress to a neurodiverse brain.

"People would come in overwhelmed, and you get to take them in and put them somewhere where they can recuperate for a time, and then watch them come back out smiling, thanking you and getting back into it.

Diverse UK's sensory calm spaces has grown since 2022 because of demand

"People say 'I would've gone home if this wasn't here' or 'I'd be back in the campsite'."

He said it was people's responses and the feedback after they leave the space which makes it "so fulfilling".

The spaces are in a large tent behind a white gazebo which acts as a reception area. Inside is low soft light and comfortable seating, and volunteers stand outside to speak to anyone who may need to use the space.

Anyone who enters is offered ear defenders or noise cancelling headphones, sensory aids such as fidget toys and a weighted blanket.

Mr Aughey said they don't "exclusively let people in who identify as neurodiverse".

'Never a dull moment'

Mary Palmer has volunteered with her partner James at the festival previously

Mary Palmer has volunteered at the Hawkwell campsite as a crew member near the Pyramid Stage since 2015.

From giving directions to counselling heartbroken festival-goers, she said she has helped anyone with just about anything.

"There's never a dull moment," she said.

"Just being able to help people, and people going away feeling better than they were or leaving with more of a smile on their face."

Ms Palmer and the campsite crew volunteer from Tuesday to Monday, working six hour shifts per day across a 24-hour period.

"It sounds like we turn up, have a good time. But there is training involved, there's a lot of health and safety based training and crowd control training.

"It's not just turning up and doing a few shifts and going home again. There's a lot more to it than that."

Glastonbury Festival will open its gates at Worthy Farm in Somerset on 25 June until 29 June.