Welcome
Here’s what you need to know about joining the Buddhafield Festival Steward Crew
- What the Steward Crew does
- What you’ll need to commit to
- Additional roles available
- How to volunteer
- What stewarding at Buddhafield entails
Stewards play a vital role in keeping the festival running smoothly and ensuring everyone has a great experience. Joining the crew is rewarding and fun—many volunteers return year after year!
Key Roles Include:
- Welcoming and checking in new arrivals at the gate
- Directing on-site traffic and guiding people to parking areas
- Helping attendees navigate the site safely
- Using walkie-talkies to coordinate with fellow stewards
No special skills are required—we’ll provide training tailored to your role.
To Steward With Us, You Need To Be:
- 18 or older
- Open-hearted and enthusiastic
- Friendly and eager to assist others
- Able to be assertive when necessary
- Legally eligible to work in the UK
Stewarding at Buddhafield is a joyful experience for most, but it can be busy and demanding at times—especially on the ingress day, Wednesday, 16 July 2025, when all stewards pitch in. Please keep this in mind when applying.
Volunteer stewarding opportunities are divided into two main categories: Setup (pre-festival) and Festival (during the event), with an optional pack-down day on Monday, 21 July 2025 (the 15th day) for all stewards. Both Setup and Festival stewards work together on the busy ingress day, Wednesday, 16 July. You’ll need to choose one category and its corresponding date range when applying.
Opportunity 1: Setup (11 - 16 July 2025)
Role: Work as a steward under the direction of the Head and Deputy Steward
Arrival: Friday, 11 July 2025, in time for sign-in and induction at 4:45 PM, followed by dinner at 6:00 PM with your team
Training: Meet the Head and Deputy Steward after dinner at 7:00 PM for induction and training
Work: 35-37 hours across five shifts from Saturday, 12 July to Wednesday, 16 July 2025 (includes busy ingress day on Wed 16 July alongside Festival stewards)
Final Shift: Wednesday, 16 July 2025
Optional Pack-Down: Monday, 21 July 2025 (counts as the 15th day)
In Return, You’ll Receive:
- Role-specific training and support
- A festival ticket
- Any necessary vehicle pass
- Daily Dharma input
- Vegan meals (all meals per day, plus hot drinks) from dinner on Tuesday, 11 July to dinner on Wednesday, 16 July (plus a meal ticket if staying for pack-down on 21 July)
Optional Supervisory Role:
Interested in leading? We’re looking for supervisors with prior Buddhafield experience (in any capacity) or familiarity with stewarding or supervising at festivals or events. Indicate your interest on the application form.
Additional Option for Opportunity 1: Early Stewards (7 - 16 July 2025)
Join a smaller, tight-knit team to kick off the festival build from the very start! This group extends their commitment by 5 extra days upfront. Last year’s early crew loved the experience—bonding with each other and the wider Buddhafield community.
Arrival: Sunday, 6 July 2025, in time for sign-in and induction at 4:45 PM, followed by dinner at 6:00 PM with your team
Training: Meet the Head and Deputy Steward after dinner at 7:00 PM for induction and training
Work: 10 days total—Monday, 7 July to Wednesday, 16 July 2025 (5 early shifts plus 5 with the larger Setup team, including busy ingress day on Wed 16 July)
Optional Pack-Down: Monday, 21 July 2025 (counts as the 15th day)
This is perfect if you’d like a relaxed introduction to Buddhafield, want to see behind the scenes, and have extra time to spare.
Opportunity 2: Festival (16 - 20 July 2025)
Role: Work as a steward under the direction of the Head and Deputy Steward
Arrival: Tuesday, 15 July 2025, in time for sign-in and induction at 4:45 PM, followed by dinner at 6:00 PM with your team (meal ticket provided)
Training: Meet the Head and Deputy Steward after dinner at 7:00 PM for induction and training
Work: 5 shifts from Wednesday, 16 July (busy ingress day alongside Setup stewards) to Sunday, 20 July 2025
Optional Pack-Down: Monday, 21 July 2025 (counts as the 15th day)
In Return, You’ll Receive:
- Role-specific training and support
- A festival ticket
- Any necessary vehicle pass
- Daily Dharma input
- Vegan meals (1 meal ticket per shift completed, plus breakfast and hot drinks), plus an additional meal ticket if you complete the optional pack-down shift on 21 July
Optional Supervisory Role:
Want to take on more responsibility? We’re seeking supervisors with prior Buddhafield experience (in any capacity) or familiarity with stewarding or supervising at festivals or events. Indicate your interest on the application form.
How to Apply
Ready to join us? Apply below! We’ll respond to all applications promptly. When applying, please select one category:
- Early Stewards: 7 - 16 July 2025 (optional pack-down 21 July)
- Setup: 12 - 16 July 2025 (optional pack-down 21 July)
- Festival: 16 - 20 July 2025 (optional pack-down 21 July)
The full volunteer stewarding period runs 15 days from 7 July to 21 July 2025, with the final day (Monday, 21 July) being an optional pack-down day for all stewards. Both Setup and Festival stewards work the busy ingress day, Wednesday, 16 July. Indicate on your application if you’re available for pack-down.
We can’t wait to welcome you to the Buddhafield Steward Crew!