Reading Festival is sold out but you can still get in for free, if you're willing to do a little hard work.

Volunteering with the clean-up teams will bag you a free staff weekend ticket and help the environment at the same time.

A sea of rubbish and tents were left strewn across the Little John's Farm in Richfield Avenue, but volunteers could be part of the solution.

Reading Chronicle: Screengrab taken with permission from flyskydrones@hotmail.com dated 30/08/21 of the site of Reading Festival showing large quantities of tents and rubbish that have been left behind by revellers at Little John's FarmScreengrab taken with permission from flyskydrones@hotmail.com dated 30/08/21 of the site of Reading Festival showing large quantities of tents and rubbish that have been left behind by revellers at Little John's Farm

Elisa Miles, Chair, Warren and District Residents Association, laid out three options you have.

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“We are again this year working with Reading Festival to connect people who would like to work on site with the Green Messenger Team during the festival and help with salvaging from the Festival site on Sunday afternoon, typically a four hour shift, and Monday, an eight hour shift,” she said.

Option one - four shifts during the festival

Work in the Green Messenger Team at the Festival for four six-hour shifts between Wednesday and Sunday (August 28).

New volunteers must provide a security deposit of £100 while returning volunteers must put up £50, which will be lost if shifts are not completed.  

Sign up using this form and select WADRA under ‘how did you hear about us?’

Then send an email to info@wadra.org noting ‘OPTION 1’ and provide your contact details.

Option two – Four shifts split during and after

Work in the Green Messenger Team at the Festival for two six-hour shifts between Wednesday and Sunday.

Complete two additional shifts with WADRA on Sunday between 3 and 7pm, and on Monday between 8am and 5pm reclaiming camping equipment, clothes and food for charitable purposes.

Sign up using this form and select WADRA under ‘how did you hear about us?’

If you want to do 12 hours of Green Team and then 12 hours of Salvage with WADRA, note this in the form under the ‘why you want to be on the green team’ section.

Then send an email to info@wadra.org noting ‘OPTION 2’ and provide your contact details.

New volunteers must provide a security deposit of £100 while returning volunteers must put up £50, which will be lost if shifts are not completed.  

For both options:

  • You must be 18 years or older prior to the event.
  • You must be allowed to work in the UK
  • Deposits must be made two weeks before the event

If you have any questions regarding the application email: gmessengers@festivalrepublic.com or info@wadra.org