Glastonbury is one of the biggest festivals in the world. It is well known for its world-class acts and the variety of things you can do within the festivals grounds. But how much do you know about Glastonbury’s worthy causes? Or about the festival’s efforts to make a difference?
Glastonbury Festival first took place in 1970. It was inspired and based on the free festival, counterculture, and hippie movements. It was not until the 1980s that the festival started taking place annually.
According to records, 1981 was also the first year Glastonbury Festival made a profit and then proceeded to donate part of it. This first ever donation went to the CND (The Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament).
The three major causes supported by Glastonbury Festival
The festival continued to make donations each year after 1981, and hasn’t stopped since. Following the end of the Cold War, Glastonbury Festival has been donating to three main beneficiaries. These are:
- Greenpeace
- Oxfam
- WaterAid
You can find pictures of the Oxfam, Greenpeace, and WaterAid areas from within the festival on Glastonbury’s website. You can find out more about each organization from there.
Glastonbury states that:
Glastonbury Festival retains its ethos as a positive force for change both locally and internationally.
It also invites attendees to “get involved and make this a cleaner, greener, and fairer planet”.
Local support and other charities
Ever since 2000, the festival also started making other significant donations as well. Glastonbury also paid and supported local good causes and charities. You can check out this festival page to get an idea of the various and varied local projects they supported.
Did we also mention you can contribute directly too?
The Glastonbury Worthy Warriors
For those who may not know, Glastonbury also initiated the Worthy Warriors program. Any festival ticket holder can sign up to become one. You can sign up to help spread the “Leave No Trace” and “Love The Farm” messages.
Festival attendees that sign up for this will get an extra wristband that marks them as a Worthy Warrior. You can get a T-shirt too.
Worthy Warriors will help preserve the elements (water, air, earth and fire).
The plastic-free Glasto
For the first time ever, Glastonbury is putting a stop to the use of single-use plastic bottles for its 2019 edition. It will be sporting a recycling centre as well.
This year, Glasto will also feature an arena made entirely out of plastic. The Shangri-La area’s “Gas Tower” dance arena will be created out of plastic found in parks, beaches, and on the streets.
Check out the announcement below:
Glastonbury 2019
Glastonbury is a five-day festival of contemporary performing arts that takes place in Pilton, Somerset, England. Aside from the performing musical acts, the festival also hosts dance, comedy, theatre, circus acts and other activities.
Glastonbury is considered to be the largest greenfield festival in the world, with around 135,000 attendees. It was organised for the first time in 1970 and since 1981, the festival takes place every four out of five years. After a ‘fallow-year’ in 2018, the festival returns in 2019.
- Date: 26-30 June 2019.
- Location: Pilton, Somerset, UK.
- Tickets: Sold out (resale in April).
- For more information, visit our festival page or the official website.
Glastonbury 2025
