Festival Volunteering

Step into our vibrant community of the heart and bring your presence, curiosity, and care to Leela during our Festival season!

Volunteering here goes beyond completing tasks. It is an invitation to explore a conscious way of living, working, and relating where contribution, connection, and festival joy come together.

Volunteering offers an opportunity to support the smooth running of our events while experiencing community life from the inside. Our approach is rooted in the values of authentic connection, love, totality, co-creative community, and personal evolution. Alongside practical contribution, volunteers are invited to explore Work as Meditation, bringing presence, awareness, and care into everyday tasks.

Whether supporting behind the scenes or welcoming guests, volunteers play an essential role in creating a warm, well-held festival environment.

Two women at a party, one with brown hair wearing a beige cardigan and black top, holding a wrapped gift, and the other with brown hair in a green shirt and plaid apron, smiling and posing with hands under her chin. There is a table with snacks and a cake in front of them, decorated with pink and red drapes and a window with a green outdoor view.
Group of people at a lively outdoor event under colorful tents, holding a sign that reads "Dance shake move with it!" while a band plays in the background, and everyone is smiling and celebrating.
Three smiling people with drinks standing behind a colorful dessert and snack table at a party, with a vibrant, artistic background.

Working Together

Festival volunteering at Leela is connected to our seasonal events and runs during the spring & summer months.

Festival volunteers take part in all aspects of event preparation and running, from set-up and logistics to supporting workshops, catering, and taking care of communal spaces.

Festival volunteers work five hours each day, and the rest of the time can be spent enjoying the festival, connecting with the community, and taking part in workshops, evening offerings, and celebration.

The work is rich and diverse, offering an immersion in community life, connection, and shared celebration. This pathway is perfect for those who enjoy a dynamic and hands-on environment, and wish to experience the pulse of Leela at its busiest & most vibrant.

Group of people in a kitchen, smiling and posing for the camera, some wearing aprons.

    • Up to 5 hours of Volunteering per day.

    • Participation in morning gatherings and volunteer sharings

    • Supporting festival preparation, event flow, and closing.

  • We ask all volunteers to:

    • Commit fully to their agreed dates and roles

    • Arrive on time for shifts

    • Carry out tasks with care and responsibility

    • Communicate clearly with the team and coordinators

    Roles vary depending on the festival and may include:

    • Event set-up and decoration

    • Kitchen assistance and food preparation

    • Housekeeping and space preparation

    • Dishes

    • Ambassador / welcome desk support

    • Car parking and stewarding

    • Coffee shop or bar support

    • Tea table and breakfast set-up

    • Access to festival workshops and activities outside volunteering hours

    • All meals included – we provide a breakfast buffet and two delicious vegetarian cooked meals per day. Unlimited tea available.

    • Shared community spaces

    • A clear work schedule with defined hours

    • Experience being part of the Leela community team

    • Opportunities to connect, learn, and contribute in a supportive environment

    • A dedicated volunteer support team

    • Access to festival workshops around your shifts.

    • Inclusion in community life

    • Support, guidance, and clear communication throughout your stay. Ideal for those who value presence, learning, contribution, and community living.

  • To help cover festival costs, volunteers contribute:

    £10 per night during the festival (No contribution on preparation or days after festival)

    Accommodation options:

    • Free camping with your own tent gear or campervan

    • Dormitory accommodation:

    • £5 per night during festival dates (limited availability)

    • No dorm cost on preparation or days after festival

    Example:

    If a festival runs Thursday–Monday (4 nights) and you stay for 7 nights including set-up and integration days, you would pay:

    £10 × 4 festival nights = £40

    Optional dorm: £5 × 4 nights = £20

    Total =

    • £40 if camping or bring your campervan* for 7 nights

    • £60 for the 7 night stay in a dorm (including dorm for all 7 nights)

    * if you require a hook up for electricity for your campervan there is a £5 per night cost for each night

  • From previous festival seasons, we’ve found that volunteers benefit greatly from arriving early and settling into the space before the high energy of the festival begins.

    For this reason, we ask volunteers to commit to a minimum stay of one week, including preparation and set-up days. This supports both your integration into the community and the smooth running of the festival.

    Each festival has different arrival and departure dates, please check the individual festival listings below.

    If you cannot attend the full requested dates, you are still welcome to apply and share your availability. Priority will be given to those who can commit to the full period.

  • At Leela, festival volunteering isn’t just work, it’s a shared living and learning experience where we support each other, participate in festival life, and co-create community together. To make this experience sustainable, fair, and nourishing for everyone, we ask volunteers to contribute £10 per day during the festival period.

    This contribution helps cover the real costs of:

    • All delicious meals prepared with care each day

    • Festival sessions, sharings, and learning opportunities

    • Support, guidance, and community facilitation throughout your stay

    • Utilities and infrastructure that make community living possible

    Rather than being “work for free,” your contribution is an investment in a mutual experience. It helps ensure that the community can host you with proper care and attention, and that long-term residents and staff aren’t left carrying the costs alone.

    This isn’t about paying to work, it’s about co-investing in a shared experience of presence, learning, contribution, and collaboration. The contribution makes it possible for everyone, volunteers, organisers, and community members, to show up fully and with clear intention.

    Your contribution also helps honour your commitment: when you give financially, even a small amount, it boosts reliability, respect for the agreements you make, and alignment with the collective values of presence and participation.

Apply here