Frequently Asked Questions

Please visit our Event Schedule page here for all arrival timings.

Firstly, we are so excited to hear that you are coming as a group, we can’t wait for you to join us!

We do not allocate particular camping pitches – it is first come, first served on the day. Our campsite is very large so groups tend to be able to camp together. We advise you to arrive as early as you can to avoid any disappointment.

If your group contains 100+ people, please email [email protected] for more information regarding reserving a pitch for your group.

To make everyone on-site as safe as possible, our campsite is vehicle free. This includes the accessible campsite, there is however a car park adjacent to the accessible campsite to make it easier for customers to offload their camping equipment.

When you arrive at the Big Church Festival you will be directed into one of our designated car parks for campers. You’ll need to carry your luggage from there to your camping pitch. 

Before finding a place to pitch you’ll need to visit the camping ticket gate to collect your wristbands, pick up a programme and ask any questions. The campsite team will be on hand to direct you and help you to settle in and our campsite shop will stock essentials that you might have forgotten, such as tent pegs or airbeds. 

Please note that arriving later may mean a slightly longer walk to get to the campsite.

Children under the age of 18 can only camp if accompanied by a responsible adult on site. All under 16s can only camp if accompanied by an adult ticket holder aged 21 or over who must remain on site throughout the weekend as the under 16-year-old’s guardian. No unaccompanied under 16s are allowed on site. We do not accept any parental or supervisory duty of care or liability for any under 18s on site.

We can’t wait for you to join us at the Big Church Campsite!

NOT included in your camping ticket is:

• Tent and all your camping equipment.  Check out our Rent-A-Tent and Glamping options if you don’t own a tent!

INCLUDED in your camping ticket is:

• The use of toilets, hot showers, standpipes for filling up your water containers and multi-tap units for that all-important teeth brushing!

There are also many infrastructure costs involved in getting the campsite ready for you all and the price for your camping ticket contributes to this.

Please note that if you purchase a Rent-A-Tent or Glamping tent then you do not need a camping ticket in addition to this.

Camping spots are on a first-come first-served basis, we do not allocate particular pitches. We have plenty of space in the campsite but if you have a specific place in mind or if you’re coming with a larger group, we would advise you to arrive early so you can all camp together. There are no restrictions on tent sizes. 

Everyone (adults, children, under 5’s, carers) camping in the Big Church Campsite must have their own camping wristband. Camping tickets can be purchased on our website.

To keep everyone safe, the campsite is a vehicle-free zone.  Caravans and Campervans will be sited in their own field, which is close to the Tearfund Tea Garden. Unfortunately, if you have friends camping in tents, you won’t be able to have your caravan or motorhome next to their tent. However, you’re free to roam the campsite so you can go and visit them!

Yes this is fine as long as everything fits within your space booked.

Yes, you need to purchase a camping ticket per person in addition to your caravan ticket

As long as your awning fits within your space booked then this is fine.

No, unfortunately, it isn’t possible to camp with your friends who are bringing their own tents. 

Our Rent-a-Tents and Glamping tents are all together in one field in order to provide our guests with the best possible service. Campers who are bringing their own tents will be in the main campsite, but the main campsite is only a short distance away!

If it’s a small lightweight trailer tent that can be pulled safely by hand, then you can camp on the main campsite. If it needs motorised support, then your trailer tent will need to be parked in the caravan field. You’ll need to purchase a caravan ticket for the trailer tent.

We do not permit the lighting of any kind of fire at Big Church Festival. This includes disposable BBQ’s, fireworks, smoke canisters, Chinese lanterns and other similar items. Any person in possession of such items may be refused entry or ejected.

You can bring your own safe camping stoves but fire regulations mean that open fires and low level disposable type BBQ’s are not allowed. Waist-high, contained off-the-ground BBQ’s with wind-protecting side panels are permitted.

You can camp for one night or for all four – Thursday, Friday, Saturday + Sunday! You must leave the site by midday on Monday 25th August.

We don’t allow people to sleep in the back of their cars or vans unless they are modified and certified camper vans. This is all to do with isolating the battery. A campervan can switch between running the engine and the battery. In a van if the engine is run to use the battery to do something simple like charging a phone, there is no ventilation in the back of a van. This can be fatal in some circumstances. If you are found to be sleeping in your car or van you will be asked to leave the site.

Unfortunately, we can’t allow for anyone to make arrangements for companies to bring hired caravans or tents to the site on their behalf.  However, we do have our own Rent-a-Tent and Glamping service which you may want to check out here!

Yes! Please feel free to bring a gas canister. Gas canisters can only be used in the campsite. Gas canisters can only be a maximum of 5 litres . Do not heat food or drink inside your tent with a naked flame. Please use a safe place that is wind protected outside of your tent or ideally on a table or a waist high stove with legs.

This includes Glamping and Rent A Tents. 

Anyone using a gas stove must bring their own fire extinguisher. 

All equipment must be checked and undamaged before use on site. Our camping team will be going round doing spot checks on equipment.

Under no circumstances are gas camping stoves allowed into the main arenas.

We have electrical hook-ups available for the weekend for CARAVANS/MOTORHOMES/CAMPERVANS ONLY. The cost is £75 per caravan/motorhome/campervan. This gives you power from Thursday 21st August at 12 noon – Monday 25th August at 12 noon. You will need at least 10m of 16amp cable to reach the nearest power source. 

Electrical hook-up pitches are limited and will need to purchased through our website here in advance when booking your caravan ticket. Please note that you will not be able to add an electrical hook-up to your booking at a later date.

When requesting power please be aware that the site is powered by generators, it could go off at any point so we can not guarantee it on permanently during the festival. Should a generator power off one of our engineers will be working to get it on again as soon as possible.

The cost for the electrical hook-up does not include a caravan/campervan ticket, you will need to purchase this separately on our website.

ACCESSIBLE CAMPSITE ELECTRICAL HOOK-UPS

We understand that many users of the Accessible Campsite need electricity to power medical equipment, hoists and items such as specialist feeding apparatus.

While we do our best to provide an uninterrupted power supply, it is important to note that the power is provided by generators and there is always the possibility that it may go off for a period of time. Please be aware of this and plan accordingly, especially if you are bringing temperature sensitive medications, which you do at your own risk.

In order to book your accessible electrical hook-up you will need to:

1. Purchase your tickets on our website along with the electrical hook-up
2. You will be emailed with instructions on what to do next, please reply to the email or email us directly at [email protected] with information on why you require it, such as for breathing apparatus

If you have already purchased your camping tickets, please email [email protected] for further assistance.

Unfortunately, we can’t allow any generators on-site, including battery operated generators. We have facilities for phone charging, and lots of food vendors for all your food needs!

To purchase an electrical hook up please visit our tickets page on our website. You will then need to click on the ‘Next’ button on the event ticket page. Once on the camping tickets page you will need to select your caravan size and electrical hook-up and then proceed to the checkout page. Please note that they must be purchased when booking your caravan, you will not be able to add an electrical hook-up to your booking at a later date.

Electrical hook ups are for caravans/campervans and motorhomes only.

You can access your e-tickets anytime by logging into your Big Church Festival account on our website here. You will then need to go into ‘Recent Orders’.

You’ll need to purchase a camping ticket in addition to your Big Church Festival event ticket. The camping ticket covers the cost of a pitch for camping but you’ll need to arrange your own tent. If you are Glamping or have purchased a Rent-A-Tent you do not need to purchase a camping ticket.

If You wish to transfer Your Ticket(s) to others you may pass your ticket onto others who qualify for the same ticket ie age group.

Please note that wristbands can’t be transferred. E.g. If you have a weekend ticket and can only attend on the Saturday you cannot pass your ticket onto someone else on the Sunday. Everyone will need their own e-ticket.

All Big Church Festival ticket prices have been substantially discounted because of support from generous donors who are committed to the Big Church Festival vision.

However, there is a physical cost in ticketing the event and the Big Church Festival team has worked hard to see that this is delivered as efficiently as possible. To save costs we have developed our own ticketing platform using a third party developer. This allows us to manage specialised and complex areas of ticket sales and distribution in-house and will ensure you get the best and most cost effective service.

A 10% service charge will be added to all ticket prices, excluding Rent-a-Tent tickets. This covers all the costs associated with ticketing the event including admin, customer service provision, card processing fees, development costs, production of wristbands and on-site ticketing costs. We spread these costs across every individual who attends the event so your service charge will be proportionate to the number of people on your booking. Your service charge is non-refundable.

The ticket price and service charge are shown separately as the face value of the ticket is refundable under certain circumstances, such as where we have to cancel the event due to issues beyond our control.

Because the service charge is used to cover the hard costs associated with selling or refunding tickets it is non-refundable under any circumstances, and therefore can’t be shown as part of the ticket price.

All Big Church Festival tickets are already hugely discounted because of support from generous donors, so unfortunately we’re not able to discount tickets further on an individual basis. We do offer 3 options on all tickets, with supported, standard, and supporter tickets available where you get to choose the price you want to pay for the ticket you purchase.

We do appreciate however that for some the cost may still be challenging, but as Big Church Festival is already ‘sponsoring’ a large part of the ticket price we encourage people to find their own way of supporting the cost of the tickets such as by asking their Church Leader for advice and support.

We hope that you can find a way to attend the event. The cheapest way to purchase a ticket is to do so as part of a group of 10+ people or become a Big Church Volunteer, as volunteers can attend for free!

We’re sorry that you’re unable to come to Big Church – we’ll miss you!!

Unfortunately, as stated on our Ticketing Terms & Conditions here, we’re not able to refund or change tickets once purchased. We trust that you will appreciate that it is extremely difficult for us to create one rule for one, and another rule for others, and so for us to maintain our integrity and fairness to all, it is necessary for us to adhere to the Terms and Conditions that all ticket purchasers have agreed to.

Please email [email protected] to talk to one of our team and we can do our very best to help you!

All tickets once booked via Group Plus cannot be cancelled between the date of booking and the time payment is taken.

Once payment has been taken all tickets are non-refundable as stated in our Terms and Conditions here.

Group members do not have to all purchase the exact same ticket to benefit from the Group discount. There can be a mixture of different tickets under the same booking. 

Please note: Under 4’s and personal assistants are not accounted for within the Group discount.

We can assign an individual’s order to a group so their order can be seen within the group, however, due to payment already being taken they will be unable to receive the group discount.

Please email [email protected] with your order number and group name if you would like us to assign your order to a group.

As your Group grows, the price of each ticket will automatically drop. You will be sent an email after you have reached each group price break.

You will be sent your e-ticket after your payment has been taken on your Group Discount Deadline which is the 30th June 2025.

By default your group will still allow new bookings after the discount deadline, right up until online sales close at midnight on 20th August 2025. Any bookings after June 30th will be charged at the group discount deadline rate.

If a member of your Group has their card declined when payments are taken on the Group closing date, the Group Leaders card is used to pay for their ticket. This ensures that the Group member still receives their ticket to the event. We are now giving Group Leaders the option in the “settings” tab to opt out of this function, if this is something the Group Leader doesn’t want.

If the number of members within a Group does not reach the minimum of 10 (the first Group price discount) then each member of the Group will be charged the full price for their ticket at the time of their booking. This means that Group members will still receive the super early bird, early bird, or saver discount if they booked their tickets within those allotted price breaks.

Group Plus will generate a unique link that you will be able to share from your own email or social media accounts with those you wish to invite to your Group.

This link can be found in the “invites” tab in your Group Plus account.

The people you have invited then click this link to book their tickets and come as part of your discounted Group to Big Church Festival.

By default your group will still allow new bookings after the discount deadline, right up until online sales close at midnight on 20th August 2025. Any bookings after 30th June will be charged at the group discount deadline rate.

It is very easy to book through Group Plus!

STEP 1: CLICK ON YOUR UNIQUE GROUP LINK

Please click on your unique Group link. This will then take you to your Group’s page with the Group name on the top of the page.

STEP 2: SELECT YOUR EVENT TICKETS

Select the event tickets you would like and proceed to the next page.

STEP 3: SELECT YOUR CAMPING TICKETS

Select what camping/caravan tickets you would like. If you do not need camping tickets please proceed to the next page. 

STEP 4: LOGIN OR CREATE AN ACCOUNT

Please login to your account if you already have one with us or create a new account.

STEP 5: ENTER IN YOUR PAYMENT DETAILS

Please enter in your billing and payment details and accept the terms and conditions before placing your order. 

You will be emailed your e-ticket once payment has been taken on the Group Discount Deadline which is the 30th June 2025. Each group member will need to bring their e-ticket with them to the event, where it will be exchanged for a wristband.

Please note: All tickets once booked via Group Plus cannot be cancelled between the date of booking and the time payment is taken.

Please visit our Event Schedule page here for all arrival timings.

You are free to come and go as many times as you like during Big Church Festival. Please make sure that you are wearing your wristbands when you leave the site as we can’t let you back in without them.

Please check back closer to the event for more information regarding the site map!

Yes, you can bring a gazebo into the main arena! These should not have sides on them, they must be securely pinned down and the gazebo and the fixings must not obstruct the fire lanes.

Please make sure they are no bigger than 3m x 3m.

These must be positioned behind the flag line. No live flames are permitted in the main arena (so no gas stoves or BBQ’s in gazebos).

Please note you may have to move these if asked to do so by an event safety officer. It can stay up overnight as long as it is firmly pinned down.

We often get asked if you can bring your pets to Big Church Festival, and sadly we have to say no to your furry friends.

The only animals allowed on site are fully trained Assistance Dogs. 

If you have a fully trained Assistance Dog please email [email protected] with any necessary documentation so that we can accommodate your needs.

To keep everyone safe, glass is not allowed. Please bring your cups and decant any drinks before you come. Thanks!

The full address is Wiston House, Steyning, West Sussex, BN44 3DZ.

Not a happy camper? That’s okay! There are lots of other options for you that are off-site but are nearby. 

If you would like to look for an Airbnb, hotel or B&B here are some towns close by:

• Steyning
• Storrington
• Horsham
• Pulborough
• Shoreham-by-Sea
• West Chiltington
• Worthing
• Littlehampton
• Brighton

We support responsible drinking and professional staff will be on hand all day to support this objective. Over 18’s are welcome to bring alcohol for their own consumption as long as it’s not in glass bottles. A limited amount of alcohol is only permitted in the campsite and not to be brought into the main arena.

We provide baby changing facilities which will be clearly signposted and located on our map.

Yes! We’ve got several phone charging facilities across the site! More information will be available in our programme when you arrive!

To report or hand in any lost property just make your way to the Info Point, which is clearly marked on the map. Lost property is logged and held securely until it’s claimed. If it’s not been claimed by 1st July 2024 it’ll be donated to charity. For lost property enquiries after the event, please email [email protected]

When the event finishes (sad moment) there’ll be lots of people leaving at the same time so please allow extra time when planning your journey home. Our amazing Traffic Management team work as quickly as they can to help you leave safely.

The Main Stage will finish around 10:15pm.

Most definitely – we’d love you to! Applications will open in the Autumn so please keep an eye out!

We’d be so pleased if you celebrated your birthday with us at Big Church Festival, however, we get so many requests like this that we can’t say yes to them all. 

However, please feel free to bring banners, picnic rugs, cakes etc to celebrate your birthday!

Your safety is our top priority. We want to make sure everyone is as safe as possible and would ask you to help us by being vigilant. We have a professional team of security specialists managing site access and on-site activities to ensure that everybody has a great day out. Prior to the event, we deliberately brief our security to dress and behave in keeping with the event. So there will be plenty of security on the gates but they may not be massively obvious to festival attendees. We may carry out bag searches and you may be stopped and asked questions on entry. These measures help us to have as safe an event as possible.

At the Big Church Festival, we try to keep things exciting and varied which means that aside from the musical performances, we provide a large number of attractions for adults and children of all ages to get stuck in to. In order to provide this variety, many of the attractions will be free to the public but some of them will incur a small cost. 

If you’re coming with children or vulnerable adults, please ensure that they remain with you at all times. Arrange a meeting point so that if you do become separated you can each make your way to that place. If you have small children, please take a photo of them each day so that if you become separated you’ll be able to give an accurate description of what they’re wearing.

You can pick up blank wristbands from the ticket gate, you can write your phone number on so we can contact you if you are separated from your child or vulnerable adult. 

Remember that mobile signal on-site is unreliable so please don’t assume that you can be reached by phone.

Unfortunately we can’t allow for people to bring bikes to site.

The Mainstage usually finishes around 10:15 pm. If you are camping then the camper’s programme finishes at midnight. More information will be available in our programme when you arrive!

We have a huge range of food vans on-site to cater for the thousands of people. Whatever your tastes, there’s something for you – from hearty breakfasts, to quality coffee and the all-important late night chips!

Many of our caterers cater for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and dairy-free diets and those that do will most certainly advertise it from their van or unit.

Yes we do! A list of traders including vegetarian + vegan traders will be on our website closer to the event.

Yes there will be gluten-free and/or dairy-free options available in our cafes across the site as well as some of our food vendors.

Please have a look at our Getting Here section of our website.

Here we talk you through all the transport options available to you.

There is a nominal £15 charge for parking. This is to cover the increasing costs of land rental, reinstatement of the land after bad weather years, the cost of a professional parking team and a contribution towards helping Big Church become more environmentally responsible across the whole site. We would encourage everyone to lift share wherever possible to reduce the impact parking has on the site and our environment.

Yes – we will have a specific drop-off point in the car park. The drop-off point will be clearly signposted when you arrive.

If you are bringing a Caravan or Motorhome to Big Church, your parking is included in the pitch fee so you won’t need to purchase a car parking ticket in addition to this.

To make things as easy as possible for both Big Church campers and day visitors, we have two locations for Accessible Parking. If you are camping, Accessible Parking is next to the Accessible Campsite and you will be sent all the details with your arrival information.

If you are just visiting for the day, or are staying offsite, Accessible Parking is located by the Ticket Gate. If you need to park in this area please contact [email protected].

If the full price ticket buyer can prove by supplying documentation, that they are gaining support through one of the follow benefits, Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Disability Living Allowance (DLA), Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), Blue Badge or they have relevant medical documentation to support an injury such as a doctor’s note, then they are entitled to book one Personal Assistant ticket along with their own ticket. Personal Assistant tickets need to be booked via the website prior to the event.

How do I purchase a Personal Assistant through General tickets?  

• Please click here to purchase general tickets (not in a Group)
• Select the number of tickets needed in your order. Please make sure if you are wanting to camp in the accessible campsite that you select Accessible campsite tickets. 
• Once you have entered your payment details you will be charged for your order. You will then have 14 days to email your documents to [email protected]. Note: If you do not receive this email, please check your spam folder.
• Once we have received your documents and accepted them, we will issue you with your e-tickets. Note: If we are unable to accept your evidence due to us not receiving any of the documents stated, or if we do not receive your documents within 14 days we may cancel your carer ticket and refund you.
• You will need to bring proof of ID along with your e-ticket to the festival, only then can we issue you and your Personal Assistant with a wristband for the event.

How do I purchase a Personal Assistant ticket on Group Plus?

• Please place the amount of tickets needed in your order through your Group Plus group (please note that you will need to book the personal assistant ticket along with the full price ticket). Once you have booked your tickets no payment will be taken until your group discount deadline which is the 30th June 2025.
• From the booking date you will then have 14 days to provide us with the documentation. You will need to email the documents to [email protected]. Note: If we are unable to accept your evidence due to us not receiving any of the documents stated, or if we do not receive your documents within 14 days we may cancel your personal assistant ticket. PLEASE NOTE: YOU MUST SEND US YOUR DOCUMENTS BEFORE THE DISCOUNT DEADLINE which is the 30th June 2025, otherwise they will be automatically canceled.
• You will need to bring proof of ID along with your e-ticket to the festival, only then can we issue you and your Personal Assistant with a wristband for the event.

No, we will have a priority lane for guests that have accessibility needs and come with a personal assistant to allow them to enter quickly into the event. Only the person with accessible needs and the personal assistant may use the priority lane.

No, you do not need to purchase a camping ticket in addition to your Rent-A-Tent/Glamping tent.

However, please note that the cost of Glamping + Rent-A-Tents do not include an event ticket for Big Church Festival which must be bought separately.

The Glamping village is exclusively for those staying in our beautiful Glamping bell tents, but don’t worry, your friends won’t be too far away.

For the comfort of all Glampers each area needs to be free from any additional small tents or gazebos.

The price of a Glamping tent is per tent. Therefore if you purchase a 4 person Glamping tent this will admit 4 people.

All event tickets will need to be purchased separately.

Once applications are open and we have received your application, we will respond to you within 14 days to let you know if your application has been accepted. If you haven’t heard from us after 14 days, then please let us know by emailing [email protected].

After your application has been accepted, you’ll be sent an invoice which will need to be paid within 14 days.  

After your application has been accepted, you’ll be sent an invoice which will need to be paid within 14 days.  

Our aim is to provide the best experience for our guests, exhibitors and advertisers. We may reject applications if we have already received applications from similar trades or ministries. For this reason, we advise you to submit your application as soon as possible.

Most stands/stalls will need insurance cover of at least £5 million. However, if your stand is a table and pop-up only, then we can accept Public Liability Insurance of at least 2 million. If you are unsure please email [email protected]

The Expo and the Tea Garden Market are very different. The Tea Garden Market is only open to businesses that fit the criteria of ‘unique or handmade artwork, craftwork or gifts’. If you’re unsure, feel free to email us at [email protected].

Yes. Advertising is the same in both versions of the programme but you will need to supply us with two different size adverts.

Our advertising opportunities are highly sought after and an essential income stream to support the event so unfortunately we cannot offer a discount on these opportunities.

Yes of course! You can book camping tickets as part of your order or separately at a later date subject to availability. The price of camping tickets do not change. 

To purchase camping tickets without event tickets you will need to go onto our ticketing page and click on ‘Next’ on the event tickets page. You will then be able to select just camping tickets.

Absolutely! 

The Campsite Cafe will be open for your morning coffee and late-night snacks.

Check out the food traders at the Village Green + Avenue for your culinary needs. These will be open from 12 noon in the Village Green and 4pm in the Avenue on the Thursday. 

The Corner Shop for all your essentials and camping provisions. We also have an ice block exchange available in The Corner Shop.

It’s a massive help for us if you take your recycling home with you. Firstly, there are certain items which you may be able to recycle locally which we’re unable to recycle. Secondly, the less rubbish we have to dispose of helps us to keep our costs down and keep ticket prices at a level of great value. 

Our refuse company does recycle certain items. You’ll see the various bins around the site, please make sure you separate your rubbish into the correct bins.

Yes! We will have places to refill your bottle around site, all of these locations will be on the 2025 site map, which will be available on our website closer to the event and in the programme.

We are afraid we cannot pre-allocate pitches, if you wish to camp together you will need to arrive at the same time as we will be parking on a first come first served basis. Please also note you will both need to have the same requirements e.g. both have electricity. We can’t mix up electric and non electric but we will try our best to park you both in close proximity when arriving together.

Any group erecting a ‘community’ or ‘kitchen’ tent (ie another structure other than a tent to be slept in) is permitted to do so as long as this tent is no larger than 6m x 6m in size. This structure must:

1. Be fixed securely to the ground using rope and pegs and weights

2. In the event of high winds they must be collapsed

3. You must comply with any requests from the H&S team, including taking down of the structure of requested to do so.

4. It is your responsibility to bring and put up the marquee, we can’t allow for third parties to come in to put this up for you.

For structures larger than 6m x 6m please contact [email protected] to discuss.

Yes! The Corner Shop in the Village Green located in the Campsite will be offering an ice block exchange.

You will need to purchase a car parking pass for any minibusses. Coaches do not need to purchase a car parking pass.

There’s a range of volunteer roles to suit everyone! Some positions call for specific skills and experience, while others just need your energy and enthusiasm. What all Big Church volunteers share is a passion for serving, the ability to follow directions, and a desire to help make the festival run smoothly.

Volunteering with Big Church Festival is more than just getting a free pass (though you’ll get to experience plenty of the event!). We’re looking for dedicated individuals who are excited to help bring this incredible festival to life. Come join us in making Big Church an unforgettable experience for everyone!

We would love to have you volunteer with us! More information regarding applying can be found here. 

No, you won’t need to make any payment upfront to volunteer, but we do ask for card details to secure your spot.

In past years, up to 20% of volunteers each year either didn’t turn up or cancelled last-minute, putting additional strain on the rest of the volunteer team – while also costing Big Church Festival over £10,000! Big Church Festival is a charity, and this was a major problem we needed to address. 

To be fair to our volunteers and to keep things running smoothly, we introduced a card-hold policy, which has dramatically reduced last minute cancellations and no shows. 

The result? A smoother, more enjoyable experience for everyone involved!

This year, we’re continuing with this approach. Your card will only be charged if you cancel without a valid reason (such as illness or family emergency), don’t show up, or do not complete your shifts.

We understand that plans can change, so here’s how it works if you do need to cancel:

• Cancel up to midnight on 14th July 2025: No charge
• Cancel between the 15th to 28th July 2025: 25% of full ticket price = £36
• Cancel between 29th July to 15th August: 50% of full ticket price = £72
• Cancel after 15th August or don’t complete shifts: 100% of ticket price = £144

We’ll notify you before any charge is made, and no money will be taken when you apply. Your card details are securely stored by our payment provider and are not accessible to our team.

Once you’ve completed your application form and provided two references, we’ll review it and reach out to your referees within five working days. As soon as we receive a response from your referees, and providing everything is in order, we’ll be delighted to confirm your spot!

Please keep in mind that the timeline for acceptance can depend on how quickly your referees respond. If things are moving slower than expected, feel free to give them a gentle reminder.

Placements are confirmed on a first-come, first-served basis, and we’ll do our best to assign you to your preferred role. However, if your top choice is already filled or we believe another role might be a better fit, we may need to adjust.

Generally, we only decline applications if:

• The applicant doesn’t meet the criteria listed in our Terms and Conditions (available during the application).
• You’ve previously missed shifts without providing a suitable reason.
• Your referee has advised it may not be suitable for you to serve.
• You apply too late or leave parts of the form incomplete.

If you haven’t heard back in 6 weeks, please reach out to us on [email protected]

You’ll have scheduled breaks for lunch and dinner, with timing tailored to your role. Your Team Leader will ensure you have time to recharge! If you have any special requirements or concerns, just reach out to us at [email protected] ahead of the festival – we’re here to help.

Absolutely! You’re welcome to request one friend to volunteer alongside you. Just be sure you both list each other’s names on your applications, apply at the same time, and select the same team. We’ll do our best to make it work! (And remember, placements are first come, first served!)

You will need to purchase a car parking pass for any motorbikes.

The minimum age to volunteer is 16. If you’re 16 or 17, we will require written permission from your parent or guardian before we can confirm your place on the team. Unfortunately, we aren’t able to accept volunteers under 16. There’s no upper age limit – everyone is welcome, and there’s a role for everyone!

To volunteer in the UK, you must meet one of the following criteria:

• Citizenship in the UK, Republic of Ireland, Isle of Man, or Channel Islands (Common Travel Area)
• EU/EEA citizenship with Settled or Pre-Settled Status in the UK
• A valid Working Holiday Visa

If you hold a different visa or immigration status, please ensure you have the right to volunteer in the UK before applying. You’ll be asked to confirm any restrictions or limitations on your application form.

Please note, we’re unable to support volunteer visas or provide invitation letters for visa applications. For further details on visa requirements, please visit www.gov.uk.

On average it takes about 6 weeks from the time you submit your application, this should allow time for your referees to respond to us, although it can take longer. If it’s been over six weeks since you applied, we recommend reaching out to your referees to ensure they’ve received and completed the form. It’s also important to check you submitted their email addresses correctly when you completed your application. If needed, we can resend the referee forms or change your referees – just email us on [email protected].

• Airphorns/megaphones/claxons or similar
• Animals (except registered assistance dogs – proof will be required
• Video and photography taken at the event are not to be used for commercial gain unless with prior approval from Big Church Festival
• Scooters, roller skates, and skateboards
• Chinese lanterns
• Inflatables
• Dangerous/hazardous items (decision made at the discretion of security)
• Drones
• Electric scooters (unless used for mobility reasons)
• Fireworks, pyrotechnics, or any flares
• Glass (items must be decanted into plastic containers)
• Any illegal substances
• Knives
• Lasers of any kind including laser pens
• New psychoactive substances (inc. nitrous oxide)
• Smoke bombs or canisters
• Tabards or reflective jackets
• Large golfing-style umbrellas
• Water pistols
• Weapons or applied weapons

The following items are allowed in certain areas

Alcohol – is allowed on the campsite but not in the Main Area. No glass bottles 

Bags – subject to search and security discretion

Bicycles – Children under 10 are allowed on bikes in the campsite

Cooking apparatus/BBQs – allowed on the campsite

Gas cylinders (max 5l in the campsite) – allowed on the Campsite but not in the Main Area

Penknives and cutlery – Allowed but subject to the size of a knife (no blades over 2 inches)

Tables – are allowed on the campsite but not in the Main Area

Right of admission reserved

Challenge 25 in operation

Please note that confiscated items will not be returned

All food vendors will only accept card payments.

However, we will accept cash and card at the following areas:

. Big Church Merch + Artist Merch

. Cafes

. Token Booths + Phone Charging

. Expo + Tea Garden Market – those selling in these areas will have their own payment policies, most exhibitors will take card payments with some also taking cash.

You will need to purchase one camping ticket and one event ticket per person. Each person camping will need a camping and event ticket, including under 4’s and personal assistants.

We appreciate that some campers may need additional oxygen to support their breathing. We are able to support this, but due to the highly flammable nature of oxygen this needs to be done on the Accessible Campsite, so that we can carefully manage the safety of everyone. Please contact [email protected] to let her know your requirements and make suitable arrangements.

Please email the Yippee team here: [email protected]

Yes, we do!

Stuck for presents ideas? Do you want your friends and family to have as much fun as you at Big Church 25? Give the gift of the BCF experience!

2 microwaves will be provided for warming of baby food & for those with specific dietary requirements.

Yes! Head over to the Campsite cafe or the Expo cafe. There will be tables outside these spaces for anyone who wants to meet new people at BCF this year. Whether you’re a solo traveler or just want to say hi to someone new, take a seat, don’t be shy, say hello and make some new friends!

We’ve got you covered! Food will be ready for you starting at 12 noon in the Campsite village green. And guess what? The Avenue will be open from 4pm to 10pm, featuring some amazing food traders just waiting to serve you!

Yes! There will be a 20p discount on hot drinks when using a reusable cup.

We have the lovely Hayleigh who manages Group Plus who is happy to help! Please email [email protected]

There are no electric points included in any Glamping or Rent-A-Tents. If you require one for accessible reasons, please email [email protected]

We will have phone charging facilities on site.

• Duvet and pillows (if you have purchased the Classic Bell tent with no bedding).
• Additional festival essentials such as torch, wellies, hand sanitiser, sun cream etc…

Yes, you will need to buy an event ticket per person separately on our website, but you do not need to purchase a camping ticket if you have bought a Glamping tent.

Gas stoves or off the ground, waist high BBQs are allowed within a safe permitted distance from your glamping tent.

1. Hired caravans/campervans can only be delivered to site by prior agreement with Big Church Festival. Please email [email protected] with your order number so we can note down the details and pass this onto our Caravan team
2. Hired caravans can be dropped off from Wednesday 20th August (from 12pm)
3. Please then email the hire company your caravan e-ticket. This must be printed and displayed in the window of the caravan/campervan – so we can clearly locate the caravan to you. Without an e-ticket the caravan will be refused access
4. If you have booked an electrical hook up please make sure the hire company are sent this in addition to the caravan e-ticket so we can make site it is delivered to a space with access to power. The company can then hook up the caravan to power. The power will then be turned on at 12 noon on Thursday 21st August.
5. We will email you the exact arrival details to send to the hire company, please email [email protected] if you don’t receive this.
6. When you arrive later please make sure you have your event e-tickets with you. When you get to the ticket gate please let the team know that you have a hired caravan which has been delivered and they will then be able to direct you.
7. The hire company must collect the caravan by 5pm on Tuesday 26th August 

1. If your hired caravan does not fit within the space booked then it may be refused access so please make sure you have booked the correct amount of space
2. If hiring campervans or caravans it is your responsibility to find a company and make sure that they are a legitimate company providing safe vehicles to the relevant standards. Big Church Festival are not responsible for any hire company failing to fulfil their contractual obligations.
3. All caravans, whether delivered before the campervan field opens to the public, during the period when the field is accessible, or left for later collection, are stored at the hirer’s or provider’s own risk. Big Church Festival accepts no responsibility for any caravan. They remain under the care and responsibility of the owner or hirer at all times.
4. Caravans delivered on behalf of BCF guests will be placed where it makes the most sense to place them within the caravan field. So we are unable to take on any requests regarding location or relocate caravans once sited.

We have the amazing Georgia who manages all our lovely volunteers! Please email her on [email protected] and she will be happy to answer any questions you may have!

Yes! We’re excited to offer marquee hire for groups at Big Church Festival in 2025. For more details and to discuss your requirements, please reach out to us at [email protected].

After-hours access is just for our campers only, so please make sure you have your wristband with you when entering the after-hours venues. Our team will be checking wristbands at the venues.

No, we will not be offering cash back at any point on-site this year. We recommend that you come prepared with sufficient cash if you expect to need it.

Can I use cash at the festival?

Yes! While we won’t provide cashback, we will accept cash at the following areas:

. Big Church Merch + Artist Merch

. Cafes

. Token Booths + Phone Charging

. Expo + Tea Garden Market – those selling in these areas will have their own payment policies, most exhibitors will take card payments with some also taking cash.

What areas are card only?

All food vendors, ticket gates, programme sales and the campsite shop will only accept card payments — cash will not be accepted.

Where can I find the nearest cashpoint? We suggest locating nearby ATMs before arriving at the festival. Check your navigation apps or online maps for cashpoint locations near the festival grounds. The nearest cash point is at Co-op in Steyning Village.