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Past festivals

Michael Eavis at Glastonbury in 2005
Michael Eavis at Glasto 2005
Photo Credit: WaterAid/Alex Macro

WaterAid is delighted to have been involved in the Glastonbury Festival for over ten years.

In fact, WaterAid has benefited from the goodwill of Michael Eavis and the generosity of Glastonbury-goers for some 14 years.

Here are some of the highlights so far:

 

2007

  • In 2007 Glastonbury raised over £250,000 through donations and spin off promotions. A big thank you to everyone for their support!
  • Campaigners promoted the End Water Poverty    campaign for the first time and had an excellent response, with more than 10,000 signatures collected over the weekend despite the persistent rain and mud.
  • WaterAid, Oxfam and Greenpeace, as members of the Stop Climate Chaos coalition, united at Glastonbury Festival 2007 under the I Count campaign.
  • Celebrities pledging support included Mark Owen, Andrew Marr, Ana Matronic from the Scissor Sisters, Phill Jupitus and Stephen Merchant.
  • WaterAid reported on the event with a Glastonbury bog blog.
  • Over 130 dedicated, hard-working volunteers cleaned and manned WaterAid's pit latrines and female 'she-pee' urinals, collected signatures for the I Count and End Water Poverty campaigns, manned the WaterAid stand and collected recycling during a week of unforgiving mud, torrential rain and fantastic music. We couldn't have done it without them!

2006 

  • Disappointed as no festival this year.

2005

Joss Stone at Glastonbury
Joss Stone models a pair of Make Poverty History pants
Photo Credit: WaterAid/Alex Macro
  • 2005 saw all three of the festival charities, WaterAid, Oxfam and Greenpeace, campaign together for Make Poverty History.
  • WaterAid sold exclusive Make Poverty History pants, which were very popular, and were seen on some famous derrieres including Joss Stone and KT Tunstall.
  • In total, we raised an incredible £140,000 from the festival.
  • We gathered 12,000 signatures for our Make Poverty History campaign,  including those of Ian Brown, James Blunt, Pete Doherty and George Galloway.
  • For the first time we had the WaterAid She Pees (Female Urinals) which were very popular, and manned as ever by our fantastic volunteers.
  • There was a Glastonbury 'moment' for Make Poverty History, lead by Michael Eavis and Bob Geldof, that saw the majority of festival-goers in front of the main stage joining in and supporting the festival charities.

2004

Lauren Laverne signing the Flush Out Poverty petition
Lauren Lavern signing the petition
Photo Credit: WaterAid
  • A staggering £130,000 was raised from donations from festival-goers.
  • We collected over 10,000 signatures for our Flush Out Poverty petition, Including lots of artists including, Basement Jaxx, Badly Drawn Boy, Franz Ferdinand, Elbow, Travis, Billy Bragg and The Scissor Sisters, as well as DJs John Peel, Vernon Kay and Lauren Lavern.
  • Many artists also signed a loo seat which was auctioned off with all proceeds going to WaterAid.
  • In addition, all the performers at the Dance Tent signed a Glastonbury t-shirt, also auctioned in aid of WaterAid.
  • A separate t-shirt was signed by none other than Paul McCartney, who headlined on the main stage on Saturday night.
  • Our WaterAid tap, toilet and poo costumes were in festival spirits again and made an appearance in front of festival-goers and celebrities alike!

2003

WaterAid in a bottle at Glasto 2003

WaterAid in a bottle at Glasto 2003
Photo Credit: WaterAid / Mo Kafer
  • WaterAid's singing "angel" entertained thousands of festival-goers as they queued by the pit latrines at King's Meadow, whilst listening to her angelic voice they could also read copies of the special Glastonbury edition of WaterAid's Guardian supplement.
  • The warm weather meant a high demand for WaterAid's watering can showers from hot and grubby Festival goers!
  • A brief shower ensured that WaterAid's high quality macs were sold out within hours.
  • Many festival-goers were seen sporting WaterAid's t-shirt featuring an exclusive print of Glastonbury by official Glastonbury artist, Kurt Jackson.
  • For the first time the WaterAid banner on the Pyramid and Other stages showed equal prominence with the other two festival charities, Greenpeace and Oxfam.
  • WaterAid worked with Glastonbury on a poster campaign around the site to discourage urinating in the hedges and streams.
  • WaterAid "turn off the tap" and "wash your hands" posters promoted our messages all over the Festival site.
  • WaterAid's backstage media team outdid themselves this year with a giant poo costume, complete with fly. The turd brought in lots of press interviews and photographs, and introduced itself to numerous celebrities.
  • A staggering £110,000 was collected in donations from the festival.

2002

Toilets for all at Glasto 2002

Toilets for all at Glasto 2002
Photo Credit: WaterAid
  • WaterAid's nine pit latrines and waterpoint next to the main stage were welcomed by thousands of festival-goers, and proved as popular as ever.
  • WaterAid waterbottles and macs (for the brief hour's shower on Sunday night!) were the accessories of choice for discerning festival-goers, obtained for a donation at the WaterAid stand.
  • The WaterAid banners were on the Pyramid and Other stages.
  • 10,653 Water Matters signatures were collected (and tallied on the Petition-o-meter!), a vital last boost for the campaign before the World Summit in Johannesburg in August.
  • Over 800 people took part in WaterAid's first ever text-message competition: Text Your Way Backstage!
  • The WaterAid press team helped out backstage, the WaterAid tap and toilet met lots of celebrities to talk about WaterAid's work and were featured on a number of television and radio stations.
  • A record-breaking £45,000 was raised in donations from Glastonbury Festival-goers and the festival itself.

2001

  • Disappointed again that there was no festival this year.

2000

Sarah Cox and Jamie Theakston at Glastonbury in 2000

Sarah Cox and Jamie Theakston
Photo Credit: WaterAid
  • Nine Latrines constructed again in Kings Meadow. Latrines kept clean with the aid of eco-friendly toilet cleaner donated by Ecover. Antibacterial soap donated by Lush available at the Latrines washpoint.
  • Latrines visited an estimated 20,000 times.
  • WaterAid area beside the main stage where we gave out water to at least 5000 people in WaterAid cups, and collected over £3700 in cash donations.
  • WaterAid launches its first campaign; 'Put Water on the Agenda' and volunteers collect 5000 signatures including many celebrities.
  • WaterAid volunteers go out in the crowds and collect 68 standing orders with a five year value of nearly £20,000.
  • WaterAid Press Officers assisted in the Festival Press Office.
  • Banner on main stage.
  • Support of latrine construction and WaterAid projects from festival (£35,000).
  • WaterAid's recipient country for the 2000 Festival was Ghana - find out more here.

1999

  • Nine Latrines constructed in Kings Meadow and painted in African designs. Hand wash donated by the Body Shop available at the Latrines wash point.
  • Latrines visited an estimated 15,000 times.
  • WaterAid stand area right beside the main stage where we gave out water to at least 5000 people, and collected over £1200 in donations.
  • WaterAid Press Officers assisted in the Festival Press Office.
  • Banner on main stage.
  • Support of latrine construction and WaterAid projects from festival (£25,000).

1998

  • Nine Latrines constructed in Kings Meadow and painted in African designs.
  • Latrines visited an estimated 14,000 times.
  • Erected a stand next to main stage to sell t-shirts and recruit volunteers for WaterAid (unfortunately this was not very successful - rain stopped play!).
  • WaterAid Press Officers assisted in the Festival Press Office.
  • Banner erected on main stage visible to TV cameras.
  • Support of latrine construction and WaterAid projects from festival (£25,000).

1997

  • Nine latrines (and Tippy Taps) constructed in Kings Meadow using materials from 1995.
  • Construction of a new low-tech Aquadev handpump (as used in WaterAid-funded projects in Africa and Asia) to provide an additional water supply.
  • Latrines visited an estimated 12,000 times (about 3,000 visits per day)
  • WaterAid VIP latrines identified by a specially produced flag (on a 12 meter flagpole) carrying the words 'WaterAid's African Style Toilets'.
  • Latrines painted with African inspired designs to create added interest and impact.
  • WaterAid Press Officer assisted in Festival Press Office for four days.
  • WaterAid banner erected at main stage, visible to TV cameras and viewed by an estimated 3.5 million people.
  • Support of latrine construction and WaterAid projects from festival (£10,000).

1996

  • Disappointed along with thousands of others that there was no festival this year.

1995

  • Nine Latrines (and Tippy Taps) constructed in Kings Meadow, Green Field site.
  • Latrines visited an estimated 8000 times.
  • Design modified (notably the thatching) to reduce construction costs.
  • Dismantled and stored at Worthy Farm for re-use.
  • Publicity generated for WaterAid at the festival and beyond.
  • Support of latrine construction and WaterAid projects from festival (£10,000).

1994

  • WaterAid constructs two demonstration VIP (Ventilated Improved Pit) latrines in the Green Field.
  • These are used by an estimated 2000 people.
  • The latrines looked different and attractive particularly due to their thatched roofs.
  • Tippy taps also installed for low water usage hand washing.
  • Financial support for WaterAid projects from festival proceeds through the Rotary Club of Shepton Mallet (£3,000).