Safety at a festival means many things – from building the site responsibly, to preventing tent thefts, providing medical care, and creating a space where everyone can truly relax and be themselves.

We strive to provide a space where festival folk from all backgrounds, abilities, ethnicities, ages, sexualities or gender identities feel welcome, safe and free to be their glorious selves. Discrimination, harassment or microaggressions have no place here – respect and celebration are at the heart of who we are.

Keeping everyone safe takes teamwork. Here’s how we do it – and how you can help.

Get Help & Support On Site:

If you require support whilst on site at Shambala, we want everyone to be as aware as possible of how to get help, quickly. We all have a part to play in looking after our community. If something doesn’t feel or look right, or you see someone who may be in need of support, be a buddy not a bystander. Asking if someone is ok goes a long way.

If you have concerns about a person’s welfare, please help them access the festival support services:

Check that they have friends with them, and if not, support them to get to the medical centre, welfare or public info tent, or;
Ask any steward, security staff, bar staff or venue manager for help – they are able to stay with people who need support, and ask a supervisor to radio for support.
There is also a 24 hour hotline phone number published for emergency use and contacting Event Control in the festival App information pages, and the Essential Guide and in the printed programme.

Mental Health, Welfare & Medical:

We have a fantastic and highly qualified Medical and Welfare provision at Shambala. It can be found on all of our maps – including in the Essential Guide, Printed Programme and festival app – and is open 24 hours a day.
Our welfare team is ready 24 hours a day with a cup of tea and a calm space to help you with whatever you may need, with qualified Mental Health professionals.
Whilst drugs are illegal at Shambala – as they are anywhere else in the country – our welfare and medical team WILL NOT JUDGE YOU for being under the influence of illegal substances and our medical service is confidential. They have specialised skills and experience of supporting those who are having a bad experience – their priority is your safety – please never be afraid to present to the Medical and Welfare tents if you don’t feel right – no matter what you have taken.
We are working hard with our medical and welfare provider to recruit more diverse teams, in an effort to remove barriers to accessing services.
We have a dedicated safe haven in the main arena, for those who need a break from the sensory overload of the festival – just look for the Sensory Yurt on your map.

Drugs & Harm Reduction:

Shambala supports a harm reduction approach.
We are part of industry-wide initiatives that share information and intelligence between events on harmful substances in circulation.
Our welfare and medical teams include professionals with a wealth of experience in supporting people with substance abuse issues, as well as addiction counsellors. They are on hand to support those who do take drugs and find themselves in need of help.
Members of our core staff teams have been on harm reduction training courses run by the The Loop
We warn our audience about any safety concerns regarding particular drugs found on site. Please download our Shambala phone app to receive notifications.
We share resources ahead of the festival, with both our audience, crew and artists – on the dangers of taking illegal substances – and the harmful and lesser known effects of mixing certain substances, or mixing substances with alcohol.
We use our communication channels during the festival to reiterate the process for finding support if you, your friends, or somebody you encounter is not in a good place – due to intoxication, drug use, mental health issues or any other issue.

Sexual Safety:

We are proud to be part of an industry-wide initiative promoting sexual safety at festivals – we believe that everyone should feel (and be) safe at all times, and that any form of uninvited advance (physical or verbal) is absolutely unacceptable.
Shambala is already a very strong and conscientious community, with very few reports of such incidents over the years, but we strongly encourage anyone who has experienced or witnessed sexual harassment to report it – we will take all reports seriously and take appropriate action. Don’t be a bystander!
We have a dedicated domestic abuse and sexual-assault lead on site with specific expertise and procedures to support victims.
We operate the Ask For Angela scheme on all our bars. If someone is making you feel uncomfortable and you need discreet assistance to remove yourself from the situation, ask any of our bar staff for ‘Angela’ – they’ll know what to do and will help you immediately.
There are multiple poster campaigns around the festival site, reiterating information about unacceptable behaviour and our zero tolerance approach to anybody spiking anyone’s drinks.
We have extended our messaging on this topic pre-event, to increase awareness and safety for woman, girls and non-binary folk (and men).
This includes updated advice on spiking based on new national guidelines – awareness, how to report incidents, and the procedures in place to help you should this happen.

Finding Your Friends (…or Making New Ones!)

Due to the rural nature of the Shambala site, phone signal can be very poor, once thousands of people have arrived. However, public wifi points can be found at the Public Info point and other locations around the festival – just check the map!
Whilst many people do come in groups, a lot of Shambalans also fly solo. Volunteering, eco-travel options and online line social media groups (such as our incredible, fan-run, Unofficial Facebook chat group) can be great ways to meet people in advance.
There are literally hundreds of group activities and workshops on site, that will help you connect with your fellow Shambalans – don’t be shy and get stuck in.
We have a meeting point for those who have lost their friends to head to, to be reunited. It will be clearly marked on the map.
The meeting spot also contains a public noticeboard where you can leave messages for one another – old skool style.
The meeting point is located by staff and stewards – so if you are becoming worried that you can’t find your friend/s, there will be friendly faces on hand to report this to.

Lost & Found Kids/Adults:

If you lose them, or they lose you, our professional Lost Kids team are on hand 24 hours a day. The Lost Kids Point is located next to the Medical Tent on the map.
Report lost kids to any steward or staff member immediately and follow their advice – we have procedures in place.
If you are concerned that you have lost an adult and consider them to be vulnerable, please report this to Public Info, who will link you in with our adult welfare providers.

A Space for Grief On Site:

Our ‘Love Shrine’ venue is a place for anyone who is missing somebody, or has lost somebody, to take a moment and reflect.
Leave a note, draw a picture or write a postcard, and leave it on the shrine.
As ever, on Sunday night, the messages will be attached to a firework and sent out into the universe.
For crew and artists, we also offer other spaces for grief, backstage – however naturally, crew, artists and absolutely anybody are welcome at The Love Shrine also.

Avoiding Theft & Keeping Your Stuff Safe:

We encourage people not to bring unnecessary valuables or cash to the site.
Card payments are accepted at all bars and food traders.
Secure lock up services are available onsite to store valuables – the lockers are marked on the festival maps and cost between £3 and £5 dependent on sizes.
Comprehensive steward and security deployment including covert teams.

We have worked hard to combat tent thefts at Shambala, promoting our Tent watch initiative:

Top ‘Tent Watch’ tips:

Be sensible with your stuff in your campsite/ in tents at night (e.g. don’t leave it by the door!)
Know your neighbours – create a community and look out for each other
Report ANYTHING suspicious or any thefts immediately to a steward, member of security team or staff at your Campsite Hub (every campsite has one) so we can respond quickly OR ring the onsite 24hr hotline (see printed programme, festival app or the Essential Information guide for the number).

Please watch the short TENT WATCH initiative video here, which expands on the top tips on how to keep your stuff safe.

We welcome feedback and ideas.

We understand that we are always learning, and are committed to this journey to make Shambala a truly safe space for everyone. We welcome feedback, ideas, support and engagement. Contact the Shambala team to share your thoughts or report an issue.