Shambala aims to be a festival which everyone can enjoy. Please find a host of useful information below. Please direct all ticket related enquiries to The Ticket Sellers from the contact us page. The application form for the Accessible Camping Area (ACA) can be found at the bottom of this page.

Tickets

We offer a free ticket for a carer if you receive Middle or Higher Rate DLA and are aged 18+. This ticket must be purchased over the phone 0844 870. Proof of DLA support must be provided on entry. For clarification of eligibility for free carers tickets please contact the ticket agents via the contacts page.

Accessibility at the Festival

Most of the main site is flat and easily accessible in good weather. In very muddy weather (as happened last year) we found some people had problems with some wheelchairs (particularly powered chairs) during the worst of the mud over the whole site. We do our best to keep everyone moving, but please do be aware that this is an open air event in a grassy field and we cannot guarantee the ground conditions.

The Woodland Area does have areas of rougher ground amongst the trees which may cause difficulties for some chairs/scooters even in good weather, and the path did degrade in the bad weather last year. At night light levels are often fairly low as part of the art installations and the area can become quite crowded, again this may cause difficulties for some people.

The Healing Area is in a meadow with long grass. Access to this area is via a series of ramped bridges and pathways that may also degrade in very bad weather. We are hoping to bring some of the healers to the ACA to help people with mobility problems. We will have more information closer to the festival.

There will be a viewing platform at the main stage which will be stewarded during the main performance times. We do understand that you would like to have your friends, family and carers with you but we do ask that they move off the platform if it becomes crowded so that other people with disabilities can use it as a priority. There will be a small number of chairs available on this platform.

There will be seats available around the site and each of the major toilet blocks has an accessible toilet. These will be locked with RADAR keys in order to keep them clean. Please bring your own RADAR key if you have one as we only have a small number available to lend out (for a deposit). These will be given out on a priority basis so please do let us know in advance if you need one. Please see The Radar Shop for further information on the RADAR scheme and how to apply for your own key.

Large print maps and programmes

Please do let us know before the event if you need a large-print map or programme, or if you need an audio version of any of the documents.

Signers

We are hoping to arrange to have BSL interpreters available on call during the festival this year to help with any issues that arise. Please do let us know if you are likely to use this service, so we have some idea of numbers and do check back here as we will put up further information when we have this confirmed.

Medical fridges

We supply a medical fridge in the First Aid tent for the use of visitors. You will need to have your medication in a sealed container with your name clearly labelled on it and you will be asked to sign it in and out. Do please email us if you would like to use the fridge, it is helpful to know the numbers in advance so we know what size of fridge to get.

Accessible Camping Area (ACA)

The area is primarily designed to provide a flat camping area close to the main festival site with a layout to allow clear access into tents. It is intended for those with impaired mobility or visual disability or those who would find it difficult to camp in the main public areas. Demand for spaces in the ACA is increasing so we have now made places in the ACA available by advance application only. Please read the information about the ACA below. If you feel that you need to camp in the ACA please fill out the application form at the bottom of the page as soon as possible and at the latest by 1st August 2011. All information will be kept in compliance with the Data Protection Act .

Please note that use of the ACA is separate from the application for a free carer ticket, holders of free carer tickets still need to fill out the form to apply for space in the ACA. You do not have to camp in the ACA if you have a free carer ticket, and should only do so if you feel you need the facilities to help you enjoy your visit to Shambala. Similarly if you do not qualify for a free carer ticket, but feel you need to use the ACA you can still apply to book a place.

Please also be aware that most of the site is fairly flat and there is public camping close to where all the action is. Many of our visitors with disabilities prefer to camp in the public areas. The information below is intended to help you decide if you need to apply to camp in the ACA. Please do contact the ACA Team if you need any further information or if you would like to discuss your particular needs with us. You do not need to be camping in the ACA to access the facilities there. If you would like to use the wheelchair recharging for example or the accessible showers, please fill out the application form and come to see us once you are onsite so we can give you a wristband. We still need a form from you so we know how many people will be using the facilities and therefore how many wheelchair recharge points etc to provide.

The ACA is located close to the main Shambala Stage and arena (so please expect some entertainment noise at night). The area is flat with vehicle access via hard standing and has accessible toilets and showers and a wheelchair charging point inside a marquee. It is not in a public area, access is controlled by wristband and there will be 24-hour stewarding so it is quieter than the public areas in terms of people passing, however it is near to the main stage and late-night venues so there is music noise at night. If you are worried about the noise but want to camp in the ACA, our visitors have found disposable earplugs useful in previous years.

We can accommodate tents, camper vans and caravans in the ACA, but please note we can only accept vehicles up to a maximum of 6m in length as there is quite a tight turn to negotiate from the track onto the campsite. Any vehicle larger than this will have to be parked in the public Live-in Vehicle Field which is approximately 200m further from the main arena.

Unlike the rest of the public areas, we allow you to bring your car up to the campsite to unload your gear, however please note that we can no longer allow cars to be parked next to tents for safety reasons. We do have a small number of car parking spaces very close by (across a fire lane) for those who really need their cars close to their tents throughout the festival and there will be other parking spaces a short distance away again for the rest.

Groups are limited to 4 people (that is one person with disabilities and three guests or carers). If you would like to camp in a larger group you are welcome to camp in the public camping areas and then come to the ACA to use the accessible facilities.

Camping in the Accessible Camping Area (ACA)

Once your application to camp in the ACA is accepted we will do our best to place you according to your responses to our questionnaire. You will receive a sticker and directions to the appropriate gate. At the gate you will be directed down to us and the ACA team will be there to welcome and site you, give you your extra wristband and answer any questions you have. The area is stewarded 24 hours and there will be a member of the ACA team available if you have any problems.

Camping in the other areas.

You are of course free to camp in any of the public areas. If you are not sure whether you should use the ACA or would be better in one of the public areas, please do contact us and we will try to advise you. Some of the quietest areas are up a sloping field with no hard-standing or trackway, but there are also flat areas, particularly in Family Camping which is fairly close to the main public entrance. You will not be allowed to drive vehicles onto these camping areas, but we may be able to arrange for you to offload in the ACA, then move your car to the car park. Please email us about this. Shambala does have some wheelbarrows which you can hire for a deposit to help move gear from the public parking areas. If you have a Blue Badge you can ask to park in one of our accessible parking spaces closest to the entrance (subject to availability).

Another issue to consider, particularly if you are not used to festivals, is that people do pack their tents in very close together, much closer than on a private campsite. If you need clear access to your tent door for a wheelchair or scooter, or if you have a visual impairment, you may find it easier to camp in the ACA where we can usually offer a space that gives a clear access route. If you would still like to camp in the public area we would advise you to try to place your entrance directly onto a fire lane, otherwise you may get back to your tent to find someone has inadvertently blocked your access.

Wherever you camp the ACA Team is available to advise you on the terrain and facilities so please do contact us. Once onsite you can contact us via the Info Point.

If you would like to camp in the public areas, but still need to use the facilities in the ACA (for example the wheelchair recharging) you are free to do so. Please fill out the form, then come to the entrance to the ACA (We are in Artists Camping, the entrance is next to the Production Gate) and ask to speak to the ACA team, we will give you a wristband so you can come in any time.

Crew, Traders and Artists

The above information is written with visitors in mind, but also applies to all members of the Shambala crew, traders and any artists performing at the festival. If you are a member of one of these groups and feel you need to camp in the ACA or use any of our facilities then please apply using the form above before 1st August 2011

Queries & Questions

Please direct any ticket relate queries directly to our ticket agents. We will not be able to reply to any eligability questions regarding free carer tickets directly.

Any questions relating to the Accessible Camping Area applications will be answered as of August 5th, when all the forms are reviewed. Please be patient.

Any other questions can be directed to the access email found on the contact page.

Accessible Camping Application HERE