Festival offers cost of living support to help people attend

A festival has opened applications to help those on a lower income attend its event.

Shambala, a four-day music festival held at Kelmarsh Hall in Northampton, has strong connections to Bristol and often sees sell out crowds of up to 15,000.

The Pay It Forward: Share The Love scheme allows people to apply for a fully funded ticket, which includes accommodation and food and drink for free.

It is possible due to a fund of £25,000 raised since its launch in 2022, which includes contributions from attendees, crews and artists.

Initially launched to help local organisations and care leavers, the festival said the cost of living crisis means there is a greater need to widen its offering.

People in receipt of benefits such as Pension Credit, Universal Credit and Jobseeker's Allowance will now be able to apply for the fund, with half the money ringfenced for those in Leicestershire and Northamptonshire.

As well as a festival ticket, people who successfully apply will be given money for food and drink, as well given camping equipment and assistance with travel.

Becka Whiteley, a spokesperson for Shambala Festival said: "Festivals aren't cheap – especially weekend camping ones.

"They aren’t cheap to produce and they aren’t cheap to attend. It's not as simple as offering cut price tickets for people on low incomes – because saving for a festival ticket will never be a priority when you can't pay your rent or put food on the table at home.

"And it's not just the tickets – there’s the travel, camping equipment, food and drink. It all adds up!

"This is why our Pay It Forward access packages cover the whole shebang – the festival tickets, food and drink while you’re with us, a tent and camping equipment to stay in and even your travel to get there and back."

This year's event takes place between the 22 and 25 August, and features the likes of Sampa The Great, Bob Vylan and The Congos, with more acts to be announced.