A virtual event is encouraging people to raise money for charity while camping from home to celebrate Glastonbury festival's 50th anniversary.
Glasthomebury has been organised independently from the actual festival by fans, and currently has over 57,000 participants on Facebook.
Organisers are asking people to set up a tent at home next weekend, watch the festival’s 50th anniversary celebration on BBC and raise money for charities Mind, NHS Charities Together, NSPCC, Refuge and the Trussell Trust.
Glastonbury Festival was due to take place between 25 and 29 June, but was cancelled because of coronavirus.
'My hope is that the festival lifts people’s spirits whilst raising money'
Sarah Emberson, who first went to the festival in 1992, came up with the idea for an alternative Glastonbury and is organising it together with a group of family and friends.
She said: “I wanted to do something to bring people together during these tough times. As most of us are socially distancing at home, then why not camp there, we can’t all be together at the festival, but we can be together virtually.
“My hope is that the festival lifts people’s spirits whilst raising money to support many of those directly affected by the Covid-19 pandemic and lockdown.”
Glastonbury Festival organisers were not involved in the virtual event, but got in touch with Glasthomebury to say they are happy to see so many people getting behind the idea.
Glasthomebury has set up a JustGiving page with a £500,000 fundraising target. It is also holding Welly Waddle, a virtual event asking participants to walk five miles in wellies, like they would do at the festival, donate £5 to Glasthomebury and nominate five others to do the same.
Paul Farmer, CEO of Mind, said: “We’re delighted by the support Glasthomebury followers have given when choosing Mind as one of the benefiting charities. This virtual event is a fantastic homage to Glastonbury Festival that is fun and easy to get involved in for everyone.
“Donations from Glasthomebury will mean that more people experiencing poor mental health in these unbelievably difficult times are able to get the support they need to see them through.”
Patrick Weaver, head of community and events fundraising at NSPCC, said: “For many young people, the difficult circumstances they were already facing, including abuse, domestic violence and difficult family relationships, have been exacerbated during lockdown, leaving them feeling alone and isolated. Being chosen as one of the charities Glasthomebury are supporting will help us to still be here for young people when they need us the most.”
This weekend the BBC plans to celebrate the festival’s anniversary by broadcasting memorable performances from past festivals and setting up a new pop-up BBC Glastonbury channel on BBC iPlayer.
