Boomtown organisers have issued safety and welfare warnings as thousands of festival-goers prepare for hot, dry conditions.
The main festival site will be equipped with a range of facilities, including gender-neutral and accessible toilets, free drinking water, cashless top-up points, medical centres, welfare and information points, lockers and phone charging.
The organisers said: “Come prepared. Look after yourself, look after your crew, and you'll set yourself up for a much better weekend.”
Organisers warn arrival days will be hot, with long queues and little shade.
They urge people to plan ahead, take water for the journey and queues, and pack suncream, hats and refillable bottles.
Medical attention
Two main medical centres will operate 24 hours a day. One is based in Pepperpot Market, between Hidden Woods and Downtown Camping, and includes a fully stocked pharmacy. The other is located at Hilltop, opposite Grand Central.
Boomtown asks people who can safely do so to get themselves to a medical centre, keeping ambulances for emergencies.
Anyone needing urgent help who cannot move safely should alert the nearest guard, steward or festival representative, who will send a mobile medical team.
Welfare support
Specialist support around sexual harassment, assault and domestic violence will be provided by the Safer Spaces team, who will run a chill-out and “glam” tent in Pepperpot Market and will also patrol the site.
They will offer a space to talk about harassment, sexual health and consent, and can support anyone wishing to report sexual assault.
Boomtown’s TLC Welfare team will provide emotional and practical support for anyone feeling overwhelmed, distressed or in need of “a bit of TLC”. Welfare hubs will be based next to the medical centre in Pepperpot Market and in Thrutopia.
More welfare support will be available in Thrutopia and The Retreat, where partners including the Samaritans, Blink Mental Health, and Narcotics and Cocaine Anonymous will offer listening support and information on ongoing help.
Organisers said: “If you are just looking for someone to talk to about how you are feeling, or would like information about ongoing help, these teams are here to listen.”
The Drop will be at campsite hubs and around camping areas, offering drug and alcohol advice focused on reducing risk and safer choices.
The Loop’s Drug Education Tent in Pepperpot Market will offer free, confidential information and harm-reduction advice.
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Dealing with the heat
With hot weather expected, organisers tell festival-goers to “come prepared and take responsibility” for themselves and their friends.
This means refilling water regularly, wearing suncream, sunglasses and loose clothing, and resting in shade between 11am and 3pm.
They also say festival-goers should bring a face covering for dusty roads and keep inhalers handy if they have asthma.
People are urged not to drop cigarette ends, to fully extinguish them and to use pocket ashtrays from information and welfare points.
Because of the fire risk, camping stoves and barbecues have been banned.
Hot water urns are being provided in all campsites as an alternative.
Drivers are asked not to idle engines in car parks or queues, and smoking is banned in car parking areas.
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