The Gathering
FAQs

Below, we answer some the most frequently asked Questions about The Gathering

  • The full programme will be available on your arrival on-site, however, the skeleton programme is as follows:

    Friday
    • 1900 Main Meeting
    • 2130 Comedian/Band
    • 2230 After hours in the mess tent
    • 2240 Late night worship
    Saturday
    • 0815 Bible study
    • 1000 Main Meeting
    • 1300 Sports and activities, fun stuff!
    • 1400 Seminars
    • 1900 Main Meeting
    • 2130 Band
    • 2230 After hours in mess tent
    • 2240 Late night worship
    Sunday
    • 0815 Bible study
    • 1000 Main meeting
    • 1145 Communion
    • 1300 End!
  • Where is it?
    ‘a field near Swindon’ does not have its own post code, but SN6 7QZ gets you to Lynt Farm which is 1 mile north of the field entrance on the A361. The field is accessed via a lay-by on the eastern side of the A361. The lay-by is 1 mile north of Highworth and 2.5 miles south of Lechlade-on-Thames.
    The address and direction to site are as follows:
    The Gathering, layby South of Lynt Farm Lane off A361, Upper Inglesham, nearest postcode SN6 7QZ
    The entrance will be signposted in both directions from the A361 (look out for the two Big Tops!)

    Google Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/ekFg18uzD42cc7Kd6

    what3words ///smoke.gathering.hotel

  • Each year, we—CVM (the outfit… sorry, the charity!) behind The Gathering—subsidise ticket costs in a variety of ways to keep the event as affordable as possible for you men.
    Many of you buy tickets for mates, in bulk and in faith, so we always want to honour that by doing everything we can to keep the event accessible—even as the cost of running it keeps rising.

    To be transparent and show what it actually takes to make The Gathering happen, we have three ticket options. Here’s what each one means:


    SUPPORTED:

    This is a ticket we help fund—essentially, we "top it up."
    How? By faith and fundraising.
    Throughout the year, we ask individuals, churches, and businesses to give, donate, and support us so we can offer this ticket at a lower cost. If this is what you can afford, it's yours—no need to prove eligibility, just go ahead and book it.


    STANDARD:

    This is the actual cost of the event—the amount needed to cover everything and simply break even.


    SUPPORTER:

    Each year, we offer a number of free places through CVM. These are made possible thanks to generous men in our network who choose the Supporter ticket—paying more to help cover the costs for guys who can’t afford to come otherwise. If that’s something you can do, we’re incredibly grateful.

  • Afraid not, we will not be releasing day tickets for this event.
  • You can arrive any time from 1pm on Friday and get set up. The first event will start at 7pm.

    We finish up after the morning meeting / communion on Sunday approx 1300.
  • There will be a mess tent where you can get a drink and eat your food, hang out, arm wrestle, make top ten lists, look at the resource stands, play games and indoor sports, read, relax and chat.
  • Yes, ideally try and arrive together or ensure you keep a space for your mates. We do not allocate camping pitches so it is first come first served! However the site isn’t massive, so you won’t be miles apart.
  • Yes – We are doing everything we can to make the camp accessible for you. The site has a hard track around 2 sides that will make moving around easier, however, it is a farm, so there may be some areas of the site that are more difficult to access. There will be track matting laid to facilitate wheelchair access around the site. Signers will be available in all main sessions.
    Please let us know when you book if you have extra needs so that we can make sure your van/tent is in the best place.
    Disabled parking and camping are available near the site centre, please let us know if you need a pass for this car park.

    If you need access to power to recharge medical equipment or for overnight use (such as a CPAP machine) we can provide power within our accessible camping area, please book this when booking your ticket. Please note that this power is from a temporary supply so may be subject to interruptions that are outside of our control.

    Unfortunately Mobiloo will no longer be at The Gathering. The event will have wheelchair accessible toilets and shower and the nearest alternative toilet facilities containing changing bench and hoist are located in Swindon Orbital.
  • Yes. Bring your own tent
    CVM does not provide any accommodation with your booking, you are responsible for this yourself. Refer to our event FAQs for further information about staying on or offsite.
    Alternatively, for a fee you can have a tent and some mod cons provided for you. More information here
  • Tickets will be sent out by email via the ticketing platform which CVM is using (tickettailor.com and christianvisionformen@buytickets.at). No physical tickets will be issued, and responsibility for ensuring that all electronic tickets have been received sits with the buyer.
    If purchasing tickets for other delegates, it is the buyer’s responsibility to ensure that each delegate arriving at site has their own valid ticket to gain admission.
    Tickets will be validated on arrival at the site, and delegates will be issued an event wristband which is required to be worn during the entire weekend.
  • Yes ... and toilets thankfully.
  • We will be hosting some ‘just looking’ sessions where your friends (and you!) will be able to ask any questions you have and join others for discussion.
  • You may, at CVM's discretion, be able to cancel your booking and receive a refund if the request is made in writing via email within 7 working days from receipt of confirmation of order from CVM or the vendor. If your ticket has been issued, on entry to, at, or during an event, no refund will be possible. If the purchase is made within 28 days of the start of the event no refund requests will be accepted.
    Please note that your purchase is exempt from Consumer Contracts Regulations.
    CVM reserve the rights to cancel or amend bookings. All tickets are subject to availability and admission will be subject to the presentation of a valid ticket. Failure to produce a valid ticket will result in entry to the site being denied.
    * Names may be transferred without charge until 1 week before the event.
  • Unfortunately if CVM are forced to cancel the event due to government, or local council intervention, or for reasons of public health (including but not limited to COVID-19, any variation of, or another communicable disease), a refund or roll over ticket is not guaranteed. Where a refund is offered this may not be to the full value of your booking, and where a roll over option is offered, this may be conditional on additional costs being paid. CVM reserve the right to deduct the cost of any booking or payment gateway fees and/or a proportion of any event costs incurred (including administration, supplier and deposit costs) from any refund or roll over that is offered.
  • One person can book in a whole group at once using the group booking form. You will receive an email reply which will allow you to add names to the group later if you do not know them when you make the booking. Otherwise, individuals can book and pay for themselves, and add a group leader name to their form, so that you can be grouped together. If you have a mixture of caravans/campervans and tents in your group, we will do our best to site you together, but this may not be possible (depending on the ground conditions on-site). However, the site is small so you won't ever be far away.
  • You decide how much you want to take part in. If you spend all weekend catching up on your sleep, that’s fine.
  • You can stay off-site and come in daily – please book an off-site parking permit when you book your TG ticket.
    Below is a list of nearby places to stay. You need to book online (same cost as staying on-site) and book your own accommodation.

    New Inn Hotel, Lechlade - Tel: 01367 252296
    The Highworth, Highworth - Tel: 01793 762364
    The Saracens Head Hotel, Highworth - Tel: 01793 762284
    Sudbury House Hotel, Faringdon - Tel: 08453 300393
    The Old Crown Coaching Inn, Faringdon - Tel: 01367 242744
    Bell Hotel, Faringdon - Tel: 01367 358050
    Blunsdon House Hotel, Swindon - Tel: 01793 721701
    Brook Madison Hotel, Swindon - Tel: 01793 831333<
    Marriott Hotel, Swindon - Tel: 01793 512121
    Travelodge Swindon Central, Tel: 08719 846328
    Travelodge Swindon West, Tel: 08719 846550
  • You will get wet. This is Britain in the summer – bring waterproofs.
  • Yes, you can bring a caravan or motorhome but there is no waste disposal available. Please note that we are also unable to offer any electric hookups outside of the disabled camping area. Please contact the office to discuss this. There is a caravan site in Lechlade (approx 2 miles) that can accommodate you.
  • You can bring your own food and cooking equipment, or buy from the vans on-site. BBQs are allowed as long as they are lifted up so as not to burn the grass.
    Note however that you can’t make your own open bonfire on-site – so don’t bother to bring marshmallows.

    There will be free tea and coffee available for you to help yourself to all weekend… feel free to bring your own mug however you will NOT be able to fill this direct from the urns due to health/hygiene regulations, only the cups (recyclable!) provided can be filled from the urns.
    There will also be a bar on-site and water / soft drinks for sale from the food outlets.

    Mains water is available on-site that is suitable for drinking without any further treatment, standpipes will be located at various points around the campsites. Bottled water will also be available to buy from the various outlets on-site. Extra water will be available if it rains.
  • You will be given a camping pack of various coloured bags to aid recycling. These are to be placed in the skips around the site.
  • Yes if he’s over 18 – we aren’t licensed for under 18s.
    The Gathering is an adult-only, strictly over 18s event where alcohol is served. Event staff may request to see an approved photo ID at entry or at any point during the event. Failure to provide the appropriate ID will result in you being denied access or ejected from the site. Professional staff and police are on-site to ensure adherence to this policy.
  • No.
  • No, dogs are not permitted on site unless they are assistance dogs.
    Assistance dogs are specially trained dogs that provide assistance to individuals with disabilities. Examples of assistance dogs include guide dogs for the blind, hearing dogs for the deaf, and service dogs for individuals with mobility impairments.
  • Hopefully yes
    Area 1 is for all caravans / camper vans / trailer tents / tents and any combination thereof; in this area, you can drive to your pitch ONLY if you are in a camper van or towing a caravan/ trailer tent, once you have unhooked your caravan etc you must move the towing vehicle to the car park as there is no space for parking on this field, non-towing vehicles will need to unload at the designated points on the access road.
    Area 2 vehicular access to this field is weather dependent but if we’ve had good weather there will be an access road and unloading points around the outer perimeter of the field; you can also drive to the car park and use our hand carts to move your kit to the camping field. In the event of inclement weather, this will be reviewed near the event. This system will work in reverse for pack down on Sunday.
  • No sorry, we don't have facilities on-site to charge vehicles.
  • Yes, there is power onsite, but it is not for general use. Power is available in the disabled camping area to support medical equipment, this is booked inadvance and you must provide your own “caravan” lead such as this...
    There is a mobile phone charging point at the CVM stand which operates during stand opening hours (devices are left at your own risk).