FAQs
We’ve pulled together some A’s for the most frequently asked Q’s – have a read below to see if we’ve covered what you’re looking for. If not, pop us an email at hello@wearesatellites.com and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can!
Camping
Where will I be camping?
+-We’ll allocate each group to a camping ‘village’, with enough room for their group to camp safely alongside other youth groups. You’ll need to let us know how many tents etc your group are bringing on your booking so that we can make sure you all fit onto the village. We tend to allocate these villages by geographical region so you’re with churches in a similar area to you.
We’ll be in touch with all group leaders closer to the time of the event. For more information about camping at Satellites, take a look at the Satellites Camping Guide.
Are we allowed to bring our own marquees or gazebos?
+-Absolutely, it’s great for groups to have some communal space to eat and hang out together. Group leaders should include this on their booking (for free) during registration so that we can allocate space for your marquee/gazebo. Please do make sure your marquee or gazebo is able to cope with all weathers, we recommend having a spare just in case!
Can I bring a caravan/campervan/motorhome to Satellites?
+-Yes absolutely, we can accept touring caravans, static caravans and V5 classified motorhomes. Please see the Satellites Caravan and Motorhome Guide for further information on what kinds of motorhome we can allow on site.
These must be booked (for free) during registration to ensure there’s space for it. If you require power, this will need to be booked and paid for too.
If you’re planning to rent a caravan or motorhome rather than bring your own, you’ll need to arrange this directly and make sure you're on site to receive delivery of it on arrival day (delegates allowed onsite from midday on arrival day). The Satellites team cannot take responsibility for meeting or arranging collection of caravans/motorhomes. We are not affiliated with any camping hire companies so a google search is your best place to find what you need.
How can I get electricity to my campsite?
+-16amp electric hook-ups will be available to book for £115 from your Satellites account, if you require a 32amp hook-up you can contact us at hello@wearesatellites.com. Please note that anyone who arrives having not booked a hook up will not be able access power, and generators are not allowed on site.
As a rough guide, with a 16amp hook-up, you could plug in an urn, fridge, lights and charge a few phones - or a single caravan. Please see the Electric Hook Up Guide for more information.
There have previously been issues with some hook up cables. We suggest that you only use adaptors with built in trip switches.
These are some examples:
Can I keep my car with me next to my tent?
+-Cars will not be allowed to stay on site during the event. To make everyone’s stay at Satellites as safe as possible, we don’t allow cars to park on the campsite by the tents or to be driven at all on the site except for the few hours around arrival and pack down. If you have any mobility issues, please get in touch with us to discuss how we can support you moving around the Satellites site. You may wish to invest in a wheely trolley to transport items such as shopping from the car park to the camp site during the event.
Can I camp next to another church?
+-Yes! If you’d like to camp with another church or group(s), please drop us an email at hello@wearesatellites.com and we’ll do our best to accommodate this. And, if for any reason there’s a group near you which you might not want to camp beside, please let us know without any embarrassment – there could be lots of good reasons for this.
Event Info
If we’ve not answered your burning question, please pop us an email.
When does the event start and finish?
+-Arrival day for delegates is Thursday 5th August with our 1st meeting at 7pm that evening. The final main meeting will be on the evening of Monday 9th August and venues will close at 11 pm; you’re welcome to stay on site that night. We’re asking everyone to be packed up and on their way home by midday on Tuesday 10th August 2027. Cars will be allowed onsite for these arrival and pack down times only.
Can I charge my phone?
+-There will be multiple charging points around the site in various venues and cafés. Electric hook-ups are also available to book for your camping pitch (for a fee).
Can I bring my pet?
+-We don’t allow our guests to bring animals onto site. If you need to bring animals for assistive purposes, then please contact us at hello@wearesatellites.com.
Can I get food delivered to site?
+-Yes – delivery vehicles from local supermarkets will be allowed to drive to the main gate for you to collect your order from. Our team won't be able to receive or sign for the deliveries so please make sure you give the delivery driver your mobile number so they can let you know when they arrive! Just a reminder, no cars are allowed onsite so you’ll need to come prepared to carry the shopping back to your campsite (or bring some trolleys or crates on wheels!).
What if I’m going to New Wine, can I stay on?
+-Due to safety reasons you won't be able to stay onsite between the two events. We use the same village mapping/colours as New Wine however they occupy a larger portion of the site and so we can't guarantee being in the same pitch as you are at New Wine. Please remember that whilst we work closely with New Wine and have a great relationship with them, we are two separate events and organisations.
Where is Satellites 2027?
+-Satellites 2027 is taking place at The Bath and West Showground, Shepton Mallet, BA4 6QN.
The showground is easily accessible from the M5 and is situated along the A371 Castle Cary – Shepton Mallet road. We are approximately 25 miles from Bristol and 20 miles from Bath. The nearest train stations are at Frome, Castle Cary or Templecombe.
Directions By Car:
The showground is situated on the A371 between Shepton Mallet and Castle Cary. Parking is available onsite for free.
Coming from the Bristol area: Turn off at M32 and take the A37.
Coming from Devon or Cornwall: Turn off at junction 23 off M5
Coming from the North or East: Take the M3, A303, A371.
How does the 5 free tickets offer work?
+-This offer is available to groups coming to Satellites for the first time i.e. the church or group have not attended Satellites in 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, or 2026. The offer of Five Free Tickets (full week) applies to young people only, who will be in School Years 7-13 on 5th August 2027.
All you need to do is create a booking, select that you would like to be contacted about the offer and pay for at least one adult, i.e. the Group Leader.
We will then add 5 tickets to your account which you can allocate to any of your young people. These tickets are added manually to your account and therefore won’t appear immediately. Please be patient and wait for these to appear, this could be up to 10 working days.
Please do not purchase tickets which you’d later like to be allocated as free tickets – we are not able to apply refunds for these.
So just book yourself (and any other group leaders on) and hang fire until we’ve added the 5 free tickets to your account. You can read more about tickets, and the 5 free tickets offer in our terms and conditions.
Can I attend Satellites without a group?
+-All delegates must attend as part of a group booking. Groups need to consist of at least one adult group leader and young people.
Satellites festival is aimed at young people and youth groups, so we don't allow families to come on their own. Our vision is to equip young people to live lives full of faith for the whole year and we want to do that by making sure young people are connected into a church or youth project, so we'll need you to find a local church to come along with. Drop us a line if you need help finding a church local to you that’s already coming – or if you need help encouraging your local church to bring a group.
Team
Hopefully the team page covers most of the information you might want to know about joining a Satellites team, but if you need some help with your application or you’ve got any questions, please drop us an email.
How old do I have to be to serve on team?
+-Satellites teams will be open to anyone 18+ and young people in Years 12 and 13, with some requiring team members to be 18 or over. Any team members under 18 can opt for the 50/50 ticket if they would prefer to – this is an opportunity to be on team for half of a shift each day, and enjoy the event as a guest for the rest of the time. Those who opt for 50/50 tickets will only pay half of the ticket price listed at the date they apply to be on team.
How long do I have to serve for?
+-Depending on your role, each team member should expect to serve around eight hours each day (minimum of six hours and maximum of ten hours each day). Those with a 50/50 ticket should expect to serve for about four hours each day.
I am bringing a youth group, can I still be on team?
+-We love that you’re up for serving at Satellites! However if you’re coming to Satellites as a youth leader, we’d love your young people to be your focus during the week. Serving for eight hours a day might not allow you to give your young people the care that they need, so we don't accept leaders attending with a group onto the Satellites team.
I have additional needs – can I still serve on team?
+-Of course! We may ask for a bit more information about your additional needs on the application form, so that we can best support you during the week. If you would like to chat further about how serving on team might work for you, feel free to drop us a line at teams@wearesatellites.com.
Do I need a DBS check?
+-Yes. In line with our safeguarding policy, all adults (those aged 18 and over at the time of the event) onsite will need a current Enhanced DBS. If you have an Enhanced DBS registered on the Update Service, you can give us those details on your application form and you won't need to apply for a new DBS check.
If you are not registered on the Update Service and do not already have a DBS processed via Satellites, you will be asked to complete a DBS check process in order to serve on team.You’ll receive an email asking you to apply when you complete your team application, and you'll be guided through the process from there on. If you have any questions about DBS checks for Satellites, you can email us at teams@wearesatellites.com.
Who can be my referee?
+-We ask that your two referees fall into either of the below categories:
- Someone in a position of spiritual leadership in your church or faith setting, such as a pastor or senior leader, home group leader, youth pastor or volunteer team or ministry lead.
- Someone who can tell us something about your character, like an employer or manager, a leader from somewhere you may volunteer, or a teacher, lecturer or tutor.
We can't accept referees who are related to you, they should not be a friend, and you must have known them for at least 1 year. Please also let them know that you’ve put their name down to be your referee and give them a heads up to expect an email from us!
Any questions do get in touch at teams@wearesatellites.com.