As well as short term volunteers (6-12 months) we are also seeking people who would like to join us for a longer time as life sharing volunteers.
Joining the community as a volunteer can be a rich and rewarding experience!
Each year up to 20 volunteers join us from the UK and all over the world to support our life in Loch Arthur. Many of these volunteers are taking a gap year after school, others are looking for a change in life, practical experience for further education or inspiration for different ways of living. Most of these volunteers find it worthwhile to spend a year living in the community, although shorter stays are possible. There are also possibilities for individuals, couples and families interested in making a longer-term commitment to this way of life.
Sadly, we do not have any more places for school internships until Spring 2024.
Work areas in Loch Arthur include farm, garden, creamery, bakery, weaving workshop, woodwork shop, farm shop and café and housework. We hope that volunteers joining us are willing and able to participate in any of these activities, depending on where the needs are in the Community at the time in question.
As our life in the Community is based on our experience of living and working together we do not have formal hours on and off “duty”. Each community member supports our work and homelife as well as social and cultural activities. Therefore life can be full and (at times) demanding but is also very rewarding and fulfilling. We aim to create spaces for each other to ensure we all get the time we need to relax and recuperate.
We attempt to live and work together in a way that recognises the dignity and uniqueness of each human being and does not distinguish between those who require support and those who give that support. We hope that by living together with our combined strengths and weaknesses, skills and abilities, we will create an enlivening and caring environment for all who live here.
There are people in Loch Arthur who require help with personal care (bathing, dressing, eating, etc.), and volunteers joining us should be willing to be involved with such care.
No one living at Loch Arthur receives a salary, but you will be provided with board and lodging and your day-to-day expenses will be met.
Volunteers joining us should come well equipped with clothing for their stay, taking into consideration the Scottish climate and the fact that we are a land-based Community. We also expect that people joining us for one year or less are responsible for their travel expenses to and from the Community. Since Brexit, volunteers coming from outside the UK need to apply for a visa. We will support and guide you through this process.
We allow for the fact that people joining us for a year would have a holiday at some time during their stay (usually towards the end), and we would make a financial contribution towards that holiday.
It would be important for us to know whether someone wishing to join us has a mental or physical disability or illness which might affect their ability to participate in some aspect of our life, or might need particular attention during their stay in the Community. It should be noted that the habitual use of drugs or alcohol is not compatible with life in a Camphill Community.
We feel sure that anyone joining us with an open and willing attitude to participate in the activities of the Community will find life in Loch Arthur both rich and rewarding.
If you are interested in volunteering at Loch Arthur, please send us a letter telling us about yourself, including your reasons for wanting to join us, former experience and your interests. This letter, which will help us to get to know you, can be sent by post, fax or email (addresses below). If we see the possibility to offer you a place, we will send you further information and ask you to provide a few documents such as a criminal record check and two references.
If you have any questions or would like to find out about volunteer vacancies, please contact:
Emma Chong and Sophie Stewart
Tel: 01387 259669
E-mail: volunteering@locharthur.org.uk
