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!
Sadly, we do not have any more places for school internships until Spring 2026.
Each year we welcome up to 20 volunteers 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.
Work areas in Loch Arthur include farm, garden, creamery, bakery, weaving workshop, woodwork shop, farm shop, craft workshop 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. During the application process we will also talk with applicants about what their preferences are and if there is anything that would mean they couldn’t take part in certain workshops.
Volunteers live in one of our seven shared houses, where daily life is rooted in creating community within one’s house and with others in Loch Arthur. Our way of life is shaped by the experience of living and working together, rather than by set hours of on and off ‘duty’ or shifts. Each community member contributes to our work, home life, and the social and cultural activities that enrich our shared experience. 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. Short-term volunteers will also have designated space each week for themselves.
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.
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 have any questions or would like to find out about volunteer vacancies, please contact:
Emma Chong and Sophie Stewart
E-mail: volunteering@locharthur.org.uk
Frequently Asked Questions
- How do I apply?
If you are interested in volunteering at Loch Arthur, please write us a letter telling us about yourself, including your reasons for wanting to join us, your previous experience, and your interests. This will help us get to know you. Please email this to us at volunteering@locharthur.org.uk . If we see a possibility to progress your application, we will send you further information and ask you to complete an application form, including details of three referees. You will also need to provide a recent criminal record check, and a letter from your doctor confirming you are fit for the role. Our volunteer co-ordinators will then be in touch to invite you for a zoom call. Volunteers coming from outside the UK need to apply for a visa. If your application is successful, our volunteer coordinators will support and guide you through this process. Unfortunately, we are unable to provide individual feedback to all applicants. If you do not receive a reply within two weeks, please assume that your application has not been successful on this occasion.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 support 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. - What sort of training will I have to help me in my role?
When volunteers arrive, they undergo a thorough introduction process both in their houses and workshops. We also have an introductory course programme which covers various aspects of life in a Camphill Community. Each volunteer has their own individual designated support person, who is usually an experienced long-term member of the Community. You will be introduced to this person when you arrive and will meet them regularly for support meetings during your time here. After three months we will have a structured review, during which we look at how you are getting on and look to offer more or less support if needed.
- What should I bring?
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. You will be provided with bedding, towels and basic toiletries. - Can I go on holidays while volunteering at Loch Arthur?
Volunteers joining us for 6 months to a year will be able to arrange a holiday or smaller breaks during their stay. The Community makes a financial contribution towards that holiday. It is important to take into account what else is happening in your house and the people responsible for the house where you are living will help you to arrange a suitable time.
