WOULD YOU CONSIDER spending 6 months or more as a guest volunteer at Gannicox Community? A number of young people have joined us in the past. They have enjoyed their stay and have gained practical, social and personal skills while supporting and building close friendships with us.
Core Tasks
You will be involved in some of the outdoor gardening and estate work together with an experienced gardener and some of our residents. You will help to establish and maintain work routines for the residents, take on some cooking, housework, minor maintenance, crafts activities and occasional child minding. An important strand of our life and work in which you will get involved is the support and fostering of life skills, of individual social relationships, and of the cultural-spiritual needs and interests of our friends with support needs.
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Training Opportunities
Throughout your stay you will be provided with training to ensure you are able to carry out your role effectively and to assist your own personal development. Much of this training will be in the field of social care work. You will be provided with induction training in health and safety, protection of vulnerable adults, and a number of other statutory policy areas. If possible we encourage you to participate in short courses in first aid and food hygiene. We ask you to join the on-going Foundation course that is run at William Morris Camphill Community nearby (a further education college for adolescents and young adults with learning difficulties). This will give you the opportunity to meet with other co-workers, many of whom come from abroad. The course provides a platform for sharing experiences as well as gaining some understanding of Camphill and its underlying philosophy. Sessions include introductions to human development, curative education, artistic activities and anthroposophy. If appropriate and possible you may wish to enroll in an English language or other course that enhances your work with us at the local Further Education College.
Accommodation & Internet
You will have your own furnished room with shared bathroom facilities in one of the Community's houses. All of our meals and basic living necessities are provided for by the Community. You will have free access to computer facilities, including email and internet for personal and vocational use
Expenses Travel Visas
Co-workers and volunteers freely give their work in answer to the needs of the Community and hence are not paid any wages or salary. At the discretion of the community you may receive a financial allowance of up to £30 per week to cover your reasonable expenses while you live and work with us. You are responsible for your travel costs to and from the community as well as for any visa applications and associated costs.
Working time
You will generally have about two days off each week, often one day during the week the other at weekends. This is arranged by mutual agreement in the house community. You will also have most evenings free. A typical working day will be from about 8 am to 7pm which includes meal times with about an hour off after lunch. On some days there will be evening commitments.
Days off & Holidays
Volunteers who stay for up to 6 months will not usually have holidays, but will at intervals be able to take some additional days or a long weekend off in consultation with the community. If you are staying for more than 6 months you may, in addition to the occasional long weekend off, take holidays at the rate of about a week for every 3 months. At the discretion of the community you may receive a financial allowance for these periods.
Language Proficiency
It is essential for our work that you have reasonable proficiency in spoken English. If you are uncertain about your level of spoken English, please take lessons before you come, or, you can take an IELTS test (International English Language Testing System: www.ielts.org) and work towards grade 6 or 7.
Police Checks & Health Certificate
The nature of our work requires us by law that you provide us with a Criminal Background Check (‘Police Check') and the names of two referees whom we can contact for a reference. Furthermore we request that you send us a Health Certificate from your family doctor and a passport photo. We shall give preference to applicants over 20 years and those who have a good knowledge of English.
Apply to us
If you are interested please send us the completed Guest Volunteer Enquiry form, preferably by email. Provided we have a vacancy we shall send you an Application Form and further details.