Residential volunteers supporting homeless young people at our communities in Edinburgh, UK

Details

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  Description

  ***Thanks for everyone who had applied in the recent weeks, We appreciate everyone enthusiasm and want to support us in our work. At the moment we have two spaces open from June and July. Please get in touch if you are interested for a 6 month placement from this time. we would love to hear from you!**
  
  
  Come join us! We are looking for volunteers aged 18-30 with a good standard of English who are available for 6 months placements.
  
  We are looking for a dedicated, enthusiastic, and energetic volunteers who are willing to live with us for a minimum of 6 months at our City and Farm communities where we offer residential support for homeless young people.
  
  As a residential volunteer, you'll become an integral part of a compassionate and dedicated team. Together, we create a safe and nurturing environment that fosters personal growth, development, and empowerment for vulnerable young people. Your role will involve building trusting relationships, offering emotional support, and assisting with daily activities
  
  We are looking for Workawayers who have the right to work in the UK (UK/Ireland/BNO or EU with settled/pre-settled status). If you require a visa, please let us know and we can put you in touch with a partner organisation who can organise sponsorship. Please be aware, that this may take some time, so is not suitable for those looking to start soon.
  
  This is a fully residential position with all accommodation and food provided, as well as a subsistence allowance for the volunteers . You will have your own bedroom in a shared house at the Farm or share with another volunteer at City. We also cover some weekly living expenses to make life a bit easier for you.
  
  If you are aged over 30 and are interested in supporting our adult residential community please visit the opportunities at our Village community Workaway page.
  
  Thanks, we look forward to hearing from you!!!

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Charity Work

  Art Projects

  Help with Eco Projects

  Teaching

  Gardening

  Creating/ Cooking family meals

  General Maintenance
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  UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve

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  What's this?
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  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  The communities are located in Edinburgh which is a culturally rich city. This is an excellent volunteering opportunity for people looking for a gap year or university placement in the charitable sector, offering great experience in the care or social work sector. We welcome volunteers from around the world.

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  Registered charity

  This host is a registered charity in the UK and is looking for help with their charity project. Guidance on charity worker sponsorship by a UK registered charity, can be found here.

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  Help

  Every day is very different and life is full of variety here. There are residents, staff members and volunteers from many walks of life. This will be a stimulating and hopefully rewarding role but may also be challenging and tough. You will be living alongside people who may struggle to engage, may have behaviours that are challenging, or are managing addictions. You will help in creating positive experiences and will help move residents from negative experiences of the past to a positive future.
  
  You will help 37 hours a week in a flexible rota that you make with the other volunteers every week. It will be a mixture of weekday and weekend working, covering morning and evening shifts. You will always have 2 or 3 full days off a week, and 5 holiday days every 3 months. So plenty of time to explore the area!
  
  Your role will include but is not limited to:
  
  - Living alongside others and participating in community life. Engaging with residents and communicating with your colleagues/peers.
  
  - Creating a fun, secure and stimulating space. Helping people develop the skills and confidence to move forward in life.
  
  - Managing the day-to-day domestic tasks and decisions within the communities E.g. keeping the community space clean and tidy, adhering to food hygiene practices, ordering our food for the week, completing any odd jobs that need doing around the village!
  
  - Organising and engaging in activities within the community.
  
  - Supporting residents to take part in activities and placements.

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  Languages spoken

  English: Fluent

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  Accommodation

  The two Communities accommodate up to fifteen residents between them, who are aged 18-30 and come to live in the communities as a result of being homeless. Both Communities have up to six volunteers who live with the residents in the community for placements between 6 and 9 months. Volunteers are also between the ages of 18 – 30 so they can be true peers to the residents. In the City Community, volunteers are required to share rooms due to space constraints. In addition, both Communities have a small staff team who are there to support the residents.

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  What else ...

  Edinburgh is Scotland's second biggest city. As Scotland’s capital, it’s open-minded and dynamic, but small enough to walk almost anywhere you need to go. Its winding, often cobbled streets are loaded with excellent, restaurants, pubs, art galleries and shops.
  
  There will be opportunities to travel in Scotland on days off and explore the beautiful city/surrounding areas. Many former volunteers with us have headed to the beautiful Highlands for long weekends. We have bikes that you can use, there are excellent cycle path routes in Edinburgh. There are also great bus links - we are very close to multiple bus stops.

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  A little more information

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    Internet access

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    Limited internet access

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    We have pets

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    We are smokers

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    Can host families

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  Can possibly accept pets

  Potentially able to take very well behaved pets but please think about the reality of living in a community where we are supporting people who are experiencing homelessness. The needs of the residents need to the priority. Dogs in particular will need to be very good with people, adaptable and able to be left alone for periods of time.

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  More than two

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  Hours expected

  30 hrs a week over 4/5 days.

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