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Last replied
23 Apr 2024
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Description
Come join us! We are looking for volunteers who are available for 6 months placements.
We are looking for volunteers over 30 with a good standard of English who are dedicated, enthusiastic, and energetic and who are willing to live with us for a minimum of 6 months at our Village community where we offer residential support for homeless people.
Currently our spaces are filled for 2023. If you are interested in a placement for 2024 please get in touch in the new year for more accurate availability.
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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 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 weekly subsistence allowance. You will have a shared bedroom in our Village community. If you are interested in supporting our residential communities for young people, please visit the opportunities at our City and Farm community Workaway page.
Thanks, we look forward to hearing from you!
Types of help and learning opportunities
Charity Work
Art Projects
Help with Eco Projects
Teaching
Gardening
Creating/ Cooking family meals
General Maintenance
UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
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.
The Village is located in Edinburgh which is a culturally rich city and the Village itself has people from diverse and interesting backgrounds.
There is potential to improve English and exchange cultural ideas and customs.
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.
Help
Life at the Village…. where to begin! 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 30 hours a week in a flexible rota that you make with the other volunteers (usually 3 others) 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 Village. 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.
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Accommodation
The Village is made up of 11 ‘NestHouses’ – each shared by two residents/volunteers. The houses have a kitchen/living room area and a bathroom. There is also a large, central Community Hub, which is the focus of community life – where residents and volunteers can cook, eat and socialise together. We order our food from FareShare, an organisation that tackles food waste - volunteers order this twice a week. Volunteers are expected to stay over night in the Village for at least five nights out of seven.
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. Although, when you’re at the Village it doesn’t feel like you’re in a city. The Village is like a little haven away from it all. We are a 2 minute walk away from the beach, and we like to go for sea dips if you are brave enough to join us!
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.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Space for parking camper vans
This host can provide space for campervans.
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.
How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two
Hours expected
30hrs a week over 4/5 days. Volunteers are expected to be around the Village when key community events are taking place and are required to stay overnight in the Village at least 5 nights out of 7.
Feedback (2)
I spent one year and two months and i would like to thank everybody that has made this opportunity possible, it has been a dream come true, the first place where i could really feel a sense of belonging and appreciation.
I just loved every single moment of the experience, from… read more
I've arrived just before the lockdown began and stayed for 8 months, and even if there was a lot of uncertanty and new meassures to take in place, it only helped to improve our peer mentoring and work to do in the community.
As… read more
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I spent one year and two months and i would like to thank everybody that has made this opportunity possible, it has been a dream come true, the first place where i could really feel a sense of belonging and appreciation.
I just loved every single moment of the experience, from… read more
I've arrived just before the lockdown began and stayed for 8 months, and even if there was a lot of uncertanty and new meassures to take in place, it only helped to improve our peer mentoring and work to do in the community.
As… read more
