Profile information
Travel information
We are currently
At home
Description
Hi there!
We are Carys (25) and Henryk (39). We met at Glastonbury festival, volunteering as event stewards for Oxfam. We absolutely love our festival volunteering and do it every summer – Therefore, we have adopted a work hard all winter, volunteer all summer lifestyle! Because of this, we are currently only looking for paid opportunities between October and April/May, preferably with 25-40 hours available per week.
We are hoping that Workaways will be a much more interesting and rewarding alternative to our winter jobs (which vary from year to year). We are also hoping to gain more skills and experience in all areas of outdoor work and also in renovation/DIY, with the vision of possibly owning a smallholding in the future, or at least being able to enter into a more outdoor-based career. Henryk has more skills and experience presently, but Carys is keen to be a knowledge sponge!
Whilst outdoor work and DIY are our work preferences, we are willing to get stuck in with anything, and any new skills we can learn will be valued. Whilst we have a vague idea of what we’d like our future to look like, we are keen to experience a variety of lifestyles and are absolutely ready to have our minds changed! We both like getting our hands mucky and getting stuck in, and we both thrive when learning on the job. We are both competent cooks and are happy to make meals for ourselves and others.
We work very well as a team, and our favourite phrase is ‘Divide and Conquer’. We believe we both have strengths that make up for the others weaknesses – for example, Carys loves to work with children while Henryk has little experience in this area. Similarly, Henryk has a wealth of knowledge in different areas of building and gardening while Carys has little experience in these fields. However, when we work as a team, we are always passing knowledge between us, so we are able to help and learn from each other.
We are both nature lovers with a strong sense of adventure! We LOVE animals, especially dogs (Carys has 3 at home!), and agree that long walks in beautiful places can only be improved by a dog’s presence. We are both at our happiest in the countryside and love to explore during our free time, often with the help of our folklore map of the UK. We love finding new places and discovering their quirks and stories – We can’t wait to hear your local tales!
Here's some more about each of us, including our backgrounds and interests. We have talked more about our skills and what we might be able to offer in the ‘More Details About Your Skills’ section.
Carys:
I am positive, reliable, hardworking, and I love learning new things. I grew up on a 1 acre smallholding in South West Wales, although sadly I didn’t take my Welsh Language education further. On the smallholding we have 3 dogs (Pepper, Mojo and Smudge), apple trees and a hobby flock of chickens. We also have an abundance of wild bird feeders which have attracted many species of small birds, doing a lot for biodiversity on our land.
I finished my degree in Biomedical Sciences in 2020, doing my final exams in my bedroom during lockdown. Since then, I have worked in two NHS jobs – Test and Trace during the pandemic, and currently I work as a call handler for the Out of Hours GP. Whilst I have loved these jobs, I am looking to transition into something more hands on and physical, as I’ve found this really helps me to look after my Type One Diabetes and ADHD.
Speaking of diabetes and ADHD! My diabetes is (mostly!) well controlled and I am perfectly capable of managing it myself, so it wouldn’t be anything for our hosts to worry about. That being said, I will need access to a fridge for my insulin, and may have low blood sugars which would require an immediate break of around 15-30 minutes before I am safe to work again. There is nothing I cannot eat, so shared meals would not be an issue, and we are also perfectly happy to self-cater.
As for my ADHD, this is managed by medication which works very well for me, so I believe this will actually be a superpower in a workaway scenario! My ADHD thrives on novelty and learning new skills, and if I find something interesting I tend to learn very quickly. ADHD also comes with many, many varied interests, including:
Circus skills (from spinning plates to trapeze!)
Crafts
Festivals
Animal husbandry
Foraging/Plant Identification
Medicine
Mental Health & Wellness
Local History & Folklore
Creative Writing
Teaching
Music (I play the ukulele!)
Video Games
Sustainability
To name just a few! I’m enthusiastic and eager to learn about so many subjects, we are bound to find common interests and areas to learn from each other.
Thanks for reading – I can’t wait to get stuck in!
Henryk:
I am a very friendly person who gets on easily with new people. I am a quick learner, am always keen to learn new things and enjoy teaching others.
I’m originally from Newcastle but have lived in various places over the years. I had various shop and bar jobs before going to university in Wales (Lampeter for my philosophy undergraduate and the Centre for Alternative Technology for my masters in renewable energy). Around my studies I also found time to take on the role of Environmental and Commercial Services Officer at the student’s union, and to spend two summers working with an NGO called Sustainable Global Gardens in East Africa.
During the summers of 2014-24, I volunteered as a steward at music festivals for Oxfam. More recently I have been picking up more paid roles at festivals, such as litter picking and campsite management. I have had various jobs alongside this - mainly an IT role for a small business.
Between May and November 2022 I worked as an assistant to a kitchen fitter. In addition, I have worked in many customer service, warehouse and factory jobs. More recently I was making Ice cream for a small ice cream shop! Most recently I have been doing housekeeping for Bluestone Resorts in South Wales.
I’m happiest working outside, but I have picked up a lot of skills over the years in so many varied roles - I’m keen to see how we can help each other!
Interests
Astronomy
Carpentry
Cooking & food
Writing
Vegetarian or vegan
Technology
Sustainability
Self development
Plant care
Pets
Outdoor activities
Nature
Music
Mountain
History
Hiking
Gardening
Farming
Events & social
Charity work
LGBTQ
Books
DIY & crafts
Camping
Animals
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Welsh: Beginner
Skills and knowledge we'd like to share or learn
We're interested in:
Teaching
Life at a Farmstay
Languages
Art Projects
Some knowledge of:
Eco Projects
Charity Work
General Maintenance
Hospitality/Tourism
Helping around the house
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Babysitting and creative play
Able to teach about:
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Animal Care
Helping with Computers/ Internet
More details about your skills
Carys:
Chicken Keeping: I have kept chickens (much more as pets than livestock) for nearly a decade. We started out with a small flock of bantam chickens, then added a flock of rescue ex-commercial egg laying hens. Sadly, these hens are not bred for a long life and often experience a range of health issues. Over the years I have gained extensive knowledge in maintaining a flock and treating poorly chickens, as sadly many pet vets are not knowledgeable on chickens, and most livestock vets are quick to euthanasia. Most recently, I treated a hen with ascites (fluid build up, aka water belly) by draining her abdominal fluid with a syringe! I have also volunteered with Fresh Start For Hens, a charity that rehomes ex-egg-laying hens, and learned a bit about managing larger flocks, as well as transporting them. I’ve also learned a lot about keeping rats away – although the battle is ongoing…
If you keep chickens (or have plans to) I believe I could be very useful!
Childcare: I love working with children! I have volunteered with kids a number of times in various roles – Most recently at Nozstock festival, where I worked as a Human Fruit Machine….
At University I worked with a wide range of ages while volunteering with the Science Brainwaves society, which ran science outreach days for kids. This included teaching kids about fossils using sandpits and doing some crazy chromatography art with felt tip pens. I also volunteered with the LGBT+ society, running Q&A sessions on sexuality and gender in secondary school PSE lessons.
I have done some informal tutoring and babysitting for family friends, and I have a number of skills/hobbies that really help when working with kids. Circus skills like plate spinning, not being afraid to be silly, playing the ukulele, playing video games and (obviously) teaching are all very useful!
Stewarding: I have volunteered as an event steward for Oxfam at 14 festivals. I learned a number of skills doing this and have had many roles. Many of the roles are customer service based, giving directions and helping to create a positive atmosphere. I have also had roles in fire towers, vehicle gates, as a traffic steward and on accessible viewing platforms. I’ve learned a lot about how events run smoothly and keeping large numbers of people safe – It’s also helped a lot with my self confidence!
As Henryk also has a wealth of stewarding experience, we could be very helpful at any planned events!
Teaching/TEFL: I am currently working towards a Level 5 TEFL Diploma. I have completed the course, but have a few pieces of coursework to go. I could therefore be useful if any fellow helpers wanted to work on their English!
I also have a fair amount of experience teaching children, as detailed in the childcare section.
Housekeeping: For a number of years I had a part time job cleaning lodges at a local holiday park. I am therefore a competent cleaner, who can make beds to a professional standard and can manage time effectively to clean large spaces.
Writing: I really enjoy writing, both fiction and non-fiction. I’d be happy to use this skill to help with any marketing materials.
Other:
In possession of a full, enhanced DBS certificate.
Driving licence (automatic only) and own a car.
Confident using a lawnmower, strimmer and basic tools such as billhooks.
Knowledge of accessibility issues and solutions.
Henryk:
Sustainable development: Msc- Renewable Energy in the Built Environment,
Student’s Union: I spent two years during my undergraduate degree as the Environmental and Commercial Services officer. This is an elected position on the executive board of the student's union. Responsibilities included chairing and attending many meetings and committees as well as working with the university to reduce its carbon footprint and increase biodiversity on the campus. I also was a founding member of the organic garden on campus and helped to found the west-wales coppicing group.
International Development: I have spent two summers working with an NGO called Sustainable Global Gardens in East Africa. Working with this NGO has greatly helped with my independence, organisation, team leading and problem solving skills. Between my first and second trips I changed roles from volunteer to renewable energy consultant using the skills gained in my post-graduate course.
Building:
Kitchen Fitting: Between May and November 2022 I worked as an assistant to a kitchen fitter fulfilling basic labouring needs as well as being involved in some of the more complex work. I am very familiar with tools and have a basic set of my own. I have also done a lot of work over the years for friends and family on their homes and gardens.
Customer Service:
Oxfam Stewarding Supervisor: During the summers of 2014-24, I volunteered as a steward at music festivals for Oxfam. This work helped me develop my team working skills and did a great deal for my self confidence as I had to frequently deal with large crowds of people and at times be very assertive. I also gained experience of being part of a large hierarchical structure, had a fantastic time and made a huge number of friends. I am given supervisory and shift leading roles almost exclusively (since around 2016) and am very well respected and trusted within the organisation. I regularly use radios, ticket scanning equipment, park cars, manage the public, check wristbands and tickets, manage pedestrian and vehicle gates as well as looking after my team.
Campsite Manager: I was paid by the charity MyCause to manage their volunteer campsite (of around 650 people) at boomtown 2023 and 2024. I was responsible for the setting up, layout and organisation of the campsite as well as parking the campervans and maintaining the fire lanes as well ensuring the campsite remained a safe and functioning area throughout the festival.
Subway (Sandwich Artist / Manager) : During my time at university, I regularly worked in a Subway store during the holidays. I spent a short while after completing my education managing the store in Shieldfield (which never failed an inspection during my time there).
Ice cream maker / seller - Cones (INN Collection group): From October ‘23. Making and Selling 29 different types of gelato to recipes I helped to develop with our supplier. I was the de facto supervisor for the shop, managing opens/ closes/ ordering/ maintaining ice cream stocks/ training new staff etc.
Housekeeping:
I have been doing housekeeping for the bluestone park in Wales, cleaning rooms and making beds to a professional standard. I was not in this role for long (due to a family health problem) but received nothing but positive feedback.
IT:
IT Support/ Data Management 2016-2021 : My role was supporting a medium sized retail business with various aspects of IT. I was the first (and last) port of call for all IT related issues. Most of my time was spent creating and maintaining the company's three websites and the stock systems that run them (a combination of spreadsheets and databases). I spent several years fulfilling this role remotely.
Web Development : In my spare time, over several years, I have been developing and maintaining websites for various clients on a freelance basis.
Other:
Driver (automatic licence)
Have driven quad bikes
Good with animals
Food hygiene certificates
Good knowledge of tools
Keen gardener / woodworker
Some experience hedge laying and dry stone walling
Age
25 & 40
Some more information
Smoker
Driver's licence
Allergies
Carys has a possible allergy to penicillin.Special dietary requirements
Both pescatarian (we eat fish but no other meat). Carys is a Type 1 Diabetic, but this doesn't stop her from eating most foods.
