AT Camphill Houses we have a variety of opportunities for volunteers, from a few hours a week supporting our garden or craft centre teams, to experiencing our community life during a gap year or sabbatical.
Our Garden
Our large biodynamic garden just outside Stourbridge is a place where people can work with nature to produce wonderful vegetables, fruit and flowers. The quality of our produce has been recognised in the Organic Food Awards.
Our garden team welcomes volunteers to help in aspects of cultivation, planting and harvesting .We have a lively varied group there from Mondays to Thursdays 9am - 12.30pm.
To find out more contact Mark Hobson 01562 700350
Our Craft Centre and Cafe
Our Cockleshell Craft Centre in Worcester Street, open Monday to Saturday, 9.30am - 5pm, is very popular with the public. Its Paint-Your-Own Pottery venture is particularly successful, attracting individuals and groups of all ages. We also do weaving, felt making and card making, so if you are interested in creative arts you might enjoy helping out as a volunteer.
We are also in the process of adding a little cafe to our venture and could really do with some help.
Contact the Cockleshell on 01384 442125 to find out more about volunteering.
Experience our Camphill community life
We have one or two places available for volunteers to live with us for 6 - 12 months and support all our activities. You may be a gap-year student or someone with life experience wishing to use your skills for the benefit of others while looking at life from a different perspective. You will gain valuable experience in community living and social care.
If Camphill life interests you, call Nicola Hobson on 01562 700350 to find out more.
Daily life in our community includes living alongside community members and sharing housekeeping; working periods; social therapy practice and planning.
We aim to create social warmth and a sense of inclusion for those who would otherwise find themselves living a lonely and isolated life. Thus we provide vibrant work opportunities where individuals can develop and achieve their potential.
As a guest volunteer, you receive weekly pocket money, board and lodging. You will have one free day a week and five weeks holiday per year. Supervision is provided from various sources, i.e. team meetings, training, and individual mentoring.
Opportunities exist to work with us as a co-worker for longer periods with further involvement in community responsibilities.
Guest volunteers and co-workers live in a range of accommodation including shared houses with other co-workers and community members to self-contained bedsits. Please note, that you may need change accommodation during your time with us according to the support roles you undertake in meeting the needs of our community members. So generosity to others is a necessary quality.
Typically guest volunteers and co-workers who gain the most from their experience with us:
- have a positive attitude to life and are enthusiastic
- have a sense of humour
- are sociable and take interest in others
- are able to self-reflect and learn from misunderstandings
- are flexible and adaptable to change
- are able to support Christian festivals
- are able to take feedback positively
- are interested in supporting management directives
- are able to accept that they do not initiate at management level in their first year with us
- are able to work in a team
- can put the interest of others before the interest of themselves
Please read through the above again and consider whether you aspire to these qualities. If necessary, read through this with a friend who understands English well and knows you. Our intention is to help you understand the qualities we need and be helpful in your decision to join us.