Work

Supporting with activities such as gardening, woodwork, pottery and textiles. Supporting residents in houses with cooking, cleaning and personal care. Joining and supporting outings and trips with residents and students. Volunteers will receive a one week induction upon arrival to the site and there will be training throughout the year.

Partner

Camphill Blair Drummond is a rural community situated six miles from the historic city of Stirling, Scotland. We offer a home, meaningful activities and opportunities for personal development to adults with learning disabilities and other special needs. In all some 200 people live and work within Camphill Blair Drummond.

Location

You’ll live in a castle – built in 1869 – surrounded by five acres of gardens, set within a large country estate and overlooking Blair Drummond Safari Park. From our community, you’ll be able to walk, cycle or run on tracks that take you down to the River Teith, with views across to the 14th century Doune Castle (now a famous film location for Game of Thrones and Outlander) or wander further on to the local village of Doune. A 15-minute bus ride will take you to the medieval city and castle of Stirling, once the capital of Scotland. From there, both Glasgow and Edinburgh are less than an hour away by train. Nearby is Callander, a tourist town, which lies within the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park, an internationally renowned, world-famous landscape. Here you can stroll along the river, spend the afternoon in one of the many cafes, or explore the miles of tracks and trails – on foot or by bike – that wind around the many lochs and mountains in the Park.

Accomodation

Accommodation is onsite in the castle. All houses and activities are in the immediate grounds. You’ll live in a castle – built in 1869 – surrounded by five acres of gardens, set within a large country estate and overlooking Blair Drummond Safari Park. Volunteers will either be in a single rooms or double room (individual bed) with bedding and furniture provided. Volunteers will have shared bathroom and showers throughout the accommodation. Volunteer accommodation can be provided on the ground floor to make it accessible.

Requirements

No experience necessary, just a positive outlook and a willingness to help others

Meeting point

From Glasgow: Take the airport bus to the city centre, there are two main train stations in Glasgow. You need to go to Glasgow Queen Street station and get the train to Stirling. From Edinburgh: Either take the bus to Edinburgh Haymarket or the tram to Edinburgh Park. Trains to Stirling depart frequently from Edinburgh Park and Edinburgh Haymarket. The train takes approximately 45 minutes. Other Airports: if you are not coming to Edinburgh or Glasgow there are occassional flights to Prestwick Airport, near Glasgow. This airport has a train link with Glasgow Central Station. From there, you can take a short taxi ride to Glasgow Queen Street Station and get a train to Stirling.