Volunteers always Needed!!!

Here at Magdalen we rely greatly on our volunteers who are an integral and very vital part of the team. We are lucky that they freely give many hours of help and assistance wherever it is needed. Much of the vegetable growing and picking would not be possible without a dedicated and knowledgeable band of volunteers. This includes local people who come in once a week and resident volunteers (UK based and international) who stay with us for a few weeks. Inevitably an exchange of ideas and skills flows between Magdalen and helpers.

Local?

If you live close enough to come in and help on a daily basis we would love to see you. There is a regular Tuesday group of volunteers whose work tends to revolve around the horticulture side of things. This could be anything from preparing the ground, sowing, planting out, watering, weeding, picking or preparing vegetables for the kitchen or for sale at farmer’s markets or moving polytunnels. However, we hope soon to have groups coming in on other days: there are a wide range of jobs that always need extra hands (and minds) - assisting teachers anywhere on the farm including the woods, scarecrow barn, helping out on the farm with the animals, muck spreading, painting fences or washing up in the kitchen and making tea for everyone!! We also organise a few training sessions which could include hedge laying, lime rendering and tool maintenance and if volunteers have skills they wish to pass on we are always more than happy to learn!

The day normally starts at 10 and finishes at about 3.30 with time off for coffee and a wholesome cooked lunch, usually taken with the staff. We provide tools but ask you to provide your own suitable clothing, footwear and gloves.

Due to the nature of the Project we regret we are unable to allow children who are not part of a pre-booked group or dogs on site.

Live in the UK but not near enough to travel daily or abroad?

You get to do all of the above and stay with us too, in one of the volunteer caravans or camp on site.

You can stay with us for an agreed period - from a couple of days to a maximum of three months.

You will receive all your meals, accommodation and linen/laundry facilities for the duration of your stay, and often you can borrow a bike to explore the surrounding countryside during your time off. You need to be aware that the farm is fairly isolated with limited public transport so you do need to be able to cope with this if you do not have your own transport. Staff can help you out with lifts where they can and you will be included in as many visits that are going on as possible.

How to go about Volunteering

Download our Volunteers Application Form

Ask for a volunteering pack.This will either be sent or e-mailed to you and will include more detailed information about volunteering and an application form.

The next stage is for you to fill in the application form giving us your details. Once we have received this we will invite you in for a taster day if you live locally.

Once you have taken part in a taster day and decided that you would like to proceed with your application the next stage will be for us to obtain a satisfactory CRB check on you. This entails you completing a form and providing us with certain documents, after which processing the form can take up to five or six weeks. It is vital, therefore, to allow yourself sufficient time for this to be carried out in advance if you want to volunteer for specific dates.

If you live abroad we will need to ask you to obtain a similar police check from your own police force and send us the document which we can then have verified.

Once we have dealt with the paperwork side of things and hold a current police check you can volunteer with us any time once mutually convenient dates can be arranged.

Please contact The Volunteer Co-ordinator to discuss your requirements.