Volunteering

 

The College hosts a small residential volunteer team with a twin focus of taking care of our learners and the learning environment while developing volunteers’ own enquiries relating to the values and aims of the College. .  Volunteers work alongside Accommodation, Kitchen and Garden to take care of our participants through the provision of the provision of sound, clean accommodation and good food.

 

Volunteers are highly valued and integral to the successful running of the College, to support people from all over the world, of all ages and backgrounds, to gain the skills to think and act creatively, in the service of finding solutions to the world’s problems. We encourage volunteers to be active participants in the learning community outside of their duties and to take opportunities to attend talks and other activities that are open to the learning community. Volunteers may not join programmes without invitation from staff.

We are currently accepting applications from candidates interested in

  • residential volunteering in 2025.
  • Day volunteering for those local to the College who do not require accommodation to volunteer

Through volunteering in Dartington’s residential community, I relearnt a spirit of serving and what it really meant to belong to a community. There were lots of opportunities to learn and unlearn life skills. I learnt practical skills about working in a community kitchen, how to cook and preserve fresh produce grown on-site. I learnt how to appreciate and beautify our space in harmony with the cycle of nature. The time I spent at Schumacher and Dartington has become such an important part of my life’s journey.

Anna, Volunteer

COMMUNITY LEARNING VOLUNTEERING

 

OVERVIEW

Living and learning in the community is at the heart of Schumacher College’s education programmes. The actions of volunteers are a visible reminder to the community of the principle of being in service. It is a practical approach to learning through which volunteers embody our encouragement to explore different ways of knowing and different kinds of knowledge; on doing things with the hands as well as the head and learning how to build and foster relationships with the heart.

Successful applicants will bring:

  • A spirit of service to the community
  • An openness and intention to learn
  • Experience of Schumacher College or Dartington Arts School or College of Arts through attending a course OR
  • An extended experience of living in a learning community

 

LOCAL VOLUNTEERS

Volunteers who live locally participate in the learning community activities on a flexible basis agreed with the volunteer coordinator and are offered refreshment and a meal during their shifts.  Express your interest in volunteering by completing the application form and you will be contacted to arrange an initial conversation and possibly start with a taster shift in the garden or kitchen.

 

RESIDENTIAL VOLUNTEERING

Residential volunteering placements are for a minimum of one month and preference is given to those who can commit to three months.  We usually encourage new volunteers to begin with up to three months with the possibility of extending up to six or nine months.

Volunteers and are usually volunteering for up to five days with two days off per week participating in activities including:

  • Supporting staff to take care of course participants through the provision of sound, clean accommodation, and good food.
  • Assisting the kitchen and garden teams with food preparation, preservation, and storage, growing, harvesting, and pasteurising.
  • Creating and maintaining a safe and inspiring place for learning; enhancing the beauty of the learning environment
  • Leading and encouraging participation of service learning through community work groups, e.g. meal clears.
  • Meeting and greeting participants, giving tours, arranging flowers for the rooms, and attending opening and closing circles.
  • Tending outdoor and woodburner fires and assisting with events supporting good health and safety, and fire safety.

A longer period of residence at Schumacher College can help volunteers to integrate their learning following intensive study, to incubate projects and to bridge into new roles.  After volunteering for a minimum of 3 months, volunteers can assist on short courses working closely with facilitators or course tutors to help with the smooth running of the course, whilst getting to participate in the programme and learning. After 6 months of volunteering, in agreement with the volunteer coordinator volunteers can focus on an area of research or practice and devote one or more shifts per week to this project.

Volunteers receive no monetary payment other than reimbursement of expenses actually incurred in connection with volunteering for us.
Residential volunteers are offered full board accommodation include meals and a private, single room with shared bathroom and kitchen facilities during the period they are volunteering with us.

 

FIND OUT MORE & APPLY

To apply please complete this form. 

The role of volunteer can be physically demanding and can involve moving heavy objects in the garden. If you feel you may have any issues performing any tasks or wish to discuss this in confidence please email Sarah Gray Sarah.Gray@dartington.org or give more detail this in the application.

Due to the nature of this role, we are unable to accept applications from anybody under the age of 18.