Residential Volunteering in the UK

BTCV

The Natural Break programme of conservation working holidays enables volunteers to spend a week in spectacular settings learning new conservation skills. The work involves various conservation tasks such as woodland management, pond clearance, dry stone walling and footpath construction. Volunteers must be 16+ (overseas visitors, 18+).   Prices start at around £60 per week, £40 for a weekend and include food, accommodation, leadership and insurance.

Break

Volunteers help at holiday and respite care centres working alongside experienced staff assisting guests who need help with meals, dressing, bathing and getting around.   Placements are between 6 weeks and 12 months.   Free food and accommodation in a self contained flat with other volunteers. Travel expenses within UK, weekly out-of-pocket expenses. Volunteers aged between 18 and 25.

Cathedral Camps

Volunteers' aged 16-30 work on maintenance of Cathedrals and major Parish Churches, including c leaning and conserving marble memorials, washing and painting interior and exterior walls, cleaning plain and stained glass windows, making detailed recordings of monuments.

Volunteers can help with publishing, information, engineering, building, gardening, media, general office, biology, site management.   Volunteers have the opportunity to gain an NVQ level 2 in Environmental Conservation. Volunteers can stay on or off site depending on accommodation availability.   Volunteers must be able to provide own means of support.

Offers full-time volunteer placements away from home in one of more than 1,000 projects. There are 4-12 month placements. Pocket money, travelling expenses, lodging and food (or food allowance) are all provided. Volunteers from overseas need to pay a registration fee. Volunteers help people with disabilities in a caring role. Overseas applicants must have a very good command of English.

A large land-owning charity working for the preservation of places of historic interest or natural beauty in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The Trust is sometimes able to accept offers of long-term help with wardening and conservation work, often as part of a college course. Additionally, the Trust organises over 400 inexpensive working holidays.

Voluntary Wardening Scheme where volunteers stay and work on a nature reserve learning new skills in conservation. Volunteers help with survey work, administration, scrub control, livestock management, hide building, coppicing, wader scrape creation, dry stone walling. There are thirty nature reserves available in England, Scotland or Wales. Volunteers stay for 1-4 weeks. Longer term volunteering may be possible.

This is a partnership of homeless people and volunteers living and working with London's street homeless. Volunteers must be 19+, Full time volunteers stay nine or more months. Volunteers live in and get £33 a week pocket money. Food, board and all other basic necessities are provided. A day off is given each week plus money for two weeks off every three months. Also money is saved for volunteers for when they leave.

Practical conservation work on NTS properties all over Scotland, including the remote islands. Volunteers must be 16+. Placement is for 1 - 3 weeks. Volunteers make a £35 - £90 contribution towards project costs.

Offers a variety of projects, using small groups of volunteers, designed for people to get to know one another, work together and make new friends. Volunteers must be 16+. Yearly programmes from March. Duration 2-14 days. Volunteers pay a registration fee, travel costs and spending money and sometimes a small donation towards food. Projects include: play schemes; work with older people; work with disabled people; conservation; study groups. Accept volunteers from overseas

Residential Canal Camps throughout the year, offering volunteers a fun week learning new skills whilst restoring the country's heritage. Volunteers must be 17 - 70, placements 2 days upward.

Volunteers aged 16-75+ spend a week supporting people with physical disabilities in a holiday environment, providing companionship and general conversation. Fun and laughter are at the top of the agenda. Five centres in the UK for 1-2 week stays.

For volunteers aged 16+. A countrywide exchange network where bed and board and practical experience are given in return for work on organic farms and small holdings. Midweek, long term and overseas stays are also available. Excellent opportunities for organic training or changing to a rural lifestyle.