If you would like to have the opportunity to ‘do something different with your life’, maybe require practical experience to aid your college studies, or just wish to develop your knowledge of Camphill methods and training, then come to Coleg Elidyr as a volunteer.
There is also the chance to make new friends from different countries and cultures, explore interesting new places, and develop your language and social skills. We also have the advantage of being based on the borders of the Brecon Beacons, in a beautiful rural setting with breath taking scenery of the Welsh countryside.
Coleg Elidyr welcomes applications regardless of ethnic origin, religion or gender. We recognize and value the cosmopolitan influence and the unique contribution that our volunteers make to our community.
Coleg Elidyr is a Camphill centre for young people with special educational needs.
In Camphill, staff comes from all over the world. Working in Camphill is more a way of life than a job. It can be very demanding both emotionally and physically, but we believe it is rich and rewarding.
As in most Camphill centres, you will live under the same roof with students, staff and their children in one of many family units. The house is run together as a team, with a house manager, who may have family living in as well, carrying the main responsibility.
You could be working on the land, in the craft workshops or within the shop. You will be working alongside with students, sometimes being a ‘companion’, and sometimes as a guide and supporter to them. In the houses you will take care of the students, helping them with their independent living skills, personal hygiene etc. and supporting the running of the house in all aspects, which may include cooking.
Friendships, parties and excursions are all part of our life here and contribute to a lively lifestyle. We also organize trips to the theatre, musical concerts and occasionally receive visits from performing artists.
In most cases, guest volunteers adapt quickly to our way of life and enjoy their time with us at Coleg Elidyr, but as it is not possible to judge beforehand to what extent any particular person will adapt, we take the first month as an initial assessment period.
During your time at Coleg Elidyr you will receive free accommodation (your own single room), and food. You will receive a discretionary personal allowance of up to £150 per month to cover your reasonable expenses while you live and work with us. We will also reimburse you up to £20 a month for phone cards and travel.
If you stay for a period of one year we will also pay for your return flight home.
You will be entitled to one day off a week during term time. There are also four holidays of varying lengths in our college year: in October, after Christmas, after Easter and in the summer (approx eight weeks in total). The Easter holiday will only begin when celebration of the festival within the community has been completed. Please note that we do not have the same amount of holidays as the students, and all holiday plans are to be discussed and coordinated with your house manager.
We will provide free but limited internet access.
Some guest volunteers will have the opportunity to take an NVQ (National Vocational Qualification) in associated subjects and will receive a certificate on completion of the course. We reserve the right to assess and decide whether a candidate is suitable or not, as eligibility for these courses will depend on your English proficiency and preference is usually, but not always, given to EEC nationals, due to cost implications for visa individuals.
We also offer a Camphill Introductory course to familiarise new staff with the principles and philosophy behind our work within the Camphill Movement.
We will encourage and support you with your continuing personal and professional development. Should any concerns arise we will provide support and address any issues to the best of our abilities.
Suitable applicants may also extend their stay to two years with a possibility of advancing their NVQ qualifications.
Previous experience is not required; all we ask for is enthusiasm, commitment, compassion and a pleasant, sociable nature.
As our students are of a vulnerable nature, it is very important that you are aware of, and understand our duty to protect the students from abuse and the need for confidentiality.
Your support, initiative, encouragement and help will be required with student activities and excursions. Your diplomacy, good manners and consideration of others at all times, is also appreciated.
We expect your full commitment and participation in any training, seminars, theory or practical work that we will give you, which are an essential part of our program. The completion of these items is to your benefit, as they will enable you to carry out your tasks with a greater awareness and better understanding of your role.
While we welcome people of all persuasions, you are expected to respect and support our celebration of the Christian festivals and our Christian ideals, which form an important aspect of our community life.
It is preferred that a commitment is made to come for a full college year, as it takes time for the students to get to know you, and for you to know them. In some cases, however, we may accept people for less than a year, but we give preference to those applying for our whole college year.
As a new guest volunteer you could be allocated to any of our two sites: Rhandirmwyn or Victoria House. Although your interests and experience will be taken into account, we will nonetheless ask you to work where your help is most needed.
We welcome and encourage any artistic gifts, especially musical. We will provide training in related areas, e.g. basic first aid, health and safety, food hygiene, etc. We also offer a Camphill introductory course that will give you a general first introduction to the community's underlying image of the human being (Anthroposophy) or other subjects.
For more detailed information about rules and regulations, insurance, etc., please download our application pack .
Guest volunteer applications must be sent to:
Guest Volunteer Applications
Coleg Elidyr Camphill Communities
Rhandirmwyn
Llandovery
Carmarthenshire SA20 ONL
United Kingdom
E-mail: volunteer@colegelidyr.com
The following websites may be of interest to you:
www.ukvisas.gov.uk
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At “Coleg Elidyr” you will find a home with open doors where everybody is welcome to enjoy a community life where human rights are a daily practice combined with deep love forming the base of all your work.
It is a place where patience, respect and understanding for each other builds up strong relationships that help to personally develop students, trainees and ourselves as guest volunteers as well as all social beings.
Every day is a challenge ending in a “you can do it” and “everything could be”. You will learn the importance of supporting the young people’s development, with them asking for your understanding of their individuality which allows us to comprehend the possibility of the changes and the development of their endless skills, confidence, autonomy and self-esteem.
Here, you will understand why everybody is important in this life, whether high or low skilled, and how being respected as an individual provides every human being in Coleg Elidyr with a happy, colourful and playful-working environment.
Catalina Arbelaez
24 years old
Colombia
“We need you for Coleg Elidyr!!!
In Germany I had to make the decision, army or civil service. Because I really wanted to leave this country I decided to do my civil service in South Wales. The army also has offers to go to a foreign country, but to be honest; I didn’t really want to be moveable target in Iraq or Afghanistan!
So I came to this place called Coleg Elidyr in Rhandirmwyn. If you listen to the habitants pronouncing the name of their village your only question is:”Randy what?”
However my first impressions have been magnificent. It is a beautiful nature around here, really nice people and the work with the students is on the one hand exhausting but on the other hand you learn a lot of them. The more you get to know them; the more your love for them is growing. Not only the fact that the students are the majority of Britain, they teach you English best. It is about the new experiences you have in Coleg and the love they give to you.
If you are open for people with special needs and you like community life, if you don’t care about rainy days and are a friend of nature, Coleg will probably be the place for you.
Yannick, Germany
“As I decided to come to Coleg Elidyr my preferences were improving my English language skills and leaving my home country for a while. But already in the first few weeks my whole concept changed. I got to know the life in the community and much more important: I got to know the students. In the beginning I wondered if I could get used to live and work together with people with special needs, but this question vanished away quickly. Because I discovered how much I like this way of living and working together in one community, and how much it helps and teaches you for your whole life. Certainly it is not always easy to handle, but my opinion is that one as a young co-worker is not alone, there are always other members of staff who are doing the same job.”
Laura from Germany
Guest volunteers needed from August 2009.