Volunteers - at the heart of our community
In practical terms, this centre would fold in a matter of weeks without vollies. And in terms of principle, the gifts of effort and care which volunteers bring are fundamental for any community. Our primal relationship - with the world and with God - is one of pure gift.
Yes, we have to charge for events, pay our full-time staff and balance the books. But the heart of Othona has never been commercial.
Email us at volunteering@othonawestdorset.org.uk - to get in touch. :-)
How might you support the community as a volunteer?
Regular and one-off volunteering
Volunteers support the community in all kinds of ways. Here are just a few of the activities and people:
- gardening in our polytunnel and fruit cage (Thank you to Marion and many others)
- bee-keeping (Thank you to Peter and co!)
- PAT testing + much much more (Thank you Rick!)
- cooking cover when we're short-handed (Thank you Pat O, Louise and others)
- cream tea open days (Thank you to Carole A, Louise, Pat O, plus many others!)
- marmalade and jam making (Thank you to Pat B - all the way from Scotland!)
- helping in the library (Thank you to many!)
- one-off jobs like envelope stuffing, sewing, clearing, log splitting etc (Thank you to many!)
- building, log chopping, tree clearing, treehouse making!, etc (Thank you Gerrard Robertshaw and family)
- video and drone photography (Thank you Hillary)
- summer six-week volunteering (Thank you Tiernan, Lizzi, Ellie, Kerry, Sabine, Katya and many others!)
- facilitating family events (Thank you Roger, Ellie, Tom, Kanes, Dunkerleys, Wallaces, Clare Cohen, Julie Leoni and many more!)
Many of these opportunities suit people who live locally. If you live further away, however, staying with us for days or weeks specifically as a volunteer is also possible.
We have recently developed our volunteer programme to focus on assisting us during residential events throughout the year. A volunteer would expect to help with housework and assisting in the preparation of meals for an event. If this kind of involvement interests you, please email us at volunteering@othonawestdorset.org.uk to explore this further with us.
Committee member
Our Trustees, Committee and Working Group members fulfil vital roles. Click on the blue titles to learn more.
Email us at volunteering@othonawestdorset.org.uk - to get in touch. :-)
If any of these activities attract you, get in touch with us to explore possibilities!
Please note: We hardly ever enrol a volunteer unless she or he has already had some contact with Othona. Come and meet us!