Great British Projects 2011
Check the Projects offered by IVS GB for 2011!
UK-IVS 6.3 Environmental Arts, Gowanbank (West Lothian)
09 April – 23 April
Gowanbank Environmental Arts was formed by a group of friends restoring historic buildings and landscape for the past 16 years. They have an interest in innovative and environmentally conscientious new log buildings. Eleven years ago a social element was incorporated into community activity by welcoming and training homeless young adults.
Work: Volunteers will be tree planting and restoring a stone wall to help complete the restoration. As well as this, there is also costume making for a children’s project promoting healthy eating with the theme of fruit and vegetables.
Accommodation: Will be in a bunk house or log-cabins. Food will be vegetarian.
Study: There will be a chance to observe and learn about the construction of an Eco-friendly log cabin.
Topic: Environment
UK-IVS 6.2 Easter Workcamp - Earth Connections (Isle of Eigg)
16 April - 30 April
IVS GB celebrates its 80th Birthday in 2011 and so in partnership with The Earth Connections Project, we have planned a special celebratory workcamp, on the beautiful island of Eigg.
Type of Work: Earth Connections is developing exciting new green living courses. We need volunteers to get the Centre building finished so we can be up and running this summer! There are a variety of interesting jobs to do, for all abilities – learning practical skills at the same time, to help you and the planet. Outdoors, we have a lovely forest garden for those interested in food growing. Also, we will adventure on a 2 day camping trip as a trial run for our eco-courses.
Study Theme: Environment
Accommodation: within the Eart Connections Sustainability Centre which is a large old house
Language: English Speaking
Qualifications: People with building/woodwork skills are always welcome here.
Terminal Location: Isle of Eigg, Western Isels of Scotland
Notes: There will be time off to explore other parts of the island, and of course a big birthday party to finish off in style!
UK-IVS 6.3 Culdees Community
14 May - 28 May
This workcamp is a farm-based aspiring Eco village overlooking beautiful Loch Tay in Scotland, with a small resident community seeking help from volunteers to further a number of projects. Visit our website http://www.culdees-ecovillage.co.uk to see more of our intentions.
Type of Work: Ranging from assisting with construction, farmland management, garden work and general maintenance. Exact details to be confirmed. At this time of year we will likely to be particularly busy with planting in the vegetable gardens. Work will be quite hands on and physical.
Study Theme: Environment
Accommodation: Volunters will be accommodated in dormitory or caravans and are expected to work 30 hours a week.
Language: English speaking
Qualifications: None
Terminal Location: Culdees is situated beside Loch Tay, Perthshire, Scotland
Notes: There will be opportunities for hill walking and exploring some of highland Perthshire during time off.
UK-IVS 6.4 Grayhill Conservation
17 June - 08 July
Grayhill Farm comprises a house with hall, barn, dairy, well house with copper and bread oven, stables, pig sty, and much more. Help is required with restoring stables which are used to store equipment, hay, firewood and to provide shelter for rare breed livestock.
Type of Work: In the first week he work involves building an oak roof for farm stables and laying a sandstone roof on it. In week two the camp will be holding its annual Living History display for schools. Around 50 volunteer experts in period costume will demonstrate life in the English countryside in 1599. A variety of skills from dyeing to cooking, haymaking to charcoal burning will be shown. Volunteers may take part in this week and will be supplied with period costume and work with a small group of English experts at one of the activities or they can have a rest week and go travelling. Week three will be spent covering the roof with sandstone tiles.
Study Theme: Conservation
Accommodation: Volunteers will be living in tents, and cooking will be done on open fires.
Language: English speaking
Qualifications: Some people with carpentry experience would be very useful
Terminal Location: The camp is located at Grayhill Farm, Llanvair Discoed, Monmouthshire
Notes: The camp covers three weeks. Volunteers can stay for two or three weeks.
UK-IVS 9.5 World on Woolsey Musical Festival
25 June - 04 July
Word on Woosley (WoW) is a two day music festival of folk, blues, country and roots music. The camp will start with three empty fields and then create a wonderful community space for people to enjoy and celebate good music. The volunteers will work at Woolsey Bridge Fields and help make the festival happen, then help to take it apart. www.wow-arts.co.uk.
Study Theme: Culture
Accommodation: Volunteers will live in the community
Language: English speaking
Terminal Location: The camp lis located near to Diss and the city of Norwich, England
Notes: Volunteers would have access to nearby Diss and the amazing city of Norwich.
UK-IVS 6.6 Camphill Botton
16 July - 30 July
Botton Village is a landbased community belonging to the Camphill Movement; approximately 300 people live and work in the village and over one third are adults with special needs. About 60 of them (co-workers and special needs people) work full time on the land (about 350 hectares) and in the summer many extra hands are needed to get the work done on farms, gardens and forest. Since 1955 the land has been under biodynamic cultivation. Introductions will be given on biodynamic agriculture, Camphill Community living and other relevant subjects which might arise during your stay. We will encourage cultural and social integration with the village population.
Type of Work: The project's focus is on the harvesting of soft fruit, herbs and summer maintenance of those areas (weeding etc). Also there will be some light forestry work and other occurring seasonal land work activities. In case of very bad weather we will do some maintenance painting. The work activities will be planned with a lot of diversity. Most of the time you will work as a team but there will also be plenty of opportunities to mix in with the other co-workers and people with special needs.
Study Theme: Environmental
Accommodation: You will stay in simple group accommodation one one of our farms which offers cooking facilities, male and female sharted bedroos and a living room.
Language: English speaking
Terminal Location: The village is situated in a stunning natural environment which lies in the heart of the Yorkshire National Parks.
Notes: After the two weeks you will go home with a taste of community living and biodynamic agriculture. The location offers great opportunities for hiking.
UK-IVS 9.7 Cambfair
23 July - 09 August
Cambfair is a celebration of community. Learning, participating, performing, playing, helping and living together.
Type of Work: You will work as part of the site crew to help create the camp working as a team, then help to keep the camp going in between the workshops, dancing and having fun. At the end you will take the camp down leaving minimal impact upon the land. Detailed roles will be dependent upon skills, ability and desire.
Study Theme: Cultural
Accommodation: You will be staying in tents. Food will be provided with communal cooking. Everyone is expected to prepare and to cook at some point during their stay.
Language: English speaking
Terminal Location: The camp is located at Burston, Cambridge, England
Notes: If volunteers play musical instruments they should bring them along as there will be lots of opportunities to play with others. If volunteers have any skills they can pass on to others in a workshop environment this will be welcomed.
UK-IVS 6.8 Culdees Community
Country: Great Britain
20 August - 03 September
The project is a farm-based, aspiring eco-village overlooking beautiful Loch Tay in Scotland, with a small resident community seeking help from volunteers to further a number of projects. Visit our website: http://www.culdees-ecovillage.co.uk to see more of our intentions.
Type of Work: The work will be ranging from assisting with construction, farm land management, garden work and general maintenance, exact details to be confirmed. At this time of year we will likely be parrticularly busy with planing in the vegtable gardens. Work will be quite hands on, physical and you will be exptected to work 30 hours a week.
Study Theme: Environment
Accommodation: Accommodation will be in a dormitory or caravans.
Language: English speaking
Terminal Location: Culdees is located beside Loch Tay in Perthshire Scotland.
Notes: Requested that all volunteers arrive on the same date, not staggered. Volunteers need to be aware before hand that the work will be physical and hands on and physical.
UK-IVS 10.10 Tara Kadampa Meditation Centre, Derbyshire
22 August - 04 September
25 volunteers
Tara Kadampa Meditation Centre offers teachings on Buddhism and meditation.
Type of work: you would be helping to set up a festival for 400 people arriving from all over the UK. During your stay we would be able to offer you guided meditation sessions and explanation of the buddhist way of life. There are also many beautiful places near by to visit during your weekends off e.g. Peak District National Park, Ashbourne and Matlock Bath. Unfortunately we cannot take families but we do have availability for 5 disabled volunteers who are able to support themselves.
Qualifications: English speaking
UK-IVS 6.2 Leckmelm (Ullapool)
01 October - 15 October
The project is based on Leckmelm Farm, south of Ullapool, in a particularly beautiful part of NW Scotland. Leckmelm Farm aims to develop an organic market garden using permaculture design. The aim of the project is ecosystem enhancement.
Work: On an organic farm with some day-to-day tasks such as vegetation management, work with vegetables and animals. The project will focus on a community-led archaeological project with regard to the restoration of an historic stone and thatch house. Work will involve stone walling, clearance of stones, fencing and digging a drain.
Accommodation: In a holiday cottage, with bath, shower, and kitchen. Bedding is provided but a sleeping bag would be useful for a trip to the bothy.
Study: Permaculture design and ecosystem enhancement.