Frequently asked questions

There is no cost for volunteering with us at Camphill Blair Drummond however there are costs involved with the visa application process and Health Surcharge. Volunteers are also responsible for covering the cost of travel to and from Scotland.

We appreciate that these costs are not small and will make every effort to balance these costs by offering a wide range of activities and experiences outside and inside of your core volunteering hours. We also offer accommodation and board free of charge for the entirety of your stay with us.

You will be allocated to one of our seven houses that are located across the estate and gardens of Camphill Blair Drummond. Every house is home to around seven residents, and each is unique and wonderful in its own way. Over the year, you will become a part of the family of your house. You will help provide personal support and friendship to the residents throughout their day. Meals are taken together, and everybody participates in household activities depending on their ability. During the evenings, there are usually social activities to be involved with.

Monday to Friday is structured, with a daily morning gathering in the castle library, where the whole community comes together to prepare for the day. There is usually a song, seasonal poems and community announcements. You will then join with our residents and day students in a range of tailored activities, including the bakery estate & gardens, choir, arts and a broad range of studio-based craft activities.

The weekends are more relaxed. You’ll be involved in a number of different activities, depending on what the residents in your house want to do. The houses participate in a lot of social and leisure activities across Central Scotland, but there’s a lot to do in the community itself, especially when the weather is good, just hanging out on the beautiful grounds with a barbeque or picnic is enjoyed by many.

We ask you to commit to joining us for a period of around one year. This will give you time to settle into the way of life here, become confident in yourself and your abilities and establish meaningful friendships. It also gives our residents the sense of security and stability they need from seeing familiar people every day.

However we are open to volunteers who want to stay for a shorter period of time. Let us know at the interview and we can discuss!

The skills we are looking for in our volunteers are all about personality and a desire to make a positive impact on the lives of others.

You should be reliable and dependable, have a genuine interest in people and a caring nature. In addition to these we’re looking for individuals that demonstrate tolerance, patience, sensitivity, and above all else, a great sense of humour and fun! These qualities are more important than any specific skills and experiences you may have.

Your bedroom will be in the castle, either in the top floor or in our volunteer house – Amber House. Many rooms have beautiful views looking down over the surrounding countryside and safari park. Because it is a castle, the rooms tend to be generous in size. Most of the rooms are shared rooms with one other volunteer, we do however have limited single rooms. You will be provided with new bedding, towels, and coffee and tea-making facilities.

All your food and meals will be provided in the houses, we cater to all dietary requirements and will ask you for these prior to your arrival. There is ample opportunity for you to develop your cooking and baking skills - the house meals are cooked in the house kitchen by residents, volunteers and employees. On the days when you are not volunteering, you have the choice of joining the house to eat or you can use the kitchen in the volunteer house to cook something for yourself. We will stock the kitchen with basics such as pastas, rice and herbs and spices.

You need to be 18-30 years old to volunteer with us.

We’ll help you with all the practical things you need to do when you arrive at Camphill Blair Drummond, such as opening a bank account, registering with a doctor, and applying for a YoungScot card, which offers you a discount on transport, cinema tickets, shops and restaurants.

You will have a dedicated Volunteer Team, who will look after you throughout your stay. This will include reflections and teambuilding days with the other volunteers.

Each house also has an allocated house volunteer mentor who can support you with any concerns or issues. You will also have the support of all employees across the community.

If you are coming from overseas, you need to apply for a ‘Temporary Worker – Charity Worker Visa’.

This currently costs £298.

We issue your Certificate of Sponsorship that you need to apply for your visa. We will support and guide you through the application process.

As part of your visa application, you will need to pay an ‘Immigration Health Surcharge’ of £1,035.

This will enable you free access to the National Health System in the UK through the local Health Centre throughout your stay, although you’ll still need to pay for certain types of services like dental treatment and eye tests.

Yes. If you are arriving by plane, a friendly member of the community and sometimes residents and day students will be there to meet you off your flight at the airport. If you are arriving by train, we will meet you at Stirling railway station.

We ask that you have an understanding of written and spoken English.

Living at Camphill Blair Drummond is an excellent way to improve your English. We may be able to offer extra help with English, if required.

We will provide you with a full induction and orientation on arrival, and regular training and team-building sessions throughout your stay.

The first while might seem overwhelming. You will meet so many people and get to know so many new things. Keep in mind, it takes time to settle in. If you need help with anything or someone to talk to, there is always someone here for you.

You will leave with a certificate of all the training you have undertaken and personalised feedback on your time here.

You will have the opportunity to explore Scotland or further afield on your non-volunteering days. You will also have 26 days of time-off to travel wherever you choose in the UK or Europe.

We have a range of camping equipment, bikes, and a couple of volunteer cars that you can use to explore the country. We are also on hand for any tips and tricks of where to go and what to see.

Applications usually open in September for the following year. We offer multiple start dates throughout the year, typically in January and August/September. In certain circumstances, we can accommodate different start dates upon request.

Contact us by email at [email protected].