FAQ

The following are a list of frequently asked questions, please read them carefully before going onto the application form.

My Questions Answered:

1. Why Join Camphill?
2. What About My English?
3. What Will I be Expected To Do?
4. What About Support and Training?
5. What Kind of Time Off and Social Life is there?
6. Are Co Workers expected to Live in the Community?
7. Do I Have to be a Practising Christian to work in Camphill?
8. Is it Possible to Work for only a Short Time in Camphill?
9. Will I be Paid?
10. What about Holidays?
11. Will my Travel Costs be Met?
12. Do I need a Visa?
13. When should I Arrive?
14. How do I Apply?

Why Join Camphill?

Camphill has a long tradition of welcoming people from all over the world who wish to spend six months to one-year as volunteers in our communities. For some this will be a short-term, life-enriching experience; for others it may be a step into a longer-term commitment to this work and life.

You may be considering a gap year, a Freiwilliges Soziales Jahr im Ausland, your Zivildienst, a career break and wish to get involved in the lives of our amazing children and adolescents.  You may be looking for an opportunity during a gap year following your period of professional training but before you embark on your career path; or you may be looking for a new direction, task and life-style later on in life. If so, then volunteering as a co-worker could be for you.

What About My English?

Most of our pupils have communication difficulties and we, as co-workers, must be able to speak a reasonable amount of English to be able to help and communicate with our pupils. Many of their frustrations can be understood and resolved if the pupils can be helped to express themselves.

There can arise considerable difficulties if the co-worker is not able to converse freely in English. It is therefore important that those who do come to Camphill have an adequate command of the English language.

Co-workers wishing to apply for the BA in Social Pedagogy must have a valid IELTS Academic Certificate (level 6 pass mark) or equivalent.

What Will I be Expected To Do?

After an initial induction, you would be asked to provide support in a variety of forms. In our school you will usually be involved in classroom, a workshop and in a house. You will help some pupils with their personal hygiene and care who are unable to do so on their own. You may sometimes be asked to cook, clean, work in the garden as part of your contribution to the life of the community.

What About Support and Training?

Support and training is an essential part of being a Camphill co-worker. New volunteers take part in the Induction Programme as well as a Foundation Course. Our community is working within a framework of Government welfare regulations. This brings with it a high degree of accountability and responsibility for all involved. The Induction Programme ensure that all new volunteers and co-workers acquire the necessary awareness and skills and can meet these obligations.

The Foundation Course offers theoretical and practical insights into the spiritual, psychological, social and therapeutic dimensions of our work, and their foundation in Rudolf Steiner’s insights of human development. Both Induction and Foundation Courses complement the practical experience gained through taking part in the daily life of the community.

Volunteers who wish to and are able to stay beyond a year have the opportunity to study towards a Certificate, Diploma or BA degree in Social Pedagogy. Acceptance to the study programme is subject to the University of Aberdeen admission criteria.

On a daily basis you will always be able to turn to more experienced co-workers for advice and help. You will also have regular support talks with a senior co-worker from your house community.

What Kind of Time Off and Social Life is there?

You will have one full day each week in which you are free to follow your own interests.

Evenings (after 9pm) are also free except when you are on a housekeeping duty or taking part in a house community meeting (Wednesdays). During holiday breaks you will have a more flexible timetable.

Alcohol

The drinking of alcohol in the community itself is strongly discouraged and you must never be under the influence of alcohol when working. Only those drugs, which have been prescribed for your use by your doctor, are permitted. Smoking is usually not permitted in houses and when you are working.

Are Co Workers expected to Live in the Community?

Yes. You will be given a room of your own, have your meals as a member of the household and be supplied with the basic necessities for living. Everyone in the household shares the same facilities and daily life.

As a volunteer you will also take part in the weekly meetings held in each house to discuss aspects of work and life. Your sharing in these meetings is considered an important part of your life in Camphill.

Do I Have to be a Practising Christian to work in Camphill?

No. However, life in Camphill is lived according to Christian principles and the Christian festivals are celebrated. There are regular services of worship. It is hoped that those of different persuasions will respect this aspect of Camphill life.

Is it Possible to Work for only a Short Time in Camphill?

We would like you to commit yourself to stay with us for 12 month, a 6 month stay is possible but preferences will be given to those who come for 12 month. It is not possible to work only during holidays.

Will I be Paid?

You will receive free accommodation, food and an allowance that will cover reasonable expenses while working at the School.

New co-workers receive a personal allowance of £160 per month, reviewed periodically. This will cover your personal expenses, clothing, postage, stationery, long-distance telephone calls, holidays, etc. You will receive free accommodation and food as well as all basic toiletries and bedding provided by the house.

After one school year (4 terms) in Camphill you will receive a sum, which equals one month’s allowance, as a contribution to your holiday expenses. Any other holiday expenses will have to be met by you. If you stay for a shorter period of time the holiday contribution will be proportionally less.

What about Holidays?

Generally all co-workers have 6 weeks off per year, a period that is spread over the pupils’ school holidays, e.g:

•  3 weeks in summer (can only be taken after completion of a whole year)
•  1 week in October
•  1 week at Easter
•  1 week at Christmas

Exceptions are sometimes made on an individual basis after discussion with your house co-ordinators and your house community.

Please note that those volunteers placed in St Andrew’s Project or Cairnlee will have different entry and holiday dates from the rest of the School.

Will my Travel Costs be Met?

If you stay for the agreed length of time, Camphill School Aberdeen will refund you the cost of travelling home. If you stay for a shorter period you will be expected to cover all travel costs yourself.

Journeys Home - European Countries

We pay your journey home after a stay of a complete school year (4 terms) with us, unless it is differently arranged in writing before your arrival. If you decide to leave earlier, you are expected to fund your journey home yourself.

Journeys Home - Non-EU Countries

If you come for one year (4 terms) we contribute to your home journey with an amount which is the equivalent of a journey to a European destination with the cheapest reasonable fare. Requests need to be made to the Finance Committee, which will determine the amount. If you decide to leave earlier than the agreed period you are expected to fund your journey yourself. If you come to stay for the three-year BA Programme in Curative Education (link), we will pay your return ticket at the end of the 3rd year.

Do I need a Visa?

If you come from a country which is not a member of the European Economic Area (EEA) you will need a visa and will be required to come with a valid return ticket or enough money to pay for your return journey home.

If you are a citizen of a country outside the European Economic Area (EEA) you will need UK Entry clearance. For Visa nationals this means applying for a visa for 'Voluntary work' issued by the British Embassy or High Commission in your country. Valid visas must be obtained before travelling to the UK. Communities will not accept anyone arriving with a visitor’s visa. Please enquire with the British Embassy in your country about any UK Entry clearance requirements and how to apply. Once a community has accepted you, the contact person will send you an official letter of invitation and further details that should help you with your application for Entry clearance.

UK Immigration officers exercise a great deal of discretion, and granting Entry clearance is by no means automatic. For non-EEA citizens Entry clearance for voluntary work is limited to a maximum of 12 months. Extensions of a stay beyond 12 months is not possible.

For those who will be accepted for the BA course our School offers trainee arrangements.

When should I Arrive?

The Schools close for holidays at the end of each term, therefore, you are expected to arrive here only a day or two before the beginning of the Induction course (please refer to our Term Dates).

We occasionally may have a vacancy in the middle of a term. For further information on this, please make direct contact.

How do I Apply?

After you have read all of the information in the first steps section you should then follow the application path link below and choose whether you use a downloadable form or request an application pack.

Next steps...

We hope that the previous pages have answered at least some of your questions about the life and work at the Camphill School Aberdeen. If you're anything like as curious as we are there'll still be a whole host of questions to be answered. In the meantime...


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