Celebrating Volunteers’ Week: The many ways you can make a difference at Camphill School Aberdeen

This Volunteers’ Week, we’re shining a spotlight on the incredible individuals who help make Camphill School Aberdeen such a special place. Whether it’s through rolling up their sleeves for a day with colleagues, spending a year living and working on our estate, lending their skills to help a local cause, or supporting us as a trustee, every volunteer brings something valuable to our community.

In the blog below, we share a closer look at the different ways people give their time, talents and energy to support our mission, and how you might get involved too!

Corporate volunteering – Teams that make a big impact

‍

Between April and November, we welcome teams from local businesses to roll-up their sleeves and get involved in hands-on projects across our beautiful estates. Whether it’s painting fences and sheds or revamping outdoor spaces and gardening, we’ll match the project to your group's skills and what is most needed to improve the environment for the young people.

Volunteering days help businesses build stronger teams and meet their ESG goals while contributing to something meaningful. We often hear how energised and inspired people feel after spending a day with us, and we’re always grateful for the fresh energy and enthusiasm they bring.

Gap year volunteering – A year of growth and learning

Every year, we welcome a cohort of young people from around the world to spend time living and working as volunteers on our estates. Many of these young people are university students studying for degrees in subjects such as social work and teaching.

They join Camphill School Aberdeen to learn new skills, put their learning into action, meet new like-minded people, and explore adifferent part of the world. Our gap year volunteers become part of daily life here, supporting students with learning disabilities and complex additionalsupport needs in our homes, classrooms and workshops.

‍

Mia, who was a gap year volunteer from 2019 to 2020, said: “I will cherish the time I spent here forever. I’ve learned so much about myself, what I want to do in life, about supporting people, and about living in a community.”

Local volunteering – Giving back, close to home

‍

Volunteering for a local charity, such as us here at Camphill School Aberdeen, is a rewarding way to contribute your time and skills to a worthwhile cause. We have a group of volunteers who support life at Camphill School Aberdeen on a regular basis. This includes caring for the animals on our estate and helping in our workshops, including weaving, gardening, and art. Even an hour or two a week can make a big difference in the lives of the young people we support.

Trustees – Future-proofing our work

Our trustees are also all assigned to the board on a voluntary basis. They play a crucial role in shaping our strategic future while ensuring sound governance, attending regular meetings to discuss the charity’s activity. Trustees bring their professional expertise to the board, from education to finance and law.

Becoming a trustee is a highly rewarding way to contribute to a cause close to your heart while shaping decisions that affect the lives of children and young people. It’s a strategic, impactful form of volunteering that helps ensure our school continues to thrive for generations to come.

Want to get involved?

Murtle Market, our sustainable social enterprise and takeaway café, is looking for volunteers to help out on Saturdays. Get in touch with volunteering@crss.org.uk to find out more.

Happy Volunteers’ Week!

‍