Volunteer Opportunities

Current Opportunities on Arran

Eco Savvy - Zero Waste Café

As part of their sustainable food work Arran Eco Savvy are running a Zero Waste Café.

They are looking for Volunteers to help with the running and set up of the cafés. The café runs between 11am till 1pm on alternate weeks between Shiskine and Lochranza on a Wednesday but it is asked that volunteers would be avaliable between 10:30am till 2pm.

For more information contact Jess on jess.ecosavvy@gmail.com

Woodside Farm

Woodside Farm is restarting their volunteer days. Volunteer sessions will run every Monday and Friday for 3 hours.

This is a great opportunity for anyone who has an interest in organic gardening, farming or just enjoys getting their hands dirty and being out in the fresh are. It's a great chance to meet and chat with new peoples.

For more information please contact Woodside Farm at dan@woodsidearran.com or give them a phone on 07376256055

COAST

COAST are looking for volunteers to help assist them in their busy Discovery Centre based in Lamlash which is open to the public between 10am till 4pm, 7 days a week.

Their volunteer rota is very flexible and they will do their best to accommodate to their volunteers and appreciate any time that people can gice to them.

For more information contact COAST on email@arrancoast.com or phone them on 01770 600656

Eco Savvy - Shop Staff

Eco Savvy are looking to fill a vacancy in their shop in Whiting Bay either in the front of house or behind the scenes. Shifts are 3 hours long between a Tuesday and Saturday or if you would like to volunteer for the full day. It is a very sociable place to work with lots of interesting donations to sort through.

No experience is needed as training and support will be provided. If this role sounds good to you please contact Eco Savvy on shopmanager.ecosavvy@gmail.com

Arran Coastguard

Have you got what it takes to join the Coastguard?

To search. To rescue. To save

For more information please contact David.Graham@mcga.gov.uk

Heather Lodge - Outdoor Volunteers

Heather Lodge aims to support and contribute to both mental and physical health as well as the social cohesion of our local community by offering a choice or largely outdoor individual and group activities at Heather Lodge.

They wish to use funding to initiate a sustainable volunteer development programme to seed trained volunteers across the island community and provide more broadly based on longer lasting benefits. they plan to encourage interested volunteers to get involved with the project, and will provide an additional training and development programme for them with their qualified freelance therapists. This would include weekly hands-on experience with groups and participants under the supervision of the qualified professional therapists. Training would include topics such as Health & Safety, First Aid at Work, Mental Health First Aid, Trauma-Informed Care, Brief Interventions and more.

Heather Lodge are also looking to provide paid training placement for young local islanders (16-24) to gain work experience and on the job training, with a view to facilitating their potential towards a career in healthcare.

For more information please contact Heather Lodge on info@heatherlodge.scot or phone on 01770 302827

Arran Visual Arts - Art in Mind

Art in Mind is an Arran community project that was set up in 2004, their aim is to introduce people with mental health and/or social isolation problems to Art, Creativity and Self-Expression, helping them gain in confidence and self worth.

The atmosphere is relaxed, friendly and supportive, and those who attend soon realise that it is a safe place, where you can discuss all the "stuff" that is going on in your head or in life, freely and without judgement. There can also be a really industrious atmosphere, not to mention frequent doses of laugher! Time can be spent in group activities or by doing your own thing.

"A safe place to come"

"A creative way of working out emotions"

"An opportunity to be somewhere, each week, that you know everyone understands your problems and you theirs, which means you can go even if you're not feeling well

A very important aspect of Art in Mind is often people fell ill, low, scared and very alone, but on making what can often be a real effort to come to the group, the atmosphere is such that you come away feeling you've achieved something that day, and maybe you're not so alone.

Art in Mind is also delighted to take part in the Arran Alive Project, where living artists were commissioned to create their own interpretation of one of the 20 sites on the Arts Heritage Trail. Their site was Glen Shuraig. The experience of all working towards a common goal, but individuals using their own interpretation of colour, design, medium and/or words, was an enjoyable challenge, all focusing on meeting a clear deadline. The end result can be seen in the Port Terminal building in Brodick until September.

Who knows why? - Art in Mind keeps going strong, and still has the capacity to help, some with a sense of belonging, friendship and purpose, some to move on and make difficult choices in their life and others to face a very different life altogether, all with a feeling of self-worth and belong capable of contributing to the community in which they live.