Volunteering

Making a difference

We have lots of different ways in which you can make a difference to Gomde UK, from offering just a few hours a week to becoming part of the resident community.

We look forward to hearing from you!

We are seeking:

* People with kind hearts and enthusiasm.
* People who want to help and are available to help.
* Those who have skills to share, and those who wish to learn new skills.
* Those with an aspiration that life can be lived in a different, more meaningful way.
* You may be inspired by the message of Buddhism which is to promote and practise kindness but you don’t have to be a Buddhist!

Areas where we currently need more volunteers

– Gardens: taking care of the estate, formal and vegetable gardens.
– Land and Conservation: Helping take care of the 180 acre estate — woodland, grasslands and peatlands
– Cooking: Helping prepare meals for our residents and visitors
– Hospitality: Keeping Gomde spick and span to host our visitors and events
– Maintenance: Vehicles, garden and land machinery, painting & decorating, plumbing, and DIY
– Building: Small and big projects all building skills required!
– Events team: Organising and preparing for retreats and seminars.
– Shop: Our shop has a great selection of dharma items, books and practical items.
– Administration: Computer-based office tasks to support all our activities.
– Dharma: All the tasks that help us provide Buddhist teaching and practice.

Day volunteers

Day volunteers usually live fairly locally to Gomde so they stay off-site and come in for a few hours, day(s) and sometimes daily to offer their time. Some day volunteers offer a few hours a week on a regular day. Many come once a week to support a particular area of our work.

As much as possible, we aim to fit around your availability. Every day our resident cook and volunteer kitchen team provide a hearty lunch, often using ingredients grown by volunteers in our own gardens. All volunteers are invited for lunch. This is a sociable time for the community to come together and a way to appreciate our volunteers.

Volunteering from home

Having the opportunity and circumstances to ‘take time out’ and physically be at Gomde is not always possible. However, it is possible to volunteer from a distance. We currently have a number of people who offer both major and ad hoc support to Gomde at a distance.

We currently have help with media and marketing, bookkeeping, administration, transcribing teachings, event management and preparation, fundraising and the shop. There are lots of ways you can support us remotely. If you have a skill that you would like to share and develop we would be delighted to hear from you.

If you are interested volunteering your time please contact info@gomde.uk Tell us a little about yourself and why you would like to volunteer for Gomde.

Resident Volunteers

Gomde is run in the main, by volunteers and the resident community is an important part of the Gomde, the engine that keeps things running! We are seeking enthusiastic, adaptable individuals who are willing to lend a hand wherever needed. While we strive to match tasks with your skills and interests, we also value flexibility, as Gomde’s needs can vary. We are particularly interested in resident volunteers who are committed to helping grow and sustain Gomde and its activities, including the resident community itself.

Opportunities within the resident community are limited and may change depending on the season and staff availability. If you feel you have something to offer, please reach out by completing this short form below.

We are currently looking for a cook to join our residential community.

We prefer resident volunteers to commit to a minimum stay of three months, though longer-term placements are warmly welcomed. Volunteers typically contribute 6–7 hours per day, five days a week, in agreed-upon areas of work that align with both your abilities and Gomde’s current needs.

All resident volunteers are invited to join the community for our twice-daily Buddhist group practices, access the library and meditation hall, and enjoy the beauty and seclusion of the estate.

If you are interested in joining our resident community please download and complete the application form. Please email the form to info@gomde.uk when completed.

Access and download the form here

Practitioner volunteer

If you are a Buddhist practitioner and/or wish to learn more about Buddhism, you could spend part of your time at Gomde focusing on your Dharma practise, and part of your time on volunteering. People who wish to deepen their practice in a supportive environment whilst also wanting to help are warmly welcomed. You would pay a non-commercial rate for your stay and offer agreed periods of service in an area that would suit you.

If you are interested in joining our resident community please contact info@gomde.uk Tell us a little about yourself and why you would like to be a resident volunteer at Gomde.