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 in joining our resident community 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 require good all-rounders
to help in all areas, especially those that suit your skill set and interests. We are especially interested in resident volunteers who have an aspiration to help grow and sustain Gomde and all its activities including the resident community itself.

Opportunities in the resident community are limited and change due to season and the staff. Please click here to see our current vacancies. If you feel you have something to offer please do get in touch in the first instance by completing this short form.

We are keen for residential volunteers to offer a commitment of at least 2 months and longer term placements are welcome.

Resident volunteers usually help five days per week, 6–7 hours per day in an agreed range of activities. Your volunteer work would be arranged according to your interests, skills and Gomde’s needs. All resident volunteers are invited to join the community in our twice daily Buddhist group practices, use the library and meditation hall and explore the beauty and seclusion of the estate.

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.

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.