Volunteer

If you’re looking for an enriching experience, why not consider spending a year overseas as a co-worker supporting, educating and caring for children with learning difficulties and challenging needs?

Ochil Tower is a Camphill Community school where we live and work together to support and develop children with a variety of disabilities. We live together in five houses and aim to share all aspects of home life as a community. It’s our aim to give the best quality care and education to the students entrusted to us.

Our community consists of our students – both children and young people - long-term co-workers, retired former co-workers, employed staff and around 14 young people who join us each year to take a break in their studies or to help prepare for a future career in teaching or social care. This creates a busy and vibrant community. Visitors are struck by the warmth, enthusiasm, commitment and friendship they experience here. The work can be challenging and requires compassion, commitment and a sense of humour, but the rewards are immeasurable.

The school is in the centre of a small town, but is surrounded by seven acres of land with gardens, lawn and woodlands which give it a rural feel. We currently have 3-4 classes in which the young people are grouped according to their individual needs rather than age. Across the curriculum there's a strong emphasis on crafts, music, drama and practical skills, and we make full use of the school grounds and our location to maximise opportunities for learning.

Volunteers have time off each week to relax, explore the local surroundings and visit the nearby cities of Glasgow, Edinburgh, Stirling or Perth.

To read more about volunteering please read Maddie's story.

If you would like to find out more about volunteering, please click here to use our online application form.