Monthly Archives: October 2014

Volunteering Stories

Back to Work with the Farm

Liz’s Story

Liz is a volunteer at the farm and she recently got a cleaning job.

Liz said ‘Coming to the farm has kept me busy and made me more employable.
I still want to get a job in animal care but this job will keep me going and I’ll still pop in from time to time to volunteer. I told my new employer about my volunteering work that I am sure helped me get my job.’

Liz

April’s Story

April has volunteered at the farm for over 4 years whilst still at school. She has just got a Saturday job working in a bakery.  However, she will also carry on doing her work experience on a Tuesday at the farm while she continues with her college course.

April said ‘Working on the farm has helped improve my working experience, dealing with members of the public and communication skills working with a variety of different people. I feel confident in myself thanks in part to the farm and the opportunities and skills that I have learnt. I will continue to use the farm as a reference when applying for work in the future.’

Farm Hands Saturday 18th October

Quote from the Farm Hands themselves today ‘Wonderful day working with our new Farm Hand’. Over the past couple of weeks the 2 groups of Farm Hands have taken part in everything from goat walking to garlic planting. Lots of hard work and muddy boots all round.

 

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Volunteering Stories

Back to Work with the Farm

Mark’s Story

It was June and I had just moved from London to Bristol to get away from the non-stop city life. I soon started looking for work but didn’t seem to have to much luck, the Job Centre had 1000s of jobs online but no one wanted to talk to me or even reply to my applications. As time went on, I walked my dog Lola each day passing Lawrence Weston Community Farm.

Volunteer would ring in my mind each time I passed, so after a few weeks I did just that. They made me feel welcome and put some hope and meaning back in to my life.

I found It wasn’t just a farm it was a place to meet others from all walks of life doing great work. I would feed the animals, striming grass, help others with tasks – it gave you a real sense of purpose.

After a fairly short space of time my mood and optimism started to grow even though nothing really came of my efforts on the work front I felt OK

A few months passed and I was having a cup of tea with others in the rest area for the volunteers at the farm, when for some reason, I still do not know why to this day, I asked Ann who was a care worker for some one I often paired up with to collect chicken and ducks eggs amongst other things, if she knew of anything going doing the sort of work she was doing?

She told me “I am leaving this job in two weeks would you like me to recommend you?” “yes” I said and within a short space of time I had started a new and rewarding job.

Thanks to my time and the wonderful people at the farm this all became possible.

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Cafe Build 4

The building of the cafe has come on in leaps and bounds over the last month.

First the external walls were erected.

Then construction of the internal structures started.

Now the scaffolding has arrived in preparation for building the roof.

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The pigs however, remain unimpressed.

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