Mid-term (1 to 6 months) "environmental" project in United Kingdom

VAP is looking for one Medium Term Volunteer (MTV) with experience on workcamps (as a participant and or leader) to coordinate two consecutive 2 weeks projects at the Clow Beck Eco Centre in North Yorkshire.
VAP will provide an on arrival training and pay the travel costs from London to the project. It is possible that VAP also provides a co-leader to one or both of the projects.

Clervaux Trust works with young people who are experiencing difficulties with their educational experience through a practical skills curriculum on the land and using craftwork. We have a 100 acre site and plan to develop a biodynamic farm with market garden and animals. Much of the development work is in the very early stages and help with building it all up would be very gratefully received. The trust also opened a bakery and cafe in Darlington centre which is supplied by food and produce from Clow Beck Eco Centre. We aim to make the people of Darlington as healthy as possible with access to great organic and biodynamic food, as well as giving young people an understanding of life cycles and processes. Clow Beck Eco Centre has a mix of fields, woodlands, rivers, and boggy areas in a lovely part of North Yorkshire. There may well be other courses running over the summer as well so things could either be quite active at times and sleepy at other moments.

Volunteers will work on woodland management, path clearance, fencing, gardening, landscaping, path laying, looking after the animals, painting, building and catering. There is plenty to do. It will be quite physical and you could pick up some new skills or hone old ones.

In 2011 there will be a single discussion theme to which all VAP activists are invited to participate and share. The subject is the United Nations Millennium Development Goals which were signed up to by almost every state on Earth in the year 2000.

There are eight areas targeted for action by the world community and these are the eradication of poverty and hunger, the achievement of universal primary education, equality for women, reduced child mortality, improved maternal health, effective treatment of diseases, environmental sustainability and finally, the development of a global partnership for development. These targets were to be achieved in 15 years.

With five years to go what progress has been achieved? Is there anything we can do to promote these positive ambitions?

All incoming volunteers to VAPs British projects will be asked to find out about what each of their countries is doing to fulfill the promises in the goals and this information will be shared with the others and we hope it can lead to some wider discussion and activities.

There is plenty of space for those who like to camp. Alternatively there are classrooms where volunteers can sleep indoors if they prefer. There is a shower and compost toilet block and large kitchen and dining area. Volunteers will be sharing this during the day with whoever is on site but will have it only to themselves in the evening.

Clow Beck Eco Centre is 6,5 km from Darlington and 9,5 km from Scotch Corner. It is right by the River Tees on the border of North Yorkshire and Country Durham. If you look at multimap the post code is DL2 2TF.

Darlington is the closest train and bus station. Durham Tees Valley, Newcastle and Doncaster are the nearest airports if you unfortunately prefer to fly.

If you are interested to apply please ask your sending organisation to contact VAP so that we provide you with our MLTV application form.