Short-term (2 to 4 weeks) "environmental" projects in United Kingdom

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 2012 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.

Volunteers participating in this workcamp are expected to pay a participation fee of £20 (GBP) which will be used in a fund to support the creation of new workcamps in the UK.

Started in 1985, Taraloka is a Women Buddhist Community and Retreat Centre of the Triratna Buddhist Community set on the Welsh-Shropshire border. It was a run-down farm that has been gradually renovated, rebuilt and adapted over the years with the help of many different women with many different skills. The importance of providing a context for women in which the practice of meditation and Buddhism could be developed and deepened was a strong motivating factor for everyone. The name Taraloka means Realm of Tara. Tara is an archetypal female figure representing the Enlightened qualities of Compassionate Action.
Twenty-six years on and the aim of Taraloka is the same. Women go there and explore what meditation can bring into their life; learn something about the relevance of Buddhist teaching to contemporary life; and experience themselves in a different setting to usual. In 2006 Taraloka was named Retreat Centre of the Year by The Good Retreat Guide. They were very pleased about that and were even more pleased that it has happened again in 2008!

Taraloka hopes to give the volunteers the opportunity to experience living as a community and learning what co-operation really means. Women in Taraloka live and work as a specifically Buddhist community and are willing to share what it can look and feel like when living and working from ones deepest values.
They will offer the opportunity to learn new practical skills, develop life skills and build confidence through both. They will teach two fantastic meditation practices (which do not make anyone a Buddhist) but which can positively change your life. There will be the opportunity to learn more about Buddhism including ethics, ritual, study, question and answer and personal talks. Again, by attending any of this you are not making yourself Buddhist!
We hope that the volunteers will have fun mixing working on the land, with learning to cook tasty and nutritious vegan food for everyone, dance, drumming, Tai Chi, wood and fire management, basic car maintenance and ritual. An eclectic mix!

The practical work projects we are hoping to do are mainly clearing an overgrown wooded area to prepare for planting a coppice wood and creating walkways suitable for women with disabilities. There will also be some cooking days where you will be able to learn about vegan and vegetarian nutrition and cook together for those working outside.

Taraloka always recommend that their retreatants going there contact their friends and family by writing letters to them rather than by phone or Skype (of course you can let them know you have arrived and again just as you are leaving). This is because the experience can be so rich and personal that it can be quite jarring to try and communicate with loved ones at the same time as being on retreat. They are often missing you greatly and wanting to talk about what is going on at home for them and sometimes it can be difficult for them to hear about your life. Or you may hear news (good or not so good) that will draw your energy away from the retreat and make it difficult for you to remain engaged, in the present and positive while working. We would ask that if you do need to make contact that you speak to one of the team before and after so that we can be there to support you. This is an opportunity to make new friends, learn new skills and really have some fun without them!!

The retreat centre is mostly level and all communal areas are on the ground floor, with some walk in showers and toilets. Rooms are shared with up to 4 people in a room. No sleeping bed needed.

Last year Taraloka successfully moved to a fully vegan menu plan. They provide three well-balanced, nutritious and deliciously tasty vegan meals per day. Organic cows milk is also available. You will have the chance to learn how to cook this wonderful vegan food while you are there. Please note the retreat centre is totally vegetarian, please do not take any meat/fish with you.

No alcohol or drugs on site please.

Close to Whitchurch, Shrewsbury (Shropshire), East England near the border with Wales.

Whitchurch (Salop) train station or East Midlands, Birmingham or Manchester airports.

This is a women only workcamp. Please add a motivation letter to your application form explaining the reason for your interest in applying for this specific project.