📝 Detailed information
🏢 About the local organisation
You will be joining partners Dean Castle Country Park, Scottish Sport Futures and East Ayrshire Leisure. Dean Castle Country Park covers over 200 acres and is nestled in the heart of Kilmarnock. The Country Park includes a fantastic 14th century castle, housing world class collections including historic weapons, armour and musical instruments. You can explore the beautiful woodland walks, an adventure playground, urban farm, visitor centre, tearoom, shop using scenic paths and see some fantastic wildlife. Our partner East Ayrshire Leisure works closely with Dean Castle Country Park and provides sporting opportunities to the local Kilmarnock area. You will also be joining Scotland Sports Future a committed partner whose mission it is to Use the power of sport to inspire young people to make positive lifestyle choices. They have special events planned for the European Championships which you will help support.
💼 What the programme involves
At Dean Castle, you’ll be carrying out practical conservation work including footpath maintenance and invasive species management. This conservation work at Dean Castle Country Park and across their path network of East Ayrshire is helping improve access for outdoor activities
for the community. Additionally, with East Ayrshire Leisure you’ll be volunteering at the Ayrshire Athletics Arena, helping run coaching sessions and summer boot camps. We will be doing sports volunteering with partner Scottish Sport Futures when the European Championships comes to Glasgow this August. You will be involved showcasing the incredible opportunities there are for people of all ages and abilities to get active or try a new sport. This will involve a variety of sporting events run at the iconic Glasgow Green!
🏠 Accommodation on site
The volunteers will be housed at a new residential centre in the country park just along the main drive for the castle. There will be four to a room in bunk beds. There is sufficient space that men and women can sleep in different rooms. There is a kitchen with cooking equipment available for the volunteers to use at the centre as well as a recreational space. There is no need to bring a sleeping bag.
📍 About the location
Dean Castle Country Park is in Kilmarnock, East Ayrshire and featured as one of the filming locations for the famous Outlander series.There are plenty of tourist attractions within easy reach of Kilmarnock including Loch Lomond, Isle of Arran, Glasgow, Edinburgh or beautiful beaches of Troon and Ayr. There are local pubs and cafes nearby. There is also a cinema in Kilmarnock.
⚠️ Requirements
The volunteers will need outdoor clothing that can get muddy, sturdy boots and waterproofs. All volunteers should be over 18, and will need to provide a criminal records check for working with children, and two references. And bring lots of enthusiasm for the project :)
ℹ️ Additional information
This project is reserved for NOMADs volunteers that are part of the NOMADs: European Youth for Inclusive Sport Erasmus+ project, coordinated by Lunaria and involving EstYes, Concordia France, COCAT and Citizens in Action as project partners. The XS02 workcamp is reserved for volunteers from these partners, but will be open up to other volunteers if there are free spaces later in the season. Please note that non-NOMADs volunteers will be required to pay an additional hosting fee of £70/volunteer.