Like to Join in as a Volunteer?

Volunteer Saturdays
The first Saturday of every month is volunteer Saturday. Everybody is welcome to come along to join in with the activities. The day starts about 10am and finishes about 4pm or whenever you are ready to go home. All tools and safety equipment are provided. Please bring a packed lunch and a drink, and either sunscreen and hats or waterproofs and jumpers depending on the weather at the time. Past activities have included: charcoal burning, tree planting, construction of green buildings and gardening. Come along, join in and enjoy working on a permaculture garden in a environmentally friendly atmosphere!

Volunteering for Fun
We also have many volunteers who come regularly to Offshoots: they give as much time as they wish, from one afternoon a week to everyday. If you are interested in gardening, renewable energy, composting or any of the other projects and would like to give some of your time, skills and enthusiam, please contact us and we can make the arrangements.

VPA scheme for Graduate Work Experience
Groundwork has the VPA (volunteer project assistant) scheme for graduates who are looking for work experience in the environmental sector. The scheme involves volunteering for six months in an area that interests you, thus allowing you to gain the relevant experience to find a job. There is a variety of placements thoroughout the north-west of England, and you may even end up at Offshoots!

Please contact Hazel Egan at Groundwork Oldham and Rochdale for more information:
phone: 0161 624 1444, fax: 0161 624 1555, email: hazel.egan@groundwork.org.uk

Volunteer Profile

Name: Katie Stevens     Age: 23

Why Volunteer?
I volunteered at Offshoots through the VPA scheme organized by Groundwork Oldham and Rochdale in order to help graduates like me to gain experience to get a full-time paid job.

Why Offshoots?
I have been here for six months and in that time I have gained all sorts of experience from planting trees to bee keeping to making compost. This project is involved in so many things that there is something here for everybody.

What did you graduate in?
My degree is in Ecology and Conservation. I studied at Manchester Metropolitan University and graduated in June 2005.

Favourite Moments?
Going into the bee hives for the first time was very exciting. Also, working with everybody on site, who have all been brilliant.

Worst Moments?
Trying to plant trees in the snow in March - it was so cold! And digging out the Rocket compost machines when they got clogged up - I smelt terrible for days afterwards!

The Future?
The VPA scheme seems to have worked as I have just got my first full-time paid job, with two weeks left to go on my six-month placement.