Volunteers

VOLUNTEERS

Working Weekends

(PLEASE VIEW THE BOTTOM OF THIS PAGE TO READ ABOUT WHAT WE GOT UP TO AT OUR LAST WORKING WEEKEND IN OCTOBER 2020).

2021 DATES

Provisional dates of 17th & 18th April 2021

4, 5, 6th June 2021

8, 9, 10th October 2021

We usually organise three Working Weekends a year - March, June and October. They start on a Friday evening from 17.00 and finish on a Sunday afternoon.

Our volunteers carry out essential work around the site including maintenance of the grounds and repairs. Volunteers are welcome to come for half a day, a full day or the entire weekend. You can see some of the work they undertake below, all of which is essential to the running and survival of The Mill.

There is transport available for those travelling from London and leaves from outside the main gate of the William Ellis School at 18.30 on the Friday. Volunteers preferring not to rendezvous at WES for a 18.30 prompt departure may elect to be picked up (and dropped back) from a pre-arranged train or tube station on route.

Please inform The Warden of the Mill if you wish to attend the weekend AND travel from London by the London transport, stating your preferred pick up point. It is also necessary to exchange contact mobile phone numbers with the drivers for updates on the evening of travel etc.

KIT LIST

Please bring old 'scruff' gear for working in and robust footwear - welly boots can be borrowed from the shed on site; a change of clothes for the evenings; sleeping wear, towel wash bag etc; a sleeping bag and a pillowcase. (A bottle or two of your favourite tipple would also be appreciated!)

ITINERARY FOR THE WEEKEND

On arrival at The Mill, volunteers are allocated their (bunk bedded) room for the weekend and await the London passengers whilst chatting, nibbling and sipping the odd glass of wine/beer etc. Around 21.00, a delicious 2 course supper is served, with wines, beers and coffee/tea to finish.

Saturday morning begins soon after 08.00 with a cooked English breakfast after which the list of jobs for the weekend is allocated. Mid morning and mid afternoon on Saturday and Sunday there is a refreshment break with plenty on offer to replace the calories already spent. Saturday and Sunday lunchtimes are equally enjoyable fuel stops. Probably Saturday evening's supper is the most eagerly awaited meal as it is a chance to unwind and hopefully chase away the twinges from the day's labour, with more medicinal compound. A Table Tennis Tournament is always on offer for those game before climbing the wooden hill for a restful night's sleep.

Sunday morning is a slightly later start - 08.30 - when a delicious continental breakfast awaits.

It is always hoped that the weather will be kind to us on these weekends as a lot of the chores are outside. There are always inside jobs on the list. Indeed no job or contribution is too small.

We look forward to seeing both familiar and unfamiliar faces again soon!

If you are interested in volunteering or would like to find out more please contact us

WWW October 9th to 11th 2020

Covid-restrictions

Saturday's volunteers included WES's recently retired headteacher, Sam White

Stan Carruthers clearing the Memorial Garden

This Autumn's Working Weekend was a huge success. Despite the best efforts of Covid-19, The Working Weekend went ahead so that individuals could attend on half days, whole days or both days of the 10th and 11th October.

Stan Carruthers clearing the Memorial Garden

Saturday's volunteers included WES's recently retired headteacher, Sam White

Stan Carruthers clearing the Memorial Garden

It was the first time that we were able to welcome children and teenagers to accompany an adult, the deal being that the children/teenagers were just as willing to join in with the work as the adults.

Saturday's volunteers included WES's recently retired headteacher, Sam White

In total, we had a whopping 30 volunteers on Day 1 and a further 20 volunteers on Day 2. Thankfully The Mill and it's grounds are large enough to accommodate for such a large number of people to work in groups of 6 at a social distance from one another.

A phenomenal amount of work accomplished

Saturday's volunteers included WES's recently retired headteacher, Sam White

- the ropes course had 2 x new platforms built
- a huge composting area was constructed
- a wooden hand-crafted cover for the electricity unit installed
- All brambles, stinging nettles and weeds cleared from around the pond, streams, pathways and driveways

...

A phenomenal amount of work accomplished

What next?

- vast numbers of 'Bug Hotels' were created

- a new hedge planted around the ropes course

- the picnic benches and walkways were cleaned with the jet wash

- The memorial garden was cleared of felled trees and debris

- enough wood was chopped to last us until about 2030!

What next?

A phenomenal amount of work accomplished

What next?

It was truly a wonderful weekend with so much achieved and so we would like to say a big Thank you to everyone who gave their time to be there. All we need now is for the Government to give the go-ahead and we will look forward to welcoming WES pupils back as soon as possible.