Maintenance Volunteer

Maintenance Volunteer

Volunteer with CAT’s Maintenance Team and gain skills as you help care for CAT’s unique site, our green buildings, and our sustainable energy systems.

What will you be doing?

As a Maintenance Volunteer, you will help to maintain and improve CAT’s unique site. Built on the site of a disused Welsh quarry by a group of inspired volunteers, CAT’s site has a rich and fascinating past. For more than 50 years, CAT has been a place of experimentation, inspiration and learning, where sustainability is embedded into the buildings and landscape.

As a Maintenance Volunteer, you will join the Estates team in caring for and making improvements to the buildings, pathways and infrastructure that are used by staff, students and visitors.

This is a practical role, so previous experience and confidence using a variety of general-purpose tools is desirable. Training and direction will be provided within the Estates Team but a volunteer in this role will need to be proactive and be able to work as part of a volunteer team with minimal staff supervision. This is a perfect role for someone looking to gain practical experience and to build confidence as part of a busy team.

Key elements of the role:

• Open to long term residential volunteers only.
• Support the Estates team with maintenance and repair jobs around site in all weathers. These could include repairs to buildings, routine maintenance such as gutter clearance, monitoring CAT’s off-grid systems and general DIY tasks – Tasks will be uncomplicated and training will be provided.
• Work independently and part of a team on practical tasks.
• Preparation and clear down for practical short courses, Graduate School workshops and events.
• Organise and maintain tools and materials for use across site.
• Support CAT’s Estates team to care for CAT’s unique site.

We’re looking for people who:

• Would like to gain experience working as part of a practical maintenance team.
• Enjoy volunteering and working alongside others
• Have some practical experience and confidence using a variety of general-purpose tools and maintenance processes.
• Are comfortable living as part of a community
• Are proactive, keen to learn and self-motivated
• Are friendly, respectful and trustworthy
• Are reliable and enthusiastic about making a difference
• Have knowledge, interest or a willingness to learn about sustainability and CAT’s work

What does CAT provide?

• Initial and ongoing training as required
• Support and direction from a gardening supervisor
• An environment in which to develop new and existing skills
• The opportunity to meet new people
• Free on-site accommodation
• Free breakfast, lunch and dinner
• Free CAT membership for a year
• 40% off most products in our café and shop
• 40% off CAT short courses
• A certificate for your contribution to CAT

Who are we looking for?

We’re looking for people who:

• have experience or are comfortable working outdoors (whatever the weather)
• enjoy living and volunteering with others
• are enthusiastic and keen to get stuck in
• are friendly and respectful of others
• are reliable and dependable
• will follow their supervisor’s instructions and CAT’s policies
• have knowledge, interest or a willingness to learn about sustainability and CAT’s work.

You will need the following up to date vaccinations and boosters:

• Diphtheria
• Polio
• Tetanus
• Hepatitis A

If you can’t or don’t wish to get any of these, you will be required to sign a disclaimer.