The core of our work at GalGael is about offering activities that help people regain a positive sense of both self and community. A strong band of dedicated volunteers are key to making these activities happen.

We need volunteers with a range of skills to take on roles in different parts of the organisation.

This page includes answers to some of the most common FAQs about volunteering at GalGael. If you need any more information please contact us.

Who typically volunteers for GalGael?

Our volunteers come from a wide variety of backgrounds including:

• Ex participants. Volunteering is often a good next step once you’ve completed the GalGael programme.
• Retired craftspeople. Keeping traditional skills alive is a big part of what GalGael is about. Many of our volunteers are people who have finished work and are keen to pass on the skills that they have learnt through their careers.
• Local supporters. Some of our volunteers are people who simply want to support the work that GalGael does.

How much of time commitment does volunteering at GalGael involve?

Depending on a particular volunteer’s skill set and availability we will schedule you in from as little as a half day per week to five full days per week. 

What sort of volunteer roles are there at GalGael?

There are two distinct types of volunteering roles at GalGael. The first type involves roles that we need to fill on a weekly rota basis. These roles are scheduled in and you’ll be expected to sign up to a shifts per week to help us plan.

Some typical weekly volunteer roles include:

• Bench Trainer: Support teaching at our benches in basic woodworking. You need good woodworking skills and even better people skills. 
• Receptionist: Welcome people and visitors, answer the phone, help with filing and office based tasks etc. Good communication skills are a bonus.
• Machine Shop Technician: Support smooth running of woodworking machines that are in our machine shop. We'd love to hear from you if you have the relevant technical skills.
• Store-person: Look after the safe storage and maintenance of key tools and equipment in the GalGael workshop. You'll be well organised.
• Kitchen Assistant: Ensure that there is a good healthy lunch for participants, volunteers and staff every day. Good awareness of hygiene, safe working and care for a range of dietary needs.
• Timber Hand: We need timber hands at varying times depending on the supply of timber in the round available. You'll be able to work in a safe way. Chopping and stacking firewood requires a decent level of physical strength.
• Gardener: We need gardeners to take care of our new garden facing Ibrox Terrace.
• Building Maintenance Assistant's help us with taking care of our workshop space and keep things ticking. 
• Boat Building: From time to time we need people with boat building skills. At the moment we don't have capacity to offer training in this area.
• Sailing: During the sailing season we need people with sailing and on water skills and experience. 

We hope you'll get lots out of volunteering with GalGael; have new experiences, meet new people and be part of something worthwhile. We’ll also do our best to make sure that you aren’t out of pocket. For example, we’ll cover travel expenses for key roles.

How to apply?

Fill out and submit Volunteer Form - either online or by downloading and printing this form. We’ll contact you to let you know if there are volunteer vacancies for the role and times you've expressed interest in.

If we can offer you a role, we'll arrange a visit to GalGael and discuss your involvement. If we can offer you a role, we will ask you to attend a Welcome Session with information to help you get started. For certain roles we may also seek references prior to starting. 

Sometimes we get applications from people who are only wanting to learn the skill associated with the role. Unfortunately we don't have much capacity to teach volunteers but please have a look at the other activities we offer instead.

Thanks for your interest - you might want to get a taste of working at GalGael by coming along to one of our open workshop nights on a Thursday.