More Than Volunteering: A Year as a Co-worker at Sturts Community Trust

What if you spent a year living differently?

Each year, Sturts Community Trust welcomes a small number of volunteer co-workers from the UK and around the world to join our community. While many arrive looking for a meaningful experience, practical skills or a new direction in life, most leave with something much deeper: lifelong friendships, greater confidence, a stronger connection to nature and a new perspective on what community can be.

What Is a Volunteer Co-worker?

A volunteer co-worker is someone who chooses to spend six to twelve months living, working and sharing everyday life at Sturts Community Trust.

Co-workers are not simply volunteers who arrive for a few hours each week. They become part of the community, sharing meals, celebrations, work and experiences alongside the people we support. They contribute to daily life whilst becoming part of a culture built on inclusion, respect and belonging.

This life-sharing approach creates opportunities for genuine relationships to form and for everyone to learn from one another.

Living and Sharing Community Life

One of the most unique aspects of being a co-worker is the opportunity to experience community living.

At Sturts, community is about more than simply living in the same place. It is about sharing experiences, supporting one another, celebrating achievements together and contributing to a community where every person is valued.

Many co-workers tell us that the friendships they build during their time here become one of the most memorable parts of their experience.

Working Together on the Farm

The farm sits at the heart of life at Sturts.

Co-workers have the opportunity to work alongside the people we support, caring for animals, growing food, maintaining the land and taking part in the changing rhythm of the seasons. From feeding livestock and harvesting vegetables to helping prepare produce for the community, the work is purposeful, practical and shared.

It is often through this shared work that some of the strongest relationships are built.

Reconnecting with Nature

Life at Sturts offers a rare opportunity to slow down and reconnect with the natural world.

The changing seasons become part of everyday life. Co-workers experience the farm throughout the year, from spring growth and summer harvests to autumn abundance and winter preparation.

Many people arrive having spent much of their lives disconnected from nature and leave with a much greater appreciation of the land, animals, food production and the benefits of spending time outdoors.

Learning Through Relationships

The people who spend time at Sturts often discover that they learn as much as they contribute.

The relationships formed with the people we support challenge assumptions, build understanding and create opportunities for personal growth.

Our co-workers regularly tell us that they leave with a deeper appreciation for inclusion, friendship and the value that every person brings to a community.

Personal Growth and New Perspectives

For many, a year as a co-worker becomes a journey of self-discovery.

Living in community, taking responsibility, learning practical skills and building meaningful relationships often helps people develop:

Greater confidence
Independence and resilience
Communication skills
Practical farming and land-based skills
Leadership and teamwork experience
A stronger sense of purpose

Many former co-workers describe their time at Sturts as a life-changing experience that helped shape their future direction.

Who Becomes a Co-worker?

Our co-workers come from a wide variety of backgrounds. Some are taking a gap year after school or university. Others are looking for a career in social care, education, farming or community development. Some are simply seeking a different way of living and an opportunity to contribute to something meaningful.

What they often have in common is a desire to learn, connect and become part of a community.

More Than Volunteering

Being a volunteer co-worker is about much more than giving your time. It is about becoming part of a community, building lasting relationships, reconnecting with nature and discovering what can happen when people live and work together with purpose.

For many people, it becomes one of the most rewarding and transformative years of their lives.

Could This Be Your Next Adventure?

If you are looking for a meaningful experience, a chance to develop new skills, connect with people from different backgrounds and become part of a vibrant farm-based community, becoming a volunteer co-worker at Sturts could be the opportunity you have been searching for.

Whether you are taking a gap year, exploring a future career path, seeking a change of direction, or simply looking for a year of purpose and connection, we would love to hear from you.

At Sturts, you'll become part of a community where people live, work and grow together. You'll build meaningful relationships, contribute to a working biodynamic farm, reconnect with nature and gain experiences that could stay with you for the rest of your life.

Join us for a year of community, connection, growth and purpose.