The Owl’s Nest

Support us – become a volunteer

We’re glad you’re considering becoming a volunteer at The Owl’s Nest. The workshop can only exist because there are people who are willing to share their time, attention and skills. That does not have to be big or complicated: even a few hours a week can already make a real difference.

What can you do as a volunteer?

We always look together at which tasks suit you. At the moment we are mainly looking for people who would like to help with:

• Practical work and renovation in the workshop

  for people who are handy or have experience in building-related trades: helping to finish and improve the space, such as small masonry work, plastering a wall, carpentry and assembly jobs and other improvements to the workshop.

• In and around the workshop

  Helping to tidy and organise, making coffee and tea, preparing materials, doing small jobs and occasionally assisting with projects or workshops.

• Projects and activities

  Helping set up and clear away activities, being present at open days or neighbourhood events, thinking along about how we can make the workshop even more accessible.

• Communication and fundraising

  Helping to distribute flyers, make contact in the neighbourhood, support small fundraising efforts or help organise a meeting or event.

You do not have to be good at everything. You might be strong in practical work, calm and steady in contact with people, or prefer to help mainly “behind the scenes”. Together we look for a role that fits you and what you can handle.

What can you expect from us?

As a volunteer you are part of the workshop community. We find it important that there are:

• clear agreements about when you are there and what you roughly do;
• opportunities to indicate what is and is not realistic for you;
• a calm, respectful atmosphere in which you can ask questions and are allowed to make mistakes;
• chances to learn something yourself as well, if you would like to.

If needed, we coordinate together how your volunteer work relates to your job, studies or a trajectory you follow via another organisation. On the Working and learning page you can read more about longer-term and more learning-focused involvement in the workshop.

Sign up or get to know us first?

Would you like to become a volunteer, or would you first like to get to know us in a calm way? Let us know via the Make an appointment page. Briefly tell us who you are, what you would roughly like to do and how much time you have available.

We will then schedule an introductory meeting in the workshop. In that conversation we look together at whether The Owl’s Nest is a good match for you, which tasks make sense and how we can arrange things in practice. There is no obligation: we prefer to agree honestly on what is and is not possible rather than promising more than we can deliver.