Our Volunteer Programme
We really appreciate the commitment of volunteers who give up their time to support Hostelling Scotland. As a charity our volunteers are crucially important, helping us achieve our mission, and delivering a great experience for all our guests. Volunteers have played a vital role in the organisation since our beginnings back in 1931!
Volunteers join us for a variety of reasons, such as gaining work experience, exploring Scotland, improving their English language skills, and meeting new people.
What can you expect?
Volunteer hostel assistants will be asked to help with general tasks in the hostel including housekeeping and cleaning, catering, welcoming guests and supporting with reception. Volunteers will receive any training required for their role on arrival at the hostel.
What do we offer?
We offer placements for Volunteer Hostel Assistants in a number of hostels across Scotland. Volunteer placements are a minimum of 4 weeks, to a maximum of 8 weeks. Volunteers will be asked to volunteer for up to 30 hours each week over 5 days, including weekends. Volunteers will normally have 2 consecutive days off each week to explore the local area. We offer volunteer accommodation in the Youth Hostel, which includes access to a self-catering kitchen and laundry. We can offer support with travel and food expenses - details are outlined in our Volunteer Expenses Policy. At the end of the placement we can provide completion certificates and references (on request).
What is the criteria?
We need volunteers who are motivated, punctual and reliable, willing to follow instructions and complete a range of tasks, sufficiently fluent in English to carry out the role, able to live independently, work well with others, and to follow Hostelling Scotland policies and procedures. Applicants must have the right to work in the UK and be able to provide satisfactory references.
Other Volunteer Opportunities
Student Volunteers
We may be able to offer a longer placement as a Volunteer Youth Hostel Assistant to students if this is required as part of your course of study. Please get in touch to discuss.
Work Experience
We may be able to offer a shorter placement as a Volunteer Youth Hostel Assistant for school or college students looking to complete work experience in a local Youth Hostel between October and April. If you would like to discuss possible work experience placements please email: volunteers@hostellingscotland.org.uk
Duke of Edinburgh Gold Residential
We delivered a pilot Gold Duke of Edinburgh residential opportunity for young people at Stirling Youth Hostel during October 2017. The participants had the opportunity to meet other young people, gained experience of some of the key tasks involved in running a youth hostel, gave the communal lounge a makeover, gained leadership skills, and explored Stirling.
Company/Group Volunteering
We have successfully welcomed small groups of corporate volunteers who have supported us in a range of different hostels. If you would like to discuss possible placements please email: volunteers@hostellingscotland.org.uk
How to apply
If you are interested in applying to be a volunteer hostel assistant please complete an application form (download here) and email to: volunteers@hostellingscotland.org.uk
Applicants who meet the selection criteria will go through a selection process, including either face-to-face or telephone interviews, a basic disclosure check and contacted to provide referees.
To see a selection of our volunteering opportunities, click the View Vacancies button.