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General: Volunteer Labour

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  1.  
    Has anyone had any experience of using volunteer labour for building projects?

    Health safety issues, quality control, exploitation vs education ... you get the idea....

    for eg hosting clay plastering courses, straw bale builds, rammed earth + cob courses etc.

    'have a client or two who would benefit from some enthusiastic support, and am thinking of using site excavated clay for earthen floor and plaster at my own project...

    J
  2.  
    Hi James,

    Are you the James Norton I know?

    I have used volunteer labour quite a bit, but on projects carried out for, or through, my employer. Thus volunteers are covered by my employer's insurance and by all our standard risk assessments. You'd have to ensure that adequate insurances were in place and that H & S briefings, risk ass'ts etc were carried out.

    You mentioned: 'Health safety issues, quality control, exploitation vs education'.

    I accept these issues arise, but I think the main thing is to ask the potential volunteers first - they'll tell you what is acceptable and what's not.
    For example, I was assisted to a massive degree by volunteers while refurbishing the Energy Centre. Subsequently I took to doing Green Building as a way of making enough money to keep the Energy Centre open and to help pay my wages. I was not half as keen on using volunteers for help on commercial jobs as I felt uncomfortable using free labour on jobs for which I was being paid. One of my existing volunteers changed my mind by saying 'are you doing these jobs to support the Energy Centre?' - 'Yes'. 'OK, so that's no different to my volunteering at the Centre itself'. So, when they are available, I use volunteers. They learn, I benefit. Win Win. But, keep checking that you have not over-stepped the mark to the point where they are feeling exploited.

    Quality control is 'your problem'. One has always to be aware that QC may be an issue, and make sure that work doesn't progress too far without checking.

    If I can help in answering any other Q's plse contact me via www.syec.co.uk

    Nick Parsons
  3.  
    Quality control is a problem - some people 'get it', others don't, and it can be dispiriting having to rectify someone else's work at the end of the day.
    As for exploitation, it always seems to me to be a bit cheeky to charge people to learn plastering on your own house!
  4.  
    Gervase,

    What I meant to suggest was that a different mind-set and closer supervision are required, but that within this context, QC is not a problem. As regards your second point, I agree in some ways, but ask them if they mind, and perhaps there's a difference in any case between volunteering (to learn) and paying to learn on someone's house.

    Nick
  5.  
    Nick,

    On the assumption that you are the Nick Parson I know then yes. :wink:

    After a view of the SYEC website I think I should pay a long overdue visit to the Energy Centre.

    All your points duly noted. Have you normally taken advantage of (bad phrase, I know !) local volunteers and word of mouth? or have you looked at casting the web further, (raising issues of accommodation and advertising...)?

    J
  6.  
    Volunteers have been mainly local, but not exclusively so. Advertising could (subject to agreement with Keith (ie is it commercial) be on here, or any number of other sites. Accommodation we haven't had to address before.

    If your clients are local -ish to Shefgfield, then try me for potential volunteers. I may trade you some for a timber-framed 'Garden room' we're beginning shortly.

    Nick
  7.  
  8.  
    Well,

    as below:
    http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=732&page=2#Item_15

    we got planning for what eventually became 2 houses - starting in spring (fingers crossed, say does anyone have a spare few hundred grand?), main contract finishing in the late summer leaving a 6 month self build finishing period, soooooo......

    If anyone is interested in mucking in any aspect, but I suspect clay plastering would be the main thing or fancies visiting during the build please get in touch, there is also the possibility of a tiny bit of rammed earth but not confirmed yet...

    accommodation in the weather tight passiv haus (ish shell) may be possible.

    get in touch don't be shy!

    Also on a different project there may be some places coming up on a straw bale course also in Sheffield.

    J
    • CommentAuthorRachel
    • CommentTimeOct 23rd 2008
     
    we had over 100 volunteers on our straw bale build. fed and camped them. They had free tuition and I would say that with the nature of such a build 90% great people. It is definitely rewarding on many levels and brings one back to a sense of community sharing and spirit. It can be challenging- much patience required and quality control. Had better time with them than hired workers actually...
    • CommentAuthorJackyR
    • CommentTimeOct 23rd 2008
     
    Barn-building scene in "Witness" rises before me...
  11.  
    "Witness" Jacky?

    J
    • CommentAuthorskywalker
    • CommentTimeOct 23rd 2008
     
    Harrison Ford, Kelly McGillis
    • CommentAuthorJackyR
    • CommentTimeOct 23rd 2008
     
    And Aragorn! (OK, Viggo Mortensen).
  14.  
    "A young Amish boy is sole witness to a murder; policeman John Book goes into hiding in Amish country to protect him until the trial." etc.

    Free 'Witness' DVDs to all who help plaster...


    J

    PS is the film any good?
    • CommentAuthorJackyR
    • CommentTimeOct 23rd 2008 edited
     
    Fugitive cop and witness hide out among Amish Americans, who do everything traditionally and usually without electricity. [sorry, crossed with your post]

    So big jobs like barn-building become community work/festival. Inter-reliance, smiling children, apple-pies, Harrison Ford going off into sunset... It gives you a warm glow :smile:

    [edit] Lovely feel-good movie.
  16.  
    I understand that Viggo and Harrison are very effective-givers-of-warm-feelings....

    Can't promise handsome celebrities only me the kids and our neighbours...

    Neither can I offer the idyllic rural setting but (after several conversations with banks today... :sad: ) any help will be repaid by experience and lifelong gratitude :bigsmile:

    J

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