Volunteering Opportunities at Common Knowledge

Join more than 300 people in our community who have already volunteered their time at The Common Knowledge Centre.

We see our volunteering opportunities as a form of energy exchange. The Common Knowledge Centre benefits from the energy you bring to creating and cultivating this special place.

In turn, we commit that you will have the opportunity to spend time in nature, working with an enthusiastic and creative team, learn new skills through doing and feel the reward of doing meaningful work in a natural environment where many people tell us they leave with new connections and a renewed sense of belonging.

Before applying for our volunteer programme, we ask that you make yourself familiar with the below requirements and code of conduct to ensure you have clear expectations for the time you will spend with us.

We welcome volunteers for stays of 1-3 months and ask that you contribute a total of 25 hours per week, spread across 5 days of 5 hour shifts with your schedule arranged between Monday and Sunday. Shifts are from 10am to 4pm with one hour for lunch. This ensures flexibility to align with the flow of activities at Common Knowledge while maintaining balance for everyone involved.

To ensure a positive and productive experience for everyone, we ask that all volunteers adhere to the following guidelines:
- Punctuality: Start work on time and commit fully to your agreed schedule.
- Communication and Collaboration: Engage openly with team members, sharing updates and asking for support where needed.
- Leave No Trace: Respect all areas of the site by ensuring spaces are left clean and tidy after use, in line with our sustainability ethos.
- Personal Conduct: Act respectfully and responsibly, maintaining a positive and considerate attitude toward fellow volunteers, staff, and guests.
- Food Preparation and Clean-up: If preparing or enjoying meals on-site, ensure dishes and shared spaces are cleaned and reset for others.
  
  The Common Knowledge ecosystem is a carefully balanced interplay of activities, each supporting and enhancing the other to create a harmonious whole. As a volunteer, you will join the organisation for an extended period, contributing to work in the areas of hospitality, eco-restoration, and community events - each interconnected, feeding into and benefiting from the others. Your efforts as a volunteer are a vital input in sustaining this cycle, and your time, energy, and goodwill are deeply valued.
As a Centre that prioritises the safety and comfort of all our guests the following guidelines for volunteers serve as a means to encourage a harmonious and inclusive space for all to enjoy.
1. Respecting Each Other - Please make a commitment to treat everyone on site with respect and not engage in any behaviour that is harmful to others through action or speech. Any form of discrimination or bullying will not be tolerated and the managers of the centre reserve the right to ask any volunteer to leave. Please remember that we are welcoming guests onsite and as a volunteer you are also representing Common Knowledge
2. Respecting the Environment - Please respect the beautiful natural surroundings of the Common Knowledge Centre and the Burren including all of its flora and fauna. Please use eco-friendly products for cleaning and personal hygiene during your stay and take care to not leave any impact or trace on the surrounding environment.
3. Respecting Our Shared Spaces - Please make a commitment to keep shared spaces such as the dining and living area clean and tidy and to participate in shared tasks such as washing dishes and cleaning toilets. Please adopt a ‘leave no trace’ policy, leaving your accommodation in good condition and ready for the next volunteer to use.
4. Conserving Resources - We wish to create a model of a sustainable future and as such make the commitment to be mindful of our use of resources, such as water and electricity, and try to conserve them whenever possible.
5. Being Flexible and Proactive - The Common Knowledge Centre is a brand new environment for our organisation and many of the systems and procedures are still being designed. Please make the commitment to be flexible and open to new experiences. Volunteers who do not take part in the daily schedule will be asked to leave.
6. Creating a Safe and Healthy Environment - In order to create a safe and healthy environment for all volunteers, staff members, and visitors, we are creating a drug-free space and ask everyone to refrain from bringing drugs of any type onsite.

Field Good Fridays

Join our Permaculture team any Friday to learn and work together with our local community, no application needed.

Join Field Good Fridays Whatsapp Group

Help harvest produce for our kitchen, plant fruits and vegetables in our polytunnel, hugelkultur, no dig, and traditional dig gardens. Other important maintenance activities include compost management, weeding, seed saving, foraging, and propagating.
As part of our re-wilding efforts and eco system restoration on our 50 acre site, we are looking for help to remove invasive species, plant native trees, wildflower meadow management and habitat creation.
Orientation takes place at 9.30am on Fridays weekly.
Lunch is provided and eaten together with the team at 1pm.

Resident Volunteers

We are welcoming applications for our 2025 Volunteer Programme .

Apply as a Long Term Volunteer

When joining us as a long term volunteer, you’ll team up with our staff in undertaking a wide range of tasks on site and on the grounds.
CORE DUTIES
The work is varied, but volunteers will help with the following:
1. Hospitality & Grounds - The guesthouse and communal spaces at Common Knowledge are gateways to our larger mission of skill-sharing and community-building. By assisting with the housekeeping and hospitality teams, you’ll help reset event spaces, accommodation, and communal areas to ensure they remain beautiful, nurturing, and reflective of the Common Knowledge ethos
2. Gardening & Eco- Restoration - Gaining hands-on experience in food growing, permaculture design, and nature-based systems. The garden is a living example of sustainability, and the food we grow feeds directly into the meals prepared by our incredible chef—nourishing both guests and team members.
Beyond the garden, you’ll have the opportunity to work on the wider 50-acre site, helping to explore, experiment with, and maintain the land. Tasks may include maintaining walking trails, clearing overgrowth, and supporting re-wilding or land care projects.
3. Community Events - Community is at the heart of everything we do at Common Knowledge. Throughout the year, we host a range of events designed to bring people together, foster meaningful connections, and engage visitors with our mission. These events are made possible by the work done in hospitality and the garden—clean spaces, nourishing food, and inspiring surroundings all enable the building of community. As a volunteer, you may assist with event planning, administration, or as part of the event crew on the day. You’ll also have opportunities to get involved in talks, tours, and other activities. Your work helps make these moments possible, and in return, we want you to feel part of this community you’re helping to create.

And other duties as required.
Orientation starts when you arrive, when you’ll be shown your accommodation and meet the team.
Common Knowledge provides groceries for a simple breakfast, and communal staff meal in the middle of the day made by volunteers or our catering chefs. Basic groceries are provided for making dinner. We operate as a team on a leave no trace basis, so everyone helps clean up after both communal and individual meals. A volunteer kitchen is available for use.
Common Knowledge will provide you with a private room with shared bathroom/shower facilities.
You’ll be staying on a beautiful wild site in the heart of the Burren, and we encourage you to enjoy your breaks and 2 free days weekly to immerse yourself in this special place. You’ll have access to bikes to travel to nearby towns.