Friends :: Volunteer Policy

Introduction

Our Volunteer Policy aims to clearly define the relationship that the Lantern Community wishes to develop with volunteers, the support and guidance available to them, and the broad principles for volunteering. All members of the Community acknowledge the valuable life experience and skills that each volunteer offers, along with loyalty, friendship and the commitment required to freely give of personal time. The Lantern Community recognises that volunteering must benefit the individual as well as ourselves, and aims to provide an environment that is inclusive, stimulating, friendly and supportive. We wish to continually maintain and develop a creative and mutually beneficial relationship between volunteers and the Community, recognising that volunteers are a positive force in describing our work and engendering support and understanding in the wider community.

About the Lantern Community

The Lantern Community is an activity of the Sheiling Trust, the registered charity that also includes the Sheiling School, Sturts Farm and Ringwood Waldorf School. As part of the Sheiling Trust we share a 40 acre estate with the Sheiling School for children and adolescents with a learning disability. Sturts Farm, which is four miles away, provides biodynamic vegetables, meat and dairy produce. The Ringwood Waldorf School for mainstream education is also one of our neighbours. The Lantern Community offers adults with a learning disability (Companions) the possibility to contribute and partake in a mutually supportive environment, where there are opportunities for meaningful work suited to each individual's needs, interest and choice. There are approximately fifty five people in the Lantern each living in equal relationship with others within our eight households.

Equal Opportunities and Diversity

The Lantern Community operates an Equal Opportunities and Diversity Policy for all and believes that no one should be treated less favourably than anyone else because of their gender, marital status, sexual orientation, social class, race, ethnic origin, religious belief or disability. We are committed to diversity in all areas of our work and believe that we can learn from diverse cultures and perspectives.