Volunteer
At Scotland The Bread, we aim to provide opportunities for everyone to get involved in building a better grain, flour and bread system in Scotland.
Whether you are interested in growing grains, baking bread, sharing skills, or are simply very enthusiastic about flour, we have a volunteer role suited to you!
You can help to:
- sow, weed and harvest diverse grains at our trial plot
- build relationships with new customers at monthly Bowhouse markets and other events
- lend a hand at breadmaking workshops
- mill and pack flour during busy periods
- raise awareness and engagement at the annual ‘Scottish Festival of Real Bread’
- create a better bread supply in your own community
We are also very open to learn from your experience, skills and knowledge as well as any ideas that you have to promote a more sustainable, healthy, equitable and locally-controlled bread system.
As a thank you for the valuable work of our volunteers, we offer various discounts, support and development opportunities, such as the chance to lead a demonstration at the Scottish Festival of Real Bread or become a ‘flour champion’ in your local area.
If you are interested in volunteering, please contact info@scotlandthebreadwebsite-2i8jlecuna.live-website.com, letting us know which role(s) you are most interested in.
We are always looking for support on our stall at Bowhouse market weekends, which happen on the second weekend of each month (except January). The full calendar of dates can be found here.
The Scottish Festival of Real Bread takes place each February, on one of the weekends of Real Bread week.
Work at the trial plot is concentrated on the sowing period (around April) and the harvest (September/October) with some weeding and maintenance sessions organised in between. Exact dates will be communicated with interested volunteers, though may be subject to change depending on the weather!
Other markets, events and workshops happen on an ad hoc basis and will be communicated to interested volunteers with as much advance notice as possible.
The market, festival, flour packing and most workshops take place at Bowhouse in Fife, where our mill is based (St Monans, Anstruther, Fife, KY10 2DB – Google maps) This is located on the A917 between Elie and St Monans – around 90 minutes from Edinburgh, under an hour from Dundee, and only 20 minutes from St Andrews. There is ample parking on site and a bus stop in nearby St Monans for those coming by public transport.
- By Car: Follow the A917 from St Andrews or Elie
- By Bus: Leven–St Andrews 95 and Edinburgh–St Andrews X60 stop at St Monans. (Also try the Flexibus)
Our trial plot is located at Stenton Farmhouse. This is located just off the B942 close to Abercrombie, not far from Bowhouse. Full directions will be provided ahead of volunteer sessions.
Occasionally there will be opportunities to get involved with workshops, markets and events in other locations around Scotland. These will be communicated with registered volunteers as and when they arise.
In certain circumstances where transport costs would prove a barrier to volunteering, we may be able to cover or contribute towards travel expenses.
You can watch this video to learn more about who we are, what we do and why it matters.
If you have any other questions, feel free to get in touch.
Become a Board member
We also welcome new Board members to bring additional time, skills, experience and knowledge to the table. We would love to hear from you if you can offer one or more of these qualities to help us improve the grain and flour supply faster.
If you are interested in joining the Board, please send a short statement explaining your relevant experience, along with your CV, to info@scotlandthebreadwebsite-2i8jlecuna.live-website.com.
You can learn more about our current Board here.