Help with busy Backpacker Hostel & Guesthouse in Waterford, ireland
ReportLocation: Waterford City, Ireland
We are a hostel and guesthouse in Waterford city in the sunny south-east of Ireland and we are looking for volunteers to stay for 1 month starting at various times over the next 4 months.Waterford is the oldest city in Ireland (1100 years old) - it`s an hour and three quarters from both Cork and Dublin and well served by rail and buses. The city itself has lots of festivals and plenty to see and do. Nearby there are some of Ireland`s nicest beaches and surf spots at Tramore and Dunmore East.
The property is currently in operation, as a hostel and guesthouse - we need help with all aspects of the property - cleaning, changing beds, laundry, reception etc. etc. etc. and very importantly, talking and socialising with the guests. Sometimes we also need help with basic maintenance (painting and decorating etc.) particularly in the winter. Other than that a big part of the placement is to look after the guests and be sociable with them (invite them to play cards if you`re playing, or out to the pub if you`re going out). We want guests (and of course helpers) to find our hostel a friendly place and to have a great experience in Waterford and having friendly helpers is a really important part of that. Otherwise we do expect volunteers to look after areas when they`re in them (so if there are dirty dishes in the kitchen or a bin needs to be emptied we expect volunteers to look after those issues). This part of the job probably only takes 5 minutes a day but is really critical as we need all areas to be nice and clean and looking well for the guests.
We also require all volunteers to speak English (you don`t need perfect English but we don`t like guests feeling excluded from conversations so require helpers to attempt to speak English at all times).
In return, you will get a bed and basic breakfast (toast, cereal etc) every day, - we provide ingredients for dinner every day (as long as someone wants to cook) and have communal meals with staff and guests, with the cooking being rotated among the helpers - there`s no hassle if you can`t cook but we would like if you could help in some way (cleaning / chopping veg etc). Beds are in a shared room with other staff (staff room is mixed occasionally).
Otherwise, we will do whatever we can to make your trip to Waterford as enjoyable as possible. The dynamic of the place is always changing depending on the guests and helpers we have in. It`s an enjoyable opportunity for someone looking to see the South East of Ireland and help with what we hope will be a fun, sociable place for you to be. You`ll definitely learn something - apart from improving your English volunteers have fun and hang out together and tend to learn lots from each other - how to cook weird dishes from each others countries, how to play guitar, how to draw, paint, etc etc etc.
If you would like to apply, please let us know when you think you would like to come, and also if you have any specific skills that might be useful - we`re keeping an open mind.
We generally ask for a month from volunteers but for January and February do accept people for slightly shorter periods.
The help is 4 hours a day, 5 days per week (some weeks we may need you to work an extra day but you`ll get the extra day off the next week if that happens - at the end of the month everyone has their first and last days free as well as eight others).
Just to be aware that if we offer a place we will hold it for 4 days before offering it on to someone else (if the place is for the upcoming month we can only hold it for 2 days before finding someone else). We also require a copy of all helpers flight confirmation at least a month before arrival if they`re coming from another country.
We prefer people travelling solo as we`ve found they soicalise with the guests more - we do occasionally take pairs of friends but not couples I`m afraid.
Thanks!
