From Belgium to the Highlands: Why Rapha Chose to Volunteer in Scotland
- Ewan Cheyne
- Jul 17
- 3 min read
Location: | Camphill Tigh a’Chomainn, Peterculter, near Aberdeen |
Volunteer Placement: | 1-year project supporting adults with learning disabilities |
Start Date: | 25th September 2024 |
Now: | Offered a permanent paid co-worker role and planning to stay after his voluntary position is finished |
“Cheeky, challenging and rewarding”
Rapha was 24, living in Belgium, and feeling that itch many of us know, the urge to do something meaningful. After a brilliant experience volunteering in a support centre, he knew he wanted to keep helping others, building connections, and making a real impact. That’s when he found Concordia. What started as a simple search for a way to give back quickly became a life-changing year in the Scottish Highlands - full of laughter, challenges, friendships, and unforgettable moments at Camphill Tigh a’Chomainn, a small community near Aberdeen.
“I had such a great experience volunteering and I knew I wanted to continue - especially in this kind of work.”
Life at Camphill
At Tigh a’Chomainn, a charity caring for adults with complex needs, Rapha joined a small, vibrant community built on mutual respect, care, and shared living. Every day, he supported adults with learning disabilities - not by doing things for them, but by doing things with them.
“My project is to have fun - to enjoy life with the residents and support them to grow. Whether we’re cooking, going to the workshops, or heading into town, it’s about helping them build their independence.”
Camphill's approach is deeply human. Volunteers like Rapha live alongside residents, building trust through daily routines, shared meals, and silly games, like being playfully ambushed by residents hiding behind doors!
“Some are non-verbal, but when they’re happy, they jump and shout. People get startled on walks, but to me, that’s just joy.”
The Small Wins That Matter
From helping a resident learn to peel a boiled egg to gently challenging fixed ideas around masculinity, Rapha discovered that the smallest, most ordinary moments often carried the greatest meaning.
At breakfast, eggs are a regular part of the routine, with one resident, their eggs are usually peeled by a carer. But Rapha saw an opportunity to do things differently. Over time, he offered to guide a resident through the process instead of doing it for him.
“It’s little things, but with patience, every morning, I’d sit with him. Showing how you peel an egg. I’d say, you can do it, you’ve got this. Now, he does it himself.”
By giving the resident the time, support and encouragement to do things independently, Rapha was nurturing not just a life skill, but a deep sense of pride and self-reliance.
Through this experience, Rapha also supported people processing difficult pasts, and moments of distress. But through these challenges, he discovered something about himself too.
“I’ve realised I’m good in a crisis. Staying calm builds trust. Being there in the good and the bad is what makes the bond real.”
A New Future
As the year progressed, Camphill became more than a placement - it became home. So when the opportunity came to stay longer and become a co-worker, Rapha didn’t hesitate.
“I’ve built strong relationships here - with the residents, the staff, the community. I want to keep exploring this way of life.”
Exploring Scotland
Living in the hills above Aberdeen came with its perks. Rapha’s had his fair share of haggis, Irn-Bru, and black pudding (just once was enough!). From trips to Footdee’s colourful houses to beach walks and boardwalk cafés, life outside the project was filled with discovery too.
And the friends he made? “They’ve been everything,” he says. “We’ve made a real effort to keep work and personal time separate. We go to the cinema, cook together - it keeps us grounded.”
About the Placement: Camphill Tigh a’Chomainn
Set in Peterculter, just outside Aberdeen, Camphill Tigh a’Chomainn is part of a global network of over 100 Camphill communities that began in Scotland in 1939. Their model is built around shared living, dignity, and opportunity, giving people of all abilities a sense of belonging, purpose and voice.
The one-year placement gives young people hands-on experience in care, and ideal for those exploring a future in health, medicine, or social work. Volunteers live on-site, share meals, and take part in daily routines, gardening, crafts, and outings, building lasting relationships with residents and staff.
“You don’t need experience - just curiosity and a can-do attitude. And what you’ll gain? That stays with you forever.”
Final thoughts from Rapha:
“Just go for it. You’ll never regret it. Even if it’s not what you expected, you’ll still grow and learn so much.”
