Rock Farm Youth Volunteering 2025

Tom Page
Oct 21
2 min read

Earlier this month, Concordia partnered with Rock Farm in West Sussex to host an unforgettable volunteering experience for a group of young people from across Europe.

Set on six acres of community land, Rock Farm combines sustainable agriculture, community engagement, and horticultural therapy in an off-grid, regenerative environment.

Throughout the week, volunteers got stuck into conservation work: berry picking, tending to plants, caring for trees, supporting wildlife, and helping maintain the site’s carbon-negative infrastructure. They learned practical sustainability skills in food production, permaculture, and low-impact living while contributing to a vibrant space designed to support both people and planet.

Six volunteers sit on grass having a picnic with fish and chips. Green and red clothing, backpacks, and green trees in the background. The mood is cheerful. — Try one of the UK's best-known dishes - fish and chips!

Volunteers embraced the full off-grid experience, staying in canvas tents, cooking together using fresh produce from the farm, and sharing evenings around the pizza oven or campfire. Cultural activities added to the experience, including a group visit to Brighton, a countryside walk to Steyning, and a lively farewell party to celebrate their achievements.

The impact of the week was clear:

“Magí and Guim arrived home tired but very happy with the experience they’ve had with you, Rock Farm and Concordia. They’ve come back full of stories, memories, and enthusiasm… a clear sign of how much the project impacted them.”

“A first international experience far from home that they will always remember!”

Volunteers gather around the clay pizza oven that previous volunteers made on the farm, preparing pizzas at a table in an outdoor rustic setting. — The group enjoyed making pizzas together after a solid day of volunteering.

We are incredibly proud of what this group achieved and grateful to the Rock Farm team for welcoming our volunteers so warmly. Projects like this highlight the power of environmental action, cultural exchange, and shared purpose in shaping confident, compassionate young people.

If you know a young person who could benefit from an experience like this, now’s the time to get involved. Concordia has hundreds of volunteering opportunities that are still available this summer.

We’re also keen to collaborate with new partners across the UK. If you’re inspired by Rock Farm’s example and would like to explore running your own project with Concordia’s support, we’d love to hear from you.

A Rock Farm employee is showing a Concordia UK employee the plants that they grow in the farm, explaining what their uses are and how the mixture of plants compliment each others growth. — One of Rock Farm's staff members taking a moment to share their expertise.