2027 Iona Abbey Volunteer Opportunity in Scotland with Visa Sponsorship

The Iona Community encourages you to apply by 9am on Monday 16th November. The Iona Community will start contacting applicants after this date.

Applications received after this date will still be considered, but the number of opportunities will reduce as people are confirmed in the 2027 timetable.

About Iona Abbey Centre

The Iona Abbey Centre runs programmes and events for guests and visitors, delivered by a resident community of staff and volunteers who share a common life, and maintain daily services of worship in Iona Abbey.

Staff and volunteers welcome guests to share all aspects of community life, including meals, worship services, and work tasks, and to explore issues of common concern, including faith, peace, justice, care of creation, inclusion and diversity, and interfaith dialogue.

Volunteers are a vital part of the Iona Abbey offer of hospitality, inclusive and creative worship, programme activities, and work in the wider world. This is rooted in the common life, building diverse and respectful community in day-to-day life together.

The Iona Community has a range of volunteer roles on offer, in the Kitchen, Housekeeping, Shop, Sacristy, Programme, Music, and Maintenance teams. Volunteers work closely with staff members, carrying out allocated tasks, engaging with guests and visitors, and participating in the common life.

Volunteers are trained and supported to carry out their roles, and also have a wide range of opportunities to contribute to hospitality, worship services, meetings, events and activities.

Volunteering in the Iona Abbey Community is a rich and varied experience. Volunteers come from all over the world and from all walks of life, representing a wide range of experiences, age groups, cultural backgrounds and faith traditions.

Volunteers are able to share their gifts, skills, talents, experience and time; and have fun, are nourished, grow new relationships, and be challenged, as well as having an opportunity to live in a very unique building, island, and environment.

The Iona Community usually invites volunteers to come for between 6 and 12 weeks, so there are many welcomes and farewells throughout the season, from early March to early November.

Many past volunteers tell the Iona Community that volunteering on Iona is an enriching experience. But it is also a demanding and intense experience and is not for everyone. The Iona Community therefore encourages you to think carefully, before applying, as to whether it is the right fit for you.

Below, you’ll find some essential reading about the volunteer opportunities and the common life on Iona. You’ll read some stories of the joys and challenges of living and working here as a volunteer. Please do read through each section before proceeding with your application.

Volunteer Experiences

‘Volunteering with the Iona Community was an amazing experience, it was something I’d wanted to do for a long time and I’d definitely recommend it. I was a bit nervous about volunteering in the kitchen but I absolutely loved it. Anja and Declan (Iona Cook and Deputy Cook), were really patient and I learnt so much, although there are very early starts and you work really hard, you have lots of laughs along the way and you really feel part of a “Kitchen team”. It was such an enriching experience living in community and meeting so many different people, some who are similar to you and others who are very different, which was both inspiring and challenging.’ Janet, Kitchen volunteer.

‘The Iona Community is a very welcoming inclusive organisation where it’s easy to feel part of community life. I must confess to having reservations about volunteering for the Community but any doubts soon evaporated with the welcome I received from volunteers and permanent staff alike. To anyone who is considering applying to volunteer with the Iona Community I would say “go for it”! The fun, laughter and hard work as part of a team is a very worthwhile experience. I particularly enjoyed meeting so many different people from across the UK, Europe and the world! My time working as a volunteer for the Sacrisy Team was varied and active. It was also a great opportunity to welcome people to services at the Abbey. There were so many occasions of chatting to and encouraging visitors to join in the all inclusive worship. Challenges.? Living in a Community was a challenge for me, but also a learning experience from someone who likes peace and quiet and is set in his ways! In conclusion, I would definitely recommend working as a volunteer for the Iona Community. It might be a life enhancing experience, what’s the worst that could happen? For me it was a privilege to be part of the Iona Community volunteer team.’ Wes, Sacristy volunteer.

‘Being a volunteer at the Iona Abbey was a transformative life experience! It was fun and interesting to build community and make meaningful connections with people from around the world, and it has led to some special and lasting friendships. As a Kitchen volunteer, it was a privilege to prepare healthy food to nurture and nourish people’s bodies and spirits. For me, Iona will always be a place that is magical, mystical, spiritual and sacred.’ Kim, Kitchen volunteer.

‘Volunteering at the Abbey was one of the most incredible experiences of my life. As Iona is fairly remote without too many connections to the outside world, working there really brings you into the present and allows you to focus on people, nature, and spirituality. While volunteering, I learned so many things, gained new perspectives, and made friends all across the world which I hope to keep all of throughout the rest of my life. Iona and the Abbey Community will always have a piece of my heart and I will always be waiting for the opportunity to go back and do it all again!’ Heidi, Kitchen volunteer.

‘In the spring of 2024 I volunteered for three months in Iona Abbey as housekeeper. Housekeeping is a very physical and busy job. You see yourself walking (and sometimes running) through the house: cleaning bathrooms, tidying up corridors and cupboards, setting up the tables in the refectory, washing up the dishes in the scullery, and folding laundry where ever you can find a place to do so. It’s also a very social job about working with the other housekeepers and being approachable for the guests. The heart of all you do, together with all volunteers and staff is to make the house a home. Hospitality and generosity is key. A clean and tidy house is part of it. Embedded in the morning- and evening service in the Abbey Church, daily work and worship is deeply connected. I loved the job in all its diversity and challenges. When you are open to work, worship and friendship, don’t hesitate to apply as a volunteer and experience community live. The time on Iona brought openness and room in my head and heart and strength in my muscles.’ Hanneke, Housekeeping volunteer.

‘Volunteering at the Abbey, over the years, with the Iona Community has always been such an amazing experience. There have been so many opportunities I have gained from my time as a volunteer from playing my tenor horn during Sunday services, leading morning worship, going on pilgrimage and learning new skills in the kitchen. Living in community on Iona, with guests, staff and volunteers is like living with a constantly changing, loving family. I have so many happy memories and I am so grateful for the friendships made during my time on Iona.’ Peter, Kitchen volunteer.

Listen below to Klara’s departing reflections from her time volunteering at Iona Abbey Centre:

Living and Working in Community

If you come to volunteer at Iona Abbey Centre, you will be joining a busy, constantly changing, inclusive community of volunteers, staff and guests as everyone works and worships together, and shares in the joys and challenges of the Iona Community’s common life.

The Joys

By living in community, you will have opportunities for deep sharing and learning about yourself, human nature, your relationships with others and with God. It is an opportunity to form friendships, some of which may well be for life. You can find time and space to explore your own spiritual journey and grow in faith.

Worshipping together twice a day (9am and 9pm) plays a vital part in the daily rhythm, and everyone is encouraged to participate, including in leading worship (for which support and guidance are offered).

You will experience human encounters of a depth and variety that could prove profoundly enriching, and even life-changing.

You will also develop your skills, e.g. from customer service in the shop, baking scones in the kitchen, folding laundry in housekeeping, DIY in maintenance and much more!

The experience of working and living in community on Iona is made even richer because the island is so small and has few of the amenities and distractions that are found elsewhere. On Iona, people get to know and rely on each other a lot more quickly and deeply than in other settings.

The Challenges

Volunteering with the Iona Community is an enriching and also intense experience, requiring physical and mental resilience. It can be a very challenging way of life.

You will be with other people nearly all the time, be they colleagues or guests. You may have to share a bedroom with one other person, and a household with other members of the team. You will get on very well with some, and not so well with others. You will also nearly always be sharing meals with other people.

If you are someone who needs a lot of personal space or peace and quiet, then volunteering at the Iona Abbey Centre is unlikely to be the fit for you.

Assisting in the tasks can be very full on, physically, mentally and relationally. You will usually be allocated to a team, such as Housekeeping, Kitchen, Maintenance, Sacristan, Music or in the Shop, (see ‘Meet the Teams’ section for more information), but volunteers are expected to be flexible and willing to help out with any of the essential daily tasks.

You will be required to be a full-time volunteer. Volunteers are expected to work 5 days out of 7, with 2 days off (allocated by the Head of Department who organises the rota).

Shift patterns vary between different teams, but can involve split shifts and early starts. Days off may be two consecutive days off together, or two separate days spread through the week.

So Why Do It?

Kathy Galloway, a former Leader of the Iona Community with extensive experience of living and working on Iona, had this to write on the subject of living in community:

Life in community is hard. It is counter-cultural, and takes away a degree of personal autonomy which most of us are used to. It limits our areas of personal freedom and individual choice. Furthermore, all our little foibles and quirks, which are sometimes easier to hide elsewhere, are magnified in community. Anyone who goes to live in community thinking they can get away from themselves is in for a big shock. It’s the place where you come face to face with yourself, not just as you see yourself, but as others see you. All of this is emotionally and spiritually demanding. In such a context, we cannot live without forgiveness and kindness, and mutual support. Perhaps it is also a way of relieving us of our illusions of self-sufficiency and making us more aware of our need of God.

Why do it? Well, apart from the more obvious attractions of Iona (a fantastically beautiful physical environment, no commuting, no queuing in shops), community does, in my experience, offer deepened joys along with the deepened difficulties; shared celebration, support, intimacy and conviviality. It is also still, I believe, an alternative model to the individualistic one which is crippling the world. It offers spiritual stretching and growth in place of destructive material and economic growth, and helps us to practice voluntary self-limitation, without which the planet will die.

Please do see the ‘Volunteer Experiences’ section for quotes from recent volunteers about their time on Iona.

About Living on Iona

Iona is undoubtedly a beautiful place: an island which, in spite of its small size, offers an extraordinary range of landscapes – including some lovely sandy beaches suitable for swimming (beware, though, the water is very cold).

There is a huge variety of wild flowers, bird life and sea animals to enjoy. The quality of the light can be extraordinary, no matter the weather, and it has drawn numerous artists to Iona over the centuries.

The island can be very crowded in season, but it is not difficult to leave the crowds behind and find yourself alone in settings so beautiful that it makes your heart sing. And of course the sea is ever present, bringing its own rhythm to life.

Iona is also an iconic place in the development of Christianity in the Western world, and the whole island is steeped in history. It attracts every year thousands of visitors and pilgrims from all over the world, and many comment that Iona has a unique feel that they have not experienced elsewhere.

At the same time, Iona is a very challenging place. It is remote: the nearest town is three hours and two ferry rides away. Once the last ferry of the day has left (6.30pm), there is no way of leaving the island before the next morning except by private boat or emergency helicopter. In effect, there is no ‘escape’ – which some people find difficult.

As for the local amenities, outside the few specialist shops serving the tourist trade, there is only one small food shop and two hotels with bars, and a bar/restaurant.

And the weather? Often wet and windy, it can make daily life difficult – not least because it can prevent the Iona ferry from operating, and when this happens, Iona is cut off from the rest of the world.

It is also important to know that there is no permanent medical presence and no pharmacy on Iona; and no mental health support services on either Iona or Mull. This is why having good physical and mental good health is so important to everyone who volunteers on Iona.

Key Requirements for Volunteers

Volunteers will be allocated to a particular team with a specific set of tasks. However, life on Iona can be unpredictable. Everyone is expected to be a team player with a flexible approach to work, willing to help out where most needed at the time.

Other key requirements for volunteers are:

• That they support the Iona Community’s aims and purposes (for more information, see the Iona Community’s Vision and Values).

• That they are prepared to share in the ministry of welcome and hospitality, and in the Common Life of the Abbey Centre. When not on days off, this includes attending at least one worship service a day, sharing meals with guests, taking a turn in chairing meals and team meetings, and supporting guest activities such as the weekly pilgrimages and guest concerts/ceilidhs.

• Good physical strength and stamina. Many of the tasks that volunteers help with are physically demanding. They often require standing for long periods of time and/or carrying heavy loads. Many volunteers live in accommodation in the village, and will also need to walk from the volunteer accommodation to the Abbey buildings, for meals, services, and work. This is about 0.3 miles, in all weathers.

• Strong resilience – living on a small island off an island with a constant flow of changing guests and visitors can be very demanding mentally and spiritually.

Team Profiles

Each team has a Head of Department (and sometimes a Deputy). They provide ‘on the job’ induction and training, and have regular check-ins with team members. Their responsibilities also include a significant amount of work ‘behind the scenes’, such as attending meetings, doing paperwork, working out rotas, monitoring stocks and ordering supplies.

Kitchen Team

The Abbey Kitchen Team consists of the Abbey Cook and Deputy Cook supported by volunteers. Working in shifts, they prepare breakfast, lunch and dinner for everyone eating in the Abbey refectory (up to 80 people), together with snacks for tea breaks (e.g. biscuits, rock cakes or flapjacks).

The Abbey food is prepared freshly on the premises, and is mostly vegetarian (there is usually a meat option for one evening meal per week). The emphasis is on wholesome nourishing food and on ethical food policies. Sourcing food ethically (within the limitations of a remote Scottish island) and avoiding waste are key priorities.

Breakfast is a choice of porridge or cereals, together with toast with a range of spreads. Lunch (with the exception of Sunday) consists of soup and bread, together with fillings. Dinner consists of one vegetarian dish and one dessert.

The Abbey Kitchen puts a lot of efforts into catering for team members and guests with special diets and allergies (e.g. dairy free, gluten free, vegan), and will strive to provide alternatives when necessary.

The focus is on preparing a wide range of dishes (both savoury and sweet), breadmaking (the Abbey bread is renowned!) and baking, all within tight budget constraints. Every member of the Kitchen Team takes part in the food preparation: chopping vegetables, cooking and baking. All members of the team must also take part in washing up, cleaning tasks, and receiving and putting away food deliveries.

Kitchen volunteers are not required to be professionally trained cooks, and appropriate training will be provided. However, experience of cooking in a domestic context and a keen interest in food are highly desirable.

Strong physical health is essential, including the ability to stand for long periods of time and carry loads of up to 15 Kilos.

Early starts to the day are the norm – usually 7am.

Sacristy Team

The Sacristy Team is made up of the Abbey Worship Co-ordinator and the Abbey Church Volunteer. The purpose of the team is to ensure that the Abbey Worship Services run smoothly, and that visitors to the Abbey feel welcomed and able to engage with the life and witness of the Iona Community.

The team works closely with the Music Team in planning and running the Abbey Worship Services. It also links with the staff of Historic Environment Scotland, who care for the Abbey Church and help visitors to explore its faith, historic and cultural importance.

The Sacristy team ensures that the Abbey Church and other worship spaces are kept clean and in good order, and are prepared for worship in line with the various needs of the wide-ranging style of services held by the Iona Community. This can include welcoming people attending services or special events (e.g. weddings, concerts) and engaging with people visiting the Abbey Church.

Main tasks typically include:

• helping to set up for services and clearing up afterwards

• in consultation with service leaders, ensuring that any resources needed are available (e.g. song sheets, tea lights, stones, bits of paper, pens)

• operating the sound system via the iPad; doing sound checks in advance and controlling levels during the service.

• checking the shared worship rota (google spreadsheet) for information about leaders, readings and music; and ensuring the folders are prepared in good time.

• supporting guests who are part of the weekly Sacristy task team to be involved in supporting the worship services, in caring for the Abbey Church, and helping guests to take part in delivering the worship services.

• keeping votive candles stocked up in both the Abbey Church and nearby St Oran’s Chapel

• emptying donation boxes and assisting with counting donations

• ensuring the card machines are kept charged and available for use

The Abbey Worship Co-ordinator and Abbey Church volunteer work split shifts, working in the morning and late afternoon/evening, in line with the times of daily worship in the Abbey Church: 9am (8am on Fridays) and 9pm.

This can mean starting work by 8.15am (7.15am on Fridays) and sometimes finishing around 10pm. There is free time during the middle part of the day. On Friday the volunteer may be asked to help Housekeeping during the changeover of guest bedrooms.

A good degree of fitness is required, as the tasks involve manual handling activities and the moving of furniture and other objects. There is also a fair amount of walking involved.

Housekeeping Team

The Housekeeping Team consists of the Housekeeper and Deputy Housekeeper supported by volunteers. Together, the team is responsible for all housekeeping in the Abbey accommodation (e.g. bedrooms, showers and toilets, refectory and common areas) as well as cleaning the public toilets, kitchen, and the offices in the Welcome Centre.

Main tasks typically include:

• laying tables and washing up after meals;

• regular cleaning of showers, toilets and common areas;

• changing beds and cleaning bedrooms on change-over days; and

• laundry.

There is also a regime of regular sanitising and cleaning in place.

Housekeeping being physically demanding, excellent physical health is required, together with the ability to carry loads of up to 15 kilos.

Shifts can start as early as 7am.

Good people skills are also important. Members of the Housekeeping Team are frequently found in the refectory, which acts as a central hub for guests. They will therefore often be the ones approached when Abbey guests have a question, need assistance, or fancy a chat.

Programme Team

The Programme Team will consist of the Programme Planning Co-ordinator and Programme Delivery Co-ordinator, supported by a volunteer.

The team is responsible for the planning and delivery of creative programme events and activities for Abbey guests and visitors of all ages and backgrounds. The focus is on imaginative and inspiring ways in which staff, volunteers and guests can best experience being part of community and live out the values and vision of the Iona Community. Some of these activities involve children and youth.

Main tasks for volunteers include:

• assisting with welcoming the guests when they arrive on Iona;

• making practical arrangements prior to programme sessions, such as setting rooms and IT equipment;

• helping with mid-session refreshments and clearing up;

• assisting with pilgrimage activities; and

• helping with the delivery of programme sessions.

There is sometimes opportunity for creativity and assisting in developing sessions. You may also be asked to assist in different departments on occasion.

Maintenance Team

The Maintenance Team looks after the interiors of the Abbey premises (where the guests are accommodated) and other Iona Community properties on Iona.

The team is responsible for driving the Community van in support of day-to-day operations (e.g. loading, transporting, and unloading guests’ luggage). The team also carries out most Health & Safety checks such as fire alarm, and assists other departments with heavy duty works (e.g. putting bins out or receiving deliveries).

Main tasks of any volunteer helping the Maintenance Team typically involve:

• a wide range of minor repairs of various kinds (both indoors and outdoors);

• painting and decorating;

• grass cutting;

• driving the van; and

• compliance checks.

Abbey Music Team

The Abbey Music Team is responsible for supporting the services in the Abbey Church with carefully selected hymns and pieces chosen out of a wide repertoire of church and other music resources. It also supports guest programme sessions and other events at which music is required.

The Iona Community frequently uses its own worship material, including that of the Wild Goose Resource Group.

Music volunteers help in the following ways:

• playing the piano in the Abbey Church for some of the services, and in others performing alongside the resident musician on an instrument other than piano;

• assisting in sourcing and choosing hymns and music for services;

• helping to organise guest, volunteer and staff involvement, and supporting rehearsals to enable people to use their instrumental skills in worship;

• helping with the guest ‘open mic’ sessions (informal concerts); and

• helping to lead the ‘Wee Sing’ sessions (which introduce some of the week’s songs, including Iona Community/Wild Goose Resource Group material) in the guest programme.

Working with the Sacristy team, the Music team ensure that participants are audible by using the sound system.

The songs are often taught by rote, so the music volunteer would need the confidence and ability to do this. Flexibility, punctuality, reliability and attention to detail are important, along with a creative and inclusive approach to music and worship.

Assisting with music involves split shifts around the 9am (8am on Fridays) and 9pm services. There is often spare time to become involved in supporting other departments, such as Housekeeping during change-overs (usually on Fridays), and Sacristy or Programme at other times.

Iona Community Shop Team

The team is responsible for the busy Iona Community Shop, which welcomes tens of thousands of visitors every year. The shop opens seven days a week in season, and has a turnover of over £300,000. The team is led by managers Nick Welsh and Sarah Macdonald, supported by volunteers.

The shop sells a wide range of products – books, CDs, Celtic jewellery, clothes, gifts, cards, ice cream and much more. A key priority is to stock items made by the local community, together with items supplied by fair trade organisations and a wide range of books, especially those published by Wild Goose publishing. The shop also has a hot-drinks vending machine.

Helping in the shop typically involves receiving and unpacking deliveries, stocking shelves, serving customers and operating the till and credit card machine, cashing up at day end, setting up stock displays, assisting with special events (e.g. author readings), together with general cleaning duties.

It is a physically demanding role, which requires standing for long periods, bending, lifting and moving heavy boxes.

The three key elements to this role are technological ability (including working the till with precision, using software to look up stock, and creating signs and labels on the computer), stamina, and the ability to welcome and interact with a large number and variety of visitors.

Administration Team

The Admin Team is based in the Welcome Centre – a separate building opposite the Abbey, which also accommodates the Iona Community Shop.

Typically, the Community’s Administrator works in the following areas: answering the phone and dealing with queries; dealing with general email and booking enquiries; answering queries from visitors to the island; sorting the post and other deliveries; providing support with photocopying, printing, scanning or typing; formatting documents; updating spreadsheets; and writing minutes.

In 2027 there is no volunteer admin role.

Is Volunteering on Iona Right for You?

It is easy to have a rather romantic idea of what it is like to live in community on the iconic and beautiful island of Iona.

The reality is that volunteering for the Iona Community on Iona can be hugely rewarding if you are very resilient, are willing and able to assist in practical hospitality for several hours a day, and are ready to embrace the experience wholeheartedly. Many past volunteers say that their lives have been greatly enriched, and at times transformed, by their experience.

Equally, the significant challenges of living and working on Iona can mean this is not the right place for you. Some volunteers have had to leave earlier than planned because they found it too difficult. Others comment as they leave that they had not realised until they arrived how physically demanding it is to help provide practical hospitality day in day out, and how challenging it can be to live in close community on a remote island.

This is why the Iona Community is asking you to think very carefully before you decide whether to apply. The Iona Community wishes you all the best in your discernment process.

If you are not sure and would like to talk it through with someone, feel free to email volunteerapplications@iona.org.uk.

Practical Information

Some practical information which you may find helpful in your discernment process:

• Travel expenses to and from Iona are paid against receipts from whatever point you set off from the UK mainland all the way to Iona and similarly on your return journey. The Iona Community asks that you travel in as an environmentally-friendly and cost-effective way as you can.

• You will be provided with free board and lodging (inclusive of all facilities such as electricity, heating and broadband). The Iona Community recommends that you ensure that you have sufficient funds to support any other expenses you may incur.

• You will live in Iona Community premises on the island, sharing living space, kitchen facilities and bathrooms. Some volunteers may be required to share a bedroom with one other person.

• Smoking, vaping or any illegal activities are not allowed in any Iona Community premises.

• Alcohol is permitted in Iona Community premises (other than in guest accommodation at the Abbey Centre) within a framework of moderation and where having alcohol is the exception rather than the norm. The Iona Community encourages open communication and reflection as individuals and households, recognising that the lives of many people have been adversely affected (directly or indirectly) as a result of alcohol misuse.

If You Decide to Apply

• Please note that you must be 18 by the time you join the community on Iona.

• The Iona Community requires a commitment of a minimum of 6 weeks, and preferably several months. Preference will generally be given to applicants who can stay for at least three months.

• Your application will be acknowledged on receipt, and considered along the many other applications received.

• If you do not hear from the Iona Community within six weeks of sending your application form, it means your application has not been taken forward.

• If your application is selected for the next step, a Zoom interview will be arranged, and a decision will be made as to whether the Iona Community makes a provisional offer to you. This offer will only be confirmed after satisfactory references from at least two sources.

• References will be followed up as soon as a provisional offer is made, and the final decision communicated as soon as the references have been received and checked.

If You Live Outside the UK

If you do not have UK (United Kingdom) or ROI (Republic of Ireland) citizenship, in most cases, it will be necessary for you to apply for a work visa under the ‘Temporary Work – Charity Worker visa’ category in order to volunteer at Iona Abbey.

The Iona Community will only consider applications from people outside the UK who would normally be able to come to the UK as a “standard visitor” with just an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA), or on a UK/ROI passport.

The Iona Community will not consider applications from people outside the UK who normally need a visa to come to the UK as a standard visitor. You can check this at https://www.gov.uk/check-uk-visa.

Also, if you have previously had a ‘Temporary Work – Charity Worker visa’ you cannot apply for another visa of this type until 12 months has passed from the end of your previous visa.

Applying for a Temporary Work – Charity Worker Visa

The Iona Community is an authorised ‘A-level’ sponsor and can therefore obtain a set number of Certificates of Sponsorship per year for ‘Temporary Work – Charity Worker’ visas under UK Home Office regulations.

If the Iona Community offers you a volunteer role and you accept it, the Iona Community will request a sponsorship number from the Home Office on your behalf. This number will give you access to a lengthy online application form in English.

On submission of the completed application, you will have to pay with your own funds the visa application fees (£340 in November 2026).

The process of applying for a visa can only start 3 calendar months before your volunteer placement starts.

If a visa is granted, you will also need to fund your travel to the UK. Once in the UK, your travel expenses to reach Iona will be covered by the Iona Community.

Please note that there is no guarantee that a visa will be granted once you apply (and have paid the money). The Home Office does not refund the application fee if the application is turned down.

Please only proceed with filling in the application form if you have read all the information and team roles listed in the links above.

Application Process

Applications are considered on an ongoing basis but most of the volunteer positions for 2027 will be in progress by the end of 2026. If you are interested in being considered for 2027 please send your application as soon as possible, ideally by 16th November.

If you have any query about completing this form, please get in touch by email volunteerapplications@iona.org.uk or call +44 1681 700 404.

If you volunteered on Iona in 2025 or 2026 and would like to return in 2027 you do not need to complete the form again. Contact volunteerapplications@iona.org.uk and give information about how long you would like to volunteer for, when you would be available, and your preferred team.

About the Iona Community

Read the Transforming Lives document and the updated strategic objectives to find out more about the Iona Community. The Iona Community has provided a bit of a summary below:

The Iona Community is:

• an ecumenical Christian community of people from different walks of life and different traditions in the Church;

• committed to the gospel of Jesus Christ, and to following where that leads, even into the unknown;

• engaged together, and with people of goodwill across the world, in acting, reflecting and praying for justice, peace and the integrity of creation;

• convinced that the inclusive community the Iona Community seeks must be embodied in the community it practices.

Our Rule

The Iona Community shares a common discipline of:

• Daily prayer, and regular engagement with the Bible and other material which nourishes the community.

• Working for justice and peace, wholeness and reconciliation in localities, society and the whole creation.

• Supporting one another in prayer and by meeting, communicating, and accounting with one another for the use of gifts, money and time, the use of the earth’s resources and the keeping of all aspects of the Rule.

• Sharing in the corporate life and organisation of the Community.

The Iona Community was founded in Govan and Iona in 1938 by George MacLeod, minister, visionary and prophetic witness for peace, in the context of the poverty and despair of the Depression.

The original task of rebuilding the monastic ruins of Iona Abbey was to serve as a sign of hopeful rebuilding of community in Scotland and beyond.

Today, the Iona Community has about 280 Members, mostly in Britain, with 1,450 Associate Members and 1250 Friends worldwide.

The Iona Community welcomes people from all walks of life at its centres on the islands of Iona and Mull. It trades through Wild Goose Publications and the Iona Community Shop on Iona, and resources a wide range of church and community organizations through its Wild Goose Resource Group.

The Iona Prayer Circle is a worldwide network which prays for people and places in distress. Coracle is the magazine of the Iona Community, which seeks the exchange of thoughts and ideas as a basis for finding common ground.

Through participating in Family Groups, Regional Groups and Common Concern Networks, Members, Associate Members, Friends and the Young Adults Group share concerns, faith and tasks: a common life together.

The Iona Community’s Work on Iona

The Iona Community’s Abbey Centre on Iona exists today both as a resource and a challenge, not only to the Iona Community and to all who visit, but also to the wider Church and indeed to people of all faiths and of none.

The agreed priorities of the Abbey Centre over the next 2 years are to:

• Offer all who come to the Abbey Centre a clear experience of the concerns of the Iona Community as reflected in the Rule, Working Principles and Charter.

• Develop a model of radical hospitality in the intentional common life of the Community, including those who come to live and work in the Abbey Centre, offering:

  • a warm welcome

  • deep encounter and challenge

  • an enriching rhythm of work and worship / prayer and action

• Increasingly prioritise as guests in the centres, those living with social, physical, mental and economic disadvantage, alongside a wider diversity of guests and visitors, building sustainable relationships before, during and after their stay.

• Facilitate a model of worship, prayer and reflection as part of everyday life, enabling members, guests and visitors to make more meaningful their Island Centre experiences and their lives.

• Offer innovative programmes, which challenge participants to work for peace, social justice and the integrity of creation, and explore the development of an Iona Community Learning and Equipping Framework, along with the local Island and wider community.

• Maximise the extraordinary dedication, skills and expertise of staff and volunteers, through ensuring optimal staffing levels, clear roles and responsibilities, robust supervision and support, and opportunities for training and innovation.

(Taken from the 3-year strategic plan for the Iona Abbey Centre)

The Iona Community hopes this means that those who come to the Iona Abbey Centre will experience it as:

• A safe place, in which to explore the meaning of Christian life together, both within the life of the mainstream churches and also within the many new ways of being church, and how to live a committed Christian life in a multicultural and multi-faith world;

• A place of openness, where people at different stages on their personal journeys can share and learn from each other what God is saying to and through them, and through the story of the Iona Community and the world-wide church;

• An empowering place, from which people may go forward on their pilgrimage strengthened and emboldened to make a difference in the world in which they live.

How to Apply

If this opportunity interests you, head to the Iona Community’s official website for full details — click here to submit your application.