Stable Life

Charity registered in Scotland SC011786

Stable Life is a registered charity working with vulnerable young people between 10 and 18 years of age in the Scottish Borders who are experiencing personal challenges. We offer a safe, nurturing and learning experience using the horse and its surroundings to help young people reach their full potential and become healthier and happier.


Current opportunities

Stable Life's mission is to support young people in the Borders who are experiencing personal challenges in their lives. We offer weekly sessions at Dryden Farm and get great results. Can you help transporting them? Role Description: Using own vehicle collect young people from schools across the Borders and transport them to Stable Life at Dryden Farm. You will be allocated a specific town and group of children to enable you to build a relationship with the young people. These relationships will be based on friendship, trust and enjoyment. The young people will then be transported back to school. Sessions at Stable Life take 1-2 hours and we will only ask you to transport young people within the Scottish Borders.

Enjoy being around horses? Want a safe, supportive place to learn new skills? Come and be a valued part of our friendly team! Expect to have lots of fun, make new friends and get outdoors! Stable Life provides a safe, nurturing and learning experience using the horse and its environment to help young people in the Scottish Borders reach their full potential, and become healthier and happier with aspirations and dreams. And we need your help! As a Stable Life Yard Volunteer your role would be to carry out general yard duties associated with the care, welfare and exercise of the horses. This may include: - Providing food and water - Replacing bedding - Exercising horses - Cleaning and maintaining tack and equipment - Grooming of horses - Mucking out stables - Maintaining cleanliness and tidiness of yard and fields - Creating an appropriate environment for our young people - Assisting staff with practical duties - Tacking and untacking horses - Any other appropriate duties as directed by the Yard Manager. We will not ask you to do anything you are uncomfortable with, or not trained to do. However, we have lots of opportunities for learning and up-skilling and some of our volunteers even go on to become paid staff members! We value our volunteers highly and you can expect benefits like access to free horse-riding (dependent upon number of hours volunteered), participation in volunteer award schemes (e.g. Saltire) and an annual volunteer celebration day. Our volunteer co-ordinator can also help you with job applications and personal statements for college/university. Volunteering on the yard is an important role at Stable Life, as a charity we rely on your support. You help to keep our horses happy and healthy, enable our young people to feel welcomed and safe and support our hard-working staff. Thank you for taking the time to consider this position.

The role of Trustee at Stable Life is to support the Chairperson and fellow board members in ensuring the charitable organisation, Stable Life, is managed with due diligence under the rules and conditions set by OSCR. A Trustee of Stable Life will work with other trustees, the organisation CEO, staff members and volunteers to ensure the charity is carrying out its intended purpose. As a trustee you will lead the charity and help decide how it is run, making decisions that will impact on people’s lives. As a trustee you will use your skills and experience to make a difference to the local community and wider society as a whole. Timings 2 hours per month as and when required with a minimum commitment of 1 year.

What if you could have fun with young people, be around horses and increase your experience and skills all at the same time?! Come and be a valued part of our friendly team! Stable Life provides a safe, nurturing and learning experience using the horse and its environment to help young people in the Scottish Borders reach their full potential, and become healthier and happier with aspirations and dreams. And we need your help! As a Stable Life Project Volunteer your role is to assist staff to ensure the young people feel welcomed and supported and are always kept safe. This may include: - Providing support to the young people whilst they are working around the horses and during the ridden part of the session - Leading horses with young people on - Help project workers with identified tasks - Provide guidance and encouragement to young people - Use own ideas and questions to appropriately encourage discussions in the cabin - Grooming, tacking & untacking horses - Assisting the young people with protective clothing - Lead the young people by example in behaviour, attitude and positive relationships We will not ask you to do anything you are uncomfortable with, or not trained to do. However, we have lots of opportunities for learning and up-skilling and some of our volunteers even go on to become paid staff members! We value our volunteers highly and you can expect benefits like access to free horse-riding (dependent upon number of hours volunteered), participation in volunteer award schemes and an annual volunteer celebration day. Volunteering with the Project is an important role at Stable Life, as a charity we rely on your support. You help to keep our horses happy and healthy, enable our young people to feel welcomed and safe and support our hard-working staff. Thank you for taking the time to consider this position. Skills/Experience required: • Experience of working with young people • Some experience with horses Personal Attributes: As a Volunteer Project Worker you will be leading and influencing our young people; they will be watching and learning from your actions, attitudes and relationships. As such, it is key that you: - Are responsible - Are friendly and welcoming - Keep confidentiality - Show commitment & attend sessions as agreed - Keep calm - Maintain safe working practises and health & safety - Be a good listener - Be respectful and non-judgemental - Represent kind, healthy and bounded relationships with staff, horses and young people