Essential information for weekly volunteers on Handa

<strong>Essential</strong> <strong>in<strong>for</strong>mation</strong> <strong>for</strong>
<strong>weekly</strong> <strong>volunteers</strong> on Handa
VOLUNTEERS <strong>for</strong>m a vital part of the management of the island. There are usually <strong>volunteers</strong> each week from
March to September and an additional long-term placement (minimum one month) from May to July.
• The minimum period of stay is one week
We need your commitment <strong>for</strong> the whole week, from Saturday to Saturday, though you can leave on the last boat
on Friday if you wish. It is important that you arrive on Saturday so you have Sunday (a day off <strong>for</strong> everyone) to
settle in and get to know the island be<strong>for</strong>e work begins on Monday morning, when the ranger will give you an
induction be<strong>for</strong>e the first boat arrives. Stays of up to two weeks are welcome - <strong>volunteers</strong> who stay <strong>for</strong> more than
one week can leave the island on a week day to visit the shop. All <strong>volunteers</strong> are responsible to the seasonal
ranger(s) who will provide day-to-day instructions and training. Your hours of work are usually 9.30am - 5pm,
after which you are free to explore.
• You must have a good level of health and fitness
This is because one of your two main duties is to help visitors from the boat using a portable landing “jetty”. This
landing jetty is quite heavy and you will need to be able to move it up and down the beach all day.
There is also a lot of walking to and from the shelter during beach duties and it’s a long way uphill to the bothy!
• You must be willing to meet and interact with the public
Your other main duty will be to make visitors feel welcome and to invite visitors to the shelter <strong>for</strong> a brief
introductory talk to provide them with <strong>in<strong>for</strong>mation</strong> about the island and its wildlife.
• You must be prepared to live and work on a remote island, in very basic
accommodation and with occasionally hostile weather conditions
• Due to the remote nature of Handa and relatively confined living conditions,
drunkenness will not be tolerated. The ranger or responsible person will ask anyone found behaving
unacceptably to leave on the next available boat.
• We regret that we cannot accommodate pets on Handa
ACCOMMODATION is provided free of charge, in a two-roomed, stone-built bothy.
The mixed-sex bothy is on one side with combined living room and fully fitted kitchen. There is a gas cooker with four
hobs and an oven but use of the oven is limited in order to save gas. Crockery, cutlery and cooking utensils are all
provided. There is also a wood burning stove and electric lighting. Next to this is accommodation <strong>for</strong> longer term
<strong>volunteers</strong>, and adjacent to this are two flushing toilets and a shower. Separate self-contained accommodation is also
provided <strong>for</strong> the seasonal ranger(s), however they also share the toilets and the shower.
• Hot water is a valuable resource so (hot) showers are very much limited (again to save
bottled gas).
• There is no fridge on the island! A stream is used to keep perishables cool.
• The bothy has limited electricity from solar panels. Mobile phones can be charged and it is
important that they remain so in case they are needed in an emergency on the island. Please note, however, that
large electrical items cannot be charged.
PLEASE BRING as a minimum
• enough food <strong>for</strong> one week, including <strong>for</strong> packed lunches everyday (please note that if you are
travelling to Handa by train and bus via Lairg, there will be no time to shop on the way)
• sleeping bag, a pillowcase and a fitted sheet <strong>for</strong> the mattress
• warm and waterproof clothing (including waterproof trousers)
• 2 sets of work clothing
• insect repellent or midge net (essential in July and August)
• sun cream
• sun hat
• watch
• torch
• Waders or wellington boots are essential <strong>for</strong> working on the beach, but in most cases we provide these.
However, if you have particularly small or large feet, please check with the rangers be<strong>for</strong>e you come.

HOW TO GET HERE
NB: You are responsible <strong>for</strong> your own travel arrangements.
Please aim to arrive at 2pm on the Saturday. If you are delayed, it is essential that you contact the Rangers so
that they can let the ferry operators know.
• If driving, please allow sufficient time <strong>for</strong> your journey, bearing in mind that the roads are often slow during
summer. If travelling via Lairg be aware that most of this route is single track.
• Public transport is very limited in the area!
A bus (D&E Coaches) runs from Inverness to Durness via Ullapool between mid May and the end of September. It
goes once a day in each direction. Ask the driver to let you off at the Handa/Tarbet junction about 5 minutes north of
Scourie. This is the easiest option, but will probably require an overnight stay in Ullapool or Inverness both ways. You
will get off at the junction to Tarbet and need to walk or hitch the 3 miles to Tarbet pier. Leaving, the bus picks up midafternoon
at the junction, getting you to Inverness 7.45pm.
Arriving by train to Lairg, the bus to Scourie (George Rapson Buses) should meet the train. Let the driver know that
you want to go to Handa and they will tell you where to get off. As above, you will have to walk or hitch the 3 miles to
the pier.
The Trust covers the ferry fare <strong>for</strong> its <strong>volunteers</strong>. However, if you feel you can cover the fare yourself, we will be very
grateful since it will allow us to spend more funds directly on conservation work on Handa Island.
If you have any questions about getting to Handa ask the ranger well in advance of departing!
LEAVING THE ISLAND
Please aim to leave the accommodation be<strong>for</strong>e 12 pm on your last day.
The morning bus leaves from Tarbet road end and travels Lairg where it connects with a bus or train to Inverness
(often changing at Tain). Un<strong>for</strong>tunately, the bus leaves Tarbet road end be<strong>for</strong>e the ferry starts running, so please let
the ranger know prior to arrival if you are going on this bus, as it requires an overnight stay in Tarbet or an early boat.
Alternatively, you may find that another volunteer will be able to give you a lift to Inverness.
COMMUNICATIONS
There are communication facilities on the island <strong>for</strong> emergency use only, and only Vodafone, Orange and O2 phones
work on the island. There is a public phone at Tarbet and Scourie and the nearest post office and shop is at Scourie.
PLACEMENT ALLOCATION
You will receive confirmation by email as soon as a place has been allocated to you. Volunteers per<strong>for</strong>m a vital role in
the running of the reserve, so if you have booked but you are unable to come <strong>for</strong> any reason, please let us know as soon
as possible so we can find someone else to fill your place.
NB: it is essential that at least two weeks in advance you confirm your attendance by phone
or email with the ranger. If you do not contact us your place may need to be re-allocated.
USEFUL CONTACTS
Handa Ranger
handaranger@swt.org.uk
07920 468572 - mobile phone signal is patchy, please leave a message if
necessary
Scottish Wildlife Trust
0131 312 4737/5
Headquarters
volunteerhanda@swt.org.uk
Scourie Shop & Post Office 01971 502221
Durness Tourist In<strong>for</strong>mation Centre 01971 511259
George Rapson Buses
D&E Coaches
http://georgerapsontravel.com/page6.htm, Lairg–Durness bus via Scourie, all year
http://www.decoaches.co.uk, Service 804 Inverness-Durness bus via Scourie,
seasonal
Handa ferry operators Roger Tebay 07780 967800 and Paul Murray 07775 625890
Thank you <strong>for</strong> supporting the Scottish Wildlife Trust.
We hope you have a fantastic time on Handa!