Case Study: ARK at Egwood

ARK (Acts of Random Kindness) at Egwood is a land-based day facility in South Somerset set up in 2019. It offers therapeutic activities, experiences and support services on 12 acres of land with animals, horticulture and communal buildings to improve people’s health and wellbeing. It has two paid staff and about 35 volunteers who regularly support its work. These numbers have stayed relatively consistent despite the pandemic, as ARK’s activities mostly take place outside so can be conducted safely except during national lockdowns. ARK seeks to keep its charges for service users low, so has few paid staff and is heavily reliant on volunteers to provide capacity and skills. Therefore, the organisation needs to use its volunteers’ skills and experience effectively.