L'Arche is an international movement of communities of people with and without learning disabilities sharing life. L'Arche in the UK, founded in 1974, has eleven communities, from London, to Manchester, to Edinburgh. Relationship, a commitment to mutual transformation, and care at at the heart of our ethos. Our theme for our jubilee year, 2024, is 'joyful rebellion' - L'Arche is a rebellion against a care sector that too often doesn't care, and a world that too often flattens people with learning disabilities into passive recipients of care, incapable of creativity or love. But our rebellion is grounded in our shared life and relationship - in joy.
Be a part of this joyful rebellion as a live-in Community Worker. You would like in a L'Arche house alongside people with learning disabilities and spend forty hours a week supporting your housemates and the community. You’ll be building relationships of mutuality, community and spirituality, enabling people we support to be independent within a network of relationships and friendships. And where appropriate, you’ll be helping L’Arche Support Workers who are employed to provide ongoing care and support to people with learning disabilities.
Living in a L’Arche Community is an intense experience that requires a big commitment. It asks you to immerse yourself in a vibrant community and to slow down at the same time. It brings routine and the unexpected.
As a Community Worker, you will be provided with full board and lodging, as well as a monthly allowance. You’ll live in an alternative, inclusive model of society whilst gaining a deep understanding of social care in UK today. You’ll develop deep, meaningful connections with individuals, and also have a community for life. You'll also receive lots of valuable training (such as first aid and sign language), achieve a nationally recognised Care Certificate qualification, and learn a wide range of transferrable skills.
