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  5. Volunteering on Handa

With nearly 100,000 breeding seabirds, gorgeous white sandy beaches, 120 metre high cliffs and spectacular vistas, Handa really has something for everyone.

Enjoying it for a day as a tourist is special, but to stay on Handa as a volunteer is an unforgettable and magical experience.

A superb team of volunteers and staff means that there is always a friendly face and good banter at the bothy, but there are also many undisturbed, tranquil spots for relaxing amid stunning views and abundant wildlife.

The Handa experience

We’ve produced several short videos to give you an insight into life as a volunteer on Handa.

If you’re interested in joining the Handa team, you can find out more below.

Please note that since these videos were made, we no longer offer weekly volunteering on Handa.

Long-term volunteering on Handa

Placements on Handa are widely recognised as important field experience and provide excellent networking opportunities with Scottish Wildlife Trust staff, as well as seabird researchers from other organisations.

Many former volunteers have gone on to paid employment on Handa and other reserves, and the majority are now employed full-time within the conservation or academic sectors.

If you are 18 or over, have good spoken English plus a good level of health and fitness, then you’ve passed the first test!

If you are able to sleep in a bunk bed in a basic, mixed-sex bothy on a remote Scottish island and feel you have the skills and experience detailed in the role descriptions below, then we’d be keen to hear from you.

Before you apply, please watch this video about long-term volunteering on the island and have a careful read through all of the documents below.

We have closed our 2025 volunteering opportunities as we now have enough applications.  Thank you for applying.

If you are interested in volunteering on Handa Island these documents will give you a sense of what is involved.

Role description  

  • Monthly volunteers
  • Handa Volunteer Assistant Ranger
  • Handa Volunteer Assistant Ranger (Seabird fieldwork)

Application forms

Essential Handa blogs 

There are lots more Handa related blogs on our blog page.

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