Volunteer Spotlight: Natalie from Hertfordshire, UK

Natalie is one of those people who just gets things done - calmly, thoughtfully, and often with a clipboard (real or metaphorical) in hand. She first found the Bunker through Workaway while travelling in Central America. She was looking for a place to live in Edinburgh, ideally somewhere with purpose. The Barnton Bunker fit the bill: a central location, a whole variety of work, and just the right balance between the outdoors, the charity sector, and community events.

Before arriving, Natalie had already dipped her toes into the world of volunteering. From eco-construction and agriculture in Mexico to monitoring wildlife with the Scottish Wildlife Trust, she’s no stranger to getting her hands dirty - or pitching in for a good cause. She also holds a Master’s Degree in Gender and International Development and brings with her a sharp understanding of the charity sector, plus the organisational know-how to run events and build meaningful partnerships. Something that we have needed at the Bunker!

At the Bunker, Natalie has been the quiet powerhouse behind some of our most impactful local outreach. She’s brought in 4-5 local volunteer groups, creating lasting links between the Bunker and the wider Edinburgh community. “They get excited,” she says, “and that builds relationships”. Whether she’s introducing schoolkids to hands-on work or helping people find new ways to contribute, Natalie’s passion for accessibility and inclusion is clear.

She enjoys tasks that vary day-to-day and allow her to dip into both planning and physical labour. While she’s no fan of communal dish duty (who is?), she’s a firm believer that most challenges in shared living can be solved with good communication - and a little time alone to recharge.

“I need to take breaks from the social space,” she admits. “If I don’t, I burn out completely”.

Natalie originally planned to stay three months but is now four months in and counting. In the meantime, she’s job hunting, using her time at the Bunker to gather hands-on experience and examples for grant applications and future roles in the community and charity space. “It was either do something like this or sit at my parents’ house applying for jobs,” she says, “which would have been super depressing”.

She’s learned that she works best independently within a team - taking ownership of tasks while being part of a larger group effort. And after years of working with people from different backgrounds and cultures, she says the Bunker continues to provide new insights.

“It’s a whole different approach from the structured office environment I’m used to,” she says. “It’s a great way to rethink how we present opportunities - especially for young people who might not thrive in traditional systems”.

When asked what she’ll remember most, she doesn’t hesitate: “The people”. From spontaneous poetry readings to watching a Canadian logging show and taking a shot every time someone made a gay innuendo, it’s the unexpected evenings and inside jokes that make life at the Bunker feel like more than just work. Natalie is the kind of organised, unflappable force you turn to when things get chaotic - steady, a step ahead and the kind of patience that makes you feel like everything is under control.