Shay Gleeson

Thank you all for your replies—they’ve been incredibly helpful.

Just a little about me, as I didn’t mention it earlier: I run HelpStay.com, a platform similar to WWOOF but not limited to organic farm placements. My question was in relation to an experience one of our hosts had.

Currently, we advise all our hosts to conduct a video chat with potential helpers before agreeing to invite them. We also provide a list of suggested questions to ask. A video chat is a great way to assess suitability, as it allows hosts to see and hear the person. However, some hosts choose to interact with volunteers via messaging only. I believe it’s very difficult to get a true sense of someone through text alone, especially if they may be struggling with a mental illness.

I think it’s important for hosts to have a sit-down review with the volunteer after a few days to assess how things are going. If it’s not working out, politely asking them to move on—with a few days’ grace to find a new place—seems like a fair approach. The challenge, however, is that this might simply pass the issue on to another host.

I was wondering if anyone has experience dealing with volunteers who arrive on-site and turn out to be suffering from a mental illness.

We recently had a case where the host communicated extensively with a volunteer via WhatsApp before their arrival, and everything seemed fine. However, when the volunteer arrived, it quickly became clear that they were unable to take care of themselves—barely eating, surviving on coffee, and struggling to communicate. They appeared very lonely and depressed, with little self-respect or consideration for their lodgings.

Although their work was satisfactory, the state in which they left their accommodation was completely unacceptable. The place required deep cleaning, as it was covered in mud from top to bottom. Washing up was left in the sink, coffee was spilled all over the floor, soft furnishings were scattered on the floor, mud was tracked up the stairs, and the bathroom was filthy.

This volunteer was clearly not a suitable candidate and seemed to need professional help rather than a volunteer placement. I’m wondering how others go about identifying such cases in advance—how do you screen or pre-vet volunteers without being too intrusive?