Volunteers Needed

Being an elder on the Rites was the most positive and affirming
experience of male team membership I’ve ever had - Geoff​

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There are many different ways that men can serve on the Rites. We have vacancies in the team that hosts the Rites at the Bield (usually a team of 12 Elders for 8 days) and smaller roles that are equally important but can be done without attending the actual Rites. Whilst we would love there to be more men who could be part of the on site team there is a cost associated with this that forms part of the overall cost of the Rites

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Being part of the holding team for the Rites of passage offers you an opportunity to ‘share your gold’ in a very real sense and to understand the process in a deeper capacity. From this year, we are seeking to make the process of admission to the elder team more transparent, clear and sustainable, focussed on developing leadership capacity for the future as much as meeting immediate needs. ​

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If you feel called to participate, we will therefore be asking you to say a little about yourself and how your service in 2026 would fit into your wider plans for growth and development. Although not compulsory for acceptance, it would also be of enormous help if you were able to commit to attending the Moot in November since a great deal of initial groundwork will be set for the Rites at this point.

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Below you will find the link to the form where you can express your interest, along with a summary of the roles we are looking to fill. You will note that the ‘Kindler’ and ‘Companion’ roles do not require you to actually attend the Rites themselves, while the others all require that you be available to attend Rites 2026 at the Bield from Sunday 19th July to Monday 27th July 2026. Travel expenses will be reimbursed.

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Finally, a note on the process we will take to select the Rites team. The Trustees have empowered the core organising group of Weavers, Ritual Elders and Conveners to run the process. Decisions will be taken based on our priorities of i) Alignment with the needs of the role, ii) A Balance of skills, ages, and experience, iii) Ensuring Continuity for future Rites teams. We expect more men to put themselves forward than places available, so please do not be discouraged if you are asked to fulfil a different role to the one you expressed an interest in. You will definitely be needed!

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Application Form for Rites 2026 Team

We ask that everyone who is interested completes the Form which is linked here, including those who have already expressed interest informally.

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The roles which need to be filled are:

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​Rites Enquiry Coordinator: Men interested in the Rites of Passage can submit an enquiry via the website form. This role ensures that each enquirer receives a follow-up call within 48 hours from a man who has completed the Rites and is willing to share the personal impact of the experience. You will be responsible for maintaining a spreadsheet to track incoming enquiries and assigning each one to an appropriate handler. To support rapid coordination, you will also manage a dedicated WhatsApp group where team members can quickly access contact details and respond promptly.

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Kindlers: These are men who are given names and contact details of enquirers who are seeking more information and who might be interested in attending the Rites. Your very personal story and experience can be the inspiration for these enquirers, tipping the balance and encouraging them to ‘go for it’. You will not attend the Rites themselves and you will not be over-burdened with calls.

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Companions: These are men who are able to ‘bookend’ the Rites of passage experience for a particular initiate, offering support at a distance in the weeks prior to the event and afterwards. As an initiate, how good it would be on the first night of the Rites to know that there is a man I know who is thinking of me and whom I can talk about it all at the end. Brothers acting as Companions will not be attending the Rites with the initiates in person. Your service and direct contact is intended before and after The Rites has completed. Companion and initiate will agree together the duration and extent of the companionship.

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Site elder(s): You would have responsibility for the setup and management of the site, collaborating with the team at the Bield, and ensuring smooth running of the different spaces we occupy onsite. You may have skills or experience linked to site management, health and safety, project management or anything else you think relevant. This is a particularly key role(s) this year so if you’re called then please let us know.

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Co-convenors: these are men who focus on the practical matters of ensuring the Rites happen! It needs to be clear how many men are coming, how they are paying, whether they have a tent (!), whether they have medical conditions. Convenors work closely with the Bield but you do not necessarily need to attend the Rites themselves. You would be working alongside Hugh Barney and Geoff Taggart as the existing convenors.

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Shadow weaver: A weaver is a man who takes a prominent role in shaping the activities of the Rites overall and has an overview of the ‘curriculum’ which initiates follow. As someone with experience as a Rites elder, you would be working with Peter Fishpool and Martin Higgins who are acting as weavers. Although not compulsory, there would be an expectation that you might move into a weaver role in the future.

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Ritual Assistant Elders: A ritual elder has a very intense role in the elder team, leading and guiding the men through the staged rituals of the Rites themselves. You would be working with Francis O’Leary and Joel Bubbers who are the Ritual Elders in 2026. Although not compulsory, there would be a hope that you might move into a ritual elder role in the future.

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Wilderness elders: Men who can organise and guide the initiates through the wilderness experience in the Glen. So we particularly seek a man/men with confidence and skills in running or organising events in nature.

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There are other roles which can probably be combined with others above:

Teaching elder: You would be asked to talk to the initiates about your own experience in relation to a particular theme on one of the days.

Safeguarding elder: You have an understanding of the safeguarding expectations of the elder team and ensure everyone knows their responsibilities. Ideally you’ve had experience of safeguarding in some formal or volunteering capacity, with an understanding of the wider diversity and inclusion agenda also desirable.