A Working Activity Holiday

in France

We need a live-in volunteer worker to help with our busy activity holidays in the Dordogne, SW France...

These fun and friendly courses run throughout the summer, and due to their success, an extra pair of hands is needed.

That's where you come in: we are looking for a willing worker to help with the full range of cooking course activities that we offer our clients.

Cookery, painting and photography tuition given in exchange...

Accommodation and meals are provided and free tuition in the activity of your choice is offered.

You'll learn all about modern French cookery from our experienced English chef, painting from our professional artists and digital photography with our pro-photographer.

On top of that, you'll gain an insight into how we run a successful business in the hospitality industry.

And all this in a professional, though informal environment.

Lots to get your teeth into...

We need your help and expertise during our busy early summer, summer and autumn season, i.e. from late May to mid October.

You will be required to help with the following tasks...

• Washing up:
  Our clients are on holiday and really appreciate having the washing up done for them

• Cleaning:
  Tidying and cleaning up after each session in the kitchen

• Laundry:
  Tea towels, aprons, bedding and towels, etc, all need washing and ironing

• Ingredient preparation:
  Helping the chef with the mise en place (ingredient preparation) for each cooking session

• Setting table:
  Setting table for indoors or outdoors eating

• Saturday morning changeover:
  Our clients leave Saturday morning and the rooms need changing, i.e. strip and make beds, hoover, clean en suites, etc

• Monday evening service of welcoming meal:
  Our chef needs your help with preparing and cooking the welcoming Sunday evening meal

• Driving licence desirable (though not essential):
  Using our vehicles for running transfers to/from the airport/train station, transporting clients to/from our local market and for field trips, etc

• Shopping:
  Stocking up on provisions from local markets, shops and supermarkets

• Running errands:
  For when we run out of something!

In exchange, you...

• ...will have your own on-site accommodation:
  Your very own accommodation within a short stroll of the activities

• ...can choose between fully catered or self catering facilities:
  Feel free to join in with any meals prepared as part of the course or make your own using ingredients already here

• ...will receive hands-on cooking, painting or photography tuition:
  Learn a myriad dishes and skills with our experienced English chef

• ...can pick up useful people skills:
  We run relaxed friendly hands-on cooking courses for groups of between four and twelve so there are always interesting and vibrant people around

• ...will be able to learn French or practice your existing language skills:
  While not working or socialising with our clients, you will inevitably come into contact with the locals, all of whom are friendly and encouraging

• ...have the opportunity to immerse yourself in rural French life:
  Take advantage of your time off and explore the wonderful scenery and the pretty honey-coloured towns and villages of this renowned region

• ...will enjoy flexible leisure time:
  We are very friendly and accommodating and will be happy to help you fully appreciate your time in France

• ...can enjoy our 10m x 5m x 1.8m (deep) pool:
  Have a splash in, or just relax around our beautiful south-facing pool

Perfectly placed in the centre of the Dordogne tourist region...

More Brits visit the Dordogne than Paris! Consequently, we are situated right in the middle of one of the most popular tourist areas of France.

Our cooking holidays are very popular, and, with six years experience in the business, we know what our clients want.

Take home fantastic new skills, recipes and memories...

Patiently guided and encouraged by our professional tutors, you'll quickly become highly adept in all areas:

Cooking...

• Pre-prep

• Mise en place

• Knife skills

• Ingredient selection

• Flavour-matching

• Menu-planning 

Painting and Drawing...

Between them, our tutors cover the complete range of subject matter:

• Landscapes

• Portraiture

• Still-life

• Animals

• Buildings and architecture

...and the most popular media:

• Watercolour

• Gouache

• Acrylic

• Oil

• Pencil and charcoal

• Mixed media

Digital Photography...

Specialising in portraiture, our photography tutor is adept in whatever subject he focuses on and will teach you:

• Landscapes - how to frame a scene and which camera settings to use

• Portraiture - how to light and position your subject

• Still life - how to set up a convincing arrangement and how to light it

• Food photography - how the pros get those mouthwatering shots

• Action shots - using shutter speed, aperture priority and ISO settings to capture that fleeting moment

• Nature - the Dordogne is home to an abundance of flora and fauna just ripe for snapping

• P, TV, AV, M & B. What's all that about?! - those mysterious camera settings explained and explored

• The 'SCN' and 'AUTO PICT' setting - use your cameras' built-in SCENE and AUTO PICTURE settings for spontaneous on-the-hoof shooting

Don't worry, it's not all food and cooking...

You'll have a great time here, which is why we describe Cookinfrance to our clients as a cooking holiday. 

When not 'slaving' away in the kitchen you can slope away to visit some of our beautiful tourist sites, doing some shopping, going out for great value meals or just lounging around by the pool soaking up the sun.

Visit bustling open-air markets, a walnut oil mill and, of course, the ancient honey-coloured towns and villages of this perfect region.