Volunteering with Sense Holidays We have lots of fantastic volunteering opportunities coming up on our holidays, short breaks and events this year. Read on to find out more about our different volunteer roles Volunteer on a Short Break Children & young people 3 5 days School half-terms and Easter holidays We are looking for volunteers to support a group of young people from Birmingham on short breaks over the year. Just like our summer holidays, our short breaks will be full of excitement, fun and games, and on top of this, we will support each individual to fulfil their personal outcomes, such as increased independence or friendships. This is a special opportunity for volunteers too! It s a chance to have great fun with a group of young people and build new relationships. And as each young person will have the chance to enjoy three separate short breaks across the year, you can even return to volunteer on a later short break to see how much the group has achieved The breaks are shorter than our summer holidays and will typically last from 3 to 4 nights. All these short breaks will take place near to Birmingham. Preparation Volunteers are asked to arrive the day before the young people, for time to meet your holiday leader(s) and fellow volunteers, and take part in training before the short break begins.
Dates This continuous programme is an opportunity to build relationships with the same young people over multiple holidays and we hope that some volunteers will sign up to more than one short break! Sunday 14 February Friday 19 February Monday 28 March Friday 1 April Sunday 3 April Friday 8 April Saturday 28 May Friday 3 June Saturday 13 August Saturday 20 August Please apply as soon as possible if you are interested in volunteering on the February or Easter short breaks. Volunteer on a Holiday Plus Older deafblind people March or April I enjoyed making new friends and meeting old friends again Holidaymaker Holiday Plus is a programme of week-long holidays and short breaks for older people who need additional support to enjoy a break due to sight and hearing impairments. The holidays are an opportunity for them to have a break, meet new people and get out and about in a supportive environment. Two holidays are taking place this year with the groups staying at specially adapted hotels. Volunteers are on-hand to provide companionship and support so that the holidaymakers can get the most from the holiday. The support you provide will be personalised to an individual holidaymaker.
You could be acting as a sighted guide to help the holidaymaker navigate a building or an activity, or you may be required to support their communication by using clear speech to pass on information. Some holidaymakers might need assistance with their daily routines and personal care. Your leader will support you with this. The activities may include pub lunches, cream teas and visiting local attractions as well as relaxing together in the hotel. Dates Monday 14 - Friday 18 March in Blackpool, Lancashire Saturday 9 Saturday 16 April in Eastbourne, East Sussex Please apply as soon as possible if you are interested in volunteering on the Holiday Plus holidays. Volunteer on a Summer Holiday Children, young people & adults One week July or August Our summer holidays give deafblind children, young people and adults the opportunity to meet new people, gain new experiences, and have fun. The holiday is also an important break for both them and their family. Your role on the holiday is to enable holidaymakers to get involved in activities and try new things, provide support with their daily routines and to enjoy the week and have fun! Accommodation includes outdoor activity centres, cottages, villas and even barges! Each holiday is planned around the needs and interests of holidaymakers. Activities could include swimming, horse-riding, visits to local attractions, canoeing, dry slope skiing, meals out and nights in the pub the possibilities are endless!
Preparation If we re able to offer you a place on a summer holiday then we will invite you to the Holidays Preparation Day in Coventry on Saturday 18 June 2016. You ll get to meet your leader(s) and the other volunteers in your group and find out more about your holiday and the holidaymakers. The day also includes essential training on communication, guiding and child & adult protection. You ll take home a volunteer manual which is packed full of information that you ll need on your holiday. It is vital that you can attend this day if you want to volunteer on a holiday this summer. Dates Holidays take place in July and August and last for one week. Download our 2016 summer brochure with the details of where and when the holidays are taking place on our webpage at www.sense.org.uk/summerholidays. Volunteering on day and weekend events Deafblind people of all ages and their family members Throughout the year There were lots of laughs and smiles! Volunteer Deafblind individuals and families get together at a range of weekend events throughout the year. These events take place throughout England and Wales. Volunteers provide support in a variety of ways including offering play and leisure opportunities at information and family events, and supporting days out and weekends away for our Young Sense and Siblings networks. Our event volunteering is very popular. It s a great next step following a holiday in the summer and many of our holiday volunteers choose to build on their experience and keep up their involvement during the year in this way.
We prioritise events volunteering roles for volunteers who have already completed a Sense holiday and preparation event. However, we welcome interest in our events from all volunteers, so if you re new to volunteering with Sense and would like to find out more, do please still apply, as depending on the event we may be able to accommodate you. Preparation In the weeks leading up to the event, you will receive information about the event and your role. At the event, the leader will provide you with support and ensure you are happy with your role. Dates September: CHARGE Family Support Group leisure club (Coventry) Autumn: Our BIG annual Sense event! (date & venue TBC) Events are organised throughout the year and we will notify you about each new opportunity via your volunteer profile at myvolunteerpage.com. Travel Support volunteers Throughout the summer and Holiday Plus Every year, we look for volunteers to provide travel assistance to some of our holidaymakers. This is a rewarding role as you will be helping a deafblind person reach their holiday safely. Example of holidaymaker travel support Meet an older person with multi-sensory impairments at their home Take a taxi together to the train station. You may need to carry their bags. Have a cup of tea while waiting for your train Support them to find the right platform and board the train Travel with them to the venue and support their communication when they meet their holiday group.
We will ensure that you have enough information about the holidaymaker to support his/her needs. You will receive all this information in a timely manner and for a dedicated person to be on call to answer your questions on the day. We would expect you to undergo the necessary security checks to complete the role safely. Without our dedicated team of travel volunteers, we would not be able to support a number of deafblind people to go on holiday. Minibus driving volunteers Throughout the summer Each year, we need volunteers to transport our minibuses to and from the holiday venues. This is hugely important role because, without the buses, our groups could not be as independent as they are. This is a perfect role for someone who cannot commit to a full holiday or day event, but would still like to contribute to our holidays programme. Before the trip, we will ensure that you have all the necessary information. We will purchase your train tickets, arrange taxis and be on call in case you have any questions on the day. You don t need any special qualifications to drive these vehicles. You must be over 21 years old and have held a licence (category B) for at least 2 years. If you can spare a few hours this summer, we would love to hear from you. How to contact us If you have any further queries, please contact the Holidays Team: Post: Sense, 101 Pentonville Road, London N1 9LG Tel.: 0300 330 9250 Text: 0300 330 9252 Email: holidays@sense.org.uk