Volunteer

Paid Roles at Camp 2012 Camp Calendar

Volunteering at Barretstown is a truly unforgettable experience – fun activities, lots of laughs and the knowledge that you are directly helping seriously ill kids turn their lives around. Every year Barretstown needs 700 volunteers to take part in our life-changing programme.  As a volunteer (Cara) you perform a key role in supporting and encouraging each child to take part in all aspects of camp, while making sure they're safe and supervised at all times. Most importantly you'll help them have fun!

There are multiple ways to volunteer.

Family Weekend Volunteer

As a volunteer you will be assigned to work with a family and also a specific activity group for the duration of the weekend. You will encourage and support the children and parents to partake in all activities and to act as a Cara “friend” for the weekend. Volunteers must commit to the full weekend. Training is provided on the morning camp commences prior to the arrival of the families.

Summer Camp Volunteer

During the summer volunteers work as Volunteer Cara’s. As a Cara you work in conjunction with our full-time summer staff to supervise, support and care for campers throughout every aspect of their camp life. All camps are 8 days in duration and all volunteers must commit to the full session. A full days training is provided the day before each camp commences.

As the children come to camp from 12 European Countries during the summer we also require Chaperones and Interpreters.Chaperones escort the children to camp and home again from their country of origin and act as volunteer cara’s when at camp. All Chaperones must be fluent in English and help with translation.

Interpreters are responsible for translating for the children as all our programmes are taught through English. Barretstown is a residential camp - Volunteers, Chaperones and Interpreters stay on site during camp. Food and accommodation is provided. Volunteers must be 19 years of age or over.

Volunteer Requirements:

  • Must be at least 19 years or over
  • All candidates must be fluent in English
  • Ability to be at camp for full length of the session

Volunteer Application Process:

Closing Date for Spring Weekend Camps and Summer Camps has now passed. We are filling our Autumn Weekend Camps on a rolling basis.

Please send your completed application to recruit@barretstown.org or post to Staff Recruitment, Barretstown Castle, Ballymore Eustace, Co. Kildare, Ireland.

Medical Application Form (for volunteer Doctors and Nurses)

Please send your completed application to recruit@barretstown.org or via post to Barretstown Castle. Please note all applications must be supported by 2 written references and a criminal record check from country of residence.

 

"Coming to Barretstown was like being plucked from reality and put into a world with likeminded people all working towards the same, worthwhile goal of making the weekend special for the families and each other (and it was special!)"

"I had two great families to look after who were brilliant. I got involved in activities that I thought I would never do – dressing up as a bumble bee and having the kids face painting me and dressing me up. There were so many highlights from the weekend but I think for me it was seeing the families play football and fishing together without a care in the world!”