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Caris Families
Caris Families believes no child should have their life chances threatened by family homelessness. We are a frontline charity that puts back opportunities for children living in homeless families' hostels to play, learn, socialise and have enriching experiences of the wider world. In doing so we support them to stay emotionally and physically well, meet their developmental milestones and develop…
Description

We are looking for volunteers to spend time with, engage and inspire homeless children resident in Camden's temporary accommodation hostels. Our after-school-club is based in one of Camden Council's hostels, and it provides resident children with much-needed play space, creative resources, a lending library, outdoor activities, and healthy after-school snacks. Our volunteer playworkers provide support to our professional staff by being able to give one-to-one attention to individual children in the club, whether by engaging in imaginative play or creative activities, reading with them, participating in outdoor games, or helping them attend to our kitchen garden. The also give practical help to our small staff team, helping to set up and close down the club so we can offer a high level of service to our families. Volunteer participation enables us to have a high adult-child ratio, which means children benefit from the close engagement and encouragement in their personal and creative development from role-model adults.

Duties

Volunteers will be asked to help prepare healthy snacks and refreshments for the children, and to get involved with imaginative play, arts and crafts activities, reading with the children and playing outdoor games, as-and-when required. Volunteers are also asked to help to pack away and clear up after sessions.

Who will the volunteers be working with?
The project manager and staff playworkers
Training
Caris Families ask volunteers to do a short online child safeguarding course (funded by Caris Families) approximately 2hrs to complete.

Time commitment

Time commitment is 2.5 hours per week, term time only and we ask volunteers to commit to six sessions spread over a term. Volunteering will take place on Mondays and/or Tuesdays, from 3.45-6.15pm.

This organisation is one of our community partner organisations.

Like all volunteer recruiters we work with, they have signed up to our service standards, agreeing to abide by our policy on partnership working to keep you safe and supported whilst you volunteer.

You’ll never be out of pocket for volunteering through us – with in-London travel expenses to and from your volunteering guaranteed.

In addition, the team here at Students’ Union UCL Volunteering Service is here to support you throughout your volunteering journey – you can get in touch with us at any time.