Noah's Ark provides regular Family Activities including Family Days, Parent Groups and Sibling Groups; designed to provide fun and free days out, allowing families the opportunity to meet others in similar situations and to take part in new activities in an accessible environment. Becoming an Activities Support volunteer is a serious commitment but it provides a rewarding opportunity to directly support children with life-limiting / life threatening conditions and their families.
Family Days
- Setting up the room
- Greeting and directing families
- Running activities for family members
- Supporting individual families
- Assisting with refreshments
Parent Groups
- Assisting with the crèche by playing and reading with babies and toddlers
Siblings’ Groups
These groups are for the brothers and sisters of the children we support. There are three groups, ages 5-9, ages 10-13, and a youth group for siblings aged 14+. Main activities / tasks include:
- Escorting siblings in taxis or on public transport
- Supporting and befriending siblings throughout the activities
- Assisting and encouraging siblings to take part in the activities
Noah’s Ark Children’s Groups
These groups are for the children referred to us with life-limiting or life-threatening conditions and are divided based on the children and young people’s ages and conditions. Main activities / tasks include:
- Working 1:1 with a child, alongside our team of Specialist Carers and Nurses, to support them engaging in activities
Volunteer Information Session: All potential volunteers have to attend one of these sessions before they are able to get involved in any capacity. Interview This will take place at the Noah’s Ark Office at a mutually agreeable time.
Core Module: Any volunteers wanting to work directly with Noah’s Ark families are required to attend a 3-hour training module on a weekend day morning.
Home Module Training: A weekend day afternoon session to prepare volunteers for the specific requirements of the Home Support Volunteer role. This training takes place immediately after the Core Module.
Safeguarding Training: 1 morning or 1 evening, depending on the schedule, this helps to ensure the safety of our service.
Training programmes are run at regular intervals throughout the year.
Time commitment
We ask that Family Activities Volunteers commit to supporting us for a minimum of 12 months, volunteering for at least 1 Activity per quarter – there is no upper limit on the number of activities at which a volunteer can support!
Family Activities Volunteers are required to complete and return written Support Records following an Activity, and to attend Supervision (support groups) run by Noah’s Ark Care Team staff every three months.