Responsibilities
As a Break Volunteer you will join us for a week long break from Monday to Friday at our centres in either Derbyshire or Cornwall. Your responsibilities will be wide and varied and might include:
- Helping Go Beyond’s Break Leaders with day-to-day tasks, such as setting up activities and keeping our centres tidy
- Assisting at mealtimes with preparing, serving, and cleaning
- Leading planned activities based on your skills with support from Break Leaders (such as baking, sports games, gardening, arts and crafts)
- Accompanying our driver to collect or drop off groups and supervise behaviour on the buses
- Being a positive role model and leading by example at all times
- Being encouraging and supportive to the young people and taking an interest in each child
- Taking part in the activities alongside the young people
- Being aware of boundaries and knowing when it is important to enforce these
- Informing the Break Leaders of any issues or concerns you have relating to the young people or the break experience
- Contributing to personalised messages which the young people receive in their goody bags as a lasting memory of their Go Beyond break
- Capturing photos of the young people using Go Beyond’s cameras
- Reading, signing and ensuring Safeguarding and Health and Safety Policies and Reporting Procedures are followed, and contributing to Go Beyond Hazard Analysis Critical Control Principles, Risk Assessment and Quality Assurance processes
“I’ve volunteered with Go Beyond before 3 times and I’ve loved every single time. I think I enjoy the breaks more than the kids, and I find the kids that attend absolutely wonderful. I learn a lot from them and their resilience.”
Practicalities
Go Beyond’s breaks run from Monday – Friday throughout the year at both our Daleside Centre in Derbyshire and Coastal Centre in Cornwall.
As a Break Volunteer you will stay onsite in our volunteer bedrooms (depending on the group and size, you may have to share a room with another volunteer of the same gender). All your meals and activities will be provided for the duration of the week.
You’ll need to bring with you comfortable, weather appropriate clothes, strong, comfortable shoes or trainers, a swimming costume (no bikinis) or swimming trunks, plus your own towels and toiletries.
Qualities and skills
We look for the following qualities in all those who join us as a Break Volunteer:
- Enthusiasm and a willingness to help
- Good communication skills and a positive, friendly attitude
- Non-judgemental and approachable
- Experience of working with young people
- Willingness to work flexibly, adapting tasks to suit the needs of the group
- Ability to work well as part of a team in a busy, fast-paced environment
What we hope you’ll gain
- New skills and experience in a professional environment
- Training and personal development opportunities
- Time with an enthusiastic team of people who want to make a difference, just like you
- A rewarding experience making a difference to children living in desperately difficult circumstances across the UK
- Memories you’ll remember for a lifetime
