DKC Volunteer Application Pack
#DKC2024
We’re recruiting for an amazing team of volunteers to help local children have an incredible holiday this summer!
We run two types of break. One is on the ‘field’ at our main Summer Camp, where we run 5 weeks of camp with up to 70 children staying each week. This is a week under canvas in our fully-functioning canvas village! We also run summer breaks at Back Dane cottage, which caters for smaller groups of up to 14 children. Back Dane is a converted farm house in a beautiful setting in the Peak District, and allows us to offer breaks for even more children who need them.
Below is more information about being a summer camp volunteer and a link to apply as a volunteer on the field or at Back Dane. Our volunteer FAQs answer some of the most common questions, but please get in touch with us if you’re unsure of anything.
Role: Summer Camp Volunteer
This is a residential role for 7 nights, Saturday to Saturday during the summer holidays. The children will be on site for 6 of those nights. You will be asked to state your preferred first and second choice of weeks from the following:
Please note, the Back Dane holidays don’t run Saturday to Saturday, however these roles are still residential for the duration of the break.
Week 1B (Back Dane) – 25th July – 30th July – Nichol
Week 1 – 27th July – 3rd August – Rob
Week 2 – 3rd August – 10th August – Ellis
Week 3 – 10th August – 17th August – Cat
Week 4 – 17th August – 24th August – Ben
Week 5 – 24th August – 30th August – Leane
Week 5B (Back Dane) – 26th August – 2nd September – Elaine
Role description:
Becoming a Derby Kids’ Camp Summer Volunteer is an opportunity to make an amazing difference to local young children – helping provide respite and a positive experience to children and families in need.
As a Summer Camp Volunteer, you’ll be caring for and supporting the children on camp to enjoy every minute of their week away.
Most Summer Camp Volunteer roles will include:
- Being a group leader alongside one or two other volunteers, for a group of 6-8 children. You’ll care for these children throughout the week – ensuring they’re warm, dry, well-fed and happy! Group leaders get to know the children well and are a vital part of the childrens’ support system on camp.
- Supporting children to join in new activities, make new friends and try new foods! Many of the children who visit us can be nervous and shy (especially at first) and need some gentle encouragement to have a go at new experiences.
- Running or supporting activities as part of a team – this could be indoor craft activities, sports, games, walks, campfire songs, tuck shop or organising a talent show. We help our volunteers to play to their strengths and there’s plenty of support for new volunteers to get involved.
- Being a big kid yourself! Our volunteers come back year after year because they have a great time on camp – being a bit daft; joining in the waterfights and running around like a big kid for the week!
There are various roles available on camp, such as: cooks, equipment team, welfare, outdoor sports and indoor games, indoor crafts and more…
Person specification:
Summer Camp Volunteer roles are for ages 18+. Alongside these, there are a limited number of Junior Volunteer roles, with reduced responsibilities, available on each week. These roles are for volunteers aged 16 and 17.
As a DKC Volunteer, it is desirable that you have various attributes, such as: being reliable, responsible, trustworthy, punctual and dependable.
It is an essential quality to be able to work as part of a team, have good communication skills and to conduct yourself as a positive role model.
Required skills, experience and attitude:
We’re looking for volunteers who:
- are enthusiastic and ready to get involved
- are approachable, compassionate and patient
- are keen to make a difference in the lives of young children and their families
- promote the welfare and safeguarding of children
- work with guidance, taking initiative when required
There are many opportunities to make the most of any skills you may have in outdoor activities, crafts, sports, campfire songs, working with children and more!
Having experience working with children is desirable but not essential. Our volunteers come from all walks of life – bringing a diversity of experience that makes DKC what it is. We support and encourage volunteers to play to their strengths, while helping the children engage with the wide range of activities DKC has to offer. We aim to offer children the chance to try something new and have an amazing holiday, creating everlasting memories.
A week at DKC Summer Camp is extremely rewarding, for so many reasons. Most of all, we want our volunteers to have fun and enjoy their time with us!
Training and induction:
Our training and induction programme is designed to make sure you know what to expect, what’s expected of you and how you can make the most of your week on camp.
Pre-camp training will take place at the following points:
- DKC Training Day, date TBC (usually on a Sunday in June).
- Completion of a DKC specified Level 1 Safeguarding certificate – this can be done online at your convenience.
- At the ‘Saturday Chat’ on the Saturday you arrive at camp.
During your first year on camp, you’ll be allocated a mentor who will help you settle into your role and offer any additional support required. Each week of camp has a dedicated camp leader team along with a number of long-term volunteers who’ll be there for support and guidance whenever you need it throughout the week.
Our selection process:
Our volunteer application and selection process goes through the following stages:
- An initial application is made via our Volunteer Application form. This will include a self-disclosure form which is kept securely away from the rest of your application.
- Our camp leader teams will review the applications and invite suitable applicants to an informal interview.
- Thereafter a conditional offer will be made to successful applicants. A DBS check (enhanced with barred list check) through Derby Kids’ Camp will be submitted and references will be requested.
- Once the DBS check has been completed and satisfactory references have been received, volunteers will enter into our risk assessment process. At this stage any records which appear on the DBS check or through self-disclosure will be risk assessed on a need-to-know basis before a final offer is made. (A criminal record will not necessarily prevent a successful application – please see section ‘Keeping children safe’ below). Applicants will be informed of the outcome of this process.
- Successful applicants must ensure that their training requirements have been met and their Level 1 Safeguarding certificate has been submitted before arriving on camp. Those wishing to be First Aiders on camp must present an up-to-date first aid certificate (minimum of Emergency First Aid at work or equivalent) to their camp leader prior to their arrival on camp.
About Derby Kids’ Camp:
Derby Kids’ Camp (DKC) is an entirely volunteer-run charity which provides free holidays to Derby & Derbyshire children in real need of a break. These holidays are provided through the main Summer Camp, and through additional week and weekend breaks throughout the year. The holidays give children the opportunity for a break from challenging circumstances, to explore new environments, develop confidence, make new friends, and try new activities.
Around 300 children each year benefit from a DKC holiday. A typical week on Summer Camp hosts between 50-70 children who are cared for and supported by a team of 30-35 residential volunteers. We also run a number of week and weekend holidays at Back Dane. These holidays usually include a group of 14-16 children, supported by a team of 6 residential volunteers.
The children who stay with us are aged between 8 and 11 years old and are nominated because they face significant challenges in their day-to-day lives. These can include financial difficulties, mental health issues (themselves or close family), bereavement, difficulties with social interaction, family respite needs, being a looked after child and more.
Keeping children safe:
Derby Kids’ Camp is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all volunteers to share this commitment. All appointments are subject to satisfactory references, pre-appointment and Disclosure and Barring Service checks.
This role is classed as regulated work (i.e. working directly with children) and therefore is subject to an enhanced DBS with barring list check. These checks will only take place once an applicant has been offered a role, to ensure applicants are not unlawfully discriminated against. Applicants will be asked to self-disclose any relevant criminal records, these self-disclosure forms will only be read on a need-to-know basis once a role has been offered.
The possession of a criminal record will not necessarily prevent an applicant from obtaining this post, as all cases are judged individually according to the nature of the role and information provided. For more information, please refer to our policy Recruitment of Ex-Offenders.
To find out more about our safeguarding and child protection procedures, please visit our policies page here.
Equality and diversity:
Derby Kids’ Camp is committed to equal opportunities, and applicants will not be discriminated against on the grounds of a potential characteristic (as specified in the Equality Act, 2010). These protected characteristics are:
- Age
- Disability
- Gender reassignment
- Marriage and civil partnership
- Pregnancy and maternity
- Race
- Religion or belief
- Sex
- Sexual orientation
Derby Kids’ Camp will ensure that blanket requirements for volunteers do not unreasonably exclude applicants. We welcome discussion with potential applicants to explore any reasonable adjustments that could be made to remove disabling barriers.
