Volunteering at Barretstown is a truly unforgettable experience – fun activities, lots of laughs and the knowledge that you are directly helping seriously ill children and their families turn their lives around. Every year Barretstown requires approximately 1500 volunteers to take part in their life-changing programme.  

 

Volunteers at Barretstown are known as Volunteer Caras, the Irish word for "friend".

 

During the spring and autumn, Barretstown run family camps and bereavement camps for families. The commitment for family camps is Friday – Sunday and bereavement camps is Thursday – Sunday. There is also one children’s camp over the Halloween Break.

 

During the summer, Barretstown run children and teen camps. These camps are 8/9 days in duration. As the children come to camp from Europe during the summer, Chaperones and Interpreters are also required. Chaperones escort the children to camp and home again from their country of origin, and act as volunteer Caras when at camp. All chaperones must be fluent in English and help with translation.

 

As a volunteer 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!

 

You will be assigned to work with a family or activity group of children. You will encourage and support the children and parents to partake in all activities and to act as a Cara “friend” for the weekend.

 

You must commit to the full camp session. All new volunteers who are based in Ireland must attend one of our mandatory training days (dates to be confirmed). Oversees volunteers will be trained on arrival at camp. Barretstown is a residential camp - Food and accommodation is provided.

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Volunteers must be at least 19 years or over and must be fluent in English. All camps are residential with food & accommodation provided, with the exception of Hospital Outreach.

 

In order to apply you, you must have the following:

• Completed Application form

• 2 Written References (Completed on Barretstown’s Reference Form)

• Barretstown Garda Vetting (all applicants)

• Criminal Background Check from Country of Residence (overseas volunteers)

• Successful phone interview (15-20 minutes)  

 

Vetting Procedure Detailed Below

• ALL APPLICANTS: Barretstown Garda Vetting. Please read vetting guidelines here.

• In addition if living outside of Ireland you will need to submit

  • UK Residents: You will also be required to submit an International Childcare Certificate at offer stage.

  • USA Residents: FBI Clearance through a fingerprint submission

  • All other applicants outside of Ireland: Criminal Background Check from Country of Residence.

 

NB: Please post your application to Barretstown, Ballymore Eustace, Co. Kildare, Ireland as your original signature is needed for vetting purposes.