DARE Ireland

1. DARE Ireland In partnership with Barretstown

2. A little bit about Barretstown • Barretstown is a specially-designed camp that providestherapeutic recreation programmes for children with serious illnesses and their families, with the mission of helping to rebuild these children and families’ lives, with the belief that every child with serious illness should enjoy their childhood. • The camp serves children affected by serious illnesses – primarily cancer and serious blood diseases – from Ireland, Britain and throughout Europe, and their families. • All of the children and families are able to attend Barretstown free of charge with everything, including accommodation, food, medical assistance and round-trip airfares, provided at no cost to the family. • Barretstown adopts a holistic approach to its programme, recognising the impact of serious illness on the entire family, therefore sessions for siblings, for the whole family and bereavement programmes are offered. • Excellent, unobtrusive medical supervision helps children with cancer and other diseases forget illness, learn to have fun and rebuild their confidence and self-esteem. The Barretstown programmes take place at a fairytale castle in the beautiful foothills of Ireland’s Wicklow Mountains. • Barretstownis much more than a holiday, the summer camps for children are carefully-directed psychosocial support programmes of Therapeutic Recreation.

3. What will you be doing? • During the summer volunteers work as Volunteer Caras. As a Cara you work in conjunction with our full-time summer staff to supervise, support and care for campers throughout every aspect of their camp life. All camps are 8 days in duration and all volunteers must commit to the full session. A full days training is provided the day before each camp commences. Every year Barretstown needs 700 volunteers to take part in their life-changing programme. As a volunteer (Cara) 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. And most importantly you’ll help them have fun! • The main aims of every activity is to help children achieve success, even when the child has never tried the activity before. Activities are varied and directed at the different ages groups. They hope to focus on abilities and not disabilities and to challenge the kids out of their comfort zone. The typical camp Day starts at 8am, with breakfast at 9am, activities run from 10:30 to 5:30 with lunch and rest time between. Then Cottage time at 5:30, Dinner at 6pm, evening activities. Bedtime at 10:30. • The available activities include: High Ropes (Climbing, Abseiling), Canoeing, Archery, Horse Riding, Fishing, Outdoor Pursuits, Nature, Theatre, Drama, Music, Arts & Crafts, Pottery, Drawing, Painting, Creative Writing, Photography & Video

4. Programme Benefits All of the programmes are specially crafted to help each member of the family cope and recover from the devastating effects of a diagnosis of a serious illness within their family unit. • Benefits for Child/Young Adult: In many cases children and teens affected by serious illness have been denied the ordinary experiences of growing-up. The psychosocial support Barretstown offers enables children to make real changes in their lives as they discover greater self-esteem, confidence, independence, trust, friendship and coping skills. The programmes help them to discover the courage they need to undertake the difficult journey of their illness and its treatment, and to encourage them to take part more actively in their own recovery process. • Benefits for Family: Barretstown provides weekend breaks for families where all day-to-day needs are met, so that they can concentrate on relaxing, having fun and spending time together. The weekend is a chance for families to take part in activities, spend time with their partners and time together as a family in an idyllic setting. Parents can choose to take part in the activities if they wish to do so or just watch their children having fun. • Benefits for Siblings: For many children the trauma of their brother or sister being diagnosed with cancer or another life threatening illness is often the beginning of a very difficult period. As they make new friends who share similar experiences they also share knowledge and compare responses and feelings. Just being listened to, being able to sit and talk, being able to express confusion, anger, sadness, guilt or fear in a safe, accepting, attentive environment is often enough.

5. Accommodation • Barretstown is a residential camp – Volunteers, Chaperones and Interpreters stay on site during camp. • Food and accommodation is provided.

6. DARE’s arrangement with Barretstown • We are hoping to send 6 volunteers (12 in total) on two separate programmes • Summer 3: 8th-13th July, Camp for 7-15 year old & Siblings. Children from Ireland, UK, Spain, Germany, Greece and Sweeden • Summer 5: 30thJuly-4th August, camp for 7-12 year olds. Children from Ireland, Spain, Sweden and Russia. • Students will not be working in the same groups, and will be assigned to different cottages and activities. • The application process will also involve a phone interview with Barretstown, and you will require 2 references – DARE will provide one of these references.

7. Brief Outline of Costs • Students will need to cover their own flights and also provide an International Child Protection Certificate - the cost of which is £60, and should be applied for directly by yourself. http://www.acro.police.uk/ICPC/ • Accommodation and food is included in return for you volunteering. • It is then up to you if you wish to see the sites of Ireland following the camp