For all our projects and activities we are dependent on volunteers. They are the connection to society for the people who participate in our activities. Volunteers make the difference between a person sitting at home with their parents and going to the cinema with their mates; between watching from the sidelines and actively being part of an activity.
There are lots of ways to volunteer at Kith & Kids and you don't necessarily need experience as we will train you. We need around 300 volunteers every year, men and women (we currently have fewer men and need more) so if you are interested please get in touch with us today!
What does a Kith & Kids volunteer do?
Kith & Kids volunteers get involved in lots of different ways throughout the year. From supporting a person with a learning disability or autism for five days on a Social Development Project to accompanying someone on a Friendship outing once every few weeks.
Many of our opportunities happen at weekends, during the school holidays or in the evening, and a few take place during the week, such as our volunteer mentoring. So whatever your availability please just call our projects team to chat about how you may become a volunteer.
Your experience counts
Have you ever taken yourself to a pub or a cinema? Travelled on a bus by yourself? Know how to make a cup of tea or how to buy something in a shop? If you can say "yes" to any of these questions then your experience is relevant. These are the type of things the people we support wish to be able to do, independently from their parents or carers.
Never worked with a person with a disability before? Don't worry – we will help you make your experience count by providing disability-awareness training and lots of feedback and guidance. The vast majority of the volunteers who join us every year are new to this kind of 'work'. All we ask for is an open mind, energy and enthusiasm. Check out the individual Volunteer Projects & Activities pages for volunteers' comments and training dates.
We also need people to help support our fundraising efforts, from cheering teams of runners to collecting at a train station.
Why volunteering is good for you too
Volunteering really helps the people who attend and need our services, but it can be a rewarding experience for you too. Here are some of the reasons why…
You can:
Can anyone volunteer?
Yes, we will consider anybody to volunteer for us, you don't need any specific experience just energy and enthusiasm. We require our volunteers to be aged 18 and over for our Social Development Projects and Weekend Club sessions, aged 18 and over for our Summer Camp and aged 20 and over for Employment & Life Skills Project (ELSP). All our volunteers need to have a completed DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check, which we fill out with our volunteers at our training days and submit free of charge. We can not guarantee any volunteering opportunities until we have met you at our training sessions.
I don't have any experience of working with disabled people can I still volunteer?
Yes. We offer a comprehensive training programme for new volunteers, so experience isn't necessary, just some energy and enthusiasm!
Do I need training?
Yes. We ask that all volunteers undertake training with us before we can invite them to volunteer. Please check each activity to see what training is required for that particular project. Our training programmes run throughout the year at regular intervals.
Which projects can I volunteer on?
There are lots of activities that we need volunteers for:
Do you provide accommodation?
No (in general). We do have a couple of residential projects though (including our Summer Camp) where volunteers sleep in dormitories with the disabled participants and coordinators.
Where are your projects based?
Our projects and training days are based at venues in Tottenham in north London. We also run a residential Summer Camp in Surrey once a year in August.
Does volunteering cost me anything?
No. We can reimburse your travelling expenses for our projects and camp for up to £75 per week.
What sort of disabilities do people have?
At Kith & Kids, the majority of the people we support have learning disabilities and/or have autism. Some members may also have a physical or sensory disability. We also provide support for siblings who do not have a disability.
How long do I have to commit for?
Some projects require more of a commitment than others (ELSP in particular). Please check with our co-ordinators for specific details.
Will I get a reference?
We are happy to write a reference for up to 12 months after you have last volunteered on one of our activities.
