5 or 10-day active and creative projects in the school holidays.
What are they? Where & When Sign Up TweetThis project uses creative workshops and outings to support the development of independent living skills in enjoyable ways. Such skills range from making a cup of tea, understanding money, travelling from A to B on public transport, to overcoming fear of groups.
A unique approach The project supports people of all abilities and ages to discover and develop their potential. Wherever possible we link two volunteers with a person with a learning disability or autism and together they take part in a wide range of activities. The feedback structure provided by parents, therapists and other staff takes into account the needs of all participants. Together we build a community where everyone is welcome and valued for who they are. Christine, a mother whose daughter is very aware of the fact she has a disability, says: "The Social Development Project is the one place where my daughter feels normal". As well as linked volunteers we need minibus drivers for outings, cooks to help us prepare lunch, support for participants to use computers and workshop leaders/assistants.
A supportive structure creates opportunities for all Creative sessions, planned for individual needs
and led by professional therapists and workshop leaders,
provide a structured framework. They include sports, craft, music, video, yoga and lots more. In addition to
these there are outings: participants together with their volunteers choose where they might like to spend the
day or afternoon.
As 17-year old Maria told her volunteers: "Kith & Kids is better than the other places I've been to, coz
you can do your own thing and be your own style. I don't have to do what everybody else is doing, I can make
my own plans and go to my own workshops".
"I went to the first training day just to suss things out (never having done anything like this before). I
learnt a lot that day, but mostly I liked the atmosphere. On the project itself I learnt even more and I
liked the feeling that I was making a difference. I did a second project because I wanted to try out leading
a sporty games workshop, which I felt able to do because of the first project and because I knew there'd be
someone there if I needed any help."
Minesh (22, maths degree and keen cricketer & footballer)
If you would like to join us and volunteer on our Summer Social Development Project, then please Sign Up
below.
Please note:
● We'll be holding regular informal online interviews from 22nd April
● We'll be holding face-to-face training from 10th May with lots of date options
Sign Up Now! and we'll send you details later of how you can:
● Book a 30-min informal online interview with us
● Send us info for your free DBS check
● Access our bite-size online training modules to get you started
Please note that volunteers applying to work with us need to be UK-based with a UK address - we are unable to support with sponsorship for UK visas. Do please contact us once you're living in the UK.
In-person Training
We'll be running a series of training sessions starting 10th May; there will be a few different
date
options.
We'll ask you to come to two of these; at the second session we hope you'll meet and get involved with some of
our participants.
The next training session takes place at:
Treehouse School
The Pears National Centre for Autism
Woodside Avenue
Muswell Hill
London
N10 3JA
Treehouse School is a 10-minute walk from Highgate underground station on the Northern line.
Please note minimum age for Social Development Project volunteers is 18 years old.
New volunteers must complete a free DBS check with us before taking
part in any of our projects and activities - we'll explain how we do this when we meet you online. It's free
for volunteers too!
Remember to check out our Facebook page to
see lots of photos and updates of Kith & Kids activities
throughout the year!
We can offer travel expenses to volunteers.
