We are looking for Volunteers from across the Service Community including Serving Personnel, Defence Civilians and Ex-Serving Personnel to support the project. As FAB volunteers you will be at the heart of the holidays providing mentoring support, encouragement or just a sympathetic ear. Don’t worry we will train and support you throughout the experience.
Who are we looking for?
We are looking for people from all military ranks, backgrounds and experience, Defence civilians and new for 2012 we are recruiting Ex-Service personnel to become volunteers. Also, you do not have to have any previous experience as a volunteer working on projects or with charity, or have experience of working in bereavement counselling or with young people. We are ultimately looking for good listeners, people with enthusiasm for the project, and those with a willingness to be a friend or mentor to our bereaved families. Throughout the volunteer process and at the Families’ Activity Breaks (FAB) camps, you will be supported by a bereavement support service, specialising in bereavement counselling for young children and other experienced individuals and volunteers.
Your work as a volunteer
We will aim to send you on one of the four holidays within the FAB holiday calendar for 2012, taking place over July and August. Where possible, we will allocate you the week of your choice and the location, as we understand that you will need to fit in your own summer leave and any other priorities you might have.
Interview process
As part of the process for becoming a volunteer, you are required to complete an application form and submit to the Volunteer Co-ordinator, she will then contact you and arrange for you to attend a mandatory but informal interview with either the FAB Project Director or Second in Command and/or FAB Volunteer Co-ordinator. There are a number of interview dates and locations available as follows (consideration will be given to supplying more dates if necessary, so please ask Lou O’Connell via the staff contact page if an alternative is needed):
Wednesday 7th March 2012 – Army HQ, Andover
Wednesday 21st March 2012 – Regent’s Park, London
Wednesday 11 April 2012 – Tennal Grange, Birmingham
Wednesday 18th April 2012 – Army HQ, Andover
Wednesday 20th May 2012 – Army HQ, Andover
From interview, volunteers will be selected for training. Interviews will not be given to everyone who applies and it will be on a first come, first served basis.
Volunteer training
Following the interview process and successful selection for attendance on the training, all volunteers will be required to undertake the bereavement awareness support course. The two-day course location will be Amport House, Andover, and the dates are as follows:
- 14 – 15 May 2012
- 25 – 26 June 2012
There is no fee for attending the training course, however there may be nominal food and accommodation charges.
All new volunteers for 2012 FAB Camps must have attended both an interview, the training and be able to attend one of the FAB Camps in 2012. Dates can be found on our Camps and Events page.
It should be noted that attendance for both interview and training does not automatically guarantee acceptance as a Volunteer.
CRB checks
All applicants must be either in possession of a valid in date Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) check to cover the period July – August 2012, or be prepared to submit a CRB application. Further advice will be given at interview.
Costs
FAB is a non publicly funded volunteer programme, and therefore volunteers will be required to fund their own travel costs to the interviews, training and camps. Food and accommodation whilst on the camps is provided by FAB.
Application forms
You can download the volunteer application form here. You can then complete the form electronically and then send to WO2 Lou O’Connell at: FABVolunteerCoordinator@gmail.com. Or if you are having technical issues (which we are trying to resolve) you can fax it to for WO2 Lou O’Connell attention at 0121 427 5822.
If you require any further information regarding becoming a Volunteer, please contact WO2 Lou O’Connell in the first instance.
