Become a Volunteer

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 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):

Wednesday 7th March 2012 – Army HQ, Andover

Wednesday 21st March 2012 – London or Birmingham

Wednesday 11 April 2012 – London or Birmingham

Wednesday 18th April 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 holidays.