Daniel Hicks               

Active Student - a volunteer's experience

Daniel is in his second year of a BA (Hons) Mathematics Education with QTS. He volunteers with CCHF All About Kids.

Why did you decide to volunteer?

During my first year, I went through a bit of a funk. I was missing home and not enjoying the uni experience as much as I thought I would. I have volunteered before so went to the Active Student Volunteer Service to see if there was anything that caught my eye. I knew I wanted to work with children and I saw the perfect one.

Where have you volunteered through Active Student and what does that organisation/project do?

CCHF All About Kids is a children’s charity that provides holidays and respite breaks for disadvantaged city children. The children are 7-11 years old and come from areas of real deprivation in London. The charity has a house in Hassocks where a group of about 35 children will come down for either a weekend or 5 days during the holidays for the chance to be away from their responsibilities and just have fun.

What do you do in your volunteering role?

As one of about eight volunteers on a camp (as well as the camp leader), I am assigned four or five children for whom I’m responsible for the duration of the holiday. I am responsible for getting to know my little group and building relationships with them. I am responsible for making sure my group’s dietary requirements are met and that any with medication are taking it. My biggest responsibility though, as is every volunteer’s, is to have fun with the children and give them a holiday they will remember.

What does a typical volunteering session for you involve?

I am only expected to do two weekends or one 5 day camp per year. But I enjoy it so much I do loads more. A camp will either be over a weekend, Friday afternoon to Sunday afternoon, or a 5 day camp over the school half terms or holidays. Volunteers meet at London Victoria station on a Friday afternoon before they collect to children or at the house the evening before for a longer camp. We collect the children from the station in London, bring them to the house in Hassocks (the next village from Brighton) and take them on days out swimming, ice skating, pantomimes, rock climbing, archery, go karting and lots more. At the house there is a dressing up room, pamper room, air hockey tables, pool tables, table football, a massive garden with trampolines, bikes, scooters, go karts and so much more.

What do you get out of volunteering? Any particular skills/knowledge?

I often get a bit teary at the end of a camp because you get a real sense of fulfilment when you see the children having a good time. You get to work on every kind of people skill as you’ll be looking after children, working with other volunteers, and led by the camp leader. Your confidence will grow by the end of the camp and you will you can take on as much responsibility during the camp as you like. If you want to lead all children in a game, all you have to do is ask.

What do you enjoy about volunteering?

I love the responsibility and the obvious effect the camps have on the children. Their lives are so difficult so it really tugs at your heart strings to see them enjoying themselves and forming relationships with you and each other.

How has Active Student supported you with your volunteering?

I email Active Student every time I do a camp so they know when I am on them; but I know that if I have any issues then they are only an email away. I never have had any issues but if they don’t hear from me for a while, I’ll get a lovely email just checking up on me.

Would you recommend volunteering to other students and why?

I would recommend volunteering until my lungs give out. You get such a good feeling from doing it. If you are thinking of working with children, then the experience from volunteering with CCHF All About Kids will be phenomenal for you.

In one sentence, can you sum up your volunteering experience:

"When I finish uni, I will not even consider leaving this charity. They have me for life."