Category Archives: YOUTH GROUPS
Our Wonderful Volunteer Leaders – What a Difference they Make
The young people are not the only ones full of excitement and joy for the summer project. This year we have had the highest number of returning volunteers coming back as youth leaders for the duration of the project. This is thanks to the success and pure enjoyment from the previous years. The volunteers can see the positive impact they are making on the lives of these children.
Both our returning and new volunteers bring their dedication, time, energy, skills and experience to each and every day they are in Ozanam House. They make a lasting impact on the lives of the children and young people and even through some of them are only taking part in the project for few days or a week, children and young people see their energy and the positive attitudes they bring. They are the ones who take part and lead activities each and every day, they facilitate the fun and joy the children and young people are having and look forward to every summer. None of what we are trying to do in Ozanam House would be possible if we didn’t have our amazing volunteers.
With the help and great work of the volunteers, so far we have been able to give a fantastic experience to 235 children and young people this Summer.
Summer Projects – Role of the Volunteer
A safe place where people learn and grow,
that serves our needs and enriches our lives
in a supportive, fun and caring environment
SUMMER PROJECT volunteer
Our organisation
Ozanam House is a community resource centre run by the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul. It is located on the site of the original clothing and furniture warehouse in a building that has also been used by the Society for a variety of purposes for over 100 years. Since our opening in September 2002, we have continued to develop various programmes and projects aimed at addressing the issue of social exclusion as well as the many needs of the local community.
Overview of the Volunteer Role
One of our biggest and most successful programmes is our summer projects where we engage up to 280 children and young people on an action-packed activities programme throughout the months of June, July and August each year.
We engage as many volunteers as possible to support our staff in this activity programme, mentoring the children, facilitating activities where skills allow, accompanying the children and young people on weekly trips and acting as role models to the children throughout.
Tasks
- Attend the Induction Training, Child Protection Training session and Summer project Training Days
- Working directly with the children and young people supporting them in all aspects of their daily activities and routines.
- Utilising and sharing your skills to ensure that the time you offer the programme is quality time
- Supporting the staff in their role of providing quality care for the children in our service
- Acting as a role model to the children, supporting them in all areas of their learning and development.
- To work as part of the summer project team with volunteers, students and managers.
- To learn about youth work and good youth work practices with the help and support of the team through daily meetings with the team
- Using policies and procedures in working with the children. Youth Leaders will get to know all of the centres policies and procedures over the first few months of work with the help and support of staff.
Time commitment
We ask Volunteers to commit to a minimum of ONE WEEK in one of the following projects
- Senior Summer Project
- to 18 years – 17th June to 12th July Monday to Friday from 12:00pm to 5pm.
Specific training for this project takes places
Thursday 13th June 5pm-9pm (please save the date)
- Youth Summer Project
6 to 12 years – 1st July to 26th July Monday to Friday from 10:00am to 4pm.
Specific training for this project takes places
Saturday 22nd June 10am-4pm
OR
Saturday 29th June 10am-4pm (please save the date)
- Childcare Summer Project
4 to 8 years – 30th July – 17th August Monday to Friday from 1:00pm to 5pm.
Specific training for this project takes places
Saturday 22nd June 10am-4pm
OR
Saturday 29th June 10am-4pm (please save the date)
Our expectation is that volunteers commit to a minimum One week of a project. This allows for relationships top form and for consistency across the project with Children and young people seeing the same faces every day. These relationships and this consistency is vital to the success of the project.
In addition, the Volunteer must make themselves available for training in advance of the project:
- Induction Training – 2 hours (evening)
- Child Protection Training – 3 hours (evening)
- Summer Project Training – 1 day (Saturday)
Other volunteers
In addition, we welcome applications from potential volunteers who have specific expertise or skills which they can contribute. For example, volunteers in the past have facilitated activities in specific arts and crafts, cooking or in sports on a given week. The time commitment for these volunteers will vary and be agreed in advance with the co-ordinator.
Skills, Experience & Qualities
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to establish good relationships with children and young people
- Strong commitment and enthusiasm to children and young people and an understanding of the factors affecting their lives
- Interest and commitment to developing the capacity to provide reliable support to children and young people in times of stress and act with integrity, respect and support
- Good organizational skills
- Good level of energy and fun
- An accepting and non-authoritarian approach
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team
- Reliability, patience, resilience and flexibility
- Ability to treat children and young people’s concerns with respect, tact and sensitivity
- Ability to be aware of own limits, to admit it and to ask for support
- Previous experience is desirable but not essential
Training & Support
- The volunteer will attend an induction/information night in the centre prior to the project starting and will get a general information pack to become familiar with the centre and our procedures
- A Child Protection Training session will be provided. This training will inform the volunteer of the protection and welfare of children under the Children’s Act 1997 and best practices when working with young people.
- The volunteer will attend specific Summer Project training focusing further on the details of the project itself and the role of the volunteer with lost of practical tips and guidance on all areas of the summer project
- Daily and ongoing individual supports will be provided throughout your time on the project
Support & Supervision
Daily de-briefing meeting occur throughout the summer project where volunteers review the day and get support and advice from training and qualified staff members in the centre
Benefits
- General happiness and satisfaction
- Personal and professional development in terms of confidence, patience, adaptability.
- Learn new skills (decision-making and finding alternatives, leadership skills, communication skills, organizational skills, behavioural competencies …)
- The change to contribute towards the development of children and young people to enhance the sense of self-worth and belief
- Opportunity to use and develop skills and talents
- Opportunity to bring ideas on board and develop the centre
- Opportunity to work in a relaxed atmosphere
- Opportunity to develop friendships and meaningful relationships with like-minded peers
- Opportunity to build up valuable work experience
- Tea and coffee will be provided for all volunteers
Contact
Kim Haugh
Email; admin@ozanamhouse.ie
Phone; 01 8742804
All Go in Our Youth Groups
Anyone who has been to Ozanam House might have found tiny cutouts of different characters from Christmas, St Patrick’s day and Easter Treasure Hunts. They are so well hidden that children taking part in our annual Easter Egg hunt found some from last years hunt, causing a little bit of confusion on the final egg count!
In recent weeks, we have been busy celebrating the power of positivity. Our youth groups got busy making positivity posters, gratitude jars and taking part in body positivity workshops. While everyone had a great time decorating their amazing jars with everything they could find in the arts presses, they also got to fill those jars with all the incredible things they are grateful for and make them happy. Some of them chose to leave their jars in Ozanam House so the leaders could write nice things for them every week to make them happy.
Our senior youth groups took part in body positivity workshops to learn ways of loving and accepting all bodies. This is especially important at their age as social pressures can be extremely challenging and difficult for many of them.
As the weather is picking up and we are getting closer and closer to summer both young people and children in our groups have started making their wish lists and activities they want to be doing during the summer project and it is getting everyone very excited.
We Are Now Recruiting for Our Summer Project 2019
We are now recruiting for our Youth Summer Project 2019.
Time commitment
We ask Volunteers to commit to a minimum of ONE WEEK in one of the following projects
- Senior Summer Project
- to 18 years – 17th June to 12th July Monday to Friday from 12:00pm to 5pm.
Specific training for this project takes places
Thursday 13th June 5pm-9pm (please save the date)
- Youth Summer Project
6 to 12 years – 1st July to 26th July Monday to Friday from 10:00am to 4pm.
Specific training for this project takes places
Saturday 22nd June 10am-4pm
OR
Saturday 29th June 10am-4pm (please save the date)
Get in Contact Today
Oh So Special! Summer 2018
Youth Programmes
This year we had 236 children and young people engage in all of our summer projects. The last day of the project is always bittersweet and this yearwas no different. We had tears and hugs. Children pleading to come back…. Parents lining up to inquire about the registration day for our youth programmes. As short as the summer is, it makes an enormous impact on the children and the holidays we are able to give them. The handmade thank you cards from the children will surely make it to the volunteers’ memory boxes for a very long time.
As we were about to close the side door for One last time, we noticed that one of the children stayed back with his mum after everyone left, crying his little heart out. When we asked them what was going on they told us that he was crying because he didn’t want to lose all the new friends he had made in this two weeks. It is at times like this that we get to fully appreciate the impact the summer project has on the children’s life.
In many ways, the Summer Project brings the whole community around Ozanam House together for the duration of the summer to make a difference in the children and young people’s lives. All this is only possible with the huge contribution and dedication from our volunteers who take time out from their summer holidays and help us make the children’s Summer happen. This year was amazing, we engaged 61 volunteers, 38 of whom came to the centre for the first time, all contributing to a truly incredible summer.
Community
-Active Retirement Group
The weather was very kind on our days out – except for the first trip when it was really hot, the temperature was very pleasant. The general atmosphere in the group is very pleasant and positive – appreciatively making the best of everything that comes their way and set out with an intention to enjoy the day and have fun. Our bus driver – Liam – was so pleasant and so helpful – above and beyond the call of duty. He knows the group very well at this stage and they think the world of him. Food and service were always excellent. Having a good meal out is very important for members and really makes it a good day out.
-Men’s Group
The summer Outings Programme is a key aspect in the overall personal development of the members in the Men’s Group at Ozanam House. Members gain educational, social, historical, physical and cultural skills by attending the programme which is an extension of the weekly club they attend. The men are very interested in Irish history, a fact they shared with us on an earlier outing to Kilmainham Gaol. We therefore decided to bring the men on trips with substantial Irish cultural and historical significance. It worked very well as the tours were in chronological order, starting with the earliest rebellions of the 15th century and continuing up until the rising in 1916. The summer programme began with a trip to Athlone Castle, followed by trips to Meath, Wexford, Kildare, Wicklow and Cavan. It culminated with a trip to the Padraig Pearse Museum which brought everything together very nicely.
Some of the guys spoke about how important the trips were to them and that it would have been a long and lonely summer for them if the trips were not on. That highlights how vital the Men’s Group is to its members. It is, in essence, their family and they enjoy being a part of it.
Childcare
Ozanam House Childcare Centre has had a very busy summer. The childcare centre staff are delighted with the result of our makeover during the summer months. With new flooring, furniture and a fresh lick of paint the classrooms are looking bright and fresh and are an inviting space for the preschool and afterschool children to spend time learning and exploring. While the centre was busy having a makeover the children were equally as busy having fun, the pre-schoolers enjoyed trips to Wooly Wards Farm, Imaginosity, Malahide Castle and Howth beach while the afterschoolers went swimming in a local pool and enjoyed trips to St Annes Park and the Phoenix Park. We are now settled back into our new term, we have welcomed some new preschool and afterschool children and look forward to welcoming more to our new and improved centre.
Ozanam Youth Programmes – Back Next Week
We can already feel the energy levels rising in the centre; our Youth Programmes kick-off again next week. We cater for all and offer a wide range of services to all ages, including our Music Club on Saturdays. If you want to know why it’s a good idea for your children to join, why not read the words of the kids that have already taken part?
“THE MOST FUN I HAVE ALL WEEK”
“I LOVE TO MEET NEW friends”
“OUR LEADERS REALLY LOOK AFTER US”
Meet Our New Youth Work Coordinator; Elaine
Our new youth Group coordinator Elaine was kind enough to take some time out of her busy schedule to chat to us about her plans for the Youth Groups, her thoughts on Ozanam House and some of her experience working with youth groups;
What are your plans for the Youth Groups?
My plans are to continue with the good work that is already in place at Ozanam House, and to promote evidence based programmes through informal education means. To engage with young people from the community, and to develop their capacity.
Are you looking forward to them starting up again?
Yes, I really enjoy getting to know young people and forming relationships. Having those discussions of what the young people would like to be involved in, so that we can plan programmes together. To have an understanding of what it’s like to live in their Community.
Are you enjoying working in Ozanam House so far?
Yes, there is such a lovely atmosphere in Ozanam House, everyone has been really helpful. They have really made me feel welcome in the Ozanam House family. There is a wealth of knowledge and experience of working within the community, and I shall be linking-in with staff and volunteers for their support and advice. There is also a lot of laughter and fun in the building and it’s a joy to come to work.
Can you tell us a little bit about your background and how you got into youth work?
I live in Bray were I was employed in my local community centre, on a Community Employment Scheme; I was employed as an After School Worker. I really enjoyed it; so much that, that I applied to NUI Maynooth University. I achieved a BA in Community & Youth Work an Honours Degree and a Master in SOCIAL SCIENCE (RIGHTS AND SOCIAL POLICY). Through my attainment in University I was employed by Bray Youth Services/Cross Care as a youth worker. I loved working there, but now I’ve been given an opportunity of a new path, a new role as Youth Work Coordinator at Ozanam House, which I am so happy about.
Saying Goodbye
On the last day of the Youth Summer Projects, we had a parade around Mountjoy Square. It was a great send-off for both the children and volunteers.
The last day of the project is always bittersweet and this time around was no different. We had tears and hugs. Children pleading to come back…. Parents lining up to enquire about the registration day for our youth programmes in September. As short as two weeks might sound, it makes an enormous impact on the children and the holidays we are able to give them. The handmade thank you cards from the children will surely make it to the volunteers memory boxes for a very long time.
As I was about to close the side door for one last time for project 1, I noticed that One of the members from Rhythms stayed back with his mum after everyone left, crying his little heart out. When I asked them what was going on they told me that he was crying because he didn’t want to lose all the new friends he had made in this two weeks. It is at times like this that we get to fully appreciate the impact the Summer Project has on the children’s life. In many ways the Summer Project brings the whole community around Ozanam House together for the duration of the summer to make a difference in the children’s life. All this is only possible with the huge contribution and dedication from our volunteers who take time out from their summer holidays and help us make the children’s Summer happen.
Summer Projects 2018 – What It All Means to us…..
Nothing sounds and feels like summer more than the first day of the Youth Summer Project in Ozanam House. The den is full of volunteers in yellow t-shirts and on the other side of our door there are approximately 100 very excited children and their families waiting to start their summer of fun with us.
Summer project has its very own special type of magic to it, children tell each other stories about past projects as if they were the most fascinating and captivating tales. For weeks they have been trying to get top secret details of the plans out of me, asking me questions every time they got a chance. Who is coming back, where are we going, are we making slime, are we going back to Fort Lucan… On the first day of the project I have had parents tell me that children were up at 6am in the morning begging to go to Ozanam House already.
With the help and great work of the volunteers, so far we have been able to give a fantastic summer to up to 230 children and young people.
This year we have themes for each week of the summer project including Championship, Carnival and Science week. The young people got to do lots of activities related to each theme. It has been so much fun….we don’t want it to ever end!
