European Solidarity Corps
“Glencraig Life Sharing Project”
Belfast, Northern Ireland
Long term project
The Camphill Community Glencraig (Glencraig) will start a European Solidarity Corps (ESC) Project for individual volunteers from October 2019
There will be 31 Long Term Volunteers taking part in this project (16 volunteers for 12 months, 8 volunteers for 9 months and 7 volunteers for 6 months)
All volunteers must be registered with the European Solidarity Corps further information can be found at the following website: https://europa.eu/youth/solidarity
The volunteers must be from the following countries: Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Lithuania, Portugal, Romania and Spain.
There is also the opportunity for volunteers with fewer opportunities and special needs to have short term volunteering experiences of 2 or 4 weeks. These volunteers must be from the following countries: Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Lithuanian and Romania.
The Long Term Volunteers can come from the following dates:
• Volunteers for 12 months from 28.10.2019
• Volunteers for 9 months from 27.01.2020
• Volunteers for 6 months from 24.02.2020
Volunteering has always been a fundamental aspect of what is provided at Glencraig. Each year 20 – 40 international volunteers would come and stay for at least a year at Glencraig. Most of these volunteers came from mainland Europe but some came from other Continents, Ireland and other parts of the UK. In recent years there has been a decline in the number of volunteers coming to Glencraig because of this we set up a pilot project for three Erasmus+ volunteers who arrived in November 2018 and will stay for 1 year.
In order to expand on the pilot project, the Glencraig Life Sharing Project (GLSP) has been set up this will be an inclusive project where volunteers will live and work together with people who have a learning disability. The project will also be open to people with special needs and fewer opportunities.
Five days a week the volunteer will support people with a learning disability in one of the houses at Glencraig.
The volunteer will also be able to support people with a learning disability in the following inclusive settings: Farm, Garden, Estate, Laundry and Craft workshop.
The volunteer will be involved in volunteering activities for approximately 37.5 hours per week, either in the morning from 7am to 2.30pm or the afternoon/evening from 2pm to 9.30pm.
The volunteer will have two consecutive days off per week and 2.5 days holiday per month spread over the duration of the placement.
The volunteer will be able to access excellent public transport links to the nearby towns of Bangor, Holywood and Belfast. There are ESC volunteers in Belfast and Bangor, Glencraig will encourage volunteers participating in our project to link in with them during their stay. During the longer holiday periods volunteers can use the time to explore the lovely locations on the island of Ireland. Personal protective equipment will be provided but volunteers should bring adequate clothing for all weather conditions.
There will also be the opportunity for the volunteer to participate in the following social and cultural activities:
• Social and cultural activities organised in Glencraig and in the local area
• Participate in cultural projects such as plays, musical performances and activities
• Outdoor adventure, physical exercise and sporting activities
• Take part in activities that raise awareness of the importance of biodiversity, nature protection and the problems associated with climate change
Brexit
There is a possibility that the UK will leave the EU at the end of October 2019 without a deal in place, however because this project has already been agreed this situation will not affect the participation of volunteers in this project. The UK National Agency has provided the following information:
“In the event that the UK leaves the EU with no deal in place, the government’s guarantee will cover the payment of awards to UK applicants for all successful Erasmus+ and ESC applications.”
For further information, you can go to the following website:
https://www.eusolidaritycorps.org.uk/brexit-update
Profile of the volunteer:
The volunteer must be between 18 – 30 years of age at the start of the placement and have an interest in the following:
• Promote and develop inclusion for people with special needs and fewer opportunities
• Willing to engage with people who have a learning disability
• Enthusiastic to work in an environment with people from a diverse range of backgrounds and a wide range of abilities
• Undertake physical work that may be outdoors in a variety of weather conditions
• Willing to engage in social and cultural activities outside of his/her primary volunteering activities
• It helps if the volunteer has a basic foundation in the English language and is willing to develop his/her skills in this language
The volunteer should have an interest in the following ESC topics:
• Health and well-being
• Environment and natural protection
• Creativity and Culture
The volunteer will have the possibility to develop his/her knowledge and experience in the following ESC areas:
• Working with disabled people
• Working with children / young people
• Healthcare
• Environment and natural protection
• Arts / music
The volunteer should be interested in developing the following qualities in themselves and others:
• Friendly, approachable and develop positive social relationships with others.
• Patient, supportive, respectful and be able to care for yourself and others.
• Inter cultural learning, the ability to communicate in different languages and by using other communication techniques e.g. Makaton.
• Creativity, with ability to think on your feet and adapt to the environment to provide enriching positive experiences for yourself and others.
• Skills and competence that will support your continual professional and personal development.
• Responsible, positive, enthusiastic attitude, increased understanding and awareness of yourself
The volunteer must be registered on the European Solidarity Corps!!!
Registration of your profile in European Solidarity Corps:
In order to strengthen the cohesion and foster the solidarity in European society, a European Solidarity Corps has been set up by the European Commission to create a community of young people willing to engage in a wide range of solidarity activities, either by volunteering or gaining occupational experience in helping to resolve challenging situations across the European Union and beyond.
In its initial phase, the European Solidarity Corps builds on the currently existing EU Programmes. One of the principal funding schemes contributing to the European Solidarity Corps is the European Voluntary Service. The European Solidarity Corps will thus give impetus and greater visibility to European Voluntary Service activities, while putting volunteering at European level within a larger framework and adding further long-term volunteering opportunities.
More information about the European Solidarity Corps Initiative and how to get involved and to be registered : https://europa.eu/youth/solidarity.
For activities falling within the scope of the European Solidarity Corps (i.e. services lasting 2 to 12 months and taking place a Programme Country) , partner organizations are strongly encouraged to select their EVS volunteers making use of the European Solidarity Corps database where young people to engage in volunteering activities register their profile.
For this reason , please do not forget to register your profile in European Solidarity Corps – Initiative.
How to apply:
The MOST important step is to first download the Info Kit and read carefully all the information there and all the documents required.
No academic qualifications are needed and if a participant has a concern about any of the above, Glencraig is willing to answer questions, give advice and provide additional support to reasonable requests.
You can apply to become a volunteer in this project if you are from one of the countries listed above. Glencraig can provide the contact details for our partner organisation from your country, who will support you in your application and preparation for the project. They may also be able to provide additional support if you have any difficulties during the project which Glencraig is unable to provide.
You will also have to register on the European Solidarity Corps and to send us the following information (from the Info Kit):
Application Form
Full CV
Motivation letter which is specific to the project
Volunteers will be selected from the match between the volunteer’s specific interests and career aspirations with the requirements of placement. The successful volunteers will need to provide additional information to Glencraig as part of their application process.
Accommodation:
The volunteer will live in one of the houses on the Glencraig site this might be in a house where people with a learning disability live or it could be in a house with other volunteers. Each volunteer will have their own bedroom, but he/she will have to share bathroom, living room and kitchen with others. The volunteers will have the possibility of eating together and preparing their own meals. Glencraig provides basic household stuff (bed linen, towels, shampoo, soap, etc.) and food. The volunteer will receive an allowance of approximately €184 per month paid directly to the volunteer to cover the purchasing of personal necessities.
There is funding available for travel to and from Glencraig at the beginning and the end of the project. This funding volunteers will only receive after successfully completing the project. If this arrangement makes it difficult for any successful volunteer to participate in the project, please contact the Project Coordinator.
Robust risk assessments will be undertaken in conjunction with the volunteer and the necessary mitigating steps will be taken to ensure the safety of the volunteers during their placement and in their tasks and activities. Glencraig has a 24 hour emergency community contact number that volunteers will receive upon arrival.
Glencraig will support the volunteer registering with the local GP (Medical) practice, the volunteer should bring a valid EH111 card with them.
Project language:
The language of your project will be English during the work time and there will be possibility for an extra English course too.
Training and support for the volunteer during the project:
The volunteer will receive pre-departure training from the supporting organisation, which will include information about the Project, rights and responsibilities, intercultural learning and experiences and goal setting.
Glencraig will register the volunteer on the Online Linguistic Support (OLS) and the volunteer will complete the OLS assessment before departing for Glencraig.
At the beginning of the project the volunteer will identify his/her learning goals and during the project he/she will complete regular evaluations at least once a month that will encourage active reflection on his/her progress towards the agreed learning objectives.
The volunteer will receive a full induction training within the first month of arrival at Glencraig that will include training in relevant policies and procedures including health and safety and supporting people with learning disabilities.
The volunteer will receive on-arrival training soon after his/her arrival. The on-arrival training is organised by another organisation, provides valuable information about Northern Ireland, the ESC framework and is an opportunity to meet other ESC volunteers based in Northern Ireland.
The volunteer will also take part in the foundation course with other volunteers living and working at Glencraig. This will cover areas such as the Camphill approach, creativity, inclusion, sustainability and bio-diversity.
As part of the Foundation Course the volunteer will complete the Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) in Social Pedagogy across Europe. This course is very suitable for volunteers at Glencraig because it provides knowledge about the approach practised at Glencraig that is linked into a European framework.
During the course of the year there will be the opportunity to attend conferences, talks, lectures, meetings, social and cultural events.
Glencraig will register the volunteer on to Youthpass and will support him/her to use the tool enabling them to reflect on their learning throughout the placement. It will produce a certificate at the end of the project that will provide evidence of his/her achievements.
There will be many opportunities for learning during the volunteers’ placement at Glencraig. This will include informal learning where the volunteer learns through involvement in daily tasks and interaction with others and is a core part of the Social Pedagogy approach.
The volunteer will be assigned a team leader who will provide informal and formal supervision. This will enable the volunteer to continually evaluate his/her performance and identify at early stages any barriers to learning.
The volunteer will also have a mentor who will provide additional support and help him/her plan individual learning goals.
For further information about Glencraig:
Check out our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/weareglencraig/
In addition, our website: www.glencraig.org.uk
Travel cost reimbursement:
100% of the participants‘ travel costs will be reimbursed within the valid budget sums calculated according to the official rules of Erasmus+ programme. If a sum exceeds the limit, the excess will be paid by the participants themselves. The reimbursement limit is 180 € per participant from Bulgaria.
Important: In order to obtain reimbursement for the tickets, you need to obey the following rules:
1) You need to present ALL THE TICKETS, including RETURN TICKETS, which you will send after realization of the project, otherwise YOU WILL NOT BE REIMBURSED (DO NOT FORGET TO KEEP YOUR BOARDING PASSES FROM AIRPORT CHECK-IN)
2) You need to use PUBLIC TRANSPORT e.g. planes, trains, buses, trams or underground.
3) You need to depart from the country.
4) It is recommended to make scans of tickets before your arrival in case you lose them. The reimbursement will be done only in euros.
Insurance:
Every participant should have valid European Health Card.
Each participant will get full health insurance provided by CIGNA health insurance company.
All volunteers need to provide a criminal record and health form (in the info Kit) in order to prove to be suitable to work with vulnerable target groups, mainly kids in hospitals. These documents should be provided before the departure by scan copies and in original copy once here in Bucharest. So, please, don’t forget your criminal records and medical analyses! Pay attention to all your travel tickets and boarding passes.
Also check if you have the signed agreement with you.
YouthPass:
Every participant is individually entitled to receive a Youthpass Certificate, which confirms participation and validates the non-formal learning (NFL) experience of Training course project. Validating the learning experiences of participants is important in itself and the document can be of benefit in terms of the educational or employment future of the participant. Through Youthpass the European Commission ensures the Training course activity is recognized as a non-formal learning experience.
(*For more information on Youthpass you may click on this page to check it online)
You can also check ours:
FB page – Промяната е в Tеб / The Change is in You
FB group – Сдружение “Промяната е в Теб” – гр. Трявна
YouTube Channel – “The Change is in You” Association
IMPORTANT!!!
In the title of the e-mail, write down the name of the project.
Send your documents to: stanimir.chukov@gmail.com
Български