Barretstown seeking new volunteers for 2018 as it welcomes 40,000th camper

By Kim O'Leary

Barretstown is this week calling for support as it seeks over 1,700 volunteers to help deliver its services in 2018. The charity, which runs medically-endorsed camps and programmes for children with serious illnesses and their families, has increased its camper numbers by 106% in the last five years, and celebrated a significant milestone in 2017 when it welcomed its 40,000th camper.

Barretstown will help over 6,000 seriously ill children and their families this year, but requires the support of volunteers to do so.

Volunteers at Barretstown are known as ‘Caras’ – the Irish word for ‘friend.’ They are responsible for providing campers with a fun, safe and supportive environment, while acting as a vital support to full-time camp staff.

Volunteers are particularly needed for weekend camps during Barretstown’s busy months of April and May. During the summer months there are places available for volunteer interpreters and chaperones to support the children and teens who come from across Europe and the USA, attending camp for seven- and eight-day programmes; volunteer nurses and doctors are also needed during the summer to facilitate Barretstown’s medical centre, known to its campers as the ‘Med Shed’; additionally, opportunities for full- or half-days of volunteering are available all year round at Barretstown’s Hospital Outreach Programmes in Dublin, Cork and Belfast.

Speaking about the charity’s volunteers, Dee Ahearn, Chief Executive at Barretstown, said: “The overall goal of Barretstown each year is to serve more and more children with serious illnesses and their families, a feat that would not be possible without the help of our volunteers. The children who avail of our services are forced to grow up too quickly, losing out on a big part of their childhood as they struggle with adult issues. Our volunteers play an integral part in giving them some of that childhood back and supporting their families as they begin to rebuild their lives."

She added:“We welcome anyone looking for a new experience in 2018 to consider volunteering at camp.”

Barretstown provides what it calls Therapeutic Recreation for children affected by serious illnesses – primarily cancers and serious blood diseases – and their families. Therapeutic Recreation is built upon elements from a number of disciplines including occupational therapy, psychology, recreational therapy, adventure-based counselling and education.

Barretstown has increased its camper numbers by 106% in the last five years and, in 2017, served its 40,000th camper. The charity’s services are provided to families entirely free of charge, making donations and fundraising efforts vital in helping more seriously ill children experience the magic of Barretstown each year.

For more information about volunteering for Barretstown, or to submit an online application, please visit https://www.barretstown.org/volunteers/.

To find out more about Barretstown visit www.barretstown.org, follow @Barretstown on Twitter or visit Barretstown on Facebook.