Would you like to make hospital a happier place for a child? If so, the charity Children in Hospital Ireland would love to hear from you.
A stay in hospital can be a very traumatic time both for children and their parents so, to alleviate the situation, Children in Hospital Ireland (CIH) sends in volunteers to provide play and fun for sick children in hospital.
They welcome and encourage applications from men and women, from a diverse range of backgrounds and cultures, all they ask is that volunteers are aged 18 years and over, enthusiastic, caring, reliable and have 2-3 hours per week to give and be prepared to sign up for a year.
CIH is running an Online Information and Interview session on Wednesday 11th May from 6 – 8 pm. Successful candidates will then be invited to attend online training sessions held over three evenings May 19th, 25th and 26th.
If you are interested in learning more about becoming a volunteer with Children in Hospital Ireland please RSVP to info@childreninhospital.ie / (01) 290 3510, or visit www.childreninhospital.ie/volunteers. Please do not contact the hospital directly.
“Some people ask “Is it not really sad?” but I have never come out feeling sad because the kids are so happy, It’s such a nice thing to do” said one volunteer. You actually feel great after it, and so do they. I would absolutely recommend this to anyone – it’s the best thing I’ve ever done”.
Hospitalisation can be a very stressful experience for both children and parents. Play helps to alleviate some of that trauma. Simple play activities introduce a reassuring normality to a strange hospital environment. It is a natural part of a child’s life and aids recovery. It also helps the child to build relationships and make new friends, and above all brings fun into the child’s life.
All volunteers will undergo Garda Vetting/Police Clearance. A comprehensive training programme will be provided for volunteers, as well as on-going support.
