📝 Detailed information
🏢 About the local organisation
Blaenllechau Youth Project has been operating since 1995 and provides activities and projects for children and young people between the ages of 5 & 25 years to develop their social, cultural, intellectual and emotional wellbeing and development. The project has hosted workcamps with UNA Exchange for many years, but unfortunately the project is coming to an end, so 2016 will be their last workcamp.
💼 What the programme involves
Blaenllechau Youth Project runs a play scheme for local children in the school holidays. The playscheme is open to all children between 5-14 years but most who attend are around 8-10 years. Volunteers will support local play workers to make the play scheme fun and interesting for the young people, and to add an important intercultural element. The play scheme is based on free play and volunteers will be able to suggest activities that the children might like to try. The group will also have the opportunity to volunteer with Tylerstown playscheme in a nearby village. Volunteers will work from approximately 10.30am – 3.30pm but there will also be opportunities for them to participate in evening activities with local youngsters.
🏠 Accommodation on site
Volunteers will be staying in a community building in the village; this is also the building in which the playscheme takes place. The whole group will share the same space in the hall. Airbeds are provided but volunteers should bring their own sleeping bag. There is a small kitchen area where volunteers will cook together. A shower and washing machine are available. Volunteers will have to pack up their belongings each morning ready for the playscheme to begin.
📍 About the location
Blaenllechau is set on the side of the mountain of the Upper Rhondda Fach in the South Wales Valleys and is a former coal mining community. It is a small village and can sometimes feel quite isolated. However, volunteers will be warmly welcomed by the local community and will be able to experience local culture. The South Wales valleys are an area of natural beauty with many possibilities for scenic walks and hiking, it is also an area with a rich cultural heritage, and volunteers will have the chance to learn about the mining industry of Wales for which the area is famed. It is also possible to visit Cardiff, the Brecon Beacon National Park and other tourist attractions in South Wales.
⚠️ Requirements
A sleeping bag, good spoken English, a certificate of good conduct and a motivation letter specific to this project.
ℹ️ Additional information
The 50 euro fee goes to UNA Exchange, not directly to the project.