📝 Detailed information
🏢 About the local organisation
Oak Grove College is a special school for children aged 11 – 18 years with a wide range of disabilities from severe learning difficulties to behavioural problems to physical disabilities. For the last ten years international volunteers have been invited to help create a beautiful environment for the children and this year Oak Grove College would like to continue this work by hosting two groups of international volunteers in June and September.
💼 What the programme involves
Since the College opened in 2005, students working alongside staff and volunteers have landscaped and planted the grounds themselves. International volunteers will work alongside pupils with special needs on horticulture, hard landscaping and creative tasks. They will be working alongside children making outdoor sculptures and helping to develop the gardens in the grounds. The work may change depending on the weather and the children who are assisting each day; we ask that volunteers are FLEXIBLE and willing to help with any of the tasks. Volunteers will work between the hours of 8.30am – 3.30pm.
🏠 Accommodation on site
The accommodation is basic but adequate; volunteers will sleep on the floor of a local community centre or church hall and will need to bring sleeping bags and rolls mats. Due to the additional use of this accommodation volunteers need to be aware of the other activities that may be happening around them. The host is always willing to arrange after work activities and is very active in taking volunteers on trips and outings. The accommodation provided is located within short walking distance of many urban amenities, including: banks, pharmacies, supermarkets, public swimming pool, cafes, shops, train station and the beach. Volunteers will cook breakfast and dinner in the kitchen of the accommodation and have a main meal provided by the school at lunchtime. Volunteers will use the local leisure centre nearby for showers.
Since it is always nice to try new and different dishes, volunteers are encouraged to bring along their favourite recipes from home!
📍 About the location
Oak Grove College is located in Durrington-on-Sea near Worthing on the South East coast. Durrington-on-Sea is approximately 1 ½ hours from London and 30 minutes from Brighton.
⚠️ Requirements
• Volunteers must have a good level of English and an interest in working alongside children with special needs.
• A Certificate of Good Conduct must be sent to Concordia at least three weeks before the project takes place.
• At times this project can be physically demanding and the volunteers need to be prepared to work outside in all weathers.