Volunteer holidays with Jumbulance
WHY VOLUNTEER?
The Jumbulance Trust offers fun, social charity volunteer holidays and rewarding experiences for anyone wishing to help disabled or seriously ill people take a day trip or accessible holiday – previously off limits due to a lack of suitable transport facilities and accompanying specialist support.
MAKE A DIFFERENCE
You will make a real difference to some of the most disadvantaged in our society.
REWARDING
Holidays on a Jumbulance trip can be hard work and incredibly rewarding.
HAVE FUN!
A Jumbulance holiday involves a lot of fun and laughter throughout!
Volunteering Q&A
ANYONE can volunteer! As long as you generally fit and healthy and willing to work hard absolutely anyone can help out. You would need to be ‘DBS’ (Disclosure and Barring Service) checked, however, which we can administer for you
Volunteers need to be over 16 but there’s no upper limit as long as you are reasonably able.
Volunteering to help someone who needs extra help is rewarding and while hard work and sometimes emotional, it’s a lot of fun and a great way to make friends and put something back into the community. For those seeking a career in the care sector or nursing it is not only tremendous experience for the future but can often form part of your education targets.
None at all. You will not be expected to do anything medical unless you are volunteering as a trained nurse or doctor. As a carer you just need patience, empathy and a good sense of humour. If you are a first time or relative novice volunteer you will only be given something to do well within your capabilities and comfort, and there’s always someone with lots of experience, or medical skills if needed, to assist and support you
Just to work hard, laugh, care, laugh, push a wheelchair or two, make tea, laugh, and make a difference to people who want to experience a holiday and make friends.
Cost for volunteers depends upon the particular trip but in almost all cases we do ask for an amount to cover accommodation and basic costs, but its always subsidised by the group or the trust to some extent and where possible we’ll help if we can, or help you find some funding. Many volunteers fundraise (using JustGiving for example) to pay for their ‘fare’
Again, this varies from trip to trip but in most cases the fare covers half board in a hotel or other accommodation, all travel, most entry into attractions and trips etc. and generally meals and drinks on the journey.
Generally the job involves caring for someone on a relatively one to one basis, with help and support as needed. Pushing wheelchairs, perhaps helping to transfer someone from wheelchair to seat or bed, it might involve feeding someone and also possibly personal care too. But no one insists you do this – its only if and when you feel comfortable to help in this way.
In a word, YES! Absolutely, definitely! For many participants this is their only holiday. It might be their first or it might be their last. For younger people it might be their first time outside of the UK or their first time away from parents. It might be the first visit to a beach or shopping centre or anything. It is immeasurable the difference some fun and laughter can make to someone who has a lonely life at home for the rest of the year. You will make travel possible.