Tasks description 

Valleys Kids can offer a wide range of experiences through play work, youth work, art work and community work. The EVS volunteers will be working alongside local people, community groups and statutory organisations. A work programme can be flexible and developed to reflect the interests and abilities of the volunteers while at the same time fitting in with the needs of Valleys Kids. Each volunteer will be based with one of the key areas of the organisations and will work in that particular community on a variety of programmes. This way the volunteer has a chance to get to know a community, the local people and staff and build a relationship with them. The actual tasks depend on the way in which the project develops but will involve a range of community activities. Present activities include: o Play provision - pre-school playgroups, after-school clubs, junior drama workshops, holiday playschemes o Youth provision - junior youth club, senior youth club, 16+ unemployed groups, senior youth arts work, homework clubs, weekend residential projects o Adult provision - computer skills, social skills, literacy, family group work, women's group. The two volunteers will each be based at one of the community centres in either Penygraig, Penyrenglyn or Rhydyfelin so they have a chance to develop relationships with the staff and community in one place. The work at each centre will be broadly the same, so the following programme and task descriptions apply to both. BROAD PROGRAMME October- August October 7th-11th On-Arrival Training (with UNA Exchange) 14th-18th Introductions/induction/preparation with Valleyskids 21st onwards Induction and planning at the specific community centre Nov. Normal working routine Dec. 2 weeks holiday Jan. Normal working routine Feb. Normal working routine March 2 weeks holiday April Mid way evaluation May Normal working routine, including residential weekend with group of young people June Normal working routine July Summer playscheme August Evaluation, report, end of project TASKS - Dependent on volunteers' skills and interests 1) Training in computers and play work 1 day, 20 % 2) Creche work 1 day 20% 3) After school sessions with young people 1 day 20% 4) Youth work activities, advice, information 1 day 20% 5) Planning sessions, meetings and preparation for each week ½ day 610% 6) working with other UNA Exchange EVS volunteers on a common project ½ day 10% Typical Week's Timetable Monday am staff meeting, pm running a workshop for the youth club Tuesday am planning / organising activities in the creche, pm running a workshop for the youth club Wednesday am running a workshop for the women's group pm after school homework club Thursday am planning pm running the after school club followed by youth club Friday am freetime pm running a drama workshop Saturday am work on EVS common project such as creating a newsletter, or holding a European Day at a local youth group NB It is not expected that volunteers will work a full day plus evening, this outline is to show typical activities. The nature of the work means there will be some evening and weekend work but the total of hours worked in a week will not be more than 35. Each volunteer is able to follow their interests in the project and focus on activities of interest. For the first few months the volunteer will need to take time to get to know the young people and start to build a relationship with them, gaining their trust. So the volunteer will work alongside staff at the community centre. This may involve spending informal time chatting to the young people, playing games with them and helping staff run workshops. There will also be work to help staff plan the activities, collect necessary materials (e.g. art supplies, cooking ingredients), make posters about future activities, plan events and help with administration. The volunteer will also join staff discussions and planning meetings. Once the volunteer has more confidence they can plan and lead activities with a small group of young people such as drama and music or art workshops and sports. Discussion with staff will help the volunteer prepare these activities. These activities are a good chance for the volunteer to offer some cultural activities with the young people, for example cooking recipes from their home, teaching language or music, investigating different countries issues and comparing lives between young people. In the school holidays the volunteer will work on playschemes with children aged 5-11 who come each day for activities like face painting, crafts, games, talent show. Play staff plan each day and the volunteer can help run individual activities. Each volunteer has the chance to focus on one area of work and develop a personal project according to their interest. Example of this can be running a drama or music club and making performances with the young people; organising art and photography projects related to outings in the local area and / or different countries. We hope that the volunteer will bring their own interests and culture to such projects thus introducing the concept of Europe and volunteering to the young people. Practical Arrangements: · Food: The volunteer will be provided a monthly food allowance and will be responsible for cooking his/her own meals. · Accommodation: The volunteer will live in a rented house shared with the other young people, in one of towns near Pen-y-Graig. The volunteer will have his/her own room and will share use of the kitchen, bathroom and lounge. We will ensure that the accommodation is in an area well served by public transport. · Language training: As with other training needs this will be determined according to the volunteer's needs. Linguistic support will be available through the various personal supports available to the volunteer. If necessary a language course will be arranged, normally weekly lessons at a language learning centre in Cardiff. If the volunteer is interested in learning Welsh this can be arranged. · Training: Part of the induction programme will cover training needs which will be identified by UNA Exchange, Promo and the volunteer. Appropriate training plans will be prepared and training providers identified. It is likely that the volunteers will access training courses offered by the County Voluntary Service. On Arrival Training will be provided by the National Agency's approved training providers, as will Mid Way Evaluation. · Support: The volunteer's mentor will be the Festival Organiser of Promo. Personal support is available at three levels, but will be fully determined in conjunction with the volunteers on arrival to account for their particular needs and requests. The Promo staff will be the first and primary point of contact. Secondly UNA Exchange has an EVS steering group and a member of staff dedicated to EVS, who will be available as mentors for volunteers. Thirdly, the group of EVS volunteers on UNA Exchange projects will be brought together regularly for personal contact as well as to work on a common project. Former EVS volunteers will also be in contact with the volunteer to offer informal support and assistance with integration into the local community.