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Volunteering
Take a step into the outdoors with Greenhill YMCA! Whether it’s your first step or your hundredth, fuel your love of adventure and get active while working with the largest youth charity in the world, YMCA!
No matter your background, with our dedicated training with professionals you can learn to lead fun and active sessions. Have a blast, learn new skills and make unforgettable memories.
Summer Volunteering
Since 1936, Greenhill YMCA has been providing Adventure Camps for young people between 6 and 15 years old. Today, we run 3 Camps for approximately 600 children and young people.
Summertime means Adventure Time and our Summer Camp provides our community the ideal adventure. Each week throughout July and August we create an experience that ensures a week full of FUN, ADVENTURE and CHALLENGE for our young people.
If you are over 18 and looking to spend your summer abroad and get a chance to do something fun, positive and rewarding with your summer, join us as a Summer volunteer.
If you are 16-17 years old join us in our ALC programme ‘Assistant Leaders Camp’ ALC provides young adults (16-17 years old) with the opportunity to give back to Summer Camp, helping out as an assistant leader. Working alongside trained JACK leaders, ALCs can ignite and develop skills in group management, communication techniques, junior leadership, working with children and outdoor pursuits.
Year Long Volunteering
Bring some adventure back to your life and develop as a full-time volunteer with us. As a volunteer you will:
- Join our international team and make lifelong friends
- Be trained and develop skills and experience in offering adventurous and educational outdoor activities.
- Be provided free accommodation and a weekly stipend for living costs.
- Create memories and inspire young people.
If you have just finished school and would like to take a gap year, or you are looking to deepen your skills, Greenhill is the best place for you!
How to Volunteer
Please contact us at volunteerrecruitment@greenhill-ymca.org or phone 028 4372 3172
What our past volunteers have to say...
Frequently Asked Questions
The minimum age for our residential volunteer programmes is 18 years. There is no upper age limit. However, most of our short-term volunteers are aged between 18 and 26.
If you are 15 to 17 you can take part in our Assistant Leadership Camp. In exchange for your time volunteering, we can offer the experience of working outdoors with young people, providing valuable training. We also make sure you have loads of fun along the way.
What are the benefits of young people attending the Annual Gathering?
- All expenses paid trip to beautiful Newcastle and stay in Greenhill YMCA with meals included
- Connect with YMCA young people and staff from all over Ireland
- Be inspired through learning more about the work of the YMCA nationally and internationally
- Share your experiences of the impact of the YMCA on your life, help us to share these with our wider communities and to shape the future of the movement.
We won’t ask you for a test to prove your English level. We will set up an interview with you and assess that you have a level that allows you to flourish your abilities, understand instructions and train you.
If you are 15 to 17 you can take part in our Assistant Leadership Camp. In exchange for your time volunteering, we can offer the experience of working outdoors with young people, providing valuable training. We also make sure you have loads of fun along the way.
What are the benefits of young people attending the Annual Gathering?
- All expenses paid trip to beautiful Newcastle and stay in Greenhill YMCA with meals included
- Connect with YMCA young people and staff from all over Ireland
- Be inspired through learning more about the work of the YMCA nationally and internationally
- Share your experiences of the impact of the YMCA on your life, help us to share these with our wider communities and to shape the future of the movement.
If you wish to join our year-long programme you may be required to apply for a temporary worker – charity worker visa (T5). Greenhill YMCA will provide you with a Certificate of Sponsorship to apply for your visa as well as guidance during the process.
If you are 15 to 17 you can take part in our Assistant Leadership Camp. In exchange for your time volunteering, we can offer the experience of working outdoors with young people, providing valuable training. We also make sure you have loads of fun along the way.
What are the benefits of young people attending the Annual Gathering?
- All expenses paid trip to beautiful Newcastle and stay in Greenhill YMCA with meals included
- Connect with YMCA young people and staff from all over Ireland
- Be inspired through learning more about the work of the YMCA nationally and internationally
- Share your experiences of the impact of the YMCA on your life, help us to share these with our wider communities and to shape the future of the movement.
You will receive an allowance of £65.00 (STERLING) per week to cover food and personal needs. Self-catering accommodation is provided free of charge.
Volunteer staff accommodation is a shared and communal space. Staying with other volunteers provides a great support system and the camaraderie shared is a very unique and positive experience. All meals are prepared within your own accommodation.
Yes, you will be required to share a room with one other person upon your arrival.
Full-time volunteers will undertake a 6-week training programme. Summer camp volunteers will receive 2 weeks of training. The training programme will cover the main areas of work that helpers will undertake throughout their period of employment. Following this period of training, helpers will be given the opportunity to further develop their skills through ongoing training.
Once you have confirmed your flight details and emailed them to Greenhill, we will organise for someone to pick you up at your designated airport. We will forward you the name of the person picking you up and their contact details. On your arrival at Greenhill, you will meet with one of our existing volunteers who will help you settle in and answer any queries you may have. We also drop you off at your designated airport when you are due to leave Greenhill.
We would recommend that you bring the following:
- A waterproof jacket
- Waterproof trousers
- Good hiking boots – Gore-tex material that can breathe
- Tracksuit bottoms and thermals – material that wicks away moisture NOT jeans/cotton as these retain moisture and get cold
- Old, comfortable footwear (trainers) that you won’t mind getting wrecked while on activities
- Suitable winter clothing – wind, rain and the cold
You are required to obtain a Criminal Records Check from your local authority prior to your arrival at Greenhill. This check should be obtained at the earliest opportunity. Where possible, this check should be forwarded to Greenhill YMCA in advance of your arrival. We will carry out further checks upon your arrival. Immigration authorities require some nationals of other countries to register with the police upon arrival. Greenhill will take you to the police station to meet this requirement.
If you are 15 to 17 you can take part in our Assistant Leadership Camp. In exchange for your time volunteering, we can offer the experience of working outdoors with young people, providing valuable training. We also make sure you have loads of fun along the way.
What are the benefits of young people attending the Annual Gathering?
- All expenses paid trip to beautiful Newcastle and stay in Greenhill YMCA with meals included
- Connect with YMCA young people and staff from all over Ireland
- Be inspired through learning more about the work of the YMCA nationally and internationally
- Share your experiences of the impact of the YMCA on your life, help us to share these with our wider communities and to shape the future of the movement.
Yes, we require 2 references prior to your arrival. The references should be from a previous employer(s), teachers, etc and are about you as a person in terms of why you would be suitable to work with Greenhill YMCA and young people.
If you are 15 to 17 you can take part in our Assistant Leadership Camp. In exchange for your time volunteering, we can offer the experience of working outdoors with young people, providing valuable training. We also make sure you have loads of fun along the way.
What are the benefits of young people attending the Annual Gathering?
- All expenses paid trip to beautiful Newcastle and stay in Greenhill YMCA with meals included
- Connect with YMCA young people and staff from all over Ireland
- Be inspired through learning more about the work of the YMCA nationally and internationally
- Share your experiences of the impact of the YMCA on your life, help us to share these with our wider communities and to shape the future of the movement.
As a full time volunteer in our yearlong programme you are entitled to a 20 days holiday during your 1 year volunteer period with us. However, should your voluntary period be less than one year your entitlement will be adjusted to reflect this. During the Christmas Holiday period, Greenhill YMCA closes for 2.5 weeks. Therefore, you will be expected to find other accommodation arrangements during this period. Most Volunteers tend to go home or travel during this period of time.
If you would like to apply as a volunteer or receive further information on volunteering at Greenhill YMCA, please contact Alejandra at volunteerrecruitment@greenhill-ymca.org or phone 028 4372 3172.
