SCA offers a range of student-led projects with children. They’re great fun, always full of energy, and a brilliant opportunity to help people develop at an early stage of their lives.
Children Achieving Through Student Support (CATSS)
One of SCA’s most popular and exciting projects, CATSS takes children aged 7-11 from a variety of difficult backgrounds on three daytrips and a residential week away in the Easter holidays.
CATSS provides a great opportunity for the children to make new friends, benefit from positive role models and generally have a lot of fun! The experience includes both student- and externally-led activities such as rock climbing, African drumming, and even a scavenger hunt! If you’re up for a challenge and willing to give things a go, we offer a unique opportunity to witness real development.
Please note that applications for volunteers for the CATSS 2012-13 project have now closed. Applications for CATSS 2013-14 volunteers will open in October 2013.
Where? Around the Durham area
When? 2 day trips and weekly training in Epiphany term; residential week in Easter’ final day trip after exams
Contact James at catss.sca@durham.ac.uk
Creche
Based in the Viaduct area close to the centre of town, this project works with children aged 0-5. Volunteers support regular staff with activities including games and general care of the young children. All activities are supervised by trained staff. Volunteers would be required for an hour or two each week on a regular basis.
Where? Crossgate Centre
When? A few hours per week
Contact Kaisha at creche.sca@durham.ac.uk
Keenan House
The homework club at Keenan House, which houses international families studying or working in Durham, is a fantastic opportunity to help children from all over the world with their education here in the UK. We also play lots of games with the children and help them to learn about other cultures. It is a regular, weekly session and you will work in a team of volunteers, sharing in a range of rewarding experiences.
When? Monday evenings
Where? Keenan House – a short, free bus ride from Durham
Contact Vicky at keenan.sca@durham.ac.uk
Splash Swim Club
The swim club project takes a group of around ten children aged between 7 and 11 from difficult backgrounds for a fun weekly swimming session. We aim to both improve their confidence and allow the kids to enjoy themselves with the volunteers. You can volunteer weekly or fortnightly with the project taking around two hours, once per week.
Where? Durham Trinity swimming pool
When? One evening per week
Contact Andrew at swimclub.sca@durham.ac.uk
Thurston
At Thurston we head out to Bowburn to deliver Musical Theatre workshops to the local children between the ages of 8 and 16. The hour-and-a-half-long sessions are usually filled with games and fun drama, dance, music and back-stage related activities, with an overarching aim to put on a show at the end of the term. At the same time we provide positive role models for them. You needn’t have any natural ability, just a lot of enthusiasm to share with the kids.
Where? Bowburn Community Centre – transport provided.
When? Fridays, 6.15 pm – 9 pm
Contact Anthony and Barly at thurston.sca@durham.ac.uk
Young Carers
In collaboration with Family Action, a nationwide charity, SCA volunteers work with six children every Thursday evening to run sessions including drama workshops, arts and crafts, sports, and trips away. These children, typically aged between 6 and 14, are identified by Family Action as ‘young carers’; that is, figures who hold positions of responsibility, such as looking after an unwell parent, caring for younger siblings, and many other potential domestic scenarios. A member of staff is always on hand to offer support.
Where? Around Durham – transport provided
When? Thursdays, 4-6pm
Contact India at youngcarers.sca@durham.ac.uk
