Frequently Asked Questions

I have no experience, will I still be eligible?

You do not need to have any experience in working as a Volunteer, or with Disabled Children to come on our trips. You will be CRB checked and we will provide a training day for all volunteers to ensure that you know what you can and can't do! Other than that, you need to be keen and enthusiastic and willing to be part of a team.
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How am I selected?

Once you have registered, you will be contacted by one of the committee. We will arrange to come and meet you, discuss the trip, what we expect of you and how it all works. This is an excellent opportunity to ask questions, but please use the feedback sheet if you have any questions now.
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Does it cost me anything?

There is not a formal price tag on this trip. As a Charity, we pay for all the YPs and volunteers. We do ask that you make a contribution of at least £500 to the charity. This can be your own money or through sponsorship and fundraising. Obviously I'd like you to raise more if you can - run a Marathon and raise £1500 and I'd be really impressed! Be aware, though, that if you wish to raise funds through an event, your sponsors cannot claim gift aid on the first £500 you raise because it covers your costs. It is important that you specify on your fundraising, for that £500, that the money is for your costs and not for the charity in general. If you want some simple fundraising ideas, see the Fundraising pages.
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How is my Young Person chosen for me?

Once we have a list of volunteers and Young People, and met and assessed you all, we will then try to match our teams up together based on your experience, our knowledge of the people, and a little bit of intuition! Generally we get it right, so don't worry too much!
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Will I meet everyone who is going on the trip beforehand?

We invite all the families and Young People to a meeting a month or two before the trip so we can brief you all on what is to be expected, what you need to bring, how the administration works etc. Not all families are able to attend because, being a National Charity, many people live too far away to travel. You will have met most people, though.
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If I feel anxious about my Young Person, what can I do?

If you meet your Young Person and feel anxious about the task or perhaps the level of care is more than you think you can cope with, or any other problem, please get in touch as quickly as possible. This allows us to move people around or find a better match, or perhaps come and see you to reassure you. You are a volunteer, we can't do anything without your help and support, and will not ask things of you that you aren't comfortable with.
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Do I have to be with my Young Person at all times?

You will meet your YP and assist them with getting around, be that at Heathrow or in the NSCD. You will also be sharing a room with them at night. During the day, however, you will have time to ski with other volunteers or by yourself.
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What do we do in the evenings and when we are not skiing?

When we return from the skiing, there is a quiet time when you can relax, socialise, have a nice "hot tub" or even sleep! We will all meet up every night and either eat out in a local restaurant (Chinese, Steak House, Pizzaria, Mexican) or we will eat in. When we do eat in, we have a choice of take aways or we get a local caterer to provide a hot meal (Spagetti Bolognase, Lasagne etc). This is a good chance to get to know the other Young People and get involved in some games or planned entertainment!
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What are my other responsibilities?

While you are with us, you are responsible for ensuring your YP is fully looked after and has no problems. You are, however, part of the team and will be asked to look after other YPs, help out where-ever necessary with lifting, moving, loading, carrying etc. Additionally, you will be required to do some duty time in the NSCD Cafe. There are always 2 volunteers in the cafe at all times during the day to look after any YP who comes in early or to deal with any emergency that arises!
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How much money should I take?

You will need to bring money for the airport, food in the NSCD Cafe (approx $15 per day), and any spending money you wish for souvenirs, T-Shirts, sweets etc from the newsagents etc. While you can probably change travellers cheques out there, most of us simply take cash.
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Do I need Travel Insurance?

You do not need to find your own Travel Insurance as you will be covered on this trip, courtesy of Alan Berry Insurance. Should you have your own cover already then we request that you let us know.
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If I can't come on the trip, can I still be involved?

This Charity needs a considerable amount of help to run every year. We constantly need fund-raising and anything you can do to raise money, whether this is £50 for a swim or £1000 for a Marathon, or anything in between, we value your support. Get your friends involved too!
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