"How can I help?"
We are always looking to add new members to our team. If you’re a kind, caring, empathetic person, who’d like to get involved in a great cause and make a difference – then we’d love to hear from you!
Derby Toc H Children’s Camp is 100% volunteer run, and every penny raised or donated goes towards creating many happy memories for the children we support. To make a donation, get in touch!
Derby Toc H Children’s Camp is managed, coordinated and staffed by an incredible team of around 50 unpaid volunteers. Without them the camp would not exist.
Our volunteers come from a wide variety of backgrounds – young and old, childcare professionals and those working with children for the first time. There will be teachers, engineers, bus drivers, plasterers, social workers, sales advisers, managers, admin assistants, care workers, students and the list goes on. A wide variety of backgrounds but at least one thing in common – the energy, enthusiasm and generosity to give up their time voluntarily to provide some very deserving children an amazing holiday.
Here's what one of our volunteers in 2021, Sam, had to say...
“TOC-H was an amazing experience for me. Not only did I have a great time with the countless activities but I also was able to be a part of making children’s summer holidays better. The camp was extremely organised and all the staff were polite and friendly. For me, the best activity was definitely raft-building at Carsington Water. All the evening events were fun and entertaining. My favourite evening event has to be the talent show which was a great opportunity for the children to show off their skills in song, dance and other talents.
Another good memory was the theme night. The ‘silent‘ festival was a great experience for everyone from children to staff. The camp completely exceeded my expectations and I will certainly return to help again.”
New volunteers
We are always looking to add new members to our team. Whether as part of the Derby Toc H Committee who meet monthly to fundraise, plan and coordinate the camp, as part of the team who build and take down the camp at the start and end of the holiday or as a member of the team who care, cater for and entertain the children during their holiday. We look for volunteers who are kind, caring and empathetic. You don’t need to have any formal training or qualifications just being able cheer up a homesick child or keep being patient and funny after a tiring few days will be invaluable during our camp. We have a variety of roles volunteers can be aligned too, and we’ll ask for your preference when you enroll with us. We try to best match the skill set of our volunteers to the different roles we have available.
All meals and trips are paid for by Derby Toc H and a tent can be provided if you do not have one. We do not pay travelling expenses but transport from Derby to camp can be arranged.
Tent Leader: As a Tent leader you are responsible for looking after a group of children and supporting them throughout their holiday. You will be the one to wake them up in the morning, sit with them during mealtimes, be with them during the various activities and ensure everyone is happy and well as they go to bed.
Activities: Our activities staff are an enthusiastic team who run the entertainment programme and ensure that everyone is kept busy from morning until night. This may include bike rides, running craft activities, parachute games, hosting a board game evening or being the referee to our sports day games. You’ll also support our external activities providers who run our canoeing and raft building activities giving moral support and a helping hand to the children attending.
Catering: Our catering team are responsible for cooking three meals each day for 200 people in the middle of a field, which requires flexibility, teamwork and a good sense of humour! You don’t need to be a good cook, we’ll give you all the relevant training and support.
Security: This is an important role on camp, and requires you to be on call during the night to look after any child who needs an adult or care whilst others get some well earned rest!
Maintenance: Being part of our camp maintenance and support team is a varied role, and could include cleaning the camp, mini bus driving or covering staff who are having a night off.
Camp Build & Take Down: The entire camp is built from scratch and this role involves setting up tents and marquees or the reverse, packing the camp away. It is perfect if you are able to only commit to helping for a few days, and are up for getting stuck in to building our camp.
Existing Volunteers
We are always glad to welcome back our existing volunteers. Our 2024 camp dates are 27th July – 10th August. Please complete the online regstrition form and the staffing lead will be in touch with more details.
For New Volunteers
If you have not attended the camp before and are interested in becoming apart of our volunteer team, please complete the volunteer inquiry form.
The volunteer process
Recruitment opens online
If you have been an existing staff member, you will receive a welcome email in February / March to invite you to register to volunteer online for the next camp.
Online registration
You’ll receive an online link to the registration form. If you do not have this or misplace it, the registration form is found on the Toc H Children’s Camp webpage under Get Involved. Please complete the form with all relevant personal details.
DBS Checks
Once you have submitted your form, the Staffing Lead will be in touch to confirm if you require an updated DBS check. DBS checks are now completed online and this will include a virtual ID check with a member of the committee.
Team Building
You will be invited to a pre camp training and team building day, to meet the other camp volunteers, and to complete relevant safeguarding training.
Camp welcome meeting
The Toc H Committee and Camp Leader will hold a camp welcome meeting (usually on the Sunday evening) to bring all volunteers together and cover the relevant updates, health and safety notices and briefings for the camp ahead.