A record number of children with health challenges will experience Over The Wall’s camps in 2020, and applications are now officially OPEN!
OTW is aiming to break its own records by taking more than 1,200 children with serious illness to camp during 2020.
Applications for OTW camps opened this week, with more spaces available than ever before and we are inviting families who have children with a health challenge (as well as their siblings) to apply now. OTW is also calling on those local to our camps to get involved in volunteering roles to help facilitate camps – we predict that there will be a 20% increase in the number of volunteers required to make our 2020 camps happen.
OTW’s therapeutic camps are designed to present children with the opportunity to recapture parts of their childhood that illness would have otherwise taken, through a host of activities such as kayaking, fishing, dancing, climbing, swimming, arts & crafts, taking part in challenge courses, archery, talent shows, discos and much more.
All camps have an onsite medical environment facilitated by trained professionals, so the charity also requires clinical volunteers that are nurses, doctors, paramedics or other medical professionals.
CEO, Kevin Mathieson says, “In the last few years we have almost doubled the number of places we offer annually to children and families. However, there are an estimated 50,000 children living with serious illness in the UK, most of whom will experience isolation, will lack confidence or simply unable to participate in the activities enjoyed by their peers. Camp is a place that can give back to these children.”
OTW invites applications from children aged 8 to 17 years, living in the UK, currently receiving treatment, or experiencing health challenges for over 130 different illnesses including blood disorders, gastrointestinal disorders, cancer and leukaemia, rheumatological conditions, immunological disorders, respiratory disorders, skin conditions, severe allergies, heart conditions kidney disease, neurological disorders, neuromuscular disorders, organ transplant and much more.
If you have a child, sibling, or you are a family that would benefit from our free camps, visit the Our Camps pages to find out more and apply.
If you can help by volunteering- contact the team at volunteering@otw.org.uk or visit the Volunteering pages.
