UCL Union

Kids Company (KC) is a registered charity that works with vulnerable children at our children's centre and in schools, offering therapeutic and practical help. The work in schools is organised by team leaders who work with teachers to produce a timetable for KC staff based on the specific needs in that school, such as extra activities at playtime, after school clubs or working with groups of children who need extra support or tuition. Specialist work is also offered in particular topics e.g. bullying, bereavement and self esteem building. Whole classes are offered Arts, Drama, Music and Sports activities - these are the areas we particularly need volunteers. We have found that by looking at a school as a whole as well as at individuals we can address many more problems. For example many inner-city schools are over crowded and under resourced, resulting in too many children in a class and too many children in the playground at the same time. This is when children do not receive the attention they require to become engaged in subjects or activities - possibly resulting in anti social behaviour. By offering organised activities in sports, music, art and drama these children can have access to smaller groups and feel involved in areas/subjects that they would not normally experience. Past projects have also involved changing the school environment by painting murals, developing gardens and generally brightening schools up, in an attempts to enrich the school lives of these children. We offer volunteers as much or as little training as they require in working with children and give them complete freedom if they feel comfortable, to plan, structure and develop their own workshops. Volunteers are given support and weekly supervision by KC staff