Who is this form for?
Young helpers aged between 17-25 travelling with the Young Helpers Group for the Catholic Association's ("CA") 2021 pilgrimage to Lourdes (taking place on Friday 20th to Friday 27th August 2021).
All new and experienced helpers (but not Young Helpers - i.e. helpers not intending to travel as part of the Young Helpers Group) should fill out the General Volunteers Application Form which you can access by via our website.
Before submitting your application, we ask that you review this Information Sheet about travelling to Lourdes with the CA Young Helpers Group.
The form should be completed by the actual volunteer, unless the volunteer is out of the country, in which case completion of the form on their behalf by a close relative is acceptable.
If you are under 18 and applying as part of the Young Helpers Group, you must ask a parent or guardian to submit a parental consent form as part of your application, which you can access here. We will be unable to accept your application if we do not receive a corresponding Parental Consent form.
Who can apply online?
All volunteers (Young Helpers Group and General Volunteers) are welcome to submit an online registration form should this be more convenient.
What happens when I apply online?
You will receive an automatic acknowledgement receipt once you submit your application and a member of our team will be in touch if we have any questions.
Postal Applications
If you would prefer to send a physical registration form in the post, please access the form via our website and email young_helpers@catholicassociation.co.uk or contact@catholicassociation.co.uk to confirm the postal address. Please note that we are not ordinarily able to confirm receipt of physical registration forms.
Deadline for Applications
For planning purposes, we ask that all volunteers submit their applications for the 2021 pilgrimage before 1 June 2021. However, we may still accept experienced and new helpers after the deadline (provided new helpers are able to attend a training day as outlined in the Information Sheet).
As always, please get in touch the Youth Group Leaders, Sarah Sparrow and Andy Joyce, at young_helpers@catholicassociation.co.uk if you have any questions or need any additional information.
You can also contact the CA on contact@catholicassociation.co.uk if you have any additional queries.
DBS Checks
A DBS check must be carried out on any person volunteering for the CA Lourdes pilgrimage. The CA carry out enhanced checks under both adult and child sections as all volunteers may be involved with regulated activity with either vulnerable adults or children during the pilgrimage.
To ensure the DBS check is up to date the check must be carried out no more than 3 months before the start of the pilgrimage. DBS checks are free for volunteers.
Please note that you must provide details of two referees in this application form if you are a new helper or need to complete a new DBS check.
You will fall into one of the 3 categories below. If you are unsure which applies please contact us for advice.
1. You already have an enhanced DBS certificate for vulnerable adults and children and the certificate is registered with the online DBS Update Service. A copy of the certificate (ideally a scan in PDF format or a photo, clearly showing the whole front of the page) should be sent with your application form. An authorised representative of the CA will then check your details online with the DBS. More information is available here: http://tinyurl.com/q7gz8xl
2. All other UK residents: A new check needs to be carried out. The DBS application form will be completed at the Pilgrimage Preparation Day. You will need to provide details of two referees in this application form. You must bring all the relevant information and ID documents as specified here: https://tinyurl.com/tyu2hvx
3. Non UK residents: Please contact our safeguarding officer at safeguarding@catholicassociation.co.uk. There is further information about this available here.
If you have lost your certificate and it was previously obtained through the CA please contact us.
Privacy Policy
When submitting your application form, you will be asked to consent to the CA processing and storing your data in accordance with our Privacy Policy. This is available here on our website.