Want To Join
In 2025?
What's Involved?
There are 3 major elements that make up a helper's role.
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Training
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Fundraising
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On Tour
Training
Due to the nature of what we are doing, we take great care in preparing everyone for the task in hand. We will do 2 training weekends, the main focus of which is to gel the group and to prepare us all for the trip. On the weekends we will cover the following:
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Safeguarding
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Group 3 procedures
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Individual Child Risk Assessments
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Family visits
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Aspects of personal care both general and individual
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Fundraising
We ensure that everyone has the opportunity to ask any and every question. The weekends are often great fun and give a sense of what it will be like in Lourdes.
Fundraising
“Money should never be a barrier to coming to Lourdes with Group 3”
Fundraising is key to being part of Group 3 and your commitment is essential but remember, we are here to help!!!
There are two elements to this and they are: your own fare; and the fare of a Child.
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Helper’s Fares
Helpers are asked to pay for their own fare (it was £817 in 2024). HCPT can help with this, offering subsidies to those who need it. This is dependent on your circumstances and is looked at individually.
The fare includes: travel; all meals; trips; and Café stops - the only extra money you need is for the odd drink in the evening. How you pay for this is up to you – some fundraise for their fare and others, just pay for it.
Kids' Fares
The goals that we will agree with you will, very much, depend on your circumstances as not everyone has the capacity to raise vast sums – but some do. This way, generally, things balance themselves out amongst the mix of helpers.
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We often talk about our Fundraising Vehicles. These are events, activities, or ways we can help you achieve your goal by participating in various Group initiatives. Please click here to see the “Fundraising Vehicles” set up for this year. Other ways of raising funds is the “DIY” approach and, again, click here to see what has worked in the past – this list is just the tip of the Iceburg!
WE ARE HERE TO HELP - WHAT MATTERS IS YOUR COMMITMENT!
Please be assured that we have never missed our targets, in fact, we have always run at a small surplus and this year will not be any different!
On Tour
And lastly, what actually happens when you’re out there...
Take a look here for an idea of what activities we do.
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A Day in the Life of a Group 3 Helper
7.30am – Wake up call, greeted by a cup of tea or coffee
7.45 - Get the kids up, dressed and ready for the day
8.15 - Morning Prayer
8.30 - Breakfast
9.15 - Last minute rush to nip to the toilet or grab a coat
9.30 - Out for our morning activity
1pm – Back to the hotel for lunch
2pm – Back out for our afternoon activity – at some point, we would probably have a rather noisy café stop, complete with lots of singing!
6pm - Back to the hotel to shower the kids and get them into PJ’s
7pm - Dinner
8 – Quiet Time – a reflective period, often accompanied by some gentle singing and prayer before bed
8.30 - Get the kids to bed
9 – Helpers' Meeting – discuss the day, highlight and resolve any issues, plan for tomorrow
10 – Babysitting Rota kicks in – 4 helpers stay behind to watch the kids. Everyone else – free to go out and enjoy a few drinks before hitting the hay!
Christianity
You don’t have to be a Christian; in fact, on average, there are around 50% of the group who are not Christian. But, like with everything we do, we ask that you participate.
Our Holiday is just that, a holiday, which is underpinned with Christianity.
We participate in 2 Masses and have 2 informal Group 3 services at other times.
We start the morning with a prayer and close the day with a “Quiet Time” which is more of a meditational/story telling session designed to get the children ready for bed.