REFLECTIVE DIARY

Vocational Module: Log Book / Diary

Vocational Module: Log Book / Diary

Introduction

I believe childhood lasts for a very short period of time and thus should be a period for learning, laughter and fun, not a period of isolation and fear. This is what I believe and to make myself available for this cause, I organised and completed a voluntary placement with CHICKS.org which is a national children's charity that offers free respite breaks for underprivileged children from all over the United Kingdom- the children who are living in poverty, suffering abuse, have lost their parents or are young carers. There were no set days throughout this placement, as an independent project, so for the purpose of this diary I have structured and organised the log book into ten daily sections 8th - 28th daily detailing the dates and significant activities performed day by day.

Milky Way Camp

AT

COASTAL RETREAT CORNWALL

8th - 12th July 2013

Sarah, Terry, Oly, Emma, Marcel, Jess, Sean, Sim, Ollie and Emma remind you of your time at CHICKS.

A week to remember............

Monday: 8th of July 2013

Spirits are high as the CHICKS minibus arrives with a group of children from Wales and Plymouth. There are lots of “wows” and “look at that” as they see the CHICKS retreat for the first time. Michael says he never seen so much grass and the boys and girls race each other to find their new bedrooms and unpack for the week. After a few hours of games, they all sit down to enjoy a three course dinner prepared by our cook, Peggy. What is on the menu tonight? Vegetable soup roasted chicken and apple crumble and custard for desert. It is off to bed - tomorrow is going to be a busy day.

Tuesday: 9th of July 2013

Rise and shine. After dinner, the group are told they are going horse riding. The children are ecstatic - many of them have never even touched a horse before and cannot wait to get to the stables. Michael instantly falls in love with his horse, Billy. He pretends to be a cowboy, and Billy is his noble steed. The other children enjoy saddling up as well and afterwards they get to spend some time grooming them.

Wednesday: 10th of July 2013

We are out for a full day at Clearly Adventure Park where we brave the drop slides ride the pony express and soak ourselves on the water rides. Michael is very nervous about going on the biggest slide, but with some encouragement from the group, he does it and has a big smile on his face for the rest of the day. We finish off the day by painting our faces and making a performance to the Judges. After dinner everyone listens to a bedtime story read by our child supervisors. Tonight it is Roald Dahls' 'The Twits' and supervisor Terry and Sarah are brilliant in doing the voices. It is not long before the whole group is in fits of laughter.

Thursday: 11th of July 2013

The sun is shining which ...