Get Involved
Over The Wall Camp brings free, joy-filled activity camps to children with health challenges and their families, and you can be part of the magic!
Our volunteers make these incredible camps possible by giving their time, energy and enthusiasm to help create moments of mischief, confidence and pure fun for our campers. It’s a chance to do something truly rewarding: join a brilliant team, make new friends, and pick up loads of skills along the way; from teamwork and communication to creativity and problem-solving.
Ready to help us make unforgettable memories? Let’s go!
Is Residential Volunteering for me?
Absolutely! We don’t expect you to have lots of experience working with children, at camps, or with people with health challenges. We see daily, just how impactful volunteering is for people in growing their confidence, socialising and working with people from diverse careers and backgrounds, responding better to challenges, and gaining transferable skills that help with employability.
We welcome everyone from different backgrounds and with varying characteristics and skill sets. We firmly believe that everyone has value at camp and would love to meet you to share this experience over a week or a weekend. It is an excellent opportunity to do something rewarding and make a difference to others! Be part of a team, make friends and have fun, learn or develop skills including teamwork, creativity and communication.
We just ask that you let loose and get back in touch with your silly side, whilst being willing to learn and support our campers!
We love to welcome new volunteers to help create mischief and magic for our campers and families. Most of our camps in 2026 will be based at our new site in Ockbrook, Derby, with two camps in Perthshire, Scotland. Knowing the transformative impact role models can have, we want to ensure that our volunteers are reflective of our campers in terms of visible and non-visible disabilities, gender, ethnicity, sexuality, gender identity and all other characteristics.
To protect our campers and volunteers, our application and onboarding process includes reference checks, an Enhanced DBS or PVG, proof of MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella) vaccination, an informal interview, and attendance of training.
A Typical Day of Volunteering at a Residential Camp
Rise and shine!
Wake campers up! Can you find fun and silly ways to get the campers ready for their day of mischief and magic?
Breakfast with campers
You will be sat with campers while you all eat and chat together.
Climbing Wall
Supporting campers in feeling brave and confident to challenge themselves (this will look different for all) so you might be climbing a wall with a camper (if you feel comfortable to), being the best cheerleader on the sidelines, or chatting with a camper who doesn’t feel comfortable to approach a climbing wall.
Moving to the next activity
In this time while you wait, you might play a game, sing some camp songs together or be responsible for campers’ water bottles.
Graffiti art
Supporting activity leaders to deliver this session and help campers achieve by ensuring that campers have all the resources that they need, that they feel encouraged to have a go or that they have something else to do if they don’t feel up to taking part in that activity.
Lunch
Lunch with campers and dance party!
Rest Hour for campers
Team colour meetings for volunteers
Break
Each member of staff has one activity off per day and will return in time to help campers move to their next session.
Dinner and Dance Party!
Eating and chatting with campers while helping them clear away and retrieving their pudding at the end of mealtime. Completed with some fun dances at the end!
Evening Activity
For example, Campfire- sitting with campers, ensuring that they are safe and taking necessary precautions around the fire, assisting with toasting marshmallows.
Cabin Chat
With hot chocolate and biscuits- facilitating a reflective conversation about the day at camp, helping campers reflect and calm in time for bed.
Bed Time
Lights out for campers … and then we do it all again the next day!
Volunteering Roles at Residential Camps
Team Leader
Team Leaders play an important role of guiding a team of campers through the week and supporting the Teammates within that group. Team Leaders set the tone for their teams in creating welcoming, inclusive spaces where campers feel safe to try new things, take safe risks, and make new friends. This role requires excellent communication and people skills and is best suited for someone who has volunteered at Over the Wall before and is familiar with our programme.
Teammate
Our incredible Camp Teammates lead our campers through the residentials by being their fun, silly and authentic selves. As the most important cog in this camp machine, Teammates engage with each of the campers, keeping them laughing and dancing at every moment, helping them make lifelong friends and boosting their confidence with our inclusive activity programme. You would be a part of a team colour (these are grouped by ages) and inspire campers to challenge themselves. You will meet new people, make an impact and experience the magic that the camp bubble offers.
Activity Leader
Activity Leaders play the essential role of delivering our residential camp programming. They focus on facilitating fun, engaging, and safe activities for the children and families who attend Over the Wall Camp. We provide you with the plans and materials; you bring the magic by leading with enthusiasm, encouragement, and creativity. You will run activities that suit your hobbies and skills to campers of all ages. This role is the perfect opportunity to be adaptable, creative and organised in a fast-paced and unique environment.
Activity Captain
The Activity Captain is the spark that keeps camp buzzing! You’ll help bring activities to life, support our Activity Leaders, and make sure every session is packed with fun, creativity, and confidence-building moments. From helping campers step outside their comfort zones to crafting props, sharing ideas, and adding bursts of energy wherever needed, you’ll be right at the heart of the action, helping to create those unforgettable camp moments!
Media Crew
You will be part of a team, colour and carry out many of the duties of a teammate (see description above). In addition to this, you will be tasked with capturing the mischief and magic that takes place in your team. All equipment will be provided, and support will be available. No media experience required, just enthusiasm and the willingness to learn!
Wellbeing Support
The Wellbeing Support role is all about spreading kindness, positivity, and care across camp! You’ll be a friendly face from sunrise to lights out, cheering campers on, listening when they need a chat, and helping everyone feel safe and supported. Whether teaming up with the wellbeing coordinator or jumping into camp fun with your group, you’ll help create a space where every camper can relax, laugh, and truly shine.
Volunteer Champion
The Volunteer Champion acts as a cheerleader for our lovely volunteers! They’re there to offer advice, answer questions, and keep everyone feeling supported, sharing their findings with the staff team on a regular basis. Each day they check in, spread smiles, and celebrate all the little wins that make camp magic happen. Whether leading a game, joining a dance, or sharing volunteer shoutouts, they help make camp safe, joyful, and full of laughter.
Clinical Volunteer
Nurses, doctors and paramedics have a critical role to play at an Over The Wall Camp. They help provide safe and effective care for our campers who have a range of health challenges, whilst joining in the mischief and magic of camp. You will be a part of a team colour and participate in daily camper life to provide home from home nursing and medical care.
Camp Types
Health Challenge Camps
Our Health Challenge Camps are magical places where children and young people with health challenges come together for a fun week at camp! Campers can enjoy a variety of fun activities such as archery, climbing, STEM, and arts & crafts. You will support campers by being their biggest cheerleaders and help make their week the best it can be! Camp is five days long and you will be required to arrive one day early for training. New to 2026, camps will be split into age groups: 8-12 and 13-17 years old.
Siblings Camps
Our Siblings Camps are magical places where a sibling of a child with a health challenge come together for a fun week at camp! Campers can enjoy a variety of fun activities such as archery, climbing, STEM, and arts & crafts. You will support campers by being their biggest cheerleaders and help make their week the best it can be! Camp is five days long and you will be required to arrive one day early for training. New to 2026, camps will be split into age groups: 8-12 and 13-17 years old.
Family Camps
Family camps provide a fun and engaging environment at camp for families to let their hair down, have fun and experience some amazing memories together over a weekend. As a volunteer, you will provide support, play games, be an ear to listen and be an integral part to families reconnecting and having an awesome time together and with other families.
Home Educated Camps
New to 2026, this combined Health Challenge and Siblings Camp is designed specifically for campers aged 8-17 who are home educated and meet Over The Wall Camp’s eligibility criteria. Campers can enjoy a variety of fun activities such as archery, climbing, STEM, and arts & crafts. You will support campers by being their biggest cheerleaders and help make their week the best it can be! Camp is four days long and you will be required to arrive one day early for training.
Returner Camps
Another new addition to 2026, these camps will be a special opportunity for young people who have been to camp before to reconnect with the magic of camp. Support our campers in having all the fun of a 5-day residential squeezed into a meaningful weekend away.
Partnership Camps
In collaboration with like-minded organisations and charities, our Partnership Camps create powerful experiences for children, young people, and their families navigating similar health challenges. These camps are more than just a break - they’re a safe space for connection, understanding, and shared strength. It’s a place where common journeys spark joy, friendships blossom, and the spirit of unity and togetherness thrives!
How to Apply
New Volunteers
Before you begin, please make sure you meet the criteria below:
- You will be at least 18 years of age by the first day of the camp you plan to attend.
- You have or are willing to obtain an enhanced DBS check for camps in England or a PVG certificate for camps in Scotland. If you do not have a current DBS or PVG, we can help you obtain one.
- You have or are willing to obtain proof of having received an MMR vaccination.
The initial application process should take no longer than 10 minutes.
We recommend having the following on hand before you begin
- A copy of your CV showing your full work history and context for any gaps from the age of 16.
- Names and contact information for two references. We will contact both references if your application is successful, so please be sure to supply up-to-date contact information.
- Clinical applicants only: your professional body registration number. We will check to ensure this is current and has no restrictions.
What Happens Next?
Once you complete your application, we will be in touch within five working days to schedule an interview. If successful, we will offer you a place at camp, and you will be asked to complete additional onboarding paperwork and virtual training.
If you have any questions about our application process or any of our requirements, please reach out to volunteering@otw.org.uk
Get in Touch
Fill out the form or use the details below to get in touch.
volunteering@otw.org.uk
01332 977589