We manage to get a lot of long term,
experienced volunteers to come and help with organising the work, demonstrating how to do it and making
sure that the jobs are fully supervised - this year we've even got some of the Ffestiniog Railway Company Board to help. Our adult volunteers also help with the domestic side of the operation. With
our paid staff and volunteer gang, we usually have over 40 adults to help run the week.
All adults in close contact with the kids have completed a government Criminal Records Bureau check.
Note: It is totally impractical to ensure that all adults involved in KW have been CRB checked unless we have all FR paid staff and volunteerss checked. Eg on the beach evening we have a whole load of FR staff down on the beach, playing games with the kids and helping to keep an eye on them. We throw an open invitation to all on the "Drive and engine" evening and the engine drivers who drive the Kids Works trains each morning. What we do is make sure that those who are actually living in the same module or house as the kids and all the key figures are CRB checked.
On a couple of evenings, the kids stay in their temporary homes and have a quiet (!!!) evening, but on the remaining eveinings there are activities such as an evening works train, slides show, a beach evening, a barbeque and a drive-an-engine evening.
Usually 13 years old, but we do take slightly younger people if they have already worked for us and we think they can cope. There is no upper age limit - there are usually 16 and 17 year olds taking part, but a few old 'kids' come back as adults to help. There are usually roughly the same number of boys and girls.
The charge for attending Kids' Training Week remains unchanged at approximately £60 in 2006 and includes accommodation, food, all transport during the week and evening activities. Non residents pay £20.
Parents and friends bring some, some come by train - we often can put several youngsters from the same area in touch with each other. Sometimes we can organise lifts with volunteers from other departments who are coming to the FR.
You can contact Eileen Clayton on (01766)770860 or email to eileen@eileenclayton.net or Tricia Doyle on (07919)414885 or email to tricia.doyle@festrail.co.uk. To reserve a place for your child (and you if you want!) use the booking form and somebody will confirm details with you as soon as possible.