"DASH provides leisure schemes for disabled children and young people across Ceredigion, enabling them to access local facilities and activities, and supporting them to build confidence and learn new skills.

Since its formation in 1978, DASH has become a lifeline to many parents across Ceredigion providing safe and enjoyable schemes for their children during school holidays and their leisure time.

DASH also provides a wide number of volunteering opportunities working with the children and young people, as well as fundraising, and many volunteers go on to become scheme staff. Here are some of the projects on which we need volunteers' help:
• Playschemes - run through the summer and Easter holidays for disabled children and their siblings, includes trips out and about, craft workshops and much more. Volunteers give extra support, befriend the young people and get involved with the fun.
• DASH Away Weekends - provide short breaks to parents and carers who need it the most, while their children enjoy a fun and relaxing weekend. The volunteers are there to befriend the young people and take part in activities.
• Activity Day Outings - takes groups of young disabled people out and about in the local community to engage in a variety of activities. As a volunteer on this scheme you will have the opportunity to develop many skills, whilst having a positive effect on the lives of young disabled people.
• Frendzabout - a social activity group for young disabled people that meets regularly during the term, with 2 different groups, meeting on Tuesdays and Fridays. The young people have a lot of input into the activities they do. Volunteers provide peer befriending for the young people and support for the staff.
• Fundraising - aims to raise money and awareness of DASH. It is run by a volunteer committees and groups who can organise anything from street collections to larger events. There is something for everyone to join in with from organising the event to just helping at it.
• Disability Sports Wales - provides volunteers with the opportunity to get involved with Judo, swimming, football, sailing and dance clubs for disabled children. Volunteers will have the opportunity to gain coaching qualifications.
• There are also opportunities to do voluntary administrative work in the office, or anything else that might suit your skills. Feel like jumping out of an airplane (I did)? Knitting up a bevy of teddy bears? Running a marathon? Organising a raffle or an auction? We welcome any good ideas for fundraising, along with the enthusiasm to carry it out.

If you would like more information on DASH or are interested in volunteering on one of our projects, please contact either Nikki Binetti (DASH Volunteer Co-ordinator - vols@dashceredigion.org.uk) or Gail Young (DASH Schemes Co-ordinator - gail@dashceredigion.org.uk):
Tel/Fax: (01545) 570951
E-mail: office@dashceredigion.org.uk
Address: DASH, London House, Alban Square, Aberaeron, SA46 0AJ."

Written by Rachel Stelmach from the DASH office in Aberaeron: