OMV Lourdes Pilgrimage 2018

PLEASE NOTE THE DATES FOR THIS YEAR'S PILGRIMAGE HAVE NOW CHANGED: The pilgrimage will finish on Thursday 26th July not Friday 27th July. An email with more information has been sent out, please contact Lily with any questions. 

 

 

On this page you will find the basic information you need to know before applying to Lourdes. If you are applying for the first time, please read this carefully. If you have any questions after reading this and the 'Lourdes information' document below please email Lily (Volunteer Coordinator)

 

COST

A place on this year's pilgrimage will cost £540 for a general helper (this is subsidised by the charity, the actual cost per volunteer is £760).

COMPULSORY PREREQUISITES

For all volunteers:

• you must be between the ages of 17 & 29.
• if you are not yet 17, you must be in year 12 at school and turn 17 before 21st July 2018.
• you must have valid, enhanced DBS clearance, completed with the OMV, this must be renewed every three years.
• if you have a DBS certificate issued by another organisation you must check as soon as possible with the Volunteer Coordinator that this is valid for use in Lourdes if not you will have to complete another form through the OMV.
• you must have a valid introductory First Aid certificate. This and your DBS will be completed at the OMV Training Day.
• you must have attended the OMV Training Day in the last two years (see below).

 

TRAINING

The OMV Training day is on 27th May 2018 at the London Oratory School, West Brompton, London.

This is compulsory for 1st time volunteers and experienced volunteers every two years - if you are required to attend the training day we will only accept your application if you commit to attending.

 

BURSARIES

The Lourdes bursary scheme was created to ensure that the most experienced helpers can continue to volunteer after they are no longer supported by school, parents or guardians to pay for the cost of the pilgrimage. We consider your experience in Lourdes, your experience in other OMV activities, your income and other relevant skills.

The OMV, as a charity, has a limited bursary fund and awards are made at the committee’s discretion.

If you are less experienced, or a first time volunteer, the bursary system is not closed to you, however we would strongly advise you to seek financial support from your school, university, parish or workplace.

The OMV will also ‘match fund’ you. If you independently fundraise for the OMV, we will give you a £1 discount off the cost of the pilgrimage for every £3 you raise.

 

BURSARY APPLICATION PROCESS

The deadline for bursary applications is 20th April.

If you need to apply for a bursary please do so before you apply for a place on the pilgrimage. Please note, we will not be able to award you a bursary if you have already applied and paid in full for a place on the pilgrimage.

Applications are made via a bursary application form, which can be accessed via the 'bursary information' link at the bottom of this page. The Lourdes team will respond to all bursary applications on 23rd April. You will then have until 27th April to pay for your place via the main Lourdes volunteer application form.

If you are not awarded a bursary you are still welcome to apply for a place on the pilgrimage via the main Lourdes volunteer application form.

 

REFUND POLICY

• If you withdraw your application up to 6 weeks before the activity you will receive a full refund.
• If you withdraw your application within 1 month of the activity, you will receive a 50% refund
• If you withdraw your application within 2 weeks of the activity, you will not be refunded.
• In extraordinary circumstances a full refund will be considered up to the day before the pilgrimage. This is at the committee's discretion.

 

The prerequisites listed above are all legal requirements for the pilgrimage and if you do not complete them then you will not be refunded. For more information please see the terms and conditions

Further Information:

• Bursary information (0.08 MB)
• Lourdes 2018 key information 2 (0.25 MB)