Step into the Gap 2016
Volunteer Application form
1. Personal details
First name
Middle name
Last name
Gender
Female
Male
Address
Post code
Home telephone
Mobile telephone
Email
Date of birth
Family status
Married
Single
I have dependents
Yes
No
Religious denomination
2. Programme criteria
To be able to take part in this programme you must be able to answer ‘yes’ to the following questions
Yes
No
1. Will you be between the ages of 18 and 30 for the entire duration of the
programme?
2. Are you a UK resident or do you have indefinite leave to remain, and are you eligible
for a passport?
3. Are you available for the voluntary placement from end Aug 2015 – end July 2016?
4. Do you agree to follow the programme’s health and security advice and guidelines?
5. Are you willing to attend pre and post placement training sessions?
6. Are you willing to explore and promote social justice issues throughout your
placement?
7. Are you willing to share your Christian faith and experiences with others?
8. Are you willing, with support, to fundraise for CAFOD throughout your year?
9. Are you able to attend a residential training 3rd July – 6th July 2016?
3. Criminal record
This post is subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service check for working with children and young people.
Do you agree to undergo a DBS check?
Yes
No
You are not required to disclose any conviction considered spent under the Rehabilitation of Offenders ACT 1974.
Having a conviction will not necessarily exclude you from this programme; it will depend on the circumstances and the
relevance to the post.
Do you have any criminal convictions?
If yes, please give details
Yes
No
The information contained in this application form will only be seen by staff involved in the recruitment process
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4. Which voluntary placement(s) would you like to be considered for?
Shortlisting for each placement is based on a number of factors. As well as assessing your suitability
for the Step into the Gap programme, the application process aims to match up your skills, experience
and interests with what would be on offer and what would be expected in each placement.
Please read about the placements on the CAFOD website and contact the placement directly for an
informal chat if you would like to know more.
Which placement(s) do you think would suit your skills, experience, interests and personality the
best, and why?
5. Education, work and voluntary experience
Dates
Name of course, nature of work
experience, voluntary work or work
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Name of school, college,
University, voluntary project or
workplace
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If you would like to add further information to this section, please attach a word document to your e-mailed application.
6. More about you
What do you hope to do in the future? (in less than 50 words)
What does being part of a faith community mean to you? (in less than 50 words)
Do you have any skills that you think would be particularly useful during this placement? e.g. music,
ICT, theology, languages, photography (in less than 50 words)
Demonstrate your understanding of social justice. How do you feel this links with your faith?
(in less than 50 words)
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7. Why you should be accepted onto this programme
Why have you chosen to apply for CAFOD’s Step into the Gap programme? (in less than 100 words)
What skills, qualities or experience do you bring to the programme? Use examples from your
education, work, voluntary experience, Church or family life. (In less than 100 words)
Please give examples of how you have engaged and communicated with different people (in less than
100 words) Think about the people you hope to be meeting in your placement (e.g. children, young
people, young adults, adults.)
8. Examples of specific skills
Please give examples from your voluntary or work experience that demonstrate:
How you can communicate effectively in a stressful situation (in less than 150 words)
How you are able to work flexibility (in less than 150 words)
How you are able to co-operate with others and work as part of a team (in less than 150 words)
9. Health information
Placements can sometimes be mentally and physically demanding, particularly when overseas.
CAFOD takes the health, safety and security of those travelling seriously and volunteers may need health clearance
before travelling.
Answering “yes” to questions 2 - 8 does not necessarily mean that you cannot take part in the programme, but it will help
us to ensure that we can offer you the support that you need.
Yes
1. Are you in good health?
2. Do you have any physical limitations?
3. Do you consider yourself to be disabled?
4. Are you registered disabled? (as defined by the Disability Discrimination Act 2006)
5. Have you ever suffered from a mental illness?
6. Are you currently undergoing medical treatment (including taking any
medication)?
7. Do you have any allergies?
8a) Do you have any dietary restrictions / needs e.g. halal, vegetarian / vegan, no
nuts etc?
8b) Would you be prepared to compromise on these if necessary, particularly
overseas?
If you have answered “yes” to any of the questions between 2 and 8 please give details
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No
10. Applicants with disabilities
CAFOD is committed to making every reasonable adjustment to the workplace so as to accommodate people with
disabilities. If you require any adjustments to accommodate you in the application or selection process or you wish to
discuss reasonable adjustment in the placement itself, please contact cjones@cafod.org.uk
Alternatively you can give details here:
11. Emergency contact person
For use throughout the programme when in the UK and overseas.
Name
Relationship to you
Address
Postcode
Home telephone
Mobile telephone
Email
12. References
We require two references:
 One from your faith leader e.g. parish priest, Chaplain, youth minister etc.
 The other from an adult who is not related to you or is not a personal friend. This could be a
teacher, sports coach, current or former employer etc.
It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that we receive two references by midnight on
Friday 11th March 2016.
Where did you hear about Step into the Gap?
e.g. CAFOD website, local CAFOD contact, school, youth service, volunteer centre etc.
13. Declaration
I confirm that all of the information I have supplied in this application is true to the best of my knowledge.
I know of no reason why I should not be granted a visa or be accepted into any country in Africa, Latin
America or Asia.
I agree to follow the advice and guidance given by CAFOD and my placement staff in the UK and
overseas and I agree to obey the local law at all times. I will respect the culture and traditions of others
that I meet and work with.
I understand that my placement can be terminated at any time if I do not follow the above.
Signed / tick
Date Click here to enter a date.
Please return this application form and two references by midnight on Friday 11th March 2016 to:
cjones@cafod.org.uk
If you or your referee prefer, you may also post your application and references to the address below.
If you have any queries about Step into the Gap, the application form or references please contact:
Catherine Jones cjones@cafod.org.uk 07881 266767 CAFOD, Romero House, Westminster Bridge Road, London SE1 7JB
If you do not hear from us within 7 days of the closing date, please assume your application has not been
successful on this occasion.
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