Volunteer at the Homeless Word Cup 2008 - Melbourne

Combine a 16-day Australian holiday with eight days volunteering

From 1-7 December 2008, Melbourne will host the sixth Homeless World Cup and Hands Up Holidays (tel: 0800 783 3554 www.handsupholidays.com), the operator who believes that travel can make a positive difference, is offering CSSC members the chance to volunteer at this inspirational, life changing event.

Hands Up Holidays blends incredible sightseeing with meaningful volunteering experiences, and is lending their support by providing the opportunity to combine a fantastic holiday exploring the best of Australia and giving something back by volunteering for a week at the event.

The Homeless World Cup is an annual, international football tournament, uniting teams of homeless, excluded individuals in a once in a lifetime opportunity to represent their country and change their lives. The event attracts around 25,000 people who take part in training and trials around the world, with the top 500 players from 48 nations competing at the Homeless World Cup. The 2008 event will be hosted by The Big Issue Australia with the support of the state government.

Click here for more information www.handsupholidays.com/tours/kickinit 

Participants will assist in the following areas:

• Catering Assistants - ensuring 500 players are fed and watered pitchside, at their accommodation and in the lounge
• Media Assistants - live match reporters, match photographers, media accreditation
• Accreditation Monitors - enforcing the accreditation system at key access points

Itinerary highlights include:

• Week's volunteering at the Homeless World Cup
• Sightseeing in Melbourne, Sydney, The Blue Mountains, Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef
• Extension excursions to include the Whitsunday Islands, Daintree Rainforest, Uluru and Kangaroo Island

This 16-day holiday costs £1,590 per person and includes three star accommodation throughout (£1,390 if participants arrange their own accommodation in Melbourne), eight days volunteering plus sightseeing as per the itinerary. International and domestic flights are not included but can be arranged.

There is an automatic discount of £150 for CSSC members on the trip price of £1590, taking it down to £1440. If we receive 10 bookings from members the price will be discounted by a total of 15%, reducing it further to £1350 each.