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Volunteering with children with multiple disabilities
Volunteer at a children’s day hospital where you will support children with severe disabilities. Volunteers will help design activities, create crafts, and assist children aged 3 months to 10 years in engaging with their environment. They will also contribute to a material bank that provides essential resources for families. Volunteers will primarily support underprivileged children in a neighborhood facing poverty and vulnerability, working alongside social workers, medical professionals, and other NGOs in Barcelona.
You volunteer at a children's day hospital in Barcelona's Nou Barris district, working with babies and children aged 3 months to 10 years who live with severe, multiple disabilities. Day to day you help design and run adapted activities and crafts, support the material bank that supplies resources to families, and assist the NGO's own staff with logistics for therapies, excursions and events. The role suits adults who are patient, adaptable, and comfortable working alongside medical and social-work professionals rather than leading independently.
Placements run 1–8 weeks, starting every week (sundays), with the next start on 20 Sep 2026. You stay in a hostel or shared, same-gender apartment with shared kitchen and bathrooms, and meals are provided, with the group planning and cooking lunch together. Prices start at $1,204, deposit included. A specific reason to pick this program is the structured week built around it: Spanish classes, a community-building training, and workshops (meditation, emotional intelligence, personal development) alongside your hours with the children.
Your role on this program
- Assist with logistical support for the NGO's activities, including food, therapies, excursions, and events
- Plan and prepare recreational and educational activities and games for the children
- Organize educational materials and spaces used for sessions
- Provide support for families of the children and babies at the hospital
- Help maintain and stock the material bank that supplies resources to families
- Prepare and cook meals for the volunteer community
- Ensure cleaning and disinfection of safe spaces used by the children
- Handle communication and fundraising tasks for the NGO
Exact duties vary with the placement's needs, the season and your experience.
Role boundaries
You support the NGO's teachers, therapists, and social workers and are never left in sole charge of children; a coordinator or member of the medical team is present for sessions with the children. Volunteering Solutions does not place volunteers in orphanages, and a clean criminal background check is required before you start.
A typical day and week
Day 1, Sunday: Upon arrival at the airport (for flights landing between 10:00 AM and 7:00 PM), a volunteer from the team will meet you and assist you with settling into your room and designated space.
Day 2, Monday: Start your experience with a welcome interview with your project coordinator, an introduction to your workspace, and an overview of the NGO’s mission, focusing on severe multiple disabilities. You will also meet the volunteer team, attend a Spanish class, and participate in a climbing class.
Day 3, Tuesday: Visit to the hospital for a meeting with the medical team and an introduction to the children. You’ll attend your first training session on multiple disabilities and assist during lunchtime. In the afternoon, you’ll help facilitate planned activities such as crafts, dance, and a treasure hunt. The day concludes with a meditation workshop.
Day 4, Wednesday: Engage in guided volunteering with the children and assess the adaptability of the planned activities. Enjoy lunch at the NGO with fellow volunteers. In the afternoon, attend training on the NGO’s operations, a Spanish class, and a personal development workshop.
Day 5, Thursday: Continue with guided volunteering and the planned activities with the children. Lunch at the NGO with other volunteers. In the afternoon, assist in preparing the materials needed for upcoming activities.
Day 6, Friday: Participate in guided volunteering with the children and planned activities. Lunch at the NGO with other volunteers. In the afternoon, take part in a workshop on emotional intelligence and community actions.
Saturday and Sunday: Free days to explore and enjoy Barcelona.
Timings are the placement's usual pattern; the local team confirms your hours at orientation, and they can change with school terms, clinic rotas, weather and the project's needs.
Who can join and what you need
- Minimum age 18
- Basic to intermediate level of Spanish
- Clean criminal background check submitted before the program starts (issued within 12 months of the start date)
- Travel and medical insurance, either your own policy or the one Volunteering Solutions arranges
- An adaptable, patient, and positive outlook toward working in a hospital setting
- A background in special education is considered a valuable asset but is not required
The placement, its limits and your part in it
The placement is a children's day hospital run by a local NGO in Barcelona's Nou Barris district, an area where many families face economic hardship. The NGO works alongside medical and therapeutic services and other organizations in the city, and volunteers join this existing team rather than operating independently.
Contact with the children happens under supervision: staff introduce you to the medical team, and a coordinator or clinician oversees sessions in the ward and during planned activities. You are not left in sole charge of children, and a clean criminal background check is required before you begin. Your contribution is practical support to the hospital's own staff, helping run activities, keep the material bank stocked, and assist families, rather than delivering therapy or care on your own.
Our standards
- Responsible volunteer travel policyHow we choose, run and review every project
- Safeguarding policyBackground checks, supervision and our code of conduct with children
- Child & vulnerable adult protectionThe rules every volunteer follows on placement
- Certified B CorporationSocial and environmental performance verified by B Lab
- How we volunteer responsibly in SpainCountry-level partner context and standards
Start dates
Weekly start dates, year-round — pick any week across the next two years.
Program fees by duration
Prices include your $249 booking deposit — which is deducted from your total program fee. Your deposit stays valid for one year, during which you may enroll in multiple programs. A 5% international banking fee applies to credit-card payments in USD or AUD.
| Duration | Total price | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 week | $1,204 | |
| 2 weeks | $1,804 | |
| 3 weeks | $2,404 | |
| 4 weeks | $2,924 | |
| 5 weeks | $3,484 | |
| 6 weeks | $4,004 | |
| 7 weeks | $4,389 | |
| 8 weeks | $4,749 |
Indicative conversion — your booking is charged in the currency you choose at checkout.
Note: A mid-season surcharge of $240/week applies to the program fee in April, May and October. A high-season surcharge of $420/week applies from June to September.
✓ What you're paying for
- Pre departure Information and Support
- Airport pickup in Barcelona during scheduled hours
- Accommodation in hostel or shared apartment
- Meals
- Orientation/Induction on arrival
- Training in Community Building
- Complete pedagogical material
- Spanish classes
- Workshop
- NGO internal exam and certification process
- In-country support
- Project equipment and resources
- Personal Coaching & Mentoring
Not included
- Airfare
- Local Transportation in the city
- Touristic visits
- Personal Expenses and items
- Return Airport Drop
Accommodation & meals
Airport Transfer
The project site is in Barcelona, Spain. When you land in Barcelona, a local representative will be waiting for you at the airport with a sign that says your name and will take you directly to your accommodation. Airport pickup is provided between 10am – 6pm on the program arrival date, which has to be Sunday.
Orientation
Participants are given an induction on arrival and welcome interview in the next few days to be able to plan the volunteering and the program.
Accommodation and Meals
Participants are accommodated in a sustainable hostel or a shared, same-gender apartment, depending on availability and length of stay. Private rooms may be available for an additional cost. All accommodations include shared kitchens and bathrooms.
Food is provided throughout the program. Volunteers collaborate to plan and prepare meals together, with lunch typically prepared and shared communally. Breakfast, dinner, and snacks are self-managed by participants using the ingredients supplied. The project covers basic, healthy, and nutritious food items, with additional support from a local food bank.
Local Transportation
Participants typically use the Barcelona Metro to travel between their accommodation and the project site. The metro system is reliable, affordable, and well-connected across the city.
During your Free Time
Barcelona is one of the world’s most vibrant and visited cities, offering a wide range of cultural and recreational activities. The local team can provide guidance on places to visit, eat, and explore. Volunteers are also encouraged to organize their own outings.
For weekend trips, the Costa Brava—just 1.5 hours from Barcelona—offers beautiful coastal towns such as Cadaqués, Platja d’Aro, and Tossa de Mar.
Volunteer work takes place in the Nou Barris district, an area known for its diverse immigrant community, where many residents face socio-economic challenges. This provides participants with an opportunity to make a meaningful local impact.
Life on the program
Getting there and who looks after you in Spain
Airport pickup
A local team member meets you at El Prat Airport (BCN) with a sign showing your name, between 10am and 6pm on your Sunday start date, and takes you directly to your accommodation.
First night
You settle into your room in the shared hostel or apartment and get oriented to the space before the program begins.
Induction and welcome interview
In the days after arrival, you have a welcome interview with your project coordinator, an introduction to your workspace, and an overview of the NGO's work with children with severe multiple disabilities.
First project day
You visit the hospital, meet the medical team, and are introduced to the children, along with your first training session on multiple disabilities before joining planned activities.
Ongoing support
Local NGO coordinators in Barcelona provide day-to-day guidance, and a 24-hour emergency contact is available throughout your stay.
From volunteers in Spain
Frequently asked questions
What do volunteers actually do on this program?
You help plan and run adapted activities and crafts for children aged 3 months to 10 years with severe multiple disabilities, support the material bank that supplies families with resources, and assist NGO staff with logistics, meals, and cleaning of safe spaces.
Who is this program suited for?
It suits adults aged 18 and over with a patient, adaptable outlook, basic to intermediate Spanish, and a willingness to work under the direction of the NGO's medical and social work staff; a background in special education is a plus but not required.
What does a typical day and the working hours look like?
Volunteers work Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm, with a one-hour break, totaling 35 hours a week; weekends are free.
How long can I volunteer and when do programs start?
Placements run 1–8 weeks, with a new start every week (sundays); the next available start date is 20 Sep 2026.
What does the program cost and what is included?
Prices start at $1,204, deposit included; the fee covers accommodation, meals, airport pickup on your Sunday start date, orientation, Spanish classes, training workshops, project materials, and in-country support. The $249 deposit counts toward your total and is refunded if no placement can be offered.
What are the accommodation and meal arrangements?
You stay in a hostel or shared, same-gender apartment with a shared kitchen and bathrooms, depending on availability and length of stay. Meals are provided: the group typically plans and cooks lunch together, while breakfast, dinner, and snacks are self-managed from supplied ingredients.
How does airport pickup work?
A local representative meets you at El Prat Airport (BCN) with a sign showing your name, between 10am and 6pm on your Sunday start date, and takes you straight to your accommodation.
What support is available if something goes wrong?
Local NGO coordinators in Barcelona handle your induction and welcome interview, and a 24-hour emergency contact is available throughout your placement.
Do I need a visa, vaccinations, or insurance?
Travel and medical insurance is compulsory, either your own policy or the one Volunteering Solutions arranges; any visa or vaccination guidance specific to your nationality is sent before departure.
Is a background check required?
Yes. Because this placement involves children, you must submit a clean criminal background check issued within 12 months of your start date.
Will I ever be alone in charge of the children?
No. You work alongside the NGO's own teachers, social workers, and medical staff and are never left in sole charge of children.
Do I need a background in special education to join?
No, it is not required, though it is considered a valuable asset given the focus on children with severe multiple disabilities.
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