University of Nottingham Sociology and Criminology student Bella Hamilton is currently interning at The Ann Craft Trust. We asked her to write about her experiences of safeguarding adults in Ibiza.
You can also listen to Bella discuss her experiences in this podcast.
This summer I went to Ibiza for three weeks and volunteered with a Christian charity called 24-7 Ibiza.
24-7 Ibiza began in the early 2000s, with a group of young adults with an interest in clubbing culture and Christian missionary work. Every year between May and September, the charity sends teams to Ibiza for placements lasting between two weeks and five months.
I worked both day and night during my three week placement. My day work focusing on providing a place for people to eat, snack, and shower. We worked from the 24-7 Ibiza Centre in Sant Antoni. Approaching interactions as if the centre was our home helped build our confidence as volunteers while also building trust with any visiting individuals.
At night, we alternated between spending time in the centre praying, and heading out on the streets. Taxis and Uber drivers would often refuse to take passengers who seemed ill or intoxicated, so a lot of our work involved ensuring that people got home safely from clubbing.
Building Connections
24-7 Ibiza has made strong connections with the wider community of Sant Antoni. Many of the workers there recognise the volunteers by the logos on our tops.
We also had a dedicated phone number so that nearby hotels, pubs, and clubs could call us if people needed help getting home. Organisations often turned to us as a step before police engagement. We could support people with their needs without escalating the situation.
Because my placement only lasted three weeks, I felt limited in the relationships I could build. Other volunteers, some of whom would stay in Ibiza for months on end, were able to build stronger links with the local community. However, there were always people to talk to, and many conversations gave me insight into what people were doing in Ibiza.
I was also surprised at how open to conversation these adults were, as we would be out on the streets into the early hours of the morning. Most people seemed willing to talk to us, and most seemed interested in what we were doing.
The conversations also emphasised the importance of friendship. Again and again we saw friends supporting people in need. It was very rare to find people who had been abandoned by their friends on a night out. One night, when walking a group of men celebrating a stag party, they explained how they had befriended a stranger who had been abandoned by their friends. These men had exchanged phone numbers and were planning on getting drinks together the next day.
Training For Overseas Safeguarding
I received a lot of training before I headed to Ibiza. The initial application involved a series of detailed questions which required me to think about how I’d respond to certain situations. Next there were case studies of interactions and descriptions of behavioural expectations. I was also in constant contact via email and phone to those in charge of the work in Ibiza, and I spoke to members of my church congregation at home who had been to Ibiza in their youth.
Once I arrived in Ibiza, I joined a small team of long-term volunteers who were sharing an apartment. This soon became a close-knit support group throughout my placement. We were all close in age, and we’d spend days together either working or relaxing.
When I first arrived in Ibiza, I learned about certain cultural differences that I was told may come as a slight shock to my UK expectations. These mainly concerned the police, and the extent of social change between the day and night-time volunteering.
Throughout the placement I had weekly one-to-one check-ins with the Spanish mission associate. The mission associate would often host dinners where we could chat and reflect upon the week’s experiences.
Overall, although there was little intensive or online training, the open conversations and supportive environment meant that I felt very little surprise or concern throughout my time in Ibiza.
Multiple Voices, Multiple Perspectives
Although it may seem like there is a target audience of young adult in volunteering for summer trips abroad, 24-7 Ibiza actually engages with a range of ages. The oldest volunteer at 24-7 Ibiza was over 60, and the youngest was just 18.
A range of ages among volunteers can strengthen the volunteering experience for everyone. Young volunteers bring enthusiasm and fresh ideas, while older volunteers provide a sense of security and comfort to younger adults who were feeling lost.
What This Placement Taught Me
One key takeaway from my experience is that you should never judge before knowing. It can be nerve-racking talking to people who may not seem approachable. But you can lose the chance to connect if you’re too judgemental. Through interacting with such a diverse set of people, from those on the street to everyday shop owners, I opened up my awareness to so much in so little time.
If I were to offer advice, it would be to try to talk to one new person every day. See how much this encourages you to start conversations when you get back home, and how much more approachable situations seem.
I learned about the power of a smile or a friendly face, and how much a simple conversation can affect someone’s day. Other volunteers greeted me with big smiles when I first arrived. Without this warm welcome, my experience may have been completely different. Some of the people we spoke to seemed surprised by our acts of kindness. Some seemed to believe that we were playing a joke on them, or even attempting to steal from them.
I also learned a lot about my relationship with God. As a Christian myself it was really interesting to see people’s responses to an offer of prayer. Most people requested we pray for war-torn countries or for their family, with little interest in prayer for themselves. Many people spoke about their disruptive relationship with the church as a reason for a lack of prayer in their own lives. The days were filled with sunny beaches, clear seawater, and lush greenery. The nights were more defined by drinks, drugs, and clubs. But God was a consistent presence throughout it all.