By email or telephone.

The annual Building Blitz has been instrumental in our success to date and continues to be a central pillar of the charity’s ongoing development. The aim of the blitz is to give people an opportunity to use their skills and enthusiasm to improve the lives of township residents in South Africa. The trip enhances a spirit of volunteerism and philanthropy of exposing people to the reality of poverty in South African Townships.

There are many benefits brought about by the building blitz. Local communities receive a much needed boost from the efforts and enthusiasm of the volunteers, while the partnership and personal contact made between the volunteers and the local community creates a far reaching bond across national borders and cultural divides. The arrival en masse of our volunteer groups in South Africa over the years has created a highly visible and tangible presence for the charity in South Africa. This has helped us to gain the attention and recognition of highly placed ministers in the South African government, as well as putting the housing crisis in South Africa back on the front page. There are many consequential benefits which follow on from the Building Blitz. Each volunteer returns home from the trip with first hand experience of life in the townships. A significant number of volunteers have subsequently become more active in local social and charitable efforts.

You can either download the application form here or contact Brad Wood 07747 022338 and request an application form to be sent to you in the post. In order to secure your place on the trip, application forms must be accompanied by a deposit cheque or postal order for £500 and a photocopy of your passport. This deposit will only be cashed if you are confirmed on the trip. If your application is not successful, your deposit will be returned. This deposit is not refundable once your place on the Building Blitz has been confirmed.

We are currently looking for volunteers for 2009. Around 80% of these volunteers will come from the building trade representing a wide variety of skills from carpentry to block laying. The remaining 20% will come from a diverse range of backgrounds and experiences. Volunteers who do not have a trade are involved in a range of activities on-site, including painting, labouring, store management and a range of other activities.

Of course. The application process is open to people from all walks of life, male or female.

Each volunteer is asked to raise a minimum of £3700. Approximately £1700 of this covers return flights to Cape Town from Dublin, accommodation, transfers to and from the site each day and travel insurance from the departure date to the return date. Breakfast and lunch will also be provided daily. The remainder of the funds raised goes towards the cost of building materials. 100% of any money raised above the £3700 target will go directly towards providing additional houses in the townships. All funds must be lodged before July 31st 2008.

It may sound like a huge amount, but with a few good ideas and the help of your friends and family it can be done. Staff in the office will help you with some ideas and can provide you with posters and flyers for your big event. A full list of fundraising suggestions can be found here.

You must be between the age of 18 and 65 to apply. Participants must be relatively fit to work during the Building Blitz. If you are aged 55 years or over, or if you have any sort of medical condition that could be adversely affected by exercise, particularly any sort of heart condition, you must obtain a medical certificate from your doctor stating that you are fit to participate.

Yes. Your passport must be valid for 6 months beyond the date of departure. Passport control and in-country authorities will reserve the right to refuse entry.

Hotels are provided in Cape Town for the duration of the Building Blitz. Transport will be provided to bring you to and from site every day. Hotel rooms are on a shared basis, so if you are applying with a friend, please state on your application with whom you would like to share.

It is recommended that you speak to your local GP or the Tropical Medical Bureau before you travel. Explain to them that you will be building houses in a township in Cape Town, South Africa. The Tropical Medical Bureau can found on the net.

Breakfast is provided each morning in your hotel and lunch will be brought each day on site. Evening meals are generally paid for by the volunteer themselves.

Evenings are generally free for your own activities. If there are any planned events they usually start around 7pm.

While there is no deadline for application forms, places on the building blitz are limited, so it is recommended that forms are sent in before the end of February.

Yes, but please bear in mind that each volunteer has a luggage weight restriction of 20kg. It is important to note that if you do wish to bring items for the township residents, they must not be handed over to the residents personally, but rather must be given through the community centre to be distributed evenly amongst the township residents.

1. Participants must raise a minimum of £3700. A deposit of £500 must accompany your application form. The balance of £3200 must be received no later than the 31st July 2008. Once your place is accepted, the deposit becomes non-refundable except in exceptional circumstances.

2. Participants must be between the ages of 18 and 65 to apply, be relatively fit to work during the Building Blitz and must complete the medical questions on the application form. If you are over 55 years old, or if you have any sort of medical condition that could be adversely affected by exercise, and/or the type of work envisaged during the Building Blitz, particularly any sort of heart condition, you must obtain a medical certificate from your doctor.

3. Participants must inform The Niall Mellon Township Trust of any change in their medical condition that occurs after the submission of their application, including pregnancy. The Niall Mellon Township Trust reserves the right to refuse a participant if, in their sole opinion, the participant is deemed medically unfit to take part.

4. Participants’ passports must be valid for 6 months beyond the date of departure. Passport control and in-country authorities will reserve the right to refuse entry.

5. If at any stage or for whatever reason The Niall Mellon Township Trust considers you at any stage unsuitable for the challenge, it reserves the right at its absolute discretion to cancel your registration or to cease your involvement in the Building Blitz should it have commenced. Furthermore, if you commit an illegal or unlawful act, you may be excluded from the Building Blitz and The Niall Mellon Township Trust shall not be responsible to you, or for you, thereafter.

6. Participants must not use The Niall Mellon Township Trust name or their association with it, for any other purpose other than to fundraise in respect of their involvement in the Building Blitz.

7. The Niall Mellon Township Trust reserves the right, at its absolute discretion, to refuse your application, in which case your deposit of £500 will be returned to you.

8. The Niall Mellon Township Trust provides basic travel insurance for each participant. Should you require additional cover, you are responsible for making your own arrangements for, and baring the cost of, such additional cover.

9. By signing the application form, you are confirming that to the best of your knowledge, your general state of health is good and that you take full responsibility for yourself.