Volunteer Information

Thank you for your interest in volunteering with us! Volunteers are needed to work in a team to support a refugee family settle and integrate into our community and gain independence.

Volunteers Roles

  1. Volunteers will have a special boundaried friendship with the family where they will support them by providing them with information and resources to access vital services.

  2. The aim is to empower the family to help them develop skills and knowledge to solve their own problems and encourage them to become independent. If necessary also to refer them to specialist organizations. More will be explained at support/training sessions

  3. In all things to offer compassion, confidentiality, respect and dignity to the family when they arrive later in the year. Prior to arrival several group trainings will be given and after the family arrive there will be support individually and in groups to both the family and volunteers.

  4. Six months commitment is needed. The hours will vary according to need. Initially several hours a week lessening as the family gains confidence plus the training and support sessions.

  5. In particular the family will need support to manage the accommodation and to access local health services, education, benefits, employment, English courses, community services such as shops transport etc. It will be helpful but not essential to have knowledge of other languages.

  6. Interpreters of Arabic are likely to be particularly needed,

  7. Volunteers are also needed for the practical preparation of the house ready for the family's arrival.

Volunteering process

  1. Informal meeting in cafe to meet team leaders and learn more about project.

  2. Formal meeting on receipt of application

  3. References taken up

  4. DBS check

  5. Group meeting to get to know each other and explore needs of the project

  6. Group training session/s

  7. Reset training from Citizens UK

  8. Group meeting to discuss specific family needs

  9. Further meeting to explore possible dilemmas

  10. Group meeting after families arrival to process needs of family and volunteers

  11. Meeting/s with family and volunteers together to assess needs..

  12. Further individual sessions and group meetings as needed.

  13. Meetings to decide where continued assistance is necessary.

  14. Meetings with individual volunteers to discuss how they want to continue their relationship with the family.

  15. Regular reviews of the process.