Refugee Support - Project Volunteer (Hackney Destitution Centre)

at  British Red Cross Volunteer

Do you want to make a difference to the lives of refugees, asylum seekers and vulnerable migrants? You could help them to draw on their own strengths to cope with crisis and to rebuild their lives. The British Red Cross is a volunteer led organisation and the UK’s largest independent provider of services and support for refugees and people seeking asylum. We are looking for enthusiastic volunteers to help support refugees, asylum seekers and vulnerable migrants to adjust to life in a new country. In this role, you will support our service users at the Hackney Destitution Centre. The Hackney Centre is a community space where asylum seekers facing destitution come to socialise, rest, eat a hot lunch, use washing facilities, and collect groceries, clothes and financial support (e.g. supermarket vouchers). We have around 60 visitors a day who are in/have been in the asylum system and have no right to work and no right to any state support. They are often homeless and rely on charities like us to help meet their basic needs. Hackney Centre Project Volunteers: - Allow us to provide our destitution centre services every Wednesday and Thursday. - Manage fair distribution and reporting of supermarket vouchers, clothing, hygiene items and groceries. - Keep the space tidy and welcoming throughout busy days. - Serve and manage the provision of a hot lunch to a high volume of service users. - Provide service users with a friendly welcome and might make them a cup of tea, or have a chat over a board game. - Signpost visitors to local services they might need. - Help maintain a calm and welcoming atmosphere even when visitors are subject to many different sources of pressure. Skills desired: - Good English comprehension and communication skills. - Good IT skills, (especially in using MS Excel). - Willingness and ability to communicate with people with varying levels of English. - Ability to attend reliably and on time each week. - Good teamwork skills and a willingness to provide extra support where needed. - Ability to take initiative to keep the space tidy, clean and homely. This role may be for you if: - You can communicate empathetically to create friendly relationships whilst maintaining professional boundaries. - You are emotionally resilient, as you may need to deal with challenging or difficult situations. - You are empathetic about the situation and needs of refugees, asylum seekers and vulnerable migrants. - You are confident speaking to new people from a various countries and backgrounds, making them feel comfortable and engaging with them in conversation and activities. We would like volunteers who: - Can be available on a regular weekly basis. - Can cover a shift each week on a Wednesday and/or a Thursday, from 9:45am to 2:15pm. - Can commit to volunteering for at least 6 months. We’re sorry but due to the nature of this role, we cannot accept applications from 16 and 17 year olds. Please check our website, for more opportunities in your area. Diversity is something we celebrate. We want you to be able to bring your authentic self to the Red Cross and feel that you belong. We want to create an inclusive environment, and promote and spread the power of kindness. As part of creating an inclusive space we have an expenses policy that prioritises volunteers not being out of pocket for expenses linked to your role. If up front costs are difficult, you can speak to your volunteering manager about this to find alternatives. We want volunteering to be accessible to everyone. Health and Safety Statement We take an individual approach to ensuring your safety. We may ask you to complete a simple risk assessment and will also have a conversation with you to discuss and identify any adjustments you may need. If you have any questions before applying, please contact us at volunteerrecruitment@redcross.org.uk
Why we want you: Are you passionate about supporting people in crisis? We are looking for enthusiastic Project Volunteers who enjoy being part of a supportive team. You will be friendly and welcoming, and keen to get involved in our diverse service and activities. You will enjoy working with people face to face in a multi-cultural environment. Our Refugee Support Project Volunteers help to make people feel comfortable and engaged with the services we provide by providing emotional support. This can be a distressing time and we aim to ease the process of adjusting to life in a new country through resilience and empowerment.
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Tasks: Showing people where to find local services they need
Helping the team to set up and help to run group work activities
Supporting the team with some administrative tasks
Use your Red Cross training to give emotional support to people
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Skills: Strong communication skills and empathetic about the situation and needs of refugees, asylum seekers and vulnerable migrants
Able to volunteer in a multicultural environment
Good teamwork skills and a willingness to support where needed
Speak English; knowledge of another language would be helpful (particularly one used in the current local refugee population)
Emotionally resilient as you may need to deal with challenging or difficult situations
Keep the people we support at the heart of what you do
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Benefits: Meet new people and be part of a supportive and inclusive team
A great opportunity to develop your existing skills and gain new ones
All training and induction for the role (there is no charge for training)
Reasonable pre-agreed travel expenses for the role including for attending training
An opportunity to be part of the world’s largest humanitarian organisation and the knowledge that you are making a difference to people’s lives

Please refer the Job description for details