Refugees Volunteer Roles

We exist for young people with refugee backgrounds to build community, become leaders and flourish in the place they call home. As we embark on an ambitious 3-year strategy, we’re looking for passionate and skilled trustees to join our Board and help shape the next chapter of our journey.

With residential trips, leadership training, youth hubs, and one-to-one support, we are creating a peer-led social movement, and have welcomed over 500 young people from 47 different countries on our programmes since 2018. This is an exciting and pivotal moment for Our Second Home, as we aim to become the fastest-growing youth charity in the refugee sector – one that places inclusion, empowerment, and impact at the heart of everything that we do.

What you gain – being a trustee is an opportunity to:

• Help shape the future of a growing, impactful organisation.
• Make a meaningful difference in the lives of young refugees and asylum seekers.
• Develop new skills and gain experience in charity governance.
• Join a collaborative and inspiring team of trustees, staff, and volunteers.

We are particularly looking for these backgrounds

• Fundraising, including statutory and corporate funding
• Youth leadership development
• Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning
• An interest in stepping up to chair the Board of Trustees

THE ROLE

Leadership and Governance:

• Provide strategic guidance and leadership to Our Second Home. Support the leadership team, particularly the CEO, by offering expertise and insight.
• Play your part in fostering an inclusive and values-driven culture, champion diversity and inclusivity in board composition and decision-making.
• Oversee the mitigation of risks that could affect the charity's operations, reputation, or financial stability.

Strategy and Planning:

• Contribute to the development and execution of the charity's strategic plan.
• Align the board's vision with long-term sustainability and impact.
• Monitor progress towards strategic goals and adapt strategies as needed.

Stakeholder Engagement & Fundraising:

• Act as a passionate advocate for OSH, representing our mission and values to external stakeholders.
• Cultivate and nurture relationships with partners, donors, and the wider community.
• Leverage your network to advance the charity's interests and fundraising efforts.

Governance and Compliance:

• Ensure OSH complies with its governing documents, charity law, and relevant regulations.
• Uphold OSH’s safeguarding policies and ensure the safety and welfare of all participants.
• Ensure OSH remains financially sustainable by overseeing budgets and financial planning.
• Uphold the highest standards of ethics, transparency, and accountability.

Teamwork and Collaboration:

• Attend and actively participate in quarterly trustee meetings, and attend OSH activities and events to familiarise with OSH activities and leaders.
• Work collaboratively with other trustees and the staff team to achieve OSH’s goals.

ABOUT YOU

• A commitment to OSH’s mission, values, and safeguarding principles.
• Proven leadership experience.
• Commitment to the Nolan Principles of good governance: honesty, integrity, objectivity, accountability, selflessness, openness and leadership
• An understanding of governance principles and best practices.
• Being an approachable and proactive communicator.
• Ability to think creatively and strategically, exercise good, independent judgement and work effectively as a board member and leader.
• A willingness to act as an advocate for OSH.
• Ability to allocate the necessary time and dedication to fulfil the role's responsibilities, include preparing for and attending trustee meetings and events.

Our Second Home is an equal opportunity organisation, committed to fostering diversity and inclusion. We particularly encourage applications from underrepresented groups, particularly those who have lived experience of the asylum system.

About CARAS:

Community Action for Refugees and Asylum Seekers (CARAS) is a registered charity that has been supporting refugees and asylum-seekers since 2002 empowering them to integrate and engage in the local community. 

Arriving as an asylum seeker/refugee can be a disempowering experience. Difficulties with language, accessing services and overcoming prejudice are ever-present. As an organisation we are committed to work alongside refugees to overcome those challenges, and to help them build their lives. 

We offer group support and targeted support work. We offer a range of activities including: ESOL classes; social and recreational activities such as youth club, drama, trips, and family activities; educational support for young people; and casework and advocacy support. 

Our values are at the centre of all our work: 

• Kindness: CARAS will nurture all who are part of our community, helping everyone to develop their skills, talents, and interests. 

• Justice: CARAS will strive for social justice following a rights-based approach in all our work and challenging instances when rights are not upheld in wider society. 

• Empowerment: CARAS works alongside people, recognising and respecting their skills and strengths and striving together for better outcomes. 

• ‘With’ not ‘for’: CARAS will put the voices, opinions, experiences and needs of its beneficiaries at the heart of all that we do. 

About the CARAS ESOL Team:

Our award-winning ESOL project offers English language classes to adults at a wide range of levels. This provides vital skills, opportunities and social contact and is crucial for enabling people to attend college and access other services in the future.

About the Role:

CARAS is looking for volunteer ESOL Teaching Assistants to support our face-to-face adult ESOL classes in Tooting. Volunteers in this role are required to commit to at least one 2-hour session every Wednesday during these times: 

• Pre-entry ESOL 09:15 to 11:15

• Entry 1 ESOL 11: 15 to 13:15

• Entry 2 ESOL 13:45 to 15:45 

• One-to-one employability and language learning support on Wednesdays 16:00 to 18:00 

Please note that ESOL classes do not run during school holidays, and we follow Wandsworth Council term dates.

Volunteer tasks and responsibilities:

• Providing learners with one-to-one or small group support within ESOL classes; 

• Helping to set up the classroom and provide learners with classroom resources;

• Attending and contributing to volunteer debriefs after each session; 

• Making use of any community languages you may know to help students during the class; 

• Working collaboratively as a team and helping to shape the project; 

• Supporting people to develop their knowledge and skills, encouraging and inspiring participants to reach their full potential; 

• Assisting participants to recognise and celebrate their achievements; 

• Following CARAS’ confidentiality, safeguarding, health & safety, equal opportunities, data management and all other policies as relevant.  

Requirements: 

Essential: 

• To be 18 years or older; 

• Able to travel to our community centre in Tooting (travel expenses can be reimbursed); 

• An interest in education and English language teaching; 

• To be non-judgemental and able to engage with people from diverse backgrounds; 

• To be reliable and punctual; 

• Excellent communication skills, especially with people who are new to English; 

• The ability to volunteer on Mondays or Wednesdays during Wandsworth term time for a minimum of three months; 

• Currently resident in the UK; has asylum-seeker or refugee status 

• *Able to provide five years’ worth of addresses, and willing to undergo a DBS check; 

• Able to attend volunteer induction training (online) prior to start of role. 

 *DBS and proof of residency is not necessary if you are a CARAS community member who is more recently arrived in the UK. 

Desirable: 

• Knowledge of community languages, such as Arabic, Tigrinya, Amharic, Pashto, Dari, Farsi, Kurdish, Somali or Spanish. 

Through volunteering with us you will: 

• Gain experience of English language teaching; 

• Meet new members of your local community; 

• Learn about different cultures; 

• Learn about issues relating to refugees and people seeking asylum; 

• Work as part of a friendly, welcoming team; 

• Develop your skills and competencies; 

• Be able to obtain a reference from us relating to your placement after 3 months of regular volunteering; 

• Be able to access relevant training, including safeguarding training. 

Refugee Action Kingston (RAK), a very active forward-looking Kingston charity, helps refugees and people seeking asylum to access essential services, including immigration and welfare advice, English classes, counselling and support into employment, volunteering and training. 

We are seeking to recruit two trustees, including a chair of trustees. We are interested in individuals who have managed public or voluntary sector organisations, ideally with first-hand experience of displacement or migration to the UK. Experience of fundraising is not essential but highly desirable. 

Key Responsibilities

Lead or contribute to: 

● Regular trustee board meetings and key activities, including recruitment of trustees. 

● Development and implementation of a strategic plan for RAK.

● Governance of the organisation to ensure it meets the legal and regulatory requirements.

● Monitoring operational performance and implementation of a continuous improvement programme.

● Oversight of financial performance and fundraising strategy to ensure long-term sustainability of RAK

● Promotion of relationships with key stakeholders, including funding bodies, suppliers, and contractors. 

Desirable

● Good understanding of issues and challenges faced by refugees and people seeking asylum in Kingston.

● Leadership qualities, including critical thinking and decision making.

● Experience of financial management and fundraising.

● Operational management experience gained in the commercial or voluntary sector.

● Experience of principles and practices of governance in a commercial or voluntary organisation. 

Core beliefs

● Social justice and inclusion: a commitment to promoting social justice and equity for all individuals, regardless of religion, culture, or background. 

● Respect for diversity: valuing and respecting diverse backgrounds, experiences, and beliefs, and fostering teamwork through inclusivity. 

● Responsibility and impact: using time and resources efficiently and responsibly to maximise the impact of our services for clients. 

Please note that although this is a voluntary role, it requires a significant commitment of time and effort. We seek individuals who are dedicated to contributing meaningfully and who are open to learning in areas where they may lack experience. 

Further information about RAK is on our website.

To apply, please submit your CV along with a personal statement of no more than 300 words that outlines your interest in joining our board of trustees.

Closing date: 15 January 2024 

Interviews are expected to be held in late January 2025. 

INDEPENDENT READING GROUP VOLUNTEER (FACE-TO-FACE) 

CARAS Youth ESOL Programme – Monday, Wednesday mornings  

About CARAS: 

Community Action for Refugees and Asylum Seekers (CARAS) is a registered charity that has been supporting refugees and asylum-seekers since 2002 empowering them to integrate and engage in the local community. 

Arriving as an asylum seeker/refugee can be a disempowering experience. Difficulties with language, accessing services and overcoming prejudice are ever-present. As an organisation we are committed to work alongside refugees to overcome those challenges, and to help them build their lives. 

We offer group support and targeted support work. We offer a range of activities including: ESOL classes; social and recreational activities such as youth club, drama, trips, and family activities; educational support for young people; and casework and advocacy support. 

Our values are at the centre of all our work: 

• Kindness: CARAS will nurture all who are part of our community, helping everyone to develop their skills, talents, and interests. 

• Justice: CARAS will strive for social justice following a rights-based approach in all our work and challenging instances when rights are not upheld in wider society. 

• Empowerment: CARAS works alongside people, recognising and respecting their skills and strengths and striving together for better outcomes. 

• ‘With’ not ‘for’: CARAS will put the voices, opinions, experiences and needs of its beneficiaries at the heart of all that we do. 

About Youth ESOL: 

Our award-winning ESOL project offers English language classes to young people at a wide range of levels. This provides vital skills, opportunities and social contact and is crucial for enabling young people to do well at school or college.

About the Role: 

• CARAS is looking for Reading Group Volunteer to support our face-to-face study programme for young people.
• The reading group is in Tooting and is an important element of a study programme for young people aged 14 to 18 who are out of formal education.
• Students will be supported to read at length and complete challenges that are adapted to their ability level.
• The reading group aims to foster independence and a joy of reading among the young people and requires volunteers to learn about the young peoples' interests in order to help them select an appropriate text.
• The ESOL teacher will provide volunteers with tips to support reading and understanding for emerging learners of English, such as phonics and elicitation strategies.
• Volunteers will work with 1-5 students, mostly reading out loud with them or helping them to decode unfamiliar language.
• Please note that ESOL classes do not run during school holidays, and we follow Wandsworth Council term dates. 

Volunteer tasks and responsibilities: 

• Providing learners with one-to-one or small group support within the Reading Group sessions; 

• Helping to set up the classroom and provide learners with classroom resources; 

• Contributing to debriefs to inform the ESOL teacher how each student found the lesson/task and the students’ areas of greatest challenge and success;  

• Attending and contributing to volunteer debriefs after each session; 

• Making use of any community languages you may know to help students during the class; 

• Working collaboratively as a team and helping to shape the project; 

• Supporting people to develop their knowledge and skills, encouraging and inspiring participants to reach their full potential; 

• Assisting participants to recognise and celebrate their achievements; 

• Listening and supporting students to select, read and understand a text; Showing flexibility to the wide range of ability levels in the classroom; 

• Following CARAS’ confidentiality, safeguarding, health & safety, equal opportunities, data management and all other policies as relevant.  

Requirements: 

Essential

• To be 18 years or older; 

• An interest in education and English language teaching;

• Currently resident in the UK; has asylum-seeker or refugee status 

• * Able to provide five years’ worth of addresses, and willing to undergo a DBS check; *DBS and proof of residency is not necessary if you are a CARAS community member who is more recently arrived in the UK.  

• Able to attend volunteer induction training (online) prior to start of role 

• Able to travel to our community centre in Tooting (food and travel expenses can be reimbursed); 

• To be non-judgemental and able to engage with young people from diverse backgrounds; 

• To be reliable and punctual; 

• Good communication skills, especially with people who are new to English; 

• An interest in books and stories, writing and poetry 

• The ability to volunteer on Wednesday during Wandsworth term time for a minimum of four months; 

Desirable: 

• Knowledge of community languages, such as Arabic, Tigrinya, Amharic, Pashto, Dari, Farsi, Kurdish, Somali or Spanish; 

• Experience of reading with young people or learners of English, or teaching ESOL or phonics. 

Through volunteering with us you will: 

• Gain experience of English language teaching; 

• Meet new members of your local community; 

• Learn about different cultures; 

• Learn about issues relating to refugees and people seeking asylum; 

• Work as part of a friendly, welcoming team; 

• Develop your skills and competencies such as literacy and phonics strategies for emerging learners of English; 

• Be able to access relevant training, including safeguarding training. 

• Be able to obtain a reference from us relating to your placement after 3 months of regular volunteering. 

Role: Welcome volunteer

Team: Tooting Hub – CARAS ESOL (Youth/Adult)

Supervised by: Team Project Coordinator

Location: Tooting Hub site

Activity times: Monday or Wednesday

Time commitment: 2 hour shifts on a rolling basis.

We ask that volunteers commit for a minimum of 4 months

About CARAS:

Community Action for Refugees and Asylum Seekers (CARAS) is a registered charity that has been supporting refugees and asylum-seekers since 2002 empowering them to integrate and engage in the local community.

Arriving as an asylum seeker/refugee can be a disempowering experience. Difficulties with language, accessing services and overcoming prejudice are ever-present. As an organisation we are committed to work alongside refugees to overcome those challenges, and to help them build their lives.

We offer group support and targeted support work. We offer a range of activities including: ESOL classes; social and recreational activities such as youth club, drama, trips, and family activities; educational support for young people; and casework and advocacy support.

Our values are at the centre of all our work:

• Kindness: CARAS will nurture all who are part of our community, helping everyone to develop their skills, talents, and interests.

• Justice: CARAS will strive for social justice following a rights-based approach in all our work and challenging instances when rights are not upheld in wider society.

• Empowerment: CARAS works alongside people, recognising and respecting their skills and strengths and striving together for better outcomes.

• ‘With’ not ‘for’: CARAS will put the voices, opinions, experiences and needs of its beneficiaries at the heart of all that we do.

About the Role:

We are currently recruiting a team of volunteers to join our new Welcome team at Tooting Hub. This is a new role. Welcome volunteers will provide a friendly face to existing community members attending our regular projects. They will also be the important ‘face of CARAS and our welcome at the door’ to people attending projects for the first time, to visitors and to people dropping in unannounced to enquire about CARAS’s service. Volunteers will meet and greet, and ensure all visitors are responded to appropriately and introduced to the relevant member of staff, activity, project, or meeting. There will be an administrative element to the role (updating registers and emailing enquiries to CARAS staff, for example).

Who will you be?

We work hard to ensure our services feel welcoming and inclusive. It is important that this new team is representative of our diverse local and internal CARAS community. Whether you are new to volunteering with CARAS or are a regular volunteer looking to vary your role or a community member wanting to develop some leadership skills or volunteering experience, this might be the exact project for you.

Volunteer Tasks and Responsibilities: 

· Signing up to a shift/s on the Tooting HUB welcome team rota

· Able to be at Tooting Hub in person to complete agreed shifts

· Welcoming staff, volunteers, existing and potential new community members and visitors

· Ensuring all visitors are responded to appropriately and introduced to the relevant member of staff, activity, project, or meeting

· Ensuring everyone completes the onsite register on arrival to comply with safeguarding, health and safety and fire evacuation policies

· Taking agreed initial intake information for new / drop in visitors wanting to attend a taster activity

· Conducting induction tours of the building and introductions to facilities, key staff, and partners

Requirements (all experience can be from paid or voluntary roles): 

Essential: 

· A calm, friendly, kind, and patient approach

· Happy and confident to meet new people and put them at their ease

· Excellent communication skills, especially with people with varying levels of English

· To be non-judgemental and able to engage with people from diverse backgrounds

· Confidence in using one’s own judgement to follow agreed policy

· Good IT admin skills in using Microsoft office, outlook, Google search, online forms etc

· A commitment to confidentiality and data protection

· Punctual and reliable

· To be able to volunteer on Mondays or Wednesdays for a minimum of four months

Desirable:

· Lived experience of seeking sanctuary and/ or the UK immigration system.

· Personal experience of working with people seeking asylum.

· Proficiency in one or more of the following community languages: Albanian, Amharic, Arabic, Bengali, Dari, Farsi, Kurdish, Oromo, Pashto, Russian, Spanish, Somali, Tigrinya, Urdu, or Vietnamese.

We will prioritise applicants with lived experience of the asylum process.

Benefits to Volunteering:

· Learn about issues relating to refugees and people seeking asylum.

· Work as part of a friendly, welcoming team.

· Develop your skills and competencies.

· Be able to access relevant training, including safeguarding training.

· Obtain a reference from us relating to your placement after 3 months’ regular volunteering

· All volunteers must complete an enhanced DBS check for working with young people and attend training with us before starting. *

· You will also receive training and support relevant to your specific role.

Largest refugee support organisation in the South West are seeking a Trustee with experience in immigration and asylum law.

What will you be doing?

Trustees ensure that we have a clear strategy, and that our work and goals are in line with our vision. Our trustees are extremely important part of our governance and play an integral role in the development of DCRS.

As we have recently opened a Legal Aid section and with all the national legal changes, we are particularly interested in recruiting a Trustee with experience in immigration and asylum law.

Estimate of time needed: 0-5 hours / month or 1-3 hours / week

What are we looking for?

Skills and Experience:

• Legal experience in immigration and asylum law.
• Strong analytical skills and attention to detail.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills.

Personal Attributes:

• Commitment to the values and mission of DCRS.
• Integrity, objectivity, and a commitment to ethical practice.
• Collaborative and team-oriented approach.
• Resilience and adaptability in a changing environment.

What difference will you make?

• Opportunity to make a significant impact on the lives of asylum seekers and refugees.
• Develop and utilize your skills in a meaningful context.
• Work with a passionate and dedicated team.
• Networking opportunities within the charity and non-profit sector.

Before you apply

The TrusteeWorks Team at Reach Volunteering are supporting Devon & Cornwall Refugee Support with their Trustee recruitment. Applications should be made via TrusteeWorks in the first instance.

To apply please submit your CV along with a covering letter stating why you wish to join the organisation and your suitability for the role via the Reach Platform.

The closing date for applications is Friday 31 January 2025.

DCRS is committed to promoting diversity and inclusion. We welcome applications from all sections of the community and from individuals of all backgrounds and experiences.

Are you interested in becoming a voluntary Trustee? 

We are looking for experienced and committed individuals to play a valuable role in the governance and development of our South West London charity, which is dedicated to working with people of refugee backgrounds to provide practical, educational, and social help. 

Community Action for Refugees and Asylum Seekers (CARAS) creates supportive relationships, networks, and spaces that enable people to access what they need in order to improve their wellbeing and safety. Our team of staff and volunteers run a large range of activities and services which offer a place of welcome to refugees and asylum seekers, working with them to recognise skills and develop potential. 

CARAS has become one of the largest providers of refugee support in south London, including working with large numbers of unaccompanied and separated children. We have responded to changes in demographics and are proud of our ability to remain agile. 

We are looking for up to three voluntary trustees with relevant skills/experience to strengthen our small and dedicated Board, and to take an active role in decision making and developing the strategic direction of CARAS.

About You

We are looking for people that can bring a range of experiences, independence of thought and judgement, a strong belief in the ethos and values of the charity, and have time to commit. Previous experience as a trustee is desirable but not necessary; we will provide a full induction. Our current trustees have skills and experience covering lived experience of the asylum system, risk, communications, and finance. To support the ongoing goals of CARAS, applicants with any of the following skills would be especially useful:

• Finance

• Strategy 

• Legal and governance

• Fundraising, particularly contracting with local authorities 

We encourage applications from people who have been through the UK asylum or immigration system, people of colour, disabled people, and LGBTQI+ people.

Time commitment: Four meetings per year (in the evenings), one away day per year (usually at the weekend), and occasional attendance (2-4 sessions a year) at core programmes (this can be arranged either during the day, in the evenings, or weekends). Trustees can also join subcommittees, including finance and risk. Quarterly meetings alternate between in-person at our Tooting office and remote, whereas subcommittee meetings are all remote. 

Closing date: We will assess and respond to applications as they are received.

Transport Support Volunteer

Watford and Three Refugees Partnership is a charity offering practical and emotional support to asylum seekers and refugees in the West Hertfordshire area.

Would you like to join a team within our charity that provides more practical support to our clients;

Some examples of support includes;

· Helping with house moves

· Collecting furniture that is being donated

· Lifts to attend appointments

· Support to get children to sports events (this may include dropping off, waiting with or collecting and taking home after). You will at times be responsible for a child without a parent or guardian.

You must have access to your own vehicle. You will work as part of a team and only need to commit to what you are comfortable doing.

If you are interested then please contact us and we can arrange an informal chat with Transport Co-ordinator in the first instance. To join us you will need to complete an application process which includes obtaining two references and an enhanced DBS check. Applicants must live in or within reasonable distance to Watford.

About The Bike Project

The Bike Project matches newly arrived refugees without the means or money to get around with the thousands of abandoned bikes in the UK. We’ve been doing this since 2013 and remain focused on ensuring that refugees and people seeking asylum can save money, feel more connected to their community and lead happier and healthier lives. 

Why a bike matters - Most people seeking asylum in the UK are not allowed to work and instead receive an allowance of less than £50 per week to live on. If housed in a place where meals are provided, they get even less – only £8.86 per week. People need to travel regularly to get to Home Office or solicitor appointments and to access other vital services - but travel is expensive. With a typical bus pass costing £20 per week many are forced to make impossible choices. A donated bike can be truly transformative for someone in this situation - it provides a free, sustainable mode of transport, but moreso, it can enable a sense of connection, independence and joy.

The Opportunity

The Bike Project is recruiting four dedicated and dynamic individuals to join the Partnerships and Development Board. We are looking for contributors with a strong commitment to The Bike Project's vision, mission, and values, and excellent communication and interpersonal skills, in line with the strategy agreed by the board. 

This is an opportunity to leverage your expertise and engage your networks to guide the organization’s partnerships, expand its reach, and support fundraising efforts, contributing to the charity’s long-term growth and success.

Ideally the candidate will have experience in at least one of the following areas: 

• Retail or professional services
• Media, digital, marketing 
• The bike industry
• CSR/ESG experience
• Access to an engaged network 
• ​Lived experience of being a refugee in the UK

Together, we can empower refugees with the freedom and independence of a bicycle. 

We are looking for a treasurer to join Screen Share’s Board of Trustees. 

We are looking for someone with experience in a charity finance, treasurer or finance director role.

Principal Tasks:

• Regularly supporting and co-facilitating the reporting of financial information at Board meetings, overseeing the production of budgets, forecasts, funding applications and annual statutory accounts.
• Provision of specialist knowledge and experience to key staff – specifically the Founder and Chief Executive Office – in the role of financial advisor on activities including but not limited to pensions, payroll, financial software and provisioning our financial processes
• Support the development of Screen Share’s social enterprise arm and provide strategic and commercial advice relating thereto.
• Ensure that the Board operates effectively in support of the charity’s mission and values. Ensure a high performing and effective Board by committing to regularly appraising its performance. Maintain high standards of governance and risk management.
• Ensure that the Board is as diverse as possible and provide the range of knowledge, skills and experience necessary to deliver the charity’s aims.
• Act as an Ambassador for the organisation through - but not limited to - attendance at relevant project and sector events to advocate the work of the Charity and to represent its interests in a variety of situations.

We particulalry welcome applications from those with experience of forced migration. 

Time Commitment

• Board meetings last 3 hours and are held quarterly, with two held in-person in London.
• Sub-Committee meetings are typically held online
• The Treasurer role is expected to provide additional time compared to other Trustees, likely compromising a total of 25 days across a calendar year.

All candidates should:

• Show commitment to Screen Share’s values and be able to uphold them personally
• Share the energy and drive of the organisation and be committed to their role
• Have a demonstrable passion for supporting refugees and asylum seekers in the UK

The Charity’s Commitment to Board Members

• Dates and times of Board meetings, Sub-Committee meetings, Board Strategy Day, and the Annual Review will be confirmed at the last board meeting of the preceding year
• Board meeting / Sub-Committee agendas and papers will be distributed at least five working days in advance of meetings

About CARAS: 

Community Action for Refugees and Asylum Seekers (CARAS) is a registered charity that has been supporting refugees and asylum-seekers since 2002 empowering them to integrate and engage in the local community. 

Arriving as an asylum seeker/refugee can be a disempowering experience. Difficulties with language, accessing services and overcoming prejudice are ever-present. As an organisation we are committed to work alongside refugees to overcome those challenges, and to help them build their lives. 

We offer group support and targeted support work. We offer a range of activities including: ESOL classes; social and recreational activities such as youth club, drama, trips, and family activities; educational support for young people; and casework and advocacy support.

Our values are at the centre of all our work: 

• Kindness: CARAS will nurture all who are part of our community, helping everyone to develop their skills, talents, and interests. 

• Justice: CARAS will strive for social justice following a rights-based approach in all our work and challenging instances when rights are not upheld in wider society. 

• Empowerment: CARAS works alongside people, recognising and respecting their skills and strengths and striving together for better outcomes. 

• ‘With’ not ‘for’: CARAS will put the voices, opinions, experiences and needs of its beneficiaries at the heart of all that we do. 

About Youth ESOL: 

Our award-winning ESOL project offers English language classes to young people at a wide range of levels. This provides vital skills, opportunities and social contact and is crucial for enabling young people to do well at school or college.

About the Role: 

CARAS is looking for volunteer ESOL Teaching Assistants to support our face-to-face study programme called ‘Get Ready for School.’ 

This programme is attended by young people out of education and is based in Tooting on Mondays and Wednesdays. Core delivery of the programme includes English, Maths, Digital skills, complemented by Reading and Writing for Pleasure.

Volunteers in this role are required to commit to at least one 2-hour session per week, during these times:

• Monday 9:30 am to 3pm

• Wednesday 12:30 to 6pm

Please note that ESOL classes do not run during school holidays, and we follow Wandsworth Council term dates.

Volunteer  Tasks and Responsibilities: 

• Providing learners with one-to-one or small group support within ESOL classes;

• Help young people to build confidence in digital literacy;

• Helping to set up the classroom and provide learners with classroom resources;

• Engaging learners in informal conversations or games during breaks to help them practice their conversational English.

• Checking the session plan aims with the lead teacher and assisting learners achieve them;

• Attending and contributing to volunteer debriefs after each session;

• Making use of any community languages you may know to help students during the class;

• Working collaboratively as a team and helping to shape the project;

• Supporting people to develop their knowledge and skills, encouraging and inspiring participants to reach their full potential;

• Assisting participants to recognise and celebrate their achievements;

• Following CARAS’ confidentiality, safeguarding, health & safety, equal opportunities, data management and all other policies as relevant.  

Requirements: 

Essential 

• To be 18 years or older;

• Able to travel to our community centre in Tooting (travel and food expenses can be reimbursed);

• An interest in education and English language teaching;

• To be non-judgemental and able to engage with people from diverse backgrounds;

• To be reliable and punctual;

• Excellent communication skills, especially with people who are new to English;

• The ability to volunteer on Monday mornings and Wednesday afternoons/evenings during Wandsworth term time for a minimum of four months;

• Currently resident in the UK; has asylum seeker or refugee status

• Able to provide five years’ worth of addresses, and willing to undergo a DBS check (DBS and proof of residency is not necessary if you are a Caras community member who is more recently arrived in the UK);

• Able to attend volunteer induction training (online) prior to start of role 

Desirable 

• Knowledge of community languages, such as Arabic, Tigrinya, Amharic, Pashto, Dari, Farsi, Kurdish, Somali or Spanish. 

Through volunteering with us you will: 

• Gain experience of English language teaching; 

• Meet new members of your local community; 

• Learn about different cultures; 

• Learn about issues relating to refugees and people seeking asylum; 

• Work as part of a friendly, welcoming team; 

• Develop your skills and competencies; 

• Be able to access relevant training, including safeguarding training. 

• Be able to obtain a reference from us relating to your placement after 3 months’ regular volunteering 

To Apply: 

To apply for this opportunity, download and complete the CARAS volunteer application form from the CARAS website using this volunteer role description to inform your answers with email subject header “Youth ESOL Teaching Assistant Volunteer”. 

Successful applicants will have an informal meeting with a member of the CARAS learning staff team and a community member. These meetings will be on a rolling basis so apply ASAP! 

 All volunteers must complete an enhanced DBS check for working with young people and attend training with us before starting. You will also receive training and support relevant to your specific role. 

The Watford & Three Rivers Refugee Partnership is a great local charity looking for a volunteer to coordinate, support and motivate our other volunteers. We provide practical and emotional support to refugees, asylum-seekers and other vulnerable migrants in our community. We have a pool of around 80 dedicated volunteers helping a caseload of around 150 individuals and families affected by immigration issues at any given time. 

As Volunteer Coordinator your responsibilities would include:

• Working with the Office Manager to support prospective volunteers through our application process and organise training for volunteers
• Working with other Coordinators to help new volunteers to settle in to various roles
• Supporting and advising volunteers on issues arising, in consultation with other Coordinators and the Committee
• Building relationships with volunteers, staff, clients and local organisations
• Organising regular volunteer evenings throughout the year to enable volunteers to meet each other and share best practice

We ask for a time commitment of about 5 hours a week and you will need to be based in or near Watford & Three Rivers. We're looking for someone with the following knowledge, skills and experience:

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills (essential)
• Good organisation skills (essential)
• A good understanding of - and commitment to - equality, diversity and inclusion (essential)
• Experience of coordinating or managing people in previous voluntary or paid roles (essential)
• Knowledge of the issues facing refugees, asylum-seekers and other vulnerable migrants (desirable)

We particularly welcome applications from people from ethnic minority and migrant backgrounds, who are under-represented among our volunteers.

If you would like to join our friendly volunteer team we would love to hear from you!

The London Legal Support Trust works to support law centres and legal advice agencies in London and the South East by providing them with grant funding and practical support. The organisations we support include Law Centres, Citizens Advice, and other legal advice agencies. These organisations help families facing homelessness, older people requiring community care, trafficked adults and children and women fleeing domestic violence, people with disabilities, refugees, people who are facing unemployment, discrimination and those with mental health problems.

LLST has four core strands of work in support of free legal advice services in London and the South East:

• Raising funds to distribute as grants
• Working collaboratively with others to raise funds for the free legal advice sector and work towards responding issues that affect the advice sector,
• Supporting the free legal advice providers through funder plus programmes, including the Centres of Excellence programme, the billing project, specialist advice forum,
• Helping to reduce costs and save money through pro bono or discounted schemes
• We do this by holding large fundraising events, most notably the London Legal Walk, and then delivering the funds raised to the agencies where they are most needed through grant rounds. We offer our knowledge and experience of the sector to help the agencies to become more sustainable and help to partner them with law firms and chambers who want to help them ensure that the law is fair. 

Our funding has never been more vital. Many vulnerable people cannot afford to pay for advice or enforce their rights. The legal advice agencies we support provide life-changing free legal advice to people who face issues such as housing, debt, domestic violence, immigration and benefits. Our advice sector funding and support enables these people to access the help they so desperately need.

Trustees play a key role in supporting the charity to achieve its aims and objectives through a professional staff team.

We are seeking to appoint four more trustees with a vision, energy and passion for access to justice. We welcome applications from people who share our passion and values, and we would particularly like to hear from applicants with the following experience:

• Fundraising and communications, particularly with individual and major donors' fundraising expertise
• Financial management
• Legal advice sector experience
• Corporate law firms' expertise – senior partners at law firms/barristers
• Judiciary

Having a board that reflects the diversity of the communities that our grants support is also important to us. So, we are particularly encouraging people from a range of backgrounds and experiences to apply. We particularly welcome applicants from Black, Asian or Minority Ethnic (BAME) and / or LGBTQ backgrounds, and from different socio-economic, age and educational backgrounds.

Closing date for the applications: Open until filled.

Chair of the Board of Trustee 

Join Us as our new Chair of the New Routes Integration Board of Trustees!

Are you passionate about fostering inclusion, diversity, and community resilience? New Routes Integration is seeking an experienced and dedicated Chair of the Board of Trustees to lead our board. As the Chair of the Board, you’ll have the opportunity to make a significant impact on the lives of refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants as they build new lives and thrive within our communities.

About New Routes Integration

New Routes Integration is a charity based in Norwich, working to promote social cohesion and empowerment for those who are navigating the challenges of migration. We offer a range of programs – from employability and skills development to cultural and youth activities – that support individuals and families as they integrate and contribute to the local community.

The Role

We are seeking a new Chair to join our Board of Trustees.  As the Chair of the Board of Trustees, you will play a vital role in shaping our strategic direction, overseeing governance, and ensuring our resources are used effectively to maximise our impact. Working closely with other trustees and our Chief Executive, you will support and challenge New Routes to fulfil its mission, foster innovation, and uphold the highest standards of accountability and transparency.

We are particularly interested in candidates with experience of board room leadership and can bring the following expertise and qualities:

• Compliance and Governance
• Fundraising and Income Generation
• Excellent Communication skills
• Community Engagement and Advocacy
• Ability to Motivate, Influence and Lead others
• Clear Strategic Vision and Passion for the job
• Emotional Maturity and Intelligence
• Ability to Chair Meetings.

We welcome applications from everyone who has lived experience of migration, whether here in the UK or abroad. 

What We’re Looking For

• Commitment: A strong belief in New Routes Integration’s mission and values.
• Experience: Experience or knowledge in one or more of the areas above, ideally with some understanding of the charity or non-profit sector.
• Engagement: Willingness to actively lead the board meetings, committees, and occasional New Routes events.
• Vision: Ability to think strategically and contribute to long-term planning and decision-making.

Benefits of Being a Trustee

By joining our board, you will:

• Make a meaningful difference in the lives of Global Majority People.
• Gain experience and develop your skills in charity governance.
• Work with a passionate and committed team of trustees and staff.
• Be part of a vibrant, diverse community committed to positive social change.

How to Apply

Please see the attached Chair of the Board of Trustees Role Profile.

To apply, please send your CV and a cover letter outlining why you are interested in becoming our new Chair of the Board of Trustees with New Routes Integration and what you can bring to the role.

For an informal chat about the role, please contact our Chair, Sam Apeh.

Thank you for your interest in New Routes Integration.