Refugees Volunteer Roles

Come join our team working to help change the lives of some of the most vulnerable people in society. Ranked 2023 Q4 by Best Companies as the 8th best charity to work for in the UK, Medaille Trust is one of the UK’s leading charities in the fight against modern slavery. Our innovative model is based on three principles: Prevent, Protect and Pursue.  We are one of the UK’s largest providers of survivor services, with ten safehouses and six outreach hubs, staffed round the clock by specialist staff, working with more than 600 men, women and dependent children each year.  We work to raise awareness in the UK and to provide preventive work in source countries. Our Pursue work helps survivors to engage with police and within the legal system to seek justice and to secure convictions against their perpetrators.

Our volunteers come from all walks of life and have a wide range of experience and motivations. Whatever your reason for deciding to volunteer, we want to make sure you enjoy your time with us and know just how much we value your support.

Wiltshire Moving on Project supports female survivors of modern slavery, trafficking and exploitation. As part of this work, we offer weekly sessions where service users can come together in a safe space to participate in activities and create friendships.

We are looking for a Volunteer Workshop Host to work with staff and other volunteers at the Swindon hub to support service users attending the hub. The Swindon drop in/hub currently runs every Friday and includes social and activity sessions as well as information and signposting.

CORE TASKS:

We are looking for Volunteer Workshop hosts to help support us in our drop in and uplifting group session activities, tasks will include:

· Welcoming visitors and service users to the hub, helping them sign in, directing them to the hub space, helping service users to engage within a group setting, helping with any activity sessions that take place on or off the premises.

· Help to create a varied programme of activities.

· To offer a safe and comfortable experience for all service users, showing awareness of service users varying physical and mental well-being needs.

· To provide feedback to the Local Coordinator, reporting any observations or concerns in a timely manner.

· Making refreshments/drinks.

· Helping to set up and tidy up group space.

· To take part in regular supervision and support.

· To regularly attend volunteer or staff meetings.

· To attend training as and when required.

· To work within agreed professional boundaries at all times

· To provide a safe and non-judgmental environment that promotes the core values and ethos of the Trust, in accordance with the Medaille Trust Policy, Data Protection Act, and Health and Safety Regulations.

PERSON SPECIFICATION:

The role would suit someone who is friendly, kind, empathetic and non-judgemental.  This position is very rewarding and would suit a person who is happy to work as part of a team, in a busy yet relaxed and upbeat environment.   

This role requires maturity, and an ability to engage with female adults in a trauma informed way, while working alongside staff members to deliver the service in line with agreed procedures and systems. 

· Volunteers must be at least 18 years old.

· Experience of arts and crafts

· Happy to support or lead sessions

· Volunteers will need to be computer literate and have a good standard of spoken and written English

· This role requires a regular commitment every fortnight

· Ability to maintain confidentiality is essential

· Volunteers to have knowledge and understanding of human trafficking issues or willingness to learn

· Knowledge of mental health issues and the challenges faced or a willingness to learn

· An understanding of the importance of professional boundaries in the role

· Must be able to get to the group session which is in Swindon Town Centre

This role is restricted for females under the Occupational Requirement under Schedule 9 (part 1) of the Equality Act 2010 and is subject to ongoing satisfactory Disclosure & Barring Service checks.

To apply, please complete an application form on our website.

An enhanced DBS check is required for this role, which we will arrange.