Refugee Children’s Activity Volunteer

One of the barriers for female refugee clients to access learning is finding suitable and reliable childcare, whilst they attend sessions. To help them overcome this barrier, we have set up an on creche on site for clients attending the course, managed by a member of staff who is qualified in Level 3 Childcare. Volunteers in this role will have the opportunity to support our operations and services by carrying out the main task of their role as set out below.

 Specifically, the volunteer role includes:

• Assisting and taking direction from Refugee Council members of staff in helping to take care of the children by carrying out activities with them.
• Assisting with the set up and organising creative and play activities with the children.
• Assisting with song and story time
• Assisting with the set up and pack up of the Creche equipment for each session.
• Providing emotional support, especially for children new to the Creche
• Ensure children are playing in a safe environment.
• Offering a nurturing and supportive environment for the children
• Fetching the child’s parent from the course when they need changing, feeding or if they are unable to be soothed.

Please note that volunteers are not responsible for feeding or changing nappies as part of this volunteer role and remains the responsibility of the client during the course. Volunteers are never to be left alone with any child at any time. Otherwise, you will have to do enhanced DBS checks.

Useful skills and experience

• Reliability and commitment.
• Confidence and comfortable meeting new people.
• Ability to establish and maintain professional boundaries.
• Ability to build relationships and rapport with children and their parents.
• Ability to communicate with people of all abilities and culturally diverse backgrounds.
• Adaptability to new ideas and concepts
• An appreciation of the importance of confidentiality and data protection. Full training will be provided.  
• An understanding of the need to keep children safe in line with our organisational safeguarding policy and procedures. Full training will be provided.
• Pashtu or Dari language skills are desirable but not essential.

This role is subject to a satisfactory basic level Disclosure and Barring Service check. Repeat checks are initiated every two years.

Skills and experience to be gained from the role.

• Experience in working with children in a welcoming environment.
• Induction into the work of the Refugee Council, as well as the role, data protection and safeguarding.
• Experience of volunteering in an early year setting
• Opportunity to improve future employment prospects.
• Support and guidance from Refugee Council team members, including 121 and group supervisions.
• Regular training and development opportunities
• We would be more than happy to provide references to volunteers.
• We would be more than happy to provide CV support, personal professional development.

How we support our volunteers

Volunteers are valued members of our teams, and we provide them with support and development opportunities. Volunteers will receive regular planned support sessions with their supervisors.

Refugee Council allows volunteers to attend our professional training courses, when possible, free of charge. Training will be discussed with you during support sessions with your supervisor.

Through sponsorship from the Marsh Trust, Refugee Council also provides volunteers with the opportunity to design and set-up a new service for new clients. There will be an opportunity to discuss this with your supervisor.

Volunteer roles are unpaid, but we can reimburse volunteers for lunch and travel costs. (Unfortunately our limited budget only allows for local travelling costs.)