The Refugee Council ’s main office in the East of England is in Ipswich. However, we also work in Norwich and Peterborough. Volunteers are based in our Ipswich office and also in community settings across the region.
When completing the volunteer application form, please make a note of which areas you are particularly interested and where you would prefer to volunteer. We are always looking to broaden the range of our volunteer activities and welcome ideas for new projects. If you have a specialist skill or interest that is not included in the list below, please mention it when you are completing your application form.
Ipswich-based roles
Office-based roles:
Reception service
Volunteers receive clients, log each visit, deal with straightforward enquiries and offer refreshments and keep reception area tidy.
Information helpline
Volunteers answer all incoming calls, log telephone helpline calls, answer information requests and pass more complex enquiries to project workers.
Support and assistance to case workers
Volunteers help with faxing, photocopying, telephone calls and research.
General admin tasks
Volunteers log, monitor and prepare returns of client feedback forms, operate filing system, input information on a database, assist with fundraising projects.
Volunteers’ newsletter
Volunteers collate news for other volunteers and do research on the internet, the Refugee Council website and materials circulated internally to prepare monthly news sheet on refugee and asylum issues.
Community-based roles:
Refugee Week
Refugee Week is an annual project and volunteers can prepare and run special activities, e.g. a poetry competition, an exhibition, etc.
Weekly International Women’s Group
The group meets every Wednesday morning and volunteers run the sessions, incl. providing refreshments and suggesting activities; one volunteer may also co-ordinate all women’s group’s activities.
English teaching
Small group teaching
Volunteers (in groups of two) teach English on Monday & Thursday evenings from 7.30 – 9 pm at different venues. Teaching is informal and students have a wide range of language skills. Tutors respond to the needs of their students and also help with integration and practical issues as they arise.
One-to-one teaching
Volunteers teach women or families on a one-to-one basis in their own homes or they may teach others who find it difficult to attend classes in public places. Normally female volunteers will teach women and male volunteers teach men. Language skills vary widely and volunteers may teach complete beginners or those already quite competent, but needing to perfect writing skills.
Volunteers often have a special relationship with clients who may mention problems to them. Volunteers can assist by helping clients with complaints procedures or reporting on such problems in general terms to help staff achieve improved services for clients.
As well as any of the above, new tasks and opportunities are developing all the time, often as a direct result of volunteers’ ideas and special skills. Please mention, when filling in the application form, any additional skills that you feel may benefit our work. We look forward to hearing from you! If we cannot offer you a suitable volunteering opportunity immediately, we will put you on our waiting list and contact you as soon as there is a vacancy.
Volunteer Comments
“Volunteering at the Refugee Council has given me an invaluable insight into the problems that asylum seekers and refugees face every day.”
“Volunteering at the Refugee Council has boosted my self-confidence and work experience and been a great stepping stone back into work.”
RIES project (Ipswich, Peterborough, Luton, Norwich, Southend, Harlow, Basildon)
We are looking for mentors across the East of England in particular Ipswich, Norwich, Peterborough, Luton, Southend, Basildon, Harlow & across Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire
The Refugee and Integration Employment Service (RIES) is looking for volunteer mentors to offer support to new refugees in the East of England.
You will meet with your mentee at least every couple of weeks for a period of 6-12 months and work together to achieve specific goals relating to your mentee's integration process, such as enrolling in further education and training, looking for employment and developing personal interests.
If you live in one of these areas please click on the links below for more information. To find out more about the different sorts of work that volunteers do, visit our what you can do section.
If you don't live in one of these areas please go to www.doit.org.uk - a national volunteering database that will enable you to research opportunities and locate your local volunteer bureau.
Refugees Into Teaching
The Refugees into Teaching project is a national project based at the Refugee Council and funded by the Training and Development Agency for Schools. We provide information, advice and support to refugees who are attempting to qualify or re-qualify as teachers in this country.
We are currently looking for teaching professionals to act as volunteer mentors to refugees to help them overcome these barriers. Supported by the Refugee Council, you would draw upon your own experience to provide regular one-to-one mentoring to a refugee from our database. A mentor could be anyone with experience of working in primary or secondary education in England. You may be a teacher, teaching assistant, ex-teacher, supply teacher, teacher trainee or newly qualified teacher. Alternatively you might work at a teacher training provider or in another related profession.
Refugees into Teaching Volunteer Mentoring role:
- To work sensitively with a mentee from a refugee background
- To arrange and conduct regular one-to-one meetings with a mentee, in a suitable public location
- To be able to commit a minimum of one hour a fortnight for at least three months
- To complete a mentoring action plan in consultation with the mentee and the Mentoring Co-ordinator
- To regularly update the action plan and activity record with progress made
- To provide mentoring input (drawing upon your own experience of UK primary or secondary education and, where necessary, using other suggested resources)
- To keep in regular contact with the Mentoring Co-ordinator, reporting any problems as they arise
- To work within agreed boundaries
- To maintain confidentiality where necessary
- To attend the initial briefing session at the Refugee Council offices
- To take part in ongoing development
- To complete feedback and evaluation forms as required
For more information, and to apply, please visit the project website on www.refugeesintoteaching.org.uk
