About the Refugee Council

Founded in 1951, the Refugee Council exists to support people who come to the UK in need of safety and our purpose is to advocate with them for compassion, fairness and kindness. We achieve this by providing expert advice and casework, building the capacity of refugee community organisations, and working with allies across society to change government policy.

The Refugee Council is one of the leading organisations in the UK working with refugees and people seeking asylum.

Learn more about the Refugee Council here

About the Hotels Team

The Hotels Team forms part of the Asylum Directorate at Refugee Council and provides holistic support for clients seeking asylum in contingency accommodation, from practical support to assist them on their asylum journey, basic aid support, opportunities to learn English to advocating for their wellbeing through a number of different activities and mediums. Volunteers in this role will support the volunteer coordinator and hotel support workers in achieving the team’s aim of supporting clients seeking asylum.

For nearly two years, Mears (the contract holder for delivery of asylum dispersal accommodation) have been placing newly arrived asylum seekers in a number of hotels across the Yorkshire and Humber region. This was initially in response to a shortage of dispersed accommodation at the turn of the year. Since the emergence of the COVID-19 crisis and the resulting pause on people being evicted from their asylum accommodation however, hotel use has continued to increase in the region due to a growing lack of available accommodation for new arrivals claiming asylum.

The NET Contingency Accommodation Project has been engaging with residents in hotels in Wakefield and Leeds, Rotherham, Sheffield and Hull, delivering health briefings, English conversation, art therapy and wellbeing sessions in addition to arranging donations of clothing and other items.

About this role

Volunteers will have the opportunity to support the Hotels Team by planning, creating, and delivering an activity as part of a social group that promotes wellbeing for clients.

What could I be doing?

• Set up and deliver craft activities including painting, drawing, sewing, and crocheting.
• Set up and supervise use of art materials (including sewing machines if used)
• Help attendees with any issues they might have with the craft activities (including sewing/crocheting project or machines if used)
• Put crafts away (including sewing machines if used) and lightly tidy the space afterwards.
• Maintain a friendly and welcoming atmosphere
• Encourage conversation and practice of English
• Occasionally support other events and activities such as days out and trips
• With the support of the Volunteer Coordinator, put together a schedule of activities, giving enough time to gather resources, templates etc and make examples if needed.
• Keep a register of attendees as well as a record of volunteer hours

Useful skills and experience

• Good communication and interpersonal skills
• Willingness to empathise and learn about refugees’ experience in the UK
• Reliable and trustworthy
• Friendly and patient
• Proactive

Time commitment

3-4 hours a week (including planning time), runs every Thursday 10-12pm.

Hours can be flexible according to the demands of the project.

This role is subject to a satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service check.

Repeat checks are initiated every two years.

You can learn more about this role by downloading our task description here [DOC].

You can apply for this role using this application form [DOC].

Interested? Contact Mohammad Juhar at mohammed.aman@refugeecouncil.org.uk for more information.