Refugee Support - Young Refugee Project Volunteer (Gravesend)

Do you want to make a difference to the lives of refugees, asylum seekers and vulnerable migrants? You could help them to draw on their own strengths to cope with crisis and to rebuild their lives. The British Red Cross is a volunteer led organisation and the UK's largest independent provider of services and support for refugees and people seeking asylum. Our Young Refugee Project Volunteers work with vulnerable young refugees who are children and young people aged 15 - 25 seeking safety in the UK. As a Young Refugee Project Volunteer you will be involved in a range of activities helping children and young people integrating into the UK to navigate their local area, develop skills to cope with their situation and to find a way forward.

• This role is for particular Young Women's Pilot project that is set to run for 8 weeks. The project is due to start on 6 June and end on 25 July. We need someone available to cover sessions across the full 8 weeks; sessions will be on Thursdays

between 1pm and 5 pm.
• After the Pilot, there is a chance of project being extended, or volunteers can join the regular Tuesday evening sessions. We are looking for volunteers who; - Will be able to volunteer on a regular weekly basis. - Shifts available Thursdays from 1pm and 5pm. - Can commit to volunteering for at least 8 weeks. - Be able to speak Vietnamese and/or Tigrinya fluently as well as an advanced level of English. - Have experience of teaching English as a foreign language. Please note this role is supporting a Young Women's Pilot project and we are looking to recruit female volunteers to support the project. We're sorry but at the moment we can't always host 15 - 17 year olds, do get in touch and we can let you know what other suitable opportunities there may be near you. We would be particularly interested to hear from you if you are (or have been) an asylum seeker or refugee. Diversity is something we celebrate. We want you to be

able to bring your authentic self to the Red Cross and feel that you belong. We want to create an inclusive environment, and promote and spread the power of kindness. As part of creating an inclusive space we have an expenses policy that prioritises volunteers not being out of pocket for expenses linked to your role. If up front costs are difficult, you can speak to your volunteering manager about this to find alternatives. We want volunteering to be accessible to everyone.
• Health and Safety Statement We take an individual approach to ensuring your safety. We may ask you to complete a simple risk assessment and will also have a conversation with you to discuss and identify any adjustments you may need. If you have any questions before applying, please contact us at [volunteerrecruitment@redcross.org.uk](url)

Why we want you: We are looking for enthusiastic volunteers who are passionate about working with young people and young refugees. You will be caring and supportive, helping to support young people to gain confidence and independence so they can access the services they need. Our Young Refugee Project Volunteers help to make people feel comfortable and engaged with the service we provide. This can be a distressing time and we aim to ease the process of adjusting to life in a new country through resilience and empowerment.


• Tasks: Working with a supportive team to organise group activities to improve life skills and local knowledge

Accompanying young people to events, places to socialise and on trips
Supporting young people to find opportunities to nurture their interests and talents
Providing opportunities for young people to cook healthy meals and socialise together
Helping to improve language skills through activities and conversation
Helping with other administrative tasks eg filling in forms, helping with travel expenses


• Skills: Strong communication skills and empathetic about the situation and needs of young people and young refugees

Able to volunteer in a multicultural environment
Able to use emotional support skills in a calm and responsible manner
Emotionally resilient as you may need to deal with challenging or difficult situations
Respectful of confidentiality with a non-judgemental attitude
Speak English; knowledge of a foreign language would be helpful (particularly one used in the current local refugee population)

Keep the people we support at the heart of what you do
Willing to complete a criminal record check


• Benefits: Meet new people and be part of a supportive and inclusive team

A great opportunity to develop your existing skills and gain new ones
All training and induction for the role (there is no charge for training)
Reasonable pre-agreed travel expenses for the role
An opportunity to be part of the world's largest humanitarian organisation and the knowledge that you are making a difference to people's lives
Opportunities to attend other training and workshops as agreed with your line manager