Upload
christian-myers
View
217
Download
0
Tags:
Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
Refugees & asylum seekers volunteering – experiences & outcomes atNorthern Refugee Centre
Juan Varela
Volunteer Befriending Scheme Worker
Northern Refugee Centre
Independent charity Set up in 1983 Currently 14 paid staff Over 300 volunteers since 2001 Geographical range:
South Yorkshire direct services Yorkshire / (UK) strategic / policy role
Current main areas of work
Advice
Community development
Volunteering
Employment research project
Awareness-raising
Volunteer roles since 2001
Advice / Meet & Greet Befriending
Conversation Clubs Reception / general assistant
IT4Communities
Total: over 300 volunteers
Volunteering evaluation 2001-2003
Advice-5.4%
Befriending-30.4%
Meet & greet interpreting-14.3%Volunteering at the NRC-23.2%
General Assistant-1.8%
Conversation club-25.0%
Volunteering evaluation 2001-2003
Gender of volunteers
Male-51.8%
Female-48.2%
Age range of volunteers
Under 25-27.3%
25 to 50-50.9%
Over 50-21.8%
Volunteering evaluation 2001-2003
Country of origin
UK (48.2)
Angola (3.6)Yemen (3.6)Albania (1.8)
USA (1.8)Brazil (1.8)
Afghanistan (5.4)
South Africa (1.8)
Iran (12.5)
Ukraine (1.8)
Algeria (1.8)
Congo (1.8)
Iraq (3.6)
Hungary (1.8)
Nigeria (3.6)Chad (1.8)
Somalia (3.6)
Volunteering evaluation 2001-2003Volunteers employment status
05
101520253035404550556065707580859095
100
05
101520253035404550556065707580859095
100
Full employ Part employ Full student Retired unemployed Unknown
pe
rc
en
ta
ge
o
f
vo
lun
te
er
s
(n
=5
6)
employment type
Start of volunteeri Status Feb 11th '03
Volunteering evaluation 2001-2003
Immigration status of volunteers
Asylum-26.8%
Refugee-14.3%Neither-58.9%
2001-3 conclusions
Asylum seeker volunteers c.25% Refugee volunteers c.15%
Some reasons for high figure: Quick induction Lots of company Single office; captive audience Barriers to refugees volunteering
elsewhere or accessing information
Total 40%
Volunteering 2004-5
Asylum seeker volunteers c.5% Refugee volunteers c.5%
Some reasons for low figure
Total 10%
Volunteering 2004-5
Some reasons for low figure: Funding specifically for befriending scheme Mental health focus One-to-one activity Slow induction and matching Criminal record checks Already volunteering in refugee community Volunteer Centre Sheffield refugee project
Refugee & asylum seeker involvement: benefits for organisation
Broad range of backgrounds & experience Empathy with, & knowledge of, user group Education level higher than native
population’s Increases cultural awareness among staff Word of mouth publicity for organisation Skills & training enhanced service
delivery
Refugees & asylum seeker involvement: benefits for them
Not allowed to work, but can volunteer Improves English Reduces isolation, improves integration References, accreditation & skills jobs
/ education Opportunity to “give something back”
Good practice Extra support for volunteer if necessary Awareness-raising among organisations Good practice guides, e.g. “A-Z of
Volunteering and Asylum” Translated information, e.g. Voluntary
Action Sheffield website Networking and joint working Refugee community development work
Case study 1 Northern Refugee Centre work:
1 refugee community development worker, helping a few targeted groups and an awareness-raising group
1 Refugee Communities Forum Support Worker “Rights & entitlements” training course
(funding from Challenge Fund; delivered by Advice Service Manager)
Befriending scheme for refugees suffering from depression, anxiety, isolation etc.
Case study 2
Conversation Club Sheffield Run by volunteers Improving spoken English in
welcoming environment Social activities High profile!
Case study 3 Volunteer Centre Sheffield
Refugee & Asylum Seeker ProjectAims:
Give in-depth support to refugees and asylum seekers who want to volunteer and have been matched to a volunteer placement.
Increase the number of suitable volunteering opportunities.
Promote good practice in volunteering with refugees and asylum seekers.
Case study 3 (Volunteer Centre Sheffield)…
How people heard about the project
21%
15%
15%14%
5%
5%
5%
3%
2%1%2%
4%
4%
1% 1%1%1%
Drop-in
Friend / Relative
Tennancy Support Worker
Outreach
Passing By
RNAP
Careers Service
VC Staff
Health Professional/Clinic
ESOL Class
Other
Refugee Council
CAB Advice Centre
Social Worker
Newspaper/ Radio
Do-It Website
Case study 3 (Volunteer Centre Sheffield)…
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
Iran
Con
go
Som
alia
liber
ia
Sud
an
Nig
eria
Erit
rea
Zim
babw
e
Liby
a
Eth
iopi
a
Ken
ya Iraq
Isra
el
Pak
ista
n
Con
go D
RC
Cam
eroo
n
Ang
ola
Afg
hani
stan
Ivor
y C
oast
Rw
anda
Yem
en
Ecu
ador
ian
Yug
osla
via
Alb
ania
Alg
eria
Ang
olan
Uga
nda
Tur
key
Con
go (
DR
C)
Kur
dist
an
Cub
a
Kuw
ait
Syr
ia
Sie
rra
Leon
e
ghan
a
Gui
nea
Sie
ra L
eone
Rus
sia
mon
golia
n
Tog
o
Unk
now
n
Volunteers Nationality
Volunteers
Case study 3 (Volunteer Centre Sheffield)…
Primary Reason to Volunteer
37%
20%
13%
9%
4%
4%
3%
2%2%
2% 2%1%1%
Gain skills and experience to gain paid work
Help others
Constructive use of time
Improve English
Don't want to forget skills/ studies
Give something back to the community
To get out of the house
Not allowed to work
Relieve depression/Mental health
Meet new people
Unhappy on benefits without doing anything
Interest in a specific area
Re-train in previous profession