Asylum Services Volunteer (Family Rights and Destitution Service)

Scottish Refugee Council
VO101287

Scottish Refugee Council is committed to assisting asylum seekers and refugees to settle into life in Scotland. Our Services team is responsible for meeting with asylum seekers and refugees to provide direct advice on issues such as housing, benefits and finance, education, training and volunteering opportunities. This includes projects for newly arrived asylum seeking families, people whose claims for asylum have been refused and people granted leave to remain.

This volunteer role is for people who will be assisting the Family Rights and Destitution teams within the wider Services department. As a volunteer with these teams you will play a key role, working closely with advisers, to support people in accessing their rights in Scotland.

Duties include;
Assisting with GP registration as well as helping people book appointments with their GPS.
Assisting with nursery, school and college registration and helping them complete any forms where appropriate
Helping families complete school grants application forms and travel application forms
Signposting and referring people to food banks.
Signposting or referring people to clothing banks and organisations where they can access phone top ups and data packages.
Explaining different NHS services and give out health information in different languages.
Assisting people to register for English classes and helping them complete any relevant applications for both community and college classes.
Relaying all information to case managers/ advisors and recording on the case management system
Undertaking welfare checks to reduce the negative impact of isolation during the asylum process on people’s wellbeing. This will support the work of advisers to resolve urgent issues where they emerge.
Link people and children to connect with their local areas and services. Volunteers will work with advisors to identify services like gyms, other clubs, integration networks and volunteering opportunities
Support the children activities programme by taking part in children’s activities and contributing to ideas as well as providing feedback.

If you are interested, please click the ‘Apply’ button below (available when logged in and registered). You will then be contacted by the coordinator by email or phone call. If you have not heard back after 5 working days, the first step is to contact the organisation with the contact details provided. You could also check your junk/spam folder on your emails just in case the response is there. If that doesn’t work out then please feel free to contact Volunteer Glasgow on info@volunteerglasgow.org.

Experience required

A strong ability to show empathy with the needs of asylum seekers and refugees
Ability to record information accurately and on time
Ability to work independently as well as part of a team
Reliability, punctuality and trustworthiness
An understanding of Equal Opportunities
An understanding of the importance of confidentiality and professional boundaries