Volunteering with Southwark Day Centre for Asylum Seekers
Are you:
- sensitive to the issues around working with people from diverse backgrounds?
- committed to asylum and refugee issues?
If so, would you enjoy working as part of our team of volunteers?
Volunteer with us |
Volunteers have a crucial part to play in our work at Southwark Day Centre by filling a number of roles, listed below.
Our services are operating differently to normal due to the pandemic. However, our volunteer team is still doing vital work running the services listed below. We are slowly taking on new volunteers, so please do apply to us if you’re interested in joining the team. There is a waiting list, but we will get back to you as soon as possible. |
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Volunteer roles
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CRECHE VOLUNTEER
Time commitment: 5 hours a week either Key times: Tuesday 12.30pm - 5.30pm or Wednesday 9.30am - 2.30pm. Key skills: Some experience of working with children. A good understanding of safeguarding issues. TRIAGING VOLUNTEER
People’s first contact with the day centre is often through our triaging worker, Alex. Triaging is the process of identifying what issues someone has and who the right person to support them is. This might be someone within SDCAS, or someone external. Because of the large number of enquiries that we receive, triaging is an essential part of our advice service, and we are currently seeking volunteers to support with this. You will work over the phone with clients, and gain a deeper understanding of the wide range of issues affecting asylum seekers, refugees and migrants. Time commitment: Ideally 6 hours a week, but if you have less time available please get in touch to discuss this. Key times: Tuesday and Thursday afternoons. Key skills: We provide training for all our volunteers and you will work alongside Alex, but it would be helpful if you already have some understanding of the types of issues that our clients face, and some experience of dealing with people in distress. CLOTHING TEAM VOLUNTEER
SDCAS’s clothing team is run by volunteers, and provides bespoke packs of clothing to our clients and their families. The role involves speaking to clients over the phone to identify what they need, picking out clothes from the clothing store in Croydon, and handing our clothing packs to clients on Tuesdays. It’s an essential service for people who may not be able to afford new clothing and the team tries hard to make sure everything we give out is excellent quality and as close to the person’s preferences as possible . Time commitment: 3 hours a week. Key times: Monday and Tuesday afternoons, but you would only need to be free on each of these days once every 3 weeks as the roles in the team rotate. Key skills: Drivers with own vehicle particularly welcome, but everyone welcome to apply.. ADVICE VOLUNTEERS
Our remote advice team supports people to navigate a wide range of issues including housing and homelessness, benefits and debt, health and wellbeing and immigration issues. We are currently offering advice primarily remotely (over the phone) due to Covid, but as things improve we hope to offer in person advice again. Time commitment: 4-5 hours a week Key times: Thursdays from 1pm - 4.30pm. Key skills: An understanding of some of the issues our clients face, great attention to detail, some experience of working with people in distress. |
How to apply |
If you would like to apply to volunteer, please fill in the application form on line here.
If you prefer to return your form by post please contact maddy@sdcas.org.uk for a paper copy. If you would like to discuss any of these roles with us further before applying then please e-mail us at maddy@sdcas.org.uk. You should hear back from us within 14 days. |
Student placements |
We offer a unique opportunity for students to be involved at our daycentres on placement as part of course work requirements.
We cannot always guarantee a placement as opportunities are limited and subject to negotiation with the course provider – we welcome the opportunity to consider your request. If you are interested in applying for a placement, please email us with the following details:
Please email us at maddy@sdcas.org.uk with the above details or if you would like to ask for further information. You should receive a reply from us within 14 days. |