WELCOME TO VOLUNTEERING WITH NERS 

What is volunteering with NERS?

Volunteering with NERS is an exciting prospect for people from all sections of the community to help make a difference to  the lives of asylum seekers and refugees. NERS volunteers will face new challenges, make new friends and develop essential personal and workplace skills.  

NERS could not function without the many volunteers who perform important roles in our organisation. Through our well-supported volunteer network  we offer opportunities for cross-cultural exchange, mutual support and the sharing of ideas and experience. Our Volunteer programme brings together people from many communities, creating a rich diversity of cultural background within NERS. This gives a valuable resource for advice and support.

What can I get from volunteering with NERS?

  •        Gain vital work experience

  •        An opportunity to do something really different and help to improve peoples’ lives

  •        An opportunity to gain a more rounded CV and workplace skills to assist training applications and job applications

  •        An opportunity to gain new friends and to gain a valuable insight into other peoples’ cultures  

Where would I be volunteering?

You can be placed in any of the four offices in the NE Region, depending on where your help, skills and enthusiasm are needed most and what your preferences are. NERS Offices are at Jesmond, Bigg Market-Newcastle, Sunderland and Middlesbrough.

 Who would I be helping?

You could be working alongside professional staff to help:

  • Clients including asylum seekers and refugees

What would I do as a volunteer?

·        Welcome and screen clients at the reception desk

·        General Administration work – filing, letter writing etc

·        Support work upon training

·        General interpretation work within the office

·        Befriending clients (Middlesbrough only at the moment)

·        Any other work as directed and agreed with the Volunteer Coordinator from time to time 

Who pays for volunteer expenses?

NERS meets volunteer travel expenses at the cost of public transport and part of the lunch expenses,  provided you work a minimum 5hrs per session per day.

 What qualifications do I need?

None! At NERS we strongly believe that everybody has something to offer. Irrespective of your skills and experience, once you have made the commitment, we will provide the relevant training offering you an exciting volunteering opportunity with NERS.

 Will I be given training?

When you start volunteering at any of our offices, you will be given practical help, training, and advice from the local Volunteer Coordinator, as well as a support worker who becomes your mentor. Training involves shadowing experienced workers, going through three training modules and external courses as seen relevant by the NERS Training Action Group, taking into account the resources available.

Contact details:

Regional Volunteer Coordinator.

Telephone – 0191 245 7311

Email        -  rm@refugee.org.uk

If you are a student who is looking to pursue your studies through an attachment or internship at NERS, you are welcome to contact our HR Officer at 0191245 7311 or nb@refugee.org.uk .We will need information from you on-

1. Your course of studies, including an indication that you have the clear support of your educational institution for such an attachment or internship;

2. How you will be supervised (NERS will not be able to supervise you without adequate funding from your institution for this purpose);
3. Your permission to study/work in the UK (if you are applying from outside the UK).

 

TESTIMONY FROM A VOLUNTEER AT THE NERS BIGG MARKET OFFICE

As a volunteer, I have found NERS very accommodating to someone who wishes to have meaningful opportunities of helping that most disadvantaged section of the community – asylum seekers and refugees.   The staff here are friendly and considerate, always willing to answer questions and help with problems encountered.  This goes beyond the induction process and is a continuing source of support.   it is a mutually beneficial relationship, in that volunteers can develop their ability either at administrative matters or in dealing with people directly, while the organisation benefits from the work done and the variety of skills possessed by the volunteer workforce.  Over the past three years, training for volunteers has become more systematic, with steps corresponding to levels of competence being introduced, so that volunteers can gain a sense of personal growth.

Opportunities are there for volunteers to develop their competence by having access to short courses on relevant issues frequently available from other organisations.   They are also made to feel involved in the decision making of the organisation by being welcomed to team meetings, open days, annual general meetings and social occasions.

It is good to work for an organisation which offers so much.

Sent in by a volunteer

April 2006

 

Are you interested in becoming a member of NERS?

Do you believe in the work NERS and other refugee organizations provide?

Do you believe that refugees and asylum seekers receive an unfair press and that the real picture of asylum seekers and refugees has become distorted? If you do, and want to keep up to date with all the changes in asylum legislation as well as the work NERS does throughout the North East, then why not become a member of NERS?

The North of England Refugee Service is currently reviewing its membership base and is looking at how as an organisation we can not only develop our services, but also our membership criteria.

Until this review is complete, why not fill in the form below. When we have completed the review, we will then be in touch with you with further details.

Or why not just re-visit the site at a later date. We hope to have our new membership criteria set out by the end of summer, so you should be able to read all about it then and then decide.

Click here to complete the online membership application form

Can you help?

NERS is a rapidly growing charity. However, NERS still relies heavily on volunteer support. If you are interested in volunteering for NERS, please visit our volunteer section.

Alternatively if you would like to make a donation to NERS, you can do it here through a secure link. Please follow the step by step instructions. NERS would like to thank you in advance for any donation you can spare.


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