Volunteers needed in Banwell / West Wick
Volunteers needed for new project
Pop-up welcome centre
In May 2024, we are launching a new Welcome Centre to the north of Weston super Mare, near Banwell/West Wick. We’re looking for friendly, sensitive and proactive people to volunteer at the Welcome Centre and to befriend families by offering friendship and support. If you love meeting people and want to help welcome refugees to the local area in a safe and supportive space, this could be the role for you.
Welcome Centre Volunteers
- Setting up the space ahead of the session;
- Greeting people;
- Looking after the kitchen space, making drinks and refreshments;
- Chatting with guests, and helping the centre to be a welcoming space;
- Practising English with guests;
- Complying with health and safety requirements;
- Helping with information and advice about local culture and community; supporting with making calls and filing out forms, signposting to other organisations;
- Debriefings with the team after the Welcome Centre, and regular check-ins with volunteer coordinator and peer support with other volunteers;
- Reporting any safeguarding concerns, in line with our Safeguarding policy.
- Meeting your matched friend regularly at pre-arranged times;
- accompanying families or individuals to appointments;
- Offerng companionship by giving help and advice about local groups and services available, how to get involved and support in attending;
- Helping with information and advice about local culture and community;
- regular check-ins with volunteer coordinator and peer support with other volunteers;
- Reporting any safeguarding concerns to the relevant person, in line with our Safeguarding policy.
Time commitment
Ideally volunteers will commit to a minimum of one session per fortnight
The Welcome Centre North will run on a Monday between 1pm and 3pm.
Volunteers will be required to attend from 12.30-3.30pm to assist with set up and clearing away.
This can be flexible to allow for commitments elsewhere.
RWNS Welcome Centre North will initially be held at Locking Castle and Locking Children’s Centre, Worle.
If you are interested in becoming a volunteer befriender this can be flexible to suit your availability, typically it would be around 1-2 hours per week.
To apply
Please refer to the Role Descriptions (Welcome Centre host and Befriender) for more information.
Please complete an application form and return to Josie, Volunteer Manager at volunteer.coordinator@rwns.org.uk
We encourage anyone with lived experience of being a refugee or the asylum process to volunteer with us. If you require support in completing the application form, please contact us.
We look forward to hearing from you! We welcome applications as soon as possible but also on a continual basis as we develop and grow the centre and its activities.
