Refugee Action is a charity that provides services to refugees in the UK, including protection programs, voluntary return programs, and well-being projects. They believe in human rights, fairness, and that no asylum seeker should be left destitute. Their goals include ensuring refugees have means of survival, a fairer asylum system, participation in society, ability to thrive, and better job prospects. They have 180 staff and 200 volunteers across 6 UK offices. Volunteering allows asylum seekers to gain skills and experience to improve employment opportunities while not being allowed to work. Refugee volunteers provide cultural awareness, language skills, empathy and community links to organizations.

1. Refugee Action
Involving refugee volunteers
GLV November 2014
In
Taking action, changing lives 2014 – 2019

2. Refugee Action
Who we are
Our beliefs
We believe in human
rights. We believe in
fairness and equality.
We believe that no
one seeking asylum in
the UK should be left
destitute
Taking action, changing lives 2014 – 2019

3. Refugee Action
Who we are: Five goals
• All refugees will have a means of
survival
• The UK will have a fairer asylum
system
• Refugees will be part of our
society
• Refugees will be able to thrive
• Refugees will have a better
prospect of finding work
Taking action, changing lives 2014 – 2019

4. Refugee Action services
We have 6 offices across the UK with over
180 staff and 200 volunteers. Last year
volunteers gave over 25,000 hours to
Refugee Action
• Gateway protection programme for
refugees
• Choices voluntary return programme
• Well being projects
• Campaigning and Influencing
Taking action, changing lives 2014 – 2019

5. What’s the difference between an asylum
seeker and a refugee?
- An asylum seeker is a person who has made an application to the
Home Office for asylum under the Refugee Convention and is
waiting for a decision
- A refugee is a person who’s application has been successful and
has been granted asylum, and permission to live in the UK for a set
period
Refugee Convention means the United Nations Convention Relating
to the Status of Refugees 1951 and the 1967 Protocol
Taking action, changing lives 2014 – 2019

6. Can asylum seekers volunteer?
In April 2014 the Home Office agreed to
change its guidelines on asylum seekers
and volunteering, following a successful
campaign by Refugee Action
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/s
ystem/uploads/attachment_data/file/2994
15/Permission_to_Work_Asy_v6_0.pdf
The changes mean that no one can be
excluded from volunteering because
they’re claiming asylum. People claiming
asylum, including refused asylum
seekers, can now continue to volunteer
across charities and the public sector – in
schools, hospitals and for local council
run services such as libraries, leisure
centres and parks.
Taking action, changing lives 2014 – 2019

7. Volunteer roles in Refugee Action
London
Volunteers roles in our London office :
• Community Outreach
• Casework
• Admin
• Head office placements with HR,
Finance
• Research
We have a target of a third refugee
volunteers
Taking action, changing lives 2014 – 2019

8. Why do refugees volunteer?
 To improve employability
 To gain experience of the UK
work place
 To address isolation and
loneliness
 To improve English language and
practice speaking English
 To ‘give something back’
 Asylum seekers are not allowed
to work so volunteering is a way
to stay active and contribute
Taking action, changing lives 2014 – 2019

9. Refugee Action
One big reason
refugees volunteer is
to help find work
Try and link refugee
volunteers to local
employment
mentoring schemes,
or do something in-house
Taking action, changing lives 2014 – 2019

10. Refugee volunteers bring:
 Cultural awareness about
people from their country
or region
 Language skills
 Empathy and experience as
they have been through the
system
Taking action, changing lives 2014 – 2019

11. Refugee volunteers bring:
• Diversity, experience, and
fresh perspective to your
team
• Links to their
communities
• Typically refugees bring a
very high skills set – and
a high level of education
Taking action, changing lives 2014 – 2019

12. Other considerations
• Refugees may have no
experience of the UK work
environment –so it’s really
important to give a proper
induction
 Paying out of pocket
expenses is really important
– many asylum seekers and
refugees are on a very low
income but would not want
to discuss this and would
not be familiar with
recognised good practice
 Refugees have been in a
Taking action, changing lives 2014 – 2019
powerless position during
their asylum journey &
may need to be enabled
to feel they can say no, be
assertive, complain about
something that’s not right,
or even give suggestions
or feedback

13. Other considerations
 For refugees with lower
levels of English think of
creative ways to
overcome this eg
buddying up with
someone in the office
with the same language
skills who speaks better
English; roles where less
English is needed; speak
in clear English language
• Make sure you reach
Taking action, changing lives 2014 – 2019
refugees by advertising
your services &
opportunities to Refugee
Community Organisations
and other places refugees
may see them eg places
of worship, ESOL class, as
well as to your local
volunteer centre
• Try and also have roles for
people with lower skill
sets

14. Other considerations
• DBS can be a challenge
but review and enhance
your recruitment process
including: risk
assessments; thorough
interviews; self disclosure
form pending DBS replies;
non-DBS roles; do you
really need a DBS for the
role?
 Don’t forget refugees are
Taking action, changing lives 2014 – 2019
carrying their refugee
experience – as well as
their bravery and
resilience there will be
times when refugees will
need extra support; try
and include wellbeing in
your volunteer support
programme.