About
The People from Abroad Team are part of Norfolk County Council. We work with refugee families to support their journey to independence in the UK. This work is greatly supported by a network of ...
Volunteering with asylum seekers - teaching English
Contact person
Scan me or visit www.getinvolvednorfolk.org.uk/o/People-from-Abroad-Team/opportunities/Volunteering-with-asylum-seekers---teaching-English/84950 to join
Summary
We need more volunteers to join our team teaching English to asylum seekers at hotels in Norwich. Sessions currently take place on Tuesday afternoons.Detailed description
Our team of volunteers plays a key role in supporting asylum seekers as they settle in their new country. We do this by helping them to learn English, familiarising them with Norwich and Norfolk, and helping to engage them with the wider community. With the team’s and your support, they are able to rebuild their lives in the UK.
English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) Volunteer
Being able to read and write English is central to successfully building a new life here, as this will be essential for employment opportunities and generally engaging with the wider community. For this reason, all asylum seeking adults who come to Norwich have the opportunity to attend English language lessons. These are provided in an informal setting by volunteers along with the team's volunteer coordinator. ESOL volunteers don’t need to have a background in teaching or ESOL, they just need to by sympathetic to the needs of the learners, flexible and willing to learn. Being sensitive to each adult's different abilities and finding new ways to explain things in a positive, fun and encouraging way is more important than being able to conjugate a verb!
How We Support Volunteers
We really appreciate the contribution our volunteers make which ensures the success of the resettlement scheme. In return for your time and commitment, we provide ongoing support to volunteers including the following:
- Training
PfAT volunteers come from all walks of life, with varying skills and experience, so our training is individual and personal to each applicant. Meetings take place in Bar Marzano, in the Forum, at a time to suit you.
- DBS certificates
All of our volunteers undergo full DBS checks and are issued with an enhanced certificate before they can begin working with us.
- Newsletter
Each month, you will receive an e-newsletter which has updates from Simon and the team about the project. It also covers any new developments, news on events, as well as additional volunteering opportunities or one-off requests for help.
- Volunteer Coordinator
You can call or email Kim, our VC, for personal support at any stage of your training or volunteering.
- Expenses
All travel costs will be refunded.
Thank you for reading this information – we look forward to meeting you.