 |
 |
 |
 |
Volunteer
Volunteer opportunities at Praxis.
We are looking for some bright, motivated volunteers to help us in the following areas:
Volunteer mentor opportunity
Praxis is working in partnership with Probation to promote social inclusion and reduce reoffending by supporting foreign national offenders who are under probation supervision to reintegrate successfully into the community. We are looking for mentors to provide practical advice and assistance and emotional support to their mentee.
Mentors will give their time, experience and knowledge to empower foreign national offenders/service users to turn their lives around. Each mentor will be expected to mentor two mentees over a period of six months, having weekly contact with the mentee individually whether that is face to face or via phone for example.
Mentors help their mentee to resettle in the community by sharing their knowledge and experience, and offering their friendship. This might mean doing anything from helping to write a CV, to visiting a museum or art gallery, to helping to practise English. Praxis provides full training and support to mentors and mentees throughout the course of the mentoring relationships. Mentoring is one of the most rewarding ways of giving time. It offers a wonderful opportunity to use your own knowledge and experience to help and inspire another person while giving you the chance to develop your own skills.
What are we looking for?
Mentors are not expected to be professional counsellors, advisors or experts on immigration or the criminal justice system. However, they must be committed and reliable, and have an open mind. Mentors must be over 18 years old, speak fluent English and be either UK citizens or have lived in the UK long enough to have a real understanding of the culture and customs.
Downlaod the Volunteer Mentor Description, Background Information and Mentor Application Form.
Reception and visitor welcome volunteers
Help our reception staff greet and guide visitors and to the building, operate the switchboard, keep our reception area looking attractive, maintain resources and ensure that visitors are made welcome. Volunteers need to be friendly and outgoing and have good spoken English. The ability to speak a community language would be an added bonus.
If you would like to volunteer for this role please request an application form and write ‘Reception volunteer’ either in your email subject line or on the top of the application form.
Advice support volunteers
Help our advice team provide advice on immigration, benefits, housing and homelessness, debt and similar issues. Tasks include helping clients fill in benefits forms, calling outside agencies (for example utility companies or Jobcentre Plus) and advocating on behalf of clients, writing letters on behalf of clients and similar duties. You will also be expected to input details of client work into the advice database, and to help advisers with other administrative tasks.
The main requirements of this role are at least a basic understanding of the benefits and housing system, the ability to speak and write effectively in English, and the ability to learn quickly and develop your knowledge. An ability to speak a community language is an advantage, but not essential. An interest in migrant issues and a commitment to access to basic human rights for all is essential.
If you would like to volunteer for this role please request an application form and write ‘Advice volunteer’ either in your email subject line of on the top of the application form.
Social and leisure group volunteers
Help set up and run social and activity groups for our clients, including:
- a book group, where clients can read together and discuss selected books in a similar way to a traditional book group, but with the added element of improving knowledge of the English language, exploring other cultures, and reading aloud extracts together.
- a sewing and/or knitting group where clients can learn or improve their sewing/knitting skills (sewing machines provided) and make their limited resources stretch further by enabling them to make clothes for themselves and their families.
- an internet freecycle/Ebay support group – support and computer access for clients to set up freecycle and/or Ebay accounts to enable them to find free or low-cost resources for their daily lives.
- a football team – football teams for men or women.
- a running club – support and assistance for clients who would like to run in London
- a local walking group – help clients learn about places of interest in the Tower Hamlets area.
If you think you could help us to set up and run any of these groups please request an application form and write ‘Activity volunteer’ either in the subject line of your email or on the top of the form. Please also specify which activity you are interested in within the form.
You find an online application form here and our Volunteering Policy can be found here.
Registered in England and Wales, Company No. 3638571.
Charity Registration No. 1078945. VAT No. 945 9796 49.
