13885 - Volunteer Sheff_4pp_YELLOW 12/5/06 16:26 Page 1 Would you like to Volunteer? Come to our office at Volunteer Centre Sheffield, 69 Division Street, Sheffield, S1 4GE Monday - Thursday 10.00 - 4.00 or phone Paul, 0114 249 3360 ext 129 Or go to the Conversation Club Drop In for Asylum seekers at Victoria Hall Methodist Church, Wednesdays from 2.00 - 4.00 (see the map below). Are you a Refugee or an Asylum Seeker? I would like to find out more about volunteering (please return this to the Volunteer Centre (address above) or fax 0114 249 3361) My Details T itle ................. First Name ..................................................................................... Surname ................................................................................................................. Address ................................................................................................................... ..................................................................................... Post Code ........................ Mobile Number ..................................... Home Phone ..............,........................ Nationality ............................................. Language ............................................ Supported by the Opportunities for Volunteering Scheme in partnership with the Department of Health and Volunteering England Quality accredited by Service of A Carpenter uses his skills to make a table for Cot-Age Use Your Skills / Learn New Skills Try Helping / Volunteering Volunteering is helping an organisation or group. Helping others can help you to: ˇ Learn new skills - you can get free training ˇ Meet new people - make new friends ˇ Improve your English VOLUNTARY ACTION SHEFFIELD www.vas.org.uk www.vas.org.uk Volunteer Centre Sheffield is a service of Voluntary Action Sheffield. Regisered Charity No. 223007 A company limited by guaranted Registered in England and Wales No. 215695 13885 - Volunteer Sheff_4pp_YELLOW 12/5/06 16:26 Page 2 Volunteering opportunities for Refugees and Asylum Seekers The Volunteer Centre Sheffield Refugee and Asylum Seeker project is here to help refugees and asylum seekers to get into worthwhile volunteering opportunities. Volunteer Centre Sheffield, part of Voluntary Actiomn Sheffield can help by giving in-depth support to refugees and asylum seekers who want to volunteer, including: ˇ ˇ ˇ ˇ Helping you find a good volunteer placement Helping you fill in application forms Calling agencies for you and arranging appointments Going with you to the first volunteering interview. Can Asylum Seekers Volunteer? Yes. Asylum seekers are allowed to volunteer and there are no restrictions on how much you can do. It will not affect your NASS support. It will not affect your Home Office asylum application Do I have to tell the Job Centre? If you are a refugee and you get benefits from Job Centre Plus, you can volunteer but you should tell your advisor. You need to be available for work so you may not be able to volunteer full time hours. A volunteer teaching IT skills at Crown Enterprise and Training Centre What is a Volunteer? A volunteer is a person who, unpaid, chooses to give their time and skills to help people in the community. It is your free choice to do this. You can choose how many hours and what days you want volunteer. Volunteering is helping an organisation, group or charity that does not make a profit and/or is helping the community. What level of English is needed? A volunteer at MENCAP Benefits of Volunteering Helping others can help you to: ˇUse your skills and learn new skills - you can get free training ˇGet experience in the UK work environment ˇGet a reference to help you to get a job ˇMeet new people and make new friends ˇImprove your English Some volunteering roles do not need much English. For example, gardening, practical work or serving coffee. Other roles such as advice work or reception need quite a good level of spoken English. Just ask - there will be something you can do. Examples of Volunteers? ˇAn Iranian woman is volunteering with MENCAP ˇAn Ethiopian man does conservation work and is improving his English ˇA Kenyan woman is training to be an advice worker ˇContribute to your community ˇA Somali Civil Engineer is working with Sheffield Credit Union Will I get any money? Will it cost me anything to volunteer? Volunteers do not get paid, but you will get your expenses. For example, if you buy a bus ticket to get to the organisation, that organisiation will reimburse the cost of the ticket. You will need to keep your ticket as proof. Some places will give you some money for lunch if you volunteer for a full day or over 4 hours. How to get involved Please complete your details on the form over the page and return it to: ˇ Volunteer Centre Sheffield, 69 Division Street, Sheffield S1 4GE Or contact Paul on ˇ Telephone: 0114 249 3360 ext 129 ˇ Fax: 0114 249 3361 email: p.harvey@vas.org.uk