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Role Details

Title

Re-establish hopeful futures for young refugees and asylum seekers through education - Become a volunteer mentor at Refugee Education UK

Organisation

Refugee Education UK

Distance from the search postcode

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Website

https://www.reuk.org/ This link will open a new window.

What you will be doing

In conflict, schools are destroyed, occupied by armed groups and used to shelter displaced people. Where learning continues, students and teachers can be targets of violence. For many, continuing to learn is just not possible. When children and families are forced to flee their homes, they miss out on more education as they make dangerous journeys trying to find a place of safety. For refugees arriving in the UK, education is a priority: it’s how lives begin to be rebuilt and hope for the future is rekindled. But getting back into and progressing in education is fraught with challenge.

Your role as volunteer educational mentors at Refugee Education UK can help plug the gap and make the difference.

What will you do?

Educational mentors meet with their mentees once a week, in a public place, to help them with an agreed aspect of their education for a minimum of six months. This is typically in the form of English and maths support but mentoring can take different forms, from structured sessions around English reading to conversational goals set by the mentee. We provide support in providing you with resources and training to feel equipped to support your mentee.

Mentors who apply to work with us go through an application process involving an interview, external references and a DBS check before they attend our mandatory training which covers child protection, boundaries, the asylum process, and how to structure mentoring sessions.

We ask the mentor to start their mentoring session by 5:30 pm at the latest on a regular weekday and we ask both mentors and mentees to commit for at least 6 months.

Activities

Befriending, buddying and mentoring

Skills & Attributes

IT Skills - Basic, Reading And Writing, Customer Service/Hospitality, Verbal Communication

Skills Description

1. Experience of working with young people and the related challenges (ie: flexibility and patience sometimes required for youth work). 2. Capacity to travel to a location convenient for the young person and an ability to meet the young person by 5:30 pm at the latest. 3. Experience of working with people from a variety of backgrounds and cultures 4. Ability to work on own initiative and a willingness to take on relevant preparation 5. Ability to think creatively and problem-solve 6. Excellent communication/interpersonal skills 7. Good organisational skills 8. Ability to cope with emotionally-demanding and stressful situations 9. Motivated by promoting the wellbeing of children and young people 10. Commitment to and ability to work in accordance with REUK’s Child Protection policies and Christian Ethos.

What is in it for you

Mentors often become important adults in the young people’s lives, acting as role models and helping to combat isolation and loneliness. Mentors work closely with the REUK Educational Mentoring team who provide oversight, guidance and support. A new mentor training is provided to all volunteers, for all successful applications. Mentor development trainings are also provided regularly on a frequent basis.

Time Commitment

Meetings are once a week, for one hour a week, for a minimum commitment of six months. We ask for this as it can take time for your relationships to form and for both you and your mentee to build a good rhythm to your mentoring sessions.

Driving Licence & Vehicle Required

Travel Expenses

Available in multiple locations

Further location details may be provided below.

Contact Person

Cennydd Young

Role Address

Our office is based in NW London but mentoring meetings are facilitated in public spaces across South London and Croydon such as libraries. Let us know where you would prefer to volunteer and we can be in touch with possible options for you

Postcode (See Google maps below)

CR9 1ET

Directions

Number of volunteers required

Application Process

Application Form

ID Check

Disclosure Barring Service (DBS)

References

Informal Discussion (may include an interview)

Support you will receive

Wheelchair Access

Disability and Access Support

Exam grades and job titles are not the full picture - the context in which achievements were gained also matters. At REUK, we actively seek to recruit with the right mix of talent, skills and potential, considering the impact of the context in which a candidate has worked or studied. We are an equal opportunities employer, and welcome applications from a wide range of volunteers, including those with lived experience of forced migration, and from other backgrounds that are currently underrepresented among our volunteers and staff. Additionally, if you feel you would require reasonable adjustments in order to carry out the role or attend an interview at REUK due to a disability, caring responsibilities or any other reason, please give details in the 'any other notes' section of the application form or get in touch with the Mentoring Coordinator processing your application to discuss further.