Last Monday, 18th September, we held a volunteer training session at St Paul’s Church Community Centre in Chichester. The focus of the event was to provide our volunteers with the necessary skills and information to support refugees and asylum seekers on an ongoing basis effectively.

It was a focused and productive event with around 30 people attending. This training is essential for aligning volunteers with the mission of Sanctuary in Chichester, and topics covered included family review meetings, goal setting, and Job Centre interactions, among others. These training events are held regularly throughout the year to ensure that volunteers have the necessary information and skills to perform their roles effectively, whether they are Befrienders, English Tutors or contribute in other ways like running our social events. Some of our volunteers have multiple roles.

The training was led by Philippa Gogarty, Trustee and Befriending Lead at Sanctuary in Chichester. Philippa provided insights based on her extensive experience, offering practical advice and guidelines for volunteers.

During the training session, key members of the Sanctuary team shared valuable insights that spanned various aspects of our work. Philippa outlined her role and emphasised the importance of family review meetings for new arrivals. Claudie Fleming, our new Volunteer Coordinator, introduced herself and discussed the significance of setting goals for beneficiaries. Kerry Foster, Pathways to Independence Manager, provided an overview of how to interact with the Job Centre and stressed the necessity of supporting refugees to keep their Universal Credit journals updated. Trustee Mike Mansergh, who is deeply involved in the organisation, echoed the importance of maintaining updated Universal Credit journals. Trustee Evie Owen announced her new role as Schools Liaison Lead, in which she aims to keep everyone updated on school-related matters for the children we support – a highly complex challenge.

One of the standout moments of the day was the discussion about the possibility of offering IT training sessions to beneficiaries. This initiative is geared towards improving their digital literacy, an increasingly important skill in today’s world, and one that many refugees and asylum seekers are missing.

The event wrapped up with breakout sessions where volunteers were divided into groups based on their roles —tutors, Befrienders, and drop-in volunteers. These focused discussions allowed for a deeper understanding of each role’s unique challenges and opportunities.

A critical update was shared regarding potential Home Office changes that could reduce the time for finding housing from 28 days to just seven days for those whose asylum applications are accepted. This presents a significant challenge for the refugees and our organisation, as it’s already very difficult to secure housing and employment within the current 28-day window.

Given these potential changes, ongoing training and support for Befrienders will be more important than ever. The insights and skills shared during the training session will be invaluable tools for navigating these challenges. While the work of Befrienders has always been vital, these potential changes could make their role even more critical in ensuring the wellbeing and successful integration of our beneficiaries.

• Thank you to all the volunteers who attended the training session. Your commitment to the cause is what makes our work possible, and we appreciate your dedication to supporting refugees and asylum seekers in our community.
  
  Lastly, a special thanks to St Paul’s Church for generously providing us with the venue for the training session.

Trustee Mike Mansergh is running the Great South Run in aid of Sanctuary in Chichester in October. Find out how to support him by donating here.