Sanctuary in Chichester is a voluntary organisation and we are growing to meet the needs of the increasing numbers of refugees and asylum seekers in our area. We need volunteers who have regular time to commit, and we have a range of different volunteer roles:
Drop-In – We run weekly drop-in sessions for beneficiaries in Chichester and Bognor, and our volunteers help with serving refreshments; organising arts and crafts for children; games for children and adults; English conversation; offering advice and support with accessing services.
Women’s Group – We run a weekly group for women and children under 5. Volunteers help with arts and crafts (especially sewing) for adults; a creche for children under 5; English lessons; serving refreshments.
Befriending – Our volunteers offer regular support to a family or individual through home visits and often accompanying to appointments or shopping. Help can include assistance with accessing medical appointments, college applications, benefits, transport, and other services.
ESOL tutor – Our volunteer tutors are qualified ESOL/TEFL teachers and provide either group teaching sessions (at the Women’s Group or weekly sessions at the asylum hotel) or individual tuition, usually once a week for an hour in the student’s home.
Volunteer teacher – Our volunteers are qualified teachers with specific skills in a range of school subjects. They provide weekly group teaching sessions in local schools to beneficiary children, in collaboration with the school.
Football/ sports helper – We have a football team – Nations United – which trains every Thursday and often has local fixtures. Our volunteers help the Head Coach with training sessions and supporting players in matches. We also organise other sports activities from time to time and we are always keen to recruit volunteers who can help with the football team, or with supporting other sports. Minimum commitment is one evening a month.
Allotment – We have an allotment in Chichester and we have two sessions per week for two hours each, for volunteers and beneficiaries. Volunteers work alongside beneficiaries to grow a range of plants and to maintain the allotment. The aim is to support beneficiaries as they integrate to British society. Minimum commitment is one session a month.
Lift bank – Our lift bank volunteers offer lifts to beneficiaries either on a regular basis to our events, or in one-off circumstances, such as doctor’s visits. Volunteers must have a full driving licence, a car with a current MOT and full insurance.
Pathways to Independence (PTI) Mentor – a key part of the support we offer beneficiaries is a personalised ‘Pathway to Independence’ plan. Volunteer PTI mentors support an individual in achieving their goals through regular mentoring sessions and signposting to relevant services. Volunteer mentors need good communication skills and an ability to co-ordinate and work with others. Minimum commitment is two hours a week.
Education, training and employment (ETE) support – ETE support volunteers help individual beneficiaries with their Pathways to Independence plan, with a focus on helping them to access further or higher education, suitable training opportunities and employment. Minimum commitment is two hours per week.
Storeroom – We have a clothes ‘shop’ with donated clothing where beneficiaries can come and choose clothing they need. Our volunteers operate the storeroom once a week for a few hours on a rota system, and they also sort out donations and complete orders for beneficiaries who can’t attend the storeroom in person.
Asylum support group – We have a weekly support group which offers help and advice to asylum seekers as they go through the application process and settle into our community. Our volunteers receive relevant training and are encouraged to attend weekly for two hours, but a rota system also operates.
If you would like to know more about any of the volunteer opportunities listed above, or about volunteering with us in general, please contact contact@sanctuaryinchichester.org with your phone number and we will give you a call.
For safeguarding purposes we operate a safer recruitment process for all volunteers which includes an interview, references, an enhanced DBS check and mandatory safeguarding training. This process usually takes about four to six weeks.