tandem
is involved in projects on volunteering for refugees and migrants; destitution; health matters among other activities. Tandem is also skilled in project management, research, evaluation, organising events and writing handbooks, websites and annual reports.
As part of the EASI DP, tandem examines good practice in volunteering for asylum seekers. EASI believes volunteering brings benefits to organisations, individuals and the community. Many asylum seekers volunteer within their communities, or with refugee agencies they trust. Refugee community organisations (RCOs) rely on volunteers, but struggle to keep, and make best use of them, because of limited resources and lack of experience in volunteer management. Fewer asylum seekers volunteer in organisations outside the refugee sector. More needs to be done to raise the profile of volunteering amongst asylum seekers and organisations. EASI, with tandem, have produced two reports on these issues.
- A part of society is based on studies of ten organisations outside the refugee sector, across the UK, that successfully involved refugees and asylum seekers as volunteers. Launched at the Science Museum in London in July 2006, the report is for policy-makers, volunteer managers and others wanting to encourage and develop diversity in volunteering. This project identified good practice and built up case studies through talking to managers, staff, volunteers and others.
- Managing volunteers in refugee community organisations is the report of a training and support programme run by tandem for RCOs in Yorkshire in 2005-2006. This project helped them share experience and learn skills for better volunteer management. Alongside training days and workshops, tandem visited participating groups to offer consultancy advice. The report is in part an evaluation of the course, and is also a snapshot of volunteering at the RCOs that took part. It highlights the importance of volunteers, management issues, the challenges RCOs face, and the commitment of those who get involved. The training ended with a celebratory event, you can see some photos of the event here
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EASI learns with tandem:
- Asylum seekers are keen to use skills and acquire new ones, to become
a part of society.
- The asylum process can prevent asylum seekers from volunteering.
- Issues relating to CRB checks prevent asylum seekers from volunteering:
asylum seekers do not have identification commonly accepted by CRB, delays
and complications can deter individuals wanting to volunteer, and the
organisations wanting to involve them.
- Asylum seekers may not understand benefits of volunteering, making recruitment
and retention of volunteers difficult.
- RCOs struggle to survive and rely on dedicated volunteers but lack management
experience to maintain them.
EASI and volunteering:
- Focus on the value of volunteering for themselves and their communities.
- Involve intermediary organizations in volunteering that have contact with asylum seekers.
- Offer asylum seekers support, supervision, and development opportunities, including support if they get permission to work.
- Use diverse and sensitive, marketing to attract volunteers and operate an accessible recruitment process.
- Pay volunteer expenses.
- Help people to move on when they are ready, particularly, if someone gets permission to work.
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Find out about the volunteering activities of Refugee Women's Association, Education Action International, Elthorne Learning Centre, Refugee Council and Hackney City Farm and EASI's transnational volunteering successes. Top
For more information about tandem's work with EASI contact Ruth Wilson
Address:21 Kingswood Avenue LeedsLS8 2DB
Telephone: 0113 266 9123 Top
Volunteering England at www.volunteering.org.uk
CEV, the European Volunteer Centre at www.cev.be Top
