JUMP provides one-to-one befriending for vulnerable young asylum seekers who have come to the UK without parents or a guardian.
We match young asylum seekers up with a trained and committed adult volunteer befriender. The Volunteer Befriender offers a regular, stable and structured friendship plus support in helping the young person to navigate their way through life in the UK.
The young people we support face a huge number of challenges in the UK. Having fled conflict and persecution, they are in a new country with an unfamiliar culture and language, forced to navigate a difficult and confusing asylum system alone. With their befriender however, we create a safe space where they can explore their interests, regain some control over their own lives and benefit from a non-judgemental, non-directive friendship.
This is a face-to-face volunteer role which will take place in a mutually agreed location between the Befriender Volunteer and the young person.
Benefits
What you will get out of volunteering for us
Each volunteer befriender receives ongoing support from the JUMP project lead.
If you are successful in becoming a volunteer befriender you will also become a member of the JUMP community. The JUMP community is made up of current volunteer befrienders and young people who meet every 3 months to take part in a wide range of activities.
Practical Considerations
- Volunteers will require 2 references
- Volunteers will have a one day training session which will take place in Brighton. Details of the venue will be shared when a date for training with volunteers has been set. The training will cover the role of the Befriender and offer some more information about the experiences of unaccompanied asylum seeking and refugee young people.
- Travel expenses for the training session are covered.
- To ensure our volunteer team is as diverse as possible, JUMP covers expenses relating to volunteering.
Support Disabled
N/ASkills
Person Specification:
• Able to establish good relationships with young people.
• Able to use a non-judgemental, non-directive approach to working with young people.
• Empathy, sensitivity and patience
• Strong communication and listening skills.
• Reliable in making and keeping commitments, including arrangements to meet up
• Aware of the needs of young people.
• Sympathy for the difficulties that asylum seeking/refugee children and young people face.
• Willing to enhance own awareness of the issues facing asylum-seeking and refugee children/young people through training.
• Aware of safeguarding and child protection issues, and:
o Willing to enhance this through JUMP training.
o Willing to follow JCORE’s safeguarding policy and procedures.
• Willing to ask for help when uncertain when befriending and to discuss the experience of befriending through regular updates and supervision
When do I need to be available?
| Details | Meetings take place every two weeks at a time and day agreed by the Befriender Volunteer and the young person. |
|---|
| Morning | Afternoon | Evening | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | |||
| Tuesday | |||
| Wednesday | |||
| Thursday | |||
| Friday | |||
| Saturday | |||
| Sunday |
- Interests
- Refugees, Asylum Seekers, Migrants
- Activities
- General Helping
- Supporting People and Befriending
- Details
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Disabled Access
Yes -
Equal Opportunities Policy or Statement
yes -
Expenses
yes small amount for coffee etc... - Health and Safety
-
Induction
yes - Insurance Cover for Volunteers
- Other
-
Suitable for 13 - 16 years
No, adult only -
Suitable for 16 - 18 years
18 only -
Suitable for a group of volunteers
all adult volunteer -
Suitable only for (e.g. 18+, LGBT, BAME, Women only)
18+ all adult volunteer - Support on Offer
- This role is adaptable for different abilities
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Training
yes