Volunteer

Volunteering has come to define Asylum Welcome’s unique character and without our volunteers the charity simply could not function. Currently, there are about 200 active volunteers supporting our work with asylum seekers, refugees and detainees. Find out why they support Asylum Welcome – their stories may inspire you to get involved too!

Current volunteer opportunities

Asylum Welcome puts together people in great need with people who want to help. We provide meaningful, rewarding volunteer placements for people from a wide variety of backgrounds, and with a range of skills and experience. We are committed to offering full training and support for new and existing volunteers. Trained volunteers provide a wide range of services for our clients.

  • Urgent vacancy: Membership Secretary position available now.
  • Help with office administration.
  • Provide office-based support for our Campsfield House visitor programme.
  • Provide IT support during office hours.
  • Data inputting (knowledge of Access required).
  • Help raise money to support our vital work.
  • Minor maintenance around the office (casual).
  • Accompany clients to appointments, often at short notice.
  • Visit detainees at Campsfield House Immigration Removal Centre (required language skills: Arabic, Dhari, Farsi, French, Kurdish, Mandarin, Pasto, Punjabi, Tamil, Turkish, Urdu).
  • Help organise and run the weekly Venda Club for boys aged 13 and over.
  • Help with the weekly football club for men aged 25 and over.
  • Provide young people with workshops and training.
  • Join our Advocacy Programme, who are involved in events planning, media work, policy writing, website updating…
  • Become an Asylum Welcome Speaker, and help us increase public awareness and understanding.
  • Get involved in our media work and help spread the message.

Other opportunities may arise throughout the year:

If you have other skills or knowledge to share, please contact us to discuss your interests.

Find out more

Contact us for more information about current volunteering opportunities or to arrange an informal meeting with our Volunteer Coordinator. The meeting will give you a chance to discuss what volunteering with Asylum Welcome involves and find out about our volunteer induction training.

Opportunities with other local organisations

Details about other organisations are provided for your information and are believed to be accurate at the time of publication. Asylum Welcome is not responsible for, or affiliated with, any other organisations’ volunteer programmes.

Refugee Resource

Contact: Gemma Humphrey, Mentoring Coordinator
T. 0845 458 0055 / 01865 798280 / 01865 403280
E. This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
The Old Music Hall, 106-108 Cowley Road, Oxford OX4 1JE
www.refugeeresource.org
Recruits volunteer mentors to befriend and support vulnerable adult refugees and asylum seekers in Oxfordshire.

Open Door

Contact Jo Garcia
E. This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it East Oxford Community Centre (corner of Princes Street & Cowley Road).
Provides a drop-in centre primarily for refugees and asylum seekers on Thursdays (when Asylum Welcome is closed) from 11.30am to 3.30pm. A hot meal is served at 1pm (halal and vegetarian options), and clients can play games or chat with volunteers.

St Francis House,

Contact Susan or Daniel
T. 01865 248288 E. This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
St Francis House, 227 Cowley Road, Oxford OX4 1XG.
One of many Catholic Worker houses of hospitality in Europe, USA, Australia and New Zealand. A small community of workers lives with and supports three asylum seekers, who receive no state support. On Monday evenings workers deliver hot drinks, sandwiches and cakes to homeless people living on the streets.

"Asylum Welcome is a warm, welcoming community of all ages, nationalities, backgrounds and needs who work together to make a difference”Heather, Trustee and Advocacy Programme Volunteer