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!

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, and usually ask for a 12 month minimum committment. Trained volunteers provide a wide range of services for our clients.

Please contact the volunteer co-ordinator, Fiona, ( This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ) for more information.

 

We are also frequently looking for volunteers to help provide all the services below, so please get in touch if any of these areas interest you.

• An advice centre (a.k.a. Information and Signposting) operating at Asylum Welcome’s office between 10am and 3 pm on weekdays. This provides basic guidance and information to clients on a range of issues such as benefits and asylum support.
• A Detention Support Programme which includes providing a visitor service to immigration detainees at Campsfield House and an office-based Detention Support Team. If you wish to become a visitor you will be expected to visit detainees in Campsfield House in Kidlington weekly.
• An education advice service running once a week offering information about educational opportunities for asylum seekers and refugees in Oxfordshire as well as English lessons.
• An advocacy team which organises awareness-raising campaigns and events, manages the website and keeps up to date on the latest policy issues affecting asylum seekers in order to educate the public on the issues faced by our clients.
• A volunteer-run admin team composed of receptionists, office managers and Health and Safety officers.
• A youth service composed of youth workers and volunteers who run a variety of activities such as weekly football sessions and a youth club.

If you have other skills or knowledge to share, please also get in touch to discuss your interests and ask for Fiona our volunteer co-ordinator.

Find out more

Contact Fiona ( This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ) for more information about current volunteering opportunities or to arrange an informal meeting. The meeting will give you a chance to discuss what volunteering with Asylum Welcome involves and find out about our volunteer induction training. Please note that we usually ask for a minimum 12 month committment.

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 email 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 email 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 email 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.