Volunteer

Volunteering is fundamental to who we are and our way of working.

Our services are delivered by a dedicated volunteer body that is a strong mix of long-standing and new volunteers, supported by our staff team.

Why volunteer for Asylum Welcome?

Asylum Welcome has up to 300 amazing volunteers who support our expanding range of services: running our welcome desk, mentoring, delivering food, teaching English, providing advice and much, much more!

If you are interested in joining this incredible team, you can find out more by coming to one of our information evenings for new and potential volunteers.

“When I am in Asylum Welcome, I don’t feel I am working in an office, I feel among friends who are active and working together to provide the best of what they can to help their clients” – Khaled, Volunteer

About volunteer roles

Volunteering is a great way to do something meaningful and rewarding with your time, to gain skills and experience in the charity sector, to make new friends and to make a difference to the lives of others. Our needs are constantly changing, so please read through the information here and get in touch if you have any questions.

Most of our roles require regular weekday involvement, while limited roles offer a more flexible commitment. Due to the level of learning involved, to get the best from our roles, involvement of a year or more is highly preferable.

Priority roles

We’re currently recruiting for the following roles:

  • Integration Buddy – for our Resettlement & Sanctuary Hosting Teams. We’re looking for volunteers with regular weekday availability
  • Occasional Drivers – for our Foodbank deliveries on Tuesday afternoons
  • Sanctuary Hosting – if you have a spare room and can provide temporary accommodation

How to apply

If you are interested in volunteering with us or would like more information then please sign up for our next Information Session (see dates and sign up links in section below). Please note: we can only accept volunteers over the age of 18 years.

We will also ask you to complete an application form: please contact volunteer@asylum-welcome.org to request the link, and let us know information about your availability and service interest.

Please get in touch if you have any questions at all.

Volunteer Information Sessions

SESSIONS ARE CURRENTLY ON HOLD.

Please check back in 2026, or contact volunteer@asylum-welcome.org

Other roles

We have a range of other roles and services so we’re keen to hear from you if you have skills that you think might be useful for us.

If you have a spare room and would like to consider hosting a refugee or migrant in need, please see our Sanctuary Hosting webpage.

Please contact volunteer@asylum welcome.org for more details (including role descriptions).

Adult & Family Services Advisor

Provide info and advice to our clients at our offices off Magdalen Road.

Availability required: Various weekday shifts, Tues-Fri

Asylum & Immigration Advisor

Provide immigration advice and support to our clients. Experience of advice work is desirable.

Availability required: Oxford, various weekdays needed

Asylum & Immigration Service: Admin Support

Provide admin support for our Asylum & Immigration casework. IT proficiency is necessary.

Availability required: Oxford, various weekdays needed

Hotels Outreach: Private Rental Mentor

Provide support in finding housing to our clients leaving asylum hotel accommodation.

Availability required: East Oxford, Mon or Thurs mornings (or other weekdays)

Hotels Outreach: Drop-in Advisor

Provide info and advice to our clients in asylum hotel accommodation.

Availability required: Banbury (alternate Weds mornings), Witney (alternate Friday mornings) or Oxford (Mon/Thurs mornings)

Education and Employment Advisors

Support clients to access education, volunteering and employment opportunities.

Availability required: Thursday daytimes.

Schools Advocacy Family Mentor

Support refugee families to navigate and engage with schools that their children attend.

Availability required: Weekdays (half a day per week on average).

Resettlement Team Integration Buddy

Support newly resettled refugees to get to know Oxford and support English learning through informal trips out.

Availability required: 1-4 hours per week; timing can be flexible but usually weekdays.

Welcome Desk
Volunteer

Warmly greet our clients, answer the phone and help connect with other service.

Availability required: Various weekday shifts; mornings or afternoons.

Sanctuary Hosting
Guest Buddy

1-4 hours per week; timing can be flexible but usually weekdays.

Availability required: Up to 2.5 hours per week; timing can be flexible.

Advocacy & Comms
Volunteer

Help with events, campaigning, social media, our website, writing/proof-reading, admin and research skills.

Availability required: Can be flexible and remote. Events often happen at weekends (esp. in summer).

Fundraiser
(Bid Writer)

Help us to research suitable trusts and foundations, and write funding proposals and reports.

Availability required: One day a week. Can be flexible and remote.

Thank you for your interest in volunteering!