Action for Refugees in Lewisham (AFRIL) is a dynamic local charity established in 2006. We support asylum seekers, refugees, and vulnerable migrants, to lift themselves out of poverty and rebuild their lives in the heart of our community. We provide both crisis support to meet immediate need, and longer-term, flexible programmes to tackle the underlying problems that lead people to be in crisis.
We are a team of 15 majority part-time paid staff (9 FTE) and over 100 volunteers. AFRIL works with residents in Lewisham, Greenwich, Southwark, Bexley and Bromley. In the last 12 months AFRIL has supported over 750 individuals.
AFRIL’s Casework and Advocacy Team provides complex casework and legal interventions in the areas of housing and homelessness, Asylum Support, Benefits, No Recourse to Public Funds and Community Care. AFRIL also offers community activities to the residents of a local Asylum Support Hotel. Activities are arranged in situ at the hotel, as well through trips and outings.
Your duties will include:
Community Activities Volunteer
● Arrive promptly to support AFRIL staff to set up the Community Activitysession which, depending on the day, could include:
○ Arts & craft activities
○ ESOL / english conversation practice
○ It is also possible you will support a group on an outing to amuseum, to AFRIL’s Allotment of Refuge or to another location.
● As a volunteer, your role during these activities will involve supporting the staff to deliver the relevant activities, and will specifically include:
○ Engage all participants in a warm and friendly manner, making all feel welcome and involved
○ Support new participants to complete the registration forms, and log attendances on the register
○ Putting out resources, materials, games and actively support participation in such activities
○ Arranging and distributing food and drink to members
○ Helping the group to navigate safely if out on trips
Outreach Volunteer
● Arrive promptly at 12.15pm to support AFRIL staff to set up the Outreach Advice session.
○ Welcome clients to the drop in, provide an overview of how AFRIL can support, record basic information to pass onto AFRIL caseworkers
○ Oversee a queue system of those seeking advice from Caseworkers
○ Provide clients with refreshments, build rapport and field basic questions about the outreach session whilst clients are waiting
Duties for both roles also include:
● Undertake comprehensive training (including safeguarding training) to support you in carrying out your volunteer role.
● Uphold AFRIL’s values when working alongside staff, volunteers and clients, and follow AFRIL’s policies and procedures at all times.
● Be vigilant of any safeguarding concerns and report these swiftly to AFRIL staff.
AFRIL’s Community Activities & Outreach Volunteer will have the opportunity to volunteer at AFRIL’s Community Activity sessions (weekly) and Outreach Advice sessions (fortnightly). The volunteers will provide friendly and professional support to participants, collect basic information and support AFRIL staff where appropriate.
Our volunteers are crucial in supporting AFRIL staff to obtain the best outcomes for our clients, and this role will provide you with valuable insight into the immigration system and its many challenges.
Please submit the application form alongside your CV. Please cite the position in the title of the email.
Registered Charity
11 - 20
We support asylum seekers, refugees and vulnerable migrants to lift themselves out of poverty and rebuild their lives in the heart of our community.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
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This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
We’re looking for a motivated finance professional to join our Trustee Board as Treasurer, provide us with financial strategic direction and help us maintain our long-term sustainability
Working closely with our Chair and Chief Officer, your key responsibilities will include:
• Keeping the Board informed about its financial duties and responsibilities
• Guiding and advising the Board in the approval of budgets, accounts and financial statements
• Chairing the Board’s Finance Sub-Committee
• Reviewing the quarterly and year end accounts produced by our Administrator
• Presenting the year end accounts at the Annual General Meeting
• Ensuring that proper financial procedures and controls are in place to safeguard the charity’s resources
• Ensuring that the charity has appropriate reserves and investment policies
You don’t need to have been a trustee before, but you’ll need to:
• have recognised professional financial qualifications or experience
• ideally, have some knowledge or experience of charity finances
• be familiar with Quickbooks accounting systems and spreadsheets
• have the skills to analyse proposals and examine their financial consequences
• be able to explain complex financial information in an accessible way
• be able to exercise good independent judgment and if necessary to make difficult recommendations
• work effectively as part of a team
• have the time and flexibility to respond to the demands of the charity
• be willing to learn about and follow the Citizens Advice aims, principles and policies, including confidentiality, equality and data protection
• represent Citizens Advice professionally at all times
Please note that while a large part of the role can be performed remotely, in-person attendance is expected for the board and trustee meetings.
If you are interested in joining our successful and expanding service, as we continue to meet the advice needs of the diverse communities we serve, we would love to hear from you.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.