Teacher Training Programme Volunteer Volunteer Roles

About Roots Academy

At Roots Academy, we have built a learning experience that’s changing the lives of the ummah’s future leaders, change-makers and visionaries.

We teach structured, engaging and transformative face-to-face foundational Islamic education to over 1,800 students across the UK.

Role Summary

Roots Academy’s mission is to deliver transformative educational experiences that help people live truly God-centred lives. We achieve this by offering a comprehensive Islamic essentials program on 21 university campuses across the UK. Employing our unique Roots teaching method, we guide students to absorb the information, engage in reflection, and ultimately apply the knowledge in their lives.

Roots Academy Instructors are responsible for teaching Roots classes at university campuses on a weekly basis, during term time – in line with the university’s academic year.

Key tasks for Roots Instructors

Teaching one class per week on a selected university campus, focusing on the following areas:

• Quran – uncover divine speech
• Certainty – develop certainty
• Practical spirituality – transform the inward
• The Messenger – a life of divine values
• Worship – transform the outward

What we’re looking for

• A background in Islamic studies
• Committed to teaching weekly during term times for two terms
• Non-sectarian approach – able to deliver courses to a diverse audience
• Able to engage with the Arabic Language
• Openness to learning, improving, and actively seeking feedback

What we have to offer

• Comprehensive teacher training on the unique Roots teaching method.
• Ready-to-use teaching materials, including teacher’s notes and presentations.
• Ongoing mentoring and support to continuously enhance teaching skills.
• Be part of a team of 50+ dedicated volunteers from across the country.
• Receive continuous rewards for those that seek Islamic knowledge from the Roots platform.
• Be a part of a growing organisation that aims to revive and educate Muslims from a grassroots perspective.

We welcome applicants with a strong background in Islamic studies, which can include studying with traditional teachers, being a student or graduate of a reputable institute, or having previous experience in teaching or delivering khutbah.

Please note this is an unpaid volunteer position.

Volunteers are entitled to claim expenses incurred for food, travel and equipment, in line with our Expenses policy.

We are looking for a Program Coordinator for our Scouts Program based in Ioannina, for a minimum commitment of 6 months.

In this role, you’ll be coordinating the daily planning and delivery of activities for young refugees in two refugee camps: Katsikas and Agia Eleni.

The program consists of English language classes, educational workshops and excursions outside of the camp. The program engages around 50 children at each site, between the ages of 8 and 17, the majority of whom are from Iraq, Afghanistan and Syria.

For this role:

Initially, you will work closely with the outgoing Program Coordinator to learn how the program functions. This may last a few weeks and may include preparing and delivering sessions in line with your skills, supporting teachers, and helping organise weekend excursions. This gives us a chance to see your capacities and conduct a thorough handover. 

Role Description:

You will…

• Coordinate, delegate, and manage a team of 4-5 volunteers in the daily operations of the Scouts Program
• Develop current programming in coordination with the Programs Manager and project team member
• Assess impact and effectiveness of the program in line with its objectives
• Plan and deliver effective educational and outdoor activities, within a theme-based, modular curriculum
• Ensure a high quality of program implementation, with the ability to provide behaviour management and safeguarding training to new volunteers
• Directly supervise and support project team to ensure effective inductions and transfer of key skills/knowledge take place between short term team members
• Liaise and collaborate with relevant local and national authorities and stakeholders
• Represent Second Tree in relevant external meetings with international actors (UNHCR, IOM, ASB, Intersos, TDH) or local authorities (municipality, army, police, etc)
• Capture and compile relevant M&E on the program
• Conduct interviews with volunteer candidates

Skills:

You are able to. . .

• Oversee the delivery of program activities and the completion of vital administrative and logistical tasks
• Be accountable and efficient, making sure that tasks that you take up are completed in the agreed timeframe
• Be honest and transparent, being able to give and receive feedback in the most straightforward way
• Have a strong sense of humor, being able to make fun of yourself is key
• Care for people, the interests of the people we work with should always be your first concern
• Instil the values above in the people that work with you
• Prioritise and delegate tasks effectively, ensuring all deadlines are met
• Manage individuals effectively to create a positive team environment in which shared problem solving is encouraged
• Communicate in English, both written and orally
• Learn quickly, managing a wide-ranging and intense workload

Knowledge:

You understand…

• What is required to work and effectively communicate in complex and volatile contexts
• Essential background of the refugee crisis and its impact
• Essential behaviour management techniques which can be employed effectively with children and young people
• Your own personal leadership skills/profile and how to effectively manage a team

We offer:

• Accommodation in a shared house.
• Transportation to/from work.
• After completion of a three-month trial, if you commit long-term, small monthly expenses refund.

In certain periods of the year, demand is extremely high, and the volunteer houses might be full. If you have the means to pay for your own accommodation, please let us know. We would still be happy to host you if space is available. However, in a situation where the volunteer houses are full, this would allow us to offer a volunteering opportunity to someone that cannot afford to pay rent.

This project is an affordable school for the children of the town whose parents belong to the working class. Children have access to languague education.

Volunteer's Tasks

The volunteers use their knowledge of English to help the students in group classes. The presence of native speakers evidently is very helpful to the children’s learning of the language.

Your role in the school will be proportionate to your level of Spanish and the amount of time you can volunteer for. Consequently, this program is ideal for undergraduate students of modern languages on a year abroad, particularly those interested in teaching. If your Spanish and/or time is limited, you will be able to assist classes.

Why is this project important for the community?

Although there are no professional teachers, the volunteer teachers provide a rich and cultured education. Other English schools are between three to five times more expensive than this one, therefore, parents living in nearby neighborhoods are not able to send all of their children to study English. This is why the school is important for the community; it allows all the children to have the same opportunities and access to education, and it is also a way to fight for social justice. There is a lack of infrastructure, such as running water and paved roads in this particular neighbourhood and it is also known to be “left aside” because the state does not intervene. However, the school helps the families and also the young people of the town, because it also provides a first-job opportunity to students that are more advanced. This allows students to have a disposable income with which they can travel; an almost foreign opportunity to most.

Local Coordination

Silvia, the owner and director of the school, is also the coordinator for Voluntario Global there. She has made this a place of recreation, where the children come in the late afternoon, after going to school, to study English while taking a cup of tea in a relaxed and family atmosphere.

What can you learn as a volunteer?

Learning is a two-way street because the volunteer also learns through this experience. Their official duties are to assist the teenaged teachers, help them with pronunciation or grammatical rules, correct homework, read and explain to the children the basic elements of the language. Moreover, they can also help the oldest students get ready for international exams. This work allows the volunteer to exchange with people from different cultures, mainly thanks to the mix between communities from various countries of Latin America. Furthermore, teaching is the perfect exercise to learn how to speak to an audience and to get its attention. The volunteer learns to communicate with the youngest children who don't speak English correctly, and is able to learn how to adapt quickly and use other means of communication. Above all, the volunteer is able to create relationships with their students that will go beyond the classroom.

How does your work impact on the community?

Not only does this school offer the families a chance to further their education, it also provides a center for community. It is a place of exchange and hope, based on the idea that the children are able to study and to have a good future, because their parents were not awarded with the same opportunities even if the schools and the best universities are free. Students are able to connect more intimately with the volunteers and share their cultural differences, their accents, theirs travels and more. The volunteers also symbolize hope for the students that admire them because they are role models. They make the students believe in a brighter future and instil in them the motivation and aspiration to achieve their goals, no matter how big and regardless of their current socioeconomic status.

Schedule

The school is open from March to mid-December and works Monday through Friday, 4.30 to 7.30pm. It welcomes between 80 and 90 students of all levels and ages, for two-hour lessons. They also teach on Saturday morning to adult students, but the volunteer will be able to choose if to attend on the weekends or not.

Fee includes (600 USD):

• Pre departure information.
• In country coordination.
• Tutoring, constant communication and guidance with your coordinator and Exchange Volunteer Meetings.
• Volunteer Certificate and Performance Evaluation

Description of the project

Milpa Community aims to be an open place to exchange ideas, to learn, inspire, and to build the community leadership we need for tomorrow’s world. Its mission is to empower young people from the surrounding area with the skills to be able to have a job, gain confidence and grow surrounded by a communitarian way of living.

We believe that by creating more community experiences, we empower people, youth especially, so they can build their own future and have a better life. In that way, we work toward local development and try to reach sustainability in its three dimensions: environmental, social and economic.

Highlights:

• Empower yourself and others working inside a community-based NGO in Buenos Aires.
• Learn and practice about agroecology. Enjoy working on gardening, landscaping, community development, international development & NGO management

What can you learn as a volunteer?

Volunteers will be able to learn about many topics and maximize what they learn before by helping us to maintain the garden and grounds. Volunteers with previous specific knowledge can prepare workshops or develop specific tasks. Volunteers will enhance their knowledge in practice, helping in the tasks of daily maintenance of the garden, in the organization of community space with the armed schedule, lists of participants’ management and administration tasks of space.

Why is this program important for the community?

The members of the community we work with are families that work hard every day to better their financial situation. 

Many of the young people from the surrounding neighborhoods have not been able to finish their basic studies and therefore can only dream of going to university. The Pacheco Community Center gives them the opportunity to learn a practical trade, work in a team and be prepare for labor market integration.

We focus on training. We help young people build new capacities. Not only can they learn about gardening, landscaping and begin an immersion in agroecology philosophy, but also the Pacheco Community Center has a greenhouse for the students to plant fruits and vegetables, which they will be able to sell and generate their own income.

Role of the Volunteer

The volunteers that come from different parts of the world to exchange knowledge and experience and to work alongside the community members create a mutual spirit of solidarity.

• Learn by helping in practical classes with youth to maintain the garden and grounds.
• Help watering during 20 minutes in the mornings outside the greenhouse if the weather is too dry.
• Help teachers to prepare didactic material for theoretical classes (like diagrams, pictures, boards)
• Help social coordinators to manage the organization of community space with the armed schedule, lists of participants’ management and administration tasks of space.
• Help preparing and attending breakfast or afternoon snack (according daily schedule) for youth.
• Help preparing special monthly workshops: Open day to the community when families and friends share and afternoon with talks, games and relaxing time.

Location

Buenos Aires Argentina.

Start Dates

Project is ongoing, and you can join on Spring or Summer (in Argentina)

Language Skills

You need to speak Spanish (intermediate level).

Fee includes (600 USD):

• Pre departure information.
• In country coordination.
• Tutoring, constant communication and guidance with your coordinator and Exchange Volunteer Meetings.
• Volunteer Certificate and Performance Evaluation

About CARAS: 

Community Action for Refugees and Asylum Seekers (CARAS) is a charity that supports refugees and asylum-seekers living in South West London, and helps them to play their full part in the community. Arriving as an asylum seeker in the UK can be a terrifying and disempowering experience. Difficulties with language, accessing services and overcoming prejudice are ever-present. We exist to help people seeking asylum overcome those challenges, and to help them rebuild their lives. 

We offer a range of individual and group support to improve the holistic wellbeing of people who have a forced displacement background, providing them the tools they need to build lives filled with value, meaning and purpose in the UK. Our activities for adults include currently include: ESOL classes; sports; women’s creative writing; women’s coffee morning, and casework. 

About the CARAS Adult Team: 

In the post-pandemic environment, CARAS is responding to the role of digital literacies in our programme delivery to learners of asylum-seeking and refugee background. In contrast to the UK essential Digital skills framework, we have built in language inclusion to create a participatory learning course for Essential Digital Literacies for learners who are new to reading and writing in English. The individuals joining CARAS are highly diverse, with different countries of origin, linguistic and educational backgrounds. We have observed over the last year that many CARAS community members have limited digital skills, particularly in regard to using computers. Community members have highlighted that computers are important for many individuals to achieve their educational and employment goals, whilst increasing confidence and independence. We have co-designed a digital skills program in partnership with CARAS community members to improve computer literacy and skills, focusing on basic computer literacy.

About the Role: 

We are seeking two volunteers based in London to teach our lively computer classes in Tooting every Monday 9:00-11:00. Volunteers will lead the sessions with guidance from the CARAS ESOL Teacher and will work closely with our community members to build their skills and confidence using computers. The Digital Literacies course at CARAS is built around Pre-entry to Entry 2 levels in English. Volunteers will be supporting individuals with tasks such as: getting to know how to use a computer, using the internet, setting up an email address, and using Microsoft office. We intend to fold employability sessions, including CV writing and job searching, into these sessions. 

Volunteer Tasks and responsibilities: 

· Lead on the delivery of sessions with support from CARAS’s Essential Digital Skills Teacher. 

· Assist with the logistical set up of the sessions, supporting CARAS staff where needed. 

· Work collaboratively as a team and assisting to shape the project. 

· Create class registers and records as required. 

· To attend and contribute to volunteer pre- and de-briefs at each session. 

· To act as a positive role model and set standards of behaviour when volunteering. 

· Support people to develop their knowledge and skills and encourage and inspire participants to reach their full potential. 

· To assist participants to both, recognise and celebrate their achievements. 

· To challenge negative attitudes and behaviour in an appropriate manor. 

· Advocate for the rights of asylum seekers, refugees and migrants with not for them. 

· Adhering to CARAS Confidentiality policy, Health & Safety policy, Equal Opportunities policy and all other policies as relevant. 

Requirements: 

· To be non-judgemental, and able and willing to engage with people from diverse cultural backgrounds. 

· To be female identifying. 

· Have a good understanding of how to use a computer. 

· To be reliable and punctual. 

· Excellent presentation and communication skills, especially with people with varying levels of English. 

· Commitment to support people seeking asylum to take control of their asylum journey. 

· Ability to volunteer every Friday for a minimum of three months. 

· Current resident in the UK. 

· Ability to work in Tooting SW17. 

· To provide five years’ worth of addresses and be willing to undergo a DBS check. 

· To attend CARAS General and Safeguarding Training sessions. 

· To be 18 years or older. 

Through volunteering with us you will: 

· Meet new members of your local community 

· Learn about different cultures 

· Learn about issues relating to refugee and asylum seekers 

· Work as part of a friendly, welcoming team 

· Develop your skills and competencies 

· Be able to access relevant training, including safeguarding 

To Apply: 

To apply for this opportunity, download and complete the CARAS volunteer application form from the CARAS website using this volunteer role description to inform your answers.

Successful applicants will have an informal meeting with a member of the CARAS staff team. These meetings will be on a rolling basis so apply ASAP! 

Join us at Legasee in our mission to highlight the remarkable history of the Women's Royal Army Corps (WRAC). We're seeking a passionate and skilled Volunteer Social Media Manager to help us promote our Heritage Lottery project, shedding light on this often-overlooked chapter of British military history.

Our purpose at Legasee is to record history in the words of the people who made it, in order to educate and raise awareness about the bravery, service and sacrifice our military personnel have made over the past century. 

What will you do?

In this role, you'll collaborate closely with our project team to identify and prioritise compelling content related to the WRAC project. You will have the opportunity to craft (or contribute to crafting) a detailed social media content plan to showcase the project and help to establish and manage new channels such as TikTok and Instagram to broaden our audience. Your responsibilities could also include creating and disseminating content that resonates with a range of audiences, as well as monitoring and analysing the effectiveness of our social media efforts to provide insights and recommendations for enhancement.

What are we looking for?

Ideal candidates will have a strong desire to contribute to a successful social media campaign and demonstrate excellent communication skills with a keen attention to detail. Experience in crafting engaging content for various social media platforms is preferred, along with a familiarity with content publishing tools. An interest in, knowledge of, or enthusiasm to learn about British history would be an advantage.

What's in it for you?

On joining the team, you'll benefit from a comprehensive programme of induction, training, and ongoing support. You'll gain valuable experience by working on a multi-agency project involving museums, military institutions, veterans, schools, and the charity sector — a valuable addition to any CV. Additionally, you'll become an integral part of the Legasee team, dedicated to amplifying the voices of courageous women from the WRAC project, ensuring their stories are honoured for generations to come.

We are Niños de Guatemala, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing education to 540 children. 

We are currently seeking volunteers who can make a meaningful impact on our children, demonstrating that dreams can become a reality. 

As a classroom assistant, you'll help the teacher in various ways. If you have skills in art, language, or other areas, we encourage you to enrich students' educational experiences.

-Commit to at least 4 weeks of volunteer work, and a min. of 20 hours a week.

This is an unpaid and voluntary role.

• Working arrangements: work-from-home

• Hours: 20 hours per week 

• Application process: Interested candidates should submit their CV and a one-page cover letter detailing their relevant experience and how they would contribute to the shared role. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for an interview.

About Exam Star Learner

 Exam Star Learner is an educational charity. We are on a mission to address the lack of access to personalised learning support for underprivileged youth. We aim to deliver personalised and affordable tutorials in Maths, English, Science, and French to underachieving and disadvantaged children and young people. We are dedicated to narrowing the attainment gap, boosting confidence, and raising aspirations of 5-18year-olds. We believe that no child should be left behind in the Southwark community due to financial constraints.

Education is unfair

A growing number of parents and guardians are paying for children as young as four to receive additional tuition. Research show that unlike their well-off peers, many children from lower income families are unable to afford the cost of private tuition which averages £25 per hour in London. This exacerbates education inequalities and contributes to widening the attainment gap.

Exam Star Learner Levelling the Playing Field

Unlike other tuition organisations, Exam Star Learner’s private tuition is genuinely affordable and personalised. Compassion, equality, and independence are among our core values.

We want to inspire our students and help them gain confidence and self-esteem so that they can maximise their potential and achieve greater success in school and in the workplace. We pair children and young people with tutors, and they learn in weekly personalised online tutorials which cater to their specific learning needs. We are currently in partnership with Southwark Council and the DofE.

About the opportunity

We are on the lookout for ten motivated Volunteer Recruitment Officers to join our team. This is an unpaid and voluntary role. In this shared role, each officer  will work closely together to develop and implement a comprehensive plan to recruit volunteer tutors. The goal is to recruit and retain a pool of at least 200 retired teachers who can dedicate 4 hours to one-on-one and small group tutoring in English, Maths, Science, and/or French for children and young people aged 5-18. These tutorials will be conducted both in person (in Southwark schools) and online. The professionals will be responsible for recruiting, training, supporting, and retaining volunteer tutors to help reduce the education gap and raise the aspirations of underprivileged children and young people.

Detailed Tasks:

1. Volunteer Tutor Recruitment Strategy Document (Candidates 1 & 2):

Candidate 1: Strategy Development

· Collaborate with the charity Director to write a robust volunteer tutor recruitment strategy document.

· Discuss and refine the strategy document with Candidate 2.

Candidate 2: Recruitment Process

· Execute the recruitment strategy developed by Candidate 1.

· Manage all stages of the recruitment process for volunteer tutors, including advertising, screening, interviewing, and onboarding.

2. Training and Development (Candidates 3 & 4):

Candidate 3: Training Design

· Design a training programme for volunteer tutors.

· Collaborate with Candidate 4 to align the training programme with the recruitment strategy and volunteer management system.

Candidate 4: Training Delivery & Development

· Deliver the training programme designed by Candidate 3.

· Develop a system to track volunteer progress and collect feedback on the training programme.

3. Volunteer Management (Candidates 5 & 6):

Candidate 5: Volunteer Support

· Establish effective processes for volunteer management.

· Offer guidance and support to volunteer tutors, addressing any questions or issues that arise.

Candidate 6: Coordination & Updating Systems

· Track and record tutorial attendance and ensure that both students and volunteer tutors attend the sessions.

· Liaise with parents/guardians, school teachers and volunteer tutors as and when required to facilitate tutorials (i.e. provide support around rescheduling missed tutorials, tutorial scheduling issues, payment queries, refunds, lateness, re-sharing video conferencing links, sending reminders about tutorial sessions etc)

· Regularly review and update the volunteer management database to ensure efficiency and effectiveness.

4. Retention Strategies, Monitoring, Evaluation, and Marketing (Candidates 7 & 8):

Candidate 7: Retention Strategies & Monitoring

· Write a strategy document to encourage volunteers to remain engaged.

· Monitor the quality of tutorials by gathering feedback success stories from students, parents, and school teachers after each session.

Candidate 8: Evaluation & Marketing

· Establish methods to monitor and assess the effectiveness of the volunteer recruitment and retention strategies.

· Collect feedback and success stories from volunteer tutors to share on social media for marketing purposes.

5. Administrative Support and Tutorial Scheduling (Candidates 9 & 10):

Candidate 9: Administrative Support

·  Liaise with the team and rovide administrative support as and when necessary,  including advertising, screening, interviewing, and onboarding of volunteer tutors, coordinating tutorials and tracking tutorial attendance, record-keeping, scheduling, and documentation etc

Candidate 10: Manage Tutorial scheduling, Update and Manage Tutors and Students Records

· Update and Manage Tutors profiles on our website (ensure all available tutors are accurately listed)

· Update and Manage Students Records to help us monitor number of tutorials delivered.

· Provide information and guidance to parents/guardians and school teachers regarding  booking tutorials

(i.e handle communications and queries regarding scheduling tutorial sessions through our website, provide information and guidance around booking tutorials)

Volunteer Tutor Recruitment Timeline

The recruitment process for volunteer tutors will commence immediately upon the start of the shared role. The goal is to recruit a pool of at least 200 retired teachers within a timeframe of 6 months. However, the timeline may be subject to adjustments based on the availability and suitability of volunteer tutors.

Work Schedule

This is an unpaid and voluntary role. Each candidate should not work more than 20 hours per week, but there is flexibility to accommodate the needs and schedules of team members.

Qualifications

· Relevant experience in volunteer recruitment or a similar role.

· Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

· Ability to work well as part of a team and independently.

· Experience in training and development is beneficial. Familiarity with the charity sector, particularly in education, is advantageous.

Do you have a passion for supporting the reading or writing of young people in your local community? The Literacy Hubs’ aim is to develop a city of confident and ambitious young people with the literacy skills they need to succeed in life. To make this possible, we need our volunteer Crewmates! 

Through published writing projects, such as becoming published authors, movie stars and radio personalities, as well as 1:1 and small group reading, we hope to bolster our young pirates and sailors with their reading and writing skills.

Previous experience of teaching is not necessary; an enthusiasm to support is a must. 

We are looking for a Program Coordinator for our Adult Education Program based in Ioannina, for a minimum commitment of 6 months.

In this role, you’ll be coordinating the implementation of language classes and associated tasks at two refugee camps: Katsikas and Agia Eleni.

The majority of the students are from Syria, Afghanistan, and Iraq. The sites have two to four English classes each day, which are differentiated by English ability from A0 to A2. 

Role description

You will…

• Coordinate and manage daily operations of the adult education program
• Develop the program in coordination with the Programs Manager
• Assess impact and effectiveness against program objectives
• Ensure that teachers are equipped with the necessary knowledge to complete their administrative tasks to a high standard and in a timely fashion
• Conduct regular class observations, providing teachers with quality feedback on their teaching
• Provide new teachers with key insights into language teaching in the refugee context
• Ensure inductions to and exits from the education team are smooth and effective, including successful handover of classes between teachers
• Liaise and collaborate with relevant local and national authorities and stakeholders and represent Second Tree in relevant external meetings
• Capture and compile monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL) reports in line with program deadlines
• Ensure overall management of the program, guaranteeing quality and relevance

Skills 

You have…

• University Degree in Education/Teaching
• Certificate in English language teaching (TEFL/TESOL/CELTA or equivalent)
• Experience in developing and delivering teacher training

You are able to…

• Oversee the daily activities of the adult education team
• Ensure that teachers’ needs are met and that they in turn meet the requirements of their roles
• Be accountable and efficient, making sure that tasks that you take up are completed in the agreed timeframe
• Be honest and transparent, being able to give and receive feedback in the most straightforward way
• Have a strong sense of humor, being able to make fun of yourself is key
• Care for people, the interests of the people we work with should always be your first concern
• Instil the values above in the people that work with you
• Communicate in English at a C2 level, both written and orally
• Manage individuals effectively to create a positive team environment in which shared problem solving is encouraged
• Prioritise and delegate tasks effectively, ensuring all deadlines are met
• Manage a wide-ranging workload

Knowledge 

You understand and possess knowledge of…

• Education in emergencies concepts
• The refugee crisis and its impact and trajectory
• The needs of refugee students and can adapt content, programming and best practices to meet these needs
• The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages and how to develop syllabi in line with it
• Assessment and evaluation procedures, and how to prepare students for language proficiency test
• Adult refugee projects and opportunities for further learning and employment
• Research on adult learning strategies and pedagogies, especially for illiterate or semi-literate adults
• ESL/EFL lesson planning procedures
• ESL/EFL methodologies, theories and techniques
• Your own personal leadership skills/profile and how to effectively manage a team

We offer

• Accommodation in a shared house.
• Transportation to/from work.
• After completion of a three month trial, if you commit long-term, small monthly expenses refund.

In certain periods of the year, demand is extremely high, and the volunteer houses might be full. If you have the means to pay for your own accommodation, please let us know. We would still be happy to host you if space is available. However, in a situation where the volunteer houses are full, this would allow us to offer a volunteering opportunity to someone that cannot afford to pay rent.

Our award-winning ESOL project offers English language classes to young people at a wide range of levels. This provides vital skills, opportunities and social contact and is crucial for enabling young people to do well at school or college. 

About the Role: 

CARAS is looking for volunteer ESOL Teaching Assistants to support our face-to-face youth Digital ESOL classes in Tooting on Mondays and Wednesdays. 

Study programme in English, Maths, Digital skills and Cooking: Monday 10am to 3pm 

Study programme in English, Maths and Digital skills: Wednesday 10am to 6pm 

You can apply to volunteer in one or more sessions. Each session lasts 2 hours. 

Please note that ESOL classes do not run during school holidays, and we follow Wandsworth Council term dates.

Volunteer  tasks and responsibilities: 

Providing learners with one-to-one or small group support within ESOL classes; 

Help young people to build confidence in digital literacy; 

Helping to set up the classroom and provide learners with classroom resources; 

Helping create “learner portraits” to understand their strengths and areas of interest; 

Engaging learners in informal conversations or games during breaks to help them practice their conversational English. 

Checking the session plan aims with the lead teacher and assisting learners achieve them; 

Attending and contributing to volunteer debriefs after each session; 

Making use of any community languages you may know to help students during the class; 

Working collaboratively as a team and helping to shape the project; 

Supporting people to develop their knowledge and skills, encouraging and inspiring participants to reach their full potential; 

Assisting participants to recognise and celebrate their achievements; 

Following CARAS’ confidentiality, safeguarding, health & safety, equal opportunities, data management and all other policies as relevant. 

Requirements: 

Essential: 

To be 18 years or older; 

Able to travel to our community centre in Tooting (travel expenses can be reimbursed); 

An interest in education and English language teaching; 

To be non-judgemental and able to engage with people from diverse backgrounds; 

To be reliable and punctual; 

Excellent communication skills, especially with people who are new to English; 

The ability to volunteer on Monday mornings and Wednesday afternoons/evenings during Wandsworth term time for a minimum of three months; 

Implementing safety measures to keep classes COVID secure; 

Currently resident in the UK; 

Able to provide five years’ worth of addresses, and willing to undergo a DBS check; 

Able to attend volunteer induction training (online) prior to start of role 

Desirable: 

Knowledge of community languages, such as Arabic, Tigrinya, Amharic, Pashto, Dari, Farsi, Kurdish, Somali or Spanish. 

Through volunteering with us you will: 

Gain experience of English language teaching; 

Meet new members of your local community; 

Learn about different cultures; 

Learn about issues relating to refugees and people seeking asylum; 

Work as part of a friendly, welcoming team; 

Develop your skills and competencies; 

Be able to access relevant training, including safeguarding training. 

About CARAS: 

Community Action for Refugees and Asylum Seekers (CARAS) is a charity that supports refugees and people seeking asylum who live in south London, helping them to play their full part in the community. We offer a range of individual and group support to improve the holistic wellbeing of people who have a background of forced migration, providing them with tools to build lives filled with value, meaning and purpose in the UK. 

To Apply: 

To apply for this opportunity, download and complete the CARAS volunteer application form, using this volunteer role description to inform your answers.