Volunteer with Refugee Action Kingston

Please note, we are only recruiting volunteers for the Job Hub, Counselling and Interpreter services currently.

Volunteers are at the heart of everything we do at Refugee Action Kingston.

Volunteers deliver programmes, teach, mentor, offer advice and advocacy and help us with our administration.   We cannot do our work without dedicated and committed volunteers. We want our volunteers to enjoy their role and understand its impact. We are a small team, delivering services on a weekly basis to about 300 people.  We hope that our volunteers feel valued by us.

Why volunteer? 

RAK couldn’t deliver services to over 1500 clients a year without volunteers. Our volunteers are often motivated by their own values and get a sense of purpose from their contribution.  We also know that our volunteers enjoy being part of a team and making friends in the community. 

If you are looking for a job, a volunteering opportunity might give you something interesting to write on your CV or give you experience that supports your professional development. 

If you have never volunteered before, it can feel quite daunting.  We can offer a great first-time volunteering experience, with a taster, some training and good company. 

What sort of volunteer roles do you offer? 

We have lots of different types of volunteering opportunities at RAK.

You can bring your skills and experience to a role and support us to deliver a service or a programme.  You may have teaching, advising or tutoring experience or be a solicitor or counsellor.   We also have roles that we can train you to undertake, like Job Hub volunteer or Volunteer Advisor. 

We have roles that are critical to our holistic offer like administration, the donations store and cooking.

In the Community Hub we are looking for volunteers who can lead sessions on hobby based activities, sports and well being, if you have a couple of hours a week to share your passion for badminton, aromatherapy, zumba or anything crafty or centred around well being, we would love to hear from you.

We are growing our social media presence and are always looking for creatives and influencers to boost our content and reach. 

You may be really keen to volunteer but not be sure what you’d like to do or how you can help, contact us today and we can find an opportunity that suits you

If you want to volunteer with a work team or school,  please contact volunteer@refugeeactionkingston.org.uk to discuss different options and we can plan an interesting and productive experience for you . 

When and where? 

We deliver our weekly programmes mainly from Monday – Thursday in office hours. We don’t operate in the evening or at weekends.   We have two offices in Kingston and use community venues in and around the centre of Kingston. 

How do I apply? 

Usually we recruit on a quarterly basis, however aside from the listed opportunities we are not currently recruiting volunteers.  First we do an online interview, talking about you and the RAK values. The interview is followed by an online Refugee Action Kingston Volunteer Induction. We ask all volunteers to sign our Volunteer agreement which completes the recruitment process. Some roles are subject to a DBS check and further training.

What can I expect from Refugee Action Kingston? 

We will give you clear guidance and training about your role.  You will always be with a member of staff, we don’t expect you to volunteer alone.  You will see your RAK manager every week and have access to the Volunteer Manager and Director if you have any concerns.  You will get to know your team of volunteers.  You will be invited to all RAK client events which include Health and Well Being days, Friendship Days and lots more. We have two volunteer parties a year,  usually in the Summer and Winter and we send regular updates on different roles and projects that you might like to get involved in. If you are on socials,  we hope that you will follow us and share our work with your networks, colleagues and community. 

If I am accessing RAK services myself, can I volunteer? 

We welcome applications from people with a lived experience.  If you are currently being supported by one of our advisors, we ask that this is completed before starting your volunteering.   

Do I have to come every week? 

Most roles work better with a weekly commitment but this doesn’t mean you can’t go on holiday, only volunteer term time,  fulfill a work commitment or lunch with friends.  If you can’t make a session, you can let us know in advance.  You will have other commitments and responsibilities and life happens! 

Can you pay for my travel? 

We can reimburse your travel and lunch expenses if you keep your receipts. We will explain the process at induction, essentially,  you send a claim with a photo of the receipts either by text or email. We are very happy to pay expenses and we have a budget set aside for this purpose.    

How much time do I need to offer?

Most of our roles involve a commitment of a couple of hours a week.  

Meet Rohan - Refugee Action Kingston Stories

"I volunteered in Refugee Action Kingston's supplementary school for 9 months and it has been one of the most enriching experiences I've had in many years. I grew up in Kingston and then moved back here later in life to work as a local secondary school teacher. As Kingston is a place close to my heart, I wanted to make sure those arriving to our town were given the best and most welcoming start to their time here. But also, as the grandson of internally displaced refugees, I knew RAK was doing essential work in the community and I wanted to be a part of it.

All the students that have come through the door have been grateful, kind, enthusiastic learners, they've never failed to raise my spirits even when I've felt jaded about the world around me. I volunteered once a week for an hour and a half, usually delivering English classes, although occasionally we assisted our students with other subjects like art, or everyday tasks, or just played some games! The RAK co-ordinators are incredibly hardworking and always supported me in delivering these sessions, I never once felt lost or unskilled. In fact, volunteering in the supplementary school I'm sure made me a better teacher.

While sometimes I've felt unmotivated to go to my day-job, it was never a chore coming to RAK because I could tangibly feel the impact we were having on the young people that were reaching out to us. You'll need patience to teach English to some of the students from the ground-up, but it's one of the most rewarding and important experiences for anyone who can dedicate just a little of their time."

Have questions? Email volunteer@refugeeactionkingston.org.uk.