MRSN’s advice service offers advice on welfare benefits and tax credits, debt, housing, asylum support and access to health services to refugees and asylum seekers in Manchester. It runs drop-in advice sessions and appointments. Volunteers support the advice service through reception work, administration, advice support, and interpreting for clients who don’t speak English. Advice support staff provide basic information and make telephone calls on behalf of clients. Volunteers may also undertake an advocacy role for clients, accompanying them to appointments and interpreting, if necessary.
Volunteers can also train to give advice: we can arrange training in advice skills, welfare rights, health, asylum support, and other issues. Volunteers need to be available for at least six months.
Skills/experience needed:
- Good spoken English is needed for all roles.
- Good written English is needed for advice and form filling.
- Volunteers who speak Kurdish, Arabic, Pashto, Dari, Farsi, Somali or other languages are particularly needed.
- Good communication and interpersonal skills and confidence to deal with the public.
- Basic admin skills and ability to undertake simple tasks on behalf of clients.
- Comfortable using Microsoft Excel, Word, basic databases and internet browsers.
How to apply to be a volunteer?
If you are interested in one of our current vacancies please download the Volunteer Application Form and email the completed application to charlotte@mrsn.org.uk. (Note: After clicking the link above, the form needs to be opened from your downloads.)
Our partnership to support our volunteers
MVAP is currently on a sabattical, but check back here or on the MVAP website for updates