Volunteering Scheme

The Refugee Resettlement Service at St Helens Borough Council is recruiting volunteers to help us deliver services for refugees, asylum seekers, and local communities in St Helens.

We are currently recruiting for the following volunteering opportunity:

• ESOL (English for Speaker of Other Languages) tutors

As an ESOL volunteer, you will be part of a friendly team delivering fun and engaging English language classes and activities for refugees, people seeking asylum, and other displaced persons in St Helens. You will be expected to help with a range of tasks and activities, including:

• Conversation classes for small groups
• One to one support with language learning and practice
• Home and online tutoring (for individuals and small groups)
• Specific projects involving English language learning

The informal ESOL activities provided by the Refugee Resettlement Service are meant to complement formal ESOL provision and help learners develop their language skills more quickly and effectively, and access services and social networks in the local community.

We are looking for candidates who can evidence:

• A relevant ESOL/TEFL/CELTA qualification, or considerable teaching experience
• Ability to work both in person and online
• Willingness to volunteer for the equivalent of least one half-day session per week
• Ability to design lessons and activities, and assess learners' progress
• Teamwork, interpersonal, and organisational skills
• Ability to work with people from different backgrounds
• Willingness to undertake training where required

Volunteers in our Service are offered:

• Full induction and training
• Free DBS where relevant
• A Volunteer ID Badge and a Volunteer Handbook
• Flexible time commitment
• Opportunities to access other volunteering roles within our service
• Travel and other expenses where relevant
• Opportunities to carry out between 4-8 hours of volunteering a week

We welcome applications from anyone who meets the above criteria. These roles will particularly suit part-time or retired tutors or teachers, or students, and may provide invaluable experience to volunteers.  We particularly welcome applications from people who have a refugee or asylum-seeking background and anyone else who has lived experience of forced migration. Experience of working with refugees and asylum seekers is not necessary.

If you would like to discuss this opportunity informally, please contact Saulo Cwerner, Refugee Resettlement Programme Manager (e-mail: saulocwerner@sthelens.gov.uk; mobile: 07841 535140).

For more information and an application form, please contact Michael Melia, Refugee Resettlement Project Officer (e-mail: michaelmelia@sthelens.gov.uk; mobile: 07923 241346).