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Apply to be a volunteer.

First of all, you will complete a simple but important application process of screening, referencing and matching. 

  • We start by asking for some basic personal information so we can match you to the right individual - age, gender, interests, language skills.

  • Volunteers are required to have a basic DBS check and to provide references.

  • Once you’ve applied, you will have a conversation with two of our trustees or with experienced FoRL volunteers to discuss befriending in more detail, answer your questions and ensure you have all the information you need.

  • If your application is successful, we will send you some documents to sign including a volunteer contract and code of conduct.  We will also follow up with your references.

  • Once all the paperwork is completed, we will either match you with a refugee straight away or add your name to a short waiting list, depending on need.

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When a match has been found, we will set up a face-to-face meeting between you, your potential partner, a FoRL trustee or experienced volunteer, and sometimes an interpreter, to make sure everyone is comfortable and happy. Then it’s over to you and your partner to organise your relationship in the way that works best for you. 

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FoRL will check how the relationship is going after 1 month and then again at 3 months, talking to both you and your partner.  We also offer regular training sessions, social events and peer-to-peer support. And of course, we’re always available to discuss issues, help resolve problems, answer questions and so on.

Application form.

How do you hope to benefit from volunteering?
What sort of volunteering do you want to do?
Do you have lived experience of being a refugee or an asylum-seeker?
Can you commit to at least 3 hours of training as part of your volunteer induction?
Can you commit to volunteer for the the minimum requirement of 2 hours per week for at least 6 months
Please let us know your availabilty (check all that apply)

Personal reference: please provide the name and contact details for 1 person aged 18 or over who knows you well (for at least 6 months) and would be happy to provide a reference for you. Please do not name a relative or your GP, but a friend, colleague, teacher, faith leader etc. are all acceptable.

REHABILITATION OF OFFENDERS ACT 1974

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The disclosure of convictions will not necessarily be a bar to volunteering and only relevant convictions will be taken into consideration at shortlisting or interview stage.

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Under the provision of this Act you must give details of any unspent offences, and we ask you to do this by obtaining a Basic DBS Check, which costs £18 payable on the UK Government website. If you are unable to pay this fee, please contact us.

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If you are unsure of rehabilitation periods, i.e. the time the conviction becomes unspent, you can obtain information from the UK Government website here.

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When the provisions of the Act apply, for example if a role entails working with children or other regulated activities, all successful applicants will be subject to a police check (Schedule 4 of the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006, as amended by the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012). The amendments to the Exceptions Order 1975 (2013) provide that certain spent convictions and cautions are ‘protected’ and are not subject to disclosure to employers, and cannot be taken into account. Guidance and criteria on the filtering of these cautions and convictions can be found at the Disclosure and Barring Service website.

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Do you have any unspent criminal convictions or cautions?
Do you have access to your Basic DBS Check?
Upload File

DATA PROTECTION ACT 2018

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Your information is managed and stored in the UK and is compliant with both the Data Protection Act 2018 and the UK General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) as detailed in the Friends of Refugees London Privacy Policy and Safeguarding Policy. It is used for the purpose of recruitment and selection, Friends of Refugees London administration and monitoring, and no other purpose. 

Thank you for applying to volunteer with us! We'll be in touch soon.

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