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Preston Volunteers has launched a new project to support people seeking asylum in the city.
Working closely with Preston City Council, the project aims to remove cultural and linguistic barriers, reduce isolation and improve the health and well-being of seekers through the benefits of volunteering.
The ‘Support into Volunteering Buddy Project’ pairs participants from asylum backgrounds with bilingual volunteers who can help them access roles that would otherwise prove difficult to get involved in without support.
Joseph Cooper a project support worker said: “We’re really pleased to be given this funding to support Sanctuary Seekers into volunteering. We know through research and feedback from Sanctuary Seekers, that people from these groups are often among the most marginalised, hidden and excluded people in our society.
“Volunteering is a fantastic way of helping people feel more connected to where they live, form friendships, contribute to their local communities and helps people to improve their mental health and wellbeing while going through the Asylum process.
“Volunteering is one of the few things Sanctuary Seekers are permitted to do. It can offer them valuable experiences and contacts for when they are able to fully live and work here in the UK.”
Preston Volunteers are now looking for a team of volunteers over 18 years old.
They welcome people from different backgrounds and are particularly keen to hear from people who are bilingual in one or more of the following languages: Arabic, Kurdish, Pashto, Persian or Tigrinya, in addition to having a high level of spoken English.
For more information, you can visit the website or contact Joseph at [email protected] or 07947934986.
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