About the Refugee Council

Founded in 1951, the Refugee Council exists to support people who come to the UK in need of safety and our purpose is to advocate with them for compassion, fairness and kindness. We achieve this by providing expert advice and casework, building the capacity of refugee community organisations, and working with allies across society to change government policy.

The Refugee Council is one of the leading organisations in the UK working with refugees and people seeking asylum.

Learn more about the Refugee Council here

About STEP Forward

This team provides intense and multi-faceted including provision of ESOL, education, financial and digital literacy, volunteering placements, wellbeing sessions and mentorship for female refugee clients from a range of backgrounds.

About this role

One of the barriers for female refugee clients to access learning is finding suitable and reliable childcare while they attend sessions.

To help them overcome this barrier, we have set up an on creche on site for clients attending the course, managed by a member of staff who is qualified in Level 3 Childcare.

Volunteers in this role will have the opportunity to support our operations and services by carrying out the main task of their role as set out below.

What could I be doing?

• Assisting and taking direction from Refugee Council members of staff in helping to take care of the children by carrying out activities with them.
• Assisting with the set up and organising creative and play activities with the children.
• Assisting with song and story time
• Assisting with the set up and pack up of the Creche equipment for each session.
• Providing emotional support, especially for children new to the Creche
• Ensure children are playing in a safe environment.
• Offering a nurturing and supportive environment for the children
• Fetching the child’s parent from the course when they need changing, feeding or if they are unable to be soothed

Useful skills and experience

• Reliability and commitment.
• Confidence and comfortable meeting new people.
• Ability to establish and maintain professional boundaries.
• Ability to build relationships and rapport with children and their parents.
• Ability to communicate with people of all abilities and culturally diverse backgrounds.
• Adaptability to new ideas and concepts
• An appreciation of the importance of confidentiality and data protection. Full training will be provided.
• An understanding of the need to keep children safe in line with our organisational safeguarding policy and procedures. Full training will be provided.
• Pashtu or Dari language skills are desirable but not essential.

Time commitment

Between one to four half-days a week, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 10:00 – 13:00

Please note that volunteers are not responsible for feeding or changing nappies as part of this volunteer role and remains the responsibility of the client during the course.

Volunteers are never to be left alone with any child at any time. Otherwise, you will have to do enhanced DBS checks.

Volunteers will have to attend an induction session before starting their role

Learn more about this role by downloading our task description here [PDF].

You can apply for this role using this application form [DOCX].

Interested? Contact Shana de Silva at shana.desilva@refugeecouncil.org.uk for more information.