1. In this workshop we will cover… Introductions Horizons: from service user to service provider The issues and solutions The benefits

2. What is Horizons? Refugee Action is an independent, national charity working to enable refugees to build new lives in the UK. Horizons is a project ran by Refugee Action The aim of Horizons is to give people seeking asylum or who have refugee status the opportunity to access volunteering with local community groups and organisations

3. How does Horizons fit with health & social care? Depression Isolation Integration English Skills References & Work History

4. What does ‘asylum seeker’ and ‘refugee’ mean? Asylum Seeker Allowed to volunteer Can serve as a charity trustee A person who has requested asylum or refugee status and whose application has not yet been decided Refugee Can also volunteer & be a trustee Allowed to do paid work A person who the Home Office accepts was forced to leave their country in search of safety in UK

5. How do we involve Refugee & Asylum Seekers as volunteers? Horizons has its own volunteers (recruitment, interview & placement, follow up, admin, evaluation) Volunteers do presentations & stalls to recruit clients to volunteer Volunteers interview & match clients Volunteers help & support clients to apply Volunteers follows up all clients until placed & after Volunteers input clients details to Horizons database Clients come to our events to help us evaluate the service

6. Hailat’s Testimony From service user to service provider

7. Issues & solutions!

8. Benefits to your organisation Unique skills and experience Many people come from professional backgrounds Many speak fluent English, and other languages Increased service and support to your client base It helps to develop a multi-cultural awareness and helps your organisation fulfil its equal opportunities policy Horizons can offer extra support for the volunteers…and your organisation!