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 opportunities:

• Weekly drop-ins
• Refugee Week 2026

Weekly drop-ins:

We have a twice weekly drop-in on a Monday and Thursday to assist asylum seekers and refugees with their needs, such as housing; benefits; education; health; or any other queries or issues they might have.

We require volunteers to:

• Manage the welcome desk monitoring order that service users arrive at the drop-ins to avoid "queue jumping" which could lead to arguments.  To do this, we have implemented a number system
• Ask service users why they have come to the drop-in, this is to allow for the smooth running of the drop-in as staff will know immediately the best way to assist service users

Please see the leaflet below:

RRS Drop-Ins Leaflet - UPDATED (PDF, 229 KB)

Refugee Week 2026:

Refugee Week is an annual event to celebrate the contribution of asylum seekers, refugees, and other forcibly displaced people in the community.

There is a different theme each year, and Council services deliver activities and events throughout the week aimed around the theme.

The theme of Refugee Week 2026 is "Courage".

We require volunteers to:

• Help with the planning of Refugee Week 2026
• Assist with the annual Communities Together Event to help launch or celebrate the achievements of Refugee Week 2026, this role is extremely varied and any input will be greatly appreciated
• Help with any other activities delivered throughout the week.  This will be based around discussions with the Refugee Resettlement Service, and some activities may require an up-to-date DBS check

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

For more information and an application form, please contact the Refugee Resettlement Service (e-mail: refugeeresettlementservice@sthelens.gov.uk).