Supporting Africans

Volunteers make an invaluable contribution to the work of The NILE and we are always looking for volunteers to work on our projects here in the UK and in Africa. Volunteers allow us to increase the range and quality of services we offer - without their support we would not be able to run many of our projects and services.

Volunteering can also provide lots of personal rewards, from improving your skills and employability to meeting new people and supporting an issue you really believe in.

Develop your skills

Volunteering is a great opportunity to develop your skills as well as to learn new ones. You will be supported in your role by a volunteer co-ordinator or a member of staff. Volunteers can also access training to support them in their role. Volunteering will help you to develop your work skills and confidence.

Improve your knowledge of the African Diaspora, refugee issues and of the refugee sector and international development.

Many people chose to volunteer with The NILE because they are interested in the issues or have personal experience of the African Diaspora issues, refugee and asylum system. Whilst volunteering you will get the opportunity to learn more about the system and the issues facing the African Diaspora, refugees and asylum seekers. Volunteering will also give you an insight into how the Diaspora and refugee sector works and what The NILE does to support the African Diaspora, refugees and asylum seekers in the UK and the African grassroots community

Have fun

As well as supporting the important work of The NILE, volunteering is also about having fun. As a volunteer you’ll get the opportunity to work with interesting people on a variety of different projects. It’s a great way of meeting new people and making new friends.

Our volunteer roles can be broadly divided into three main areas:

• Volunteering in direct services
• office-based volunteering
• community based volunteering

Volunteering in direct services

Volunteers play a key role in this work and allow us to offer a broader and higher quality range of services. Volunteer roles include:

• staffing an information line
• working with project workers and client advisors to provide information to clients
• providing English language classes
• working with our reception team to greet clients and answer enquiries

Office-based volunteering

As well as working directly with clients we also work on their behalf through policy work, research, campaigning and supporting Diaspora, migrant and refugee community organisations. Volunteers play a key role in supporting this work, as well as allowing us to develop new innovative projects. They work in a variety of different ways - from providing valuable office and administration support to organising events. Examples of recent office-based volunteer roles include:

• research for a variety of different projects across the organisation
• administration
• writing and researching articles for newsletters or websites
• assisting with event organisation and marketing, including African Achievers International Awards

Community-based volunteering

Our office has volunteer projects based in a community environment. This allows us to be more accessible to our client group and be more innovative in the services we offer. Many of these community-based activities are run by volunteers and range from football coaching to ESOL teaching and talks teams. Volunteer roles include:

• helping to organise and run a women’s group
• accompanying clients to appointments and meetings
• teaching English in community centres and providing one to one home tuition
• giving talks and presentations on Diaspora, migrant, asylum seeker and refugee issues
• assisting with creative art and theatre projects

We are always interested in developing new volunteer roles. In the past we have developed new roles and activities for specific volunteers and are keen to continue expanding volunteering opportunities. If you have any specialist skills that you feel might be useful for our work that aren't listed here, please continue to apply to volunteer for The NILE. When filling in your local community volunteer application form or the International Volunteers application form, please list your skills and give a brief explanation of the type of work you would like to do with The NILE.