Migrant Helpline Volunteer Profile

Some of our current volunteer roles:

• English teacher
• office volunteer
• special needs escort
• service access volunteer
• gardener
• IT volunteer
• volunteer receptionist

VOLUNTEER PROFILE: CHRIS

"I applied to work for Migrant Helpline as a volunteer because it struck me as something both interesting and eye-opening. During my final summer at university, I was eager to do something different to your normal summer job. I started looking on the Internet at the various volunteering websites and came across an advert for a researcher at Migrant Helpline, based in Dover. I spent three weeks working on a research project evaluating service provision for asylum seekers and refugees in Kent. This project has enabled me to find out more about the various communities within the Kent region and also offered the opportunity to gain practical research experience, something that is often difficult to achieve whilst still a student ... Upon completion of the project I was asked to conduct a number of interviews with clients and write their stories for the annual report. This opened my eyes to many things that one simply does not hear about in the press… Working at Migrant Helpline has been both informative and rewarding. I was given the opportunity to apply the skills that I have learned at university to a practical working environment. It allowed me to see a completely different perspective of the 'immigration question', one that is very rarely seen in the press. It has certainly benefited me and working as a volunteer is something that I would definitely recommend to others."