Join our team

Volunteer Chef's Assistant

Every week, JRS UK’s Day Centre welcomes around 100 destitute refugees and asylum seekers into a space where everyone is known, cared for and greeted by name. It provides for essentials like a freshly cooked hot meal, packs of toiletries and hardship grants, as well as a listening ear and a place to catch up with friends.

JRS UK is looking for a Chef’s Assistant to volunteer at our weekly Day Centre. Alongside our volunteer Chef, the Chef Assistant will help to prepare and serve a healthy, hot meal to over 100 of our refugee friends who attend our Day Centre each week. The Chef’s Assistant will also help in cleaning the kitchen once the food is cooked and ensure the smooth running of the kitchen throughout the day.

If you’re interested in this volunteer role, please e-mail uk@jrs.net to request an application form.

Volunteer Role Description | Volunteer With JRS 

Day Centre Volunteer: Vietnamese Speaker

Every Thursday JRS UK run a day centre where we welcome destitute refugees into a warm and friendly environment. Our Day Centre volunteers help in a number of ways throughout the day and ensure that our refugee friends are greeted by a friendly face and have a listening ear. For some of our refugee friends who do not yet speak English, even the simplest tasks can become daunting, and feelings of isolation and loneliness are often overwhelming.

For this reason, we are currently looking for volunteers who are available to accompany our Vietnamese-speaking friends who have recently been released from detention, supporting them while they are improving their English. In addition to helping with general tasks of the Thursday Day Centre, this role will include opportunities to spend time getting to know our refugee friends.

This role will require a regular commitment of a minimum of 3 months every Thursday, 09:45 – 16:00 at JRS UK’s Day Centre, The Hurtado Jesuit Centre.

If you’re interested in this volunteer role, please e-mail uk@jrs.net to request an application form.

Volunteer Role Description | Volunteer With JRS 

Accompaniment Volunteer: Reporting

JRS UK runs a weekly Day Centre, which welcomes and provides services for destitute refugees and other forced migrants. Many of our refugee friends are required to report to the Home Office immigration authorities at a frequency and time set by the Home Office. Going to report can trigger fear or high levels of anxiety or disorientation.

JRS UK are looking for volunteers who can accompany, in person, refugee friends who would welcome this form of moral support. As a volunteer, you will offer a reassuring presence whilst showing personal sensitivity and respect to our refugee friends.

If you’re interested in this volunteer role, please e-mail uk@jrs.net to request an application form.

Volunteer Role Description | Volunteer With JRS 

Accompaniment Volunteer: Embassy

JRS UK runs a weekly Day Centre, which welcomes and provides services for destitute refugees and other forced migrants. Many of our refugee friends are in limbo because they cannot get documentation – the UK does not recognise their right to be here and countries that they are from refuse to document them. In some cases, the Home Office have disputed their nationality. For some, a way forward is to show they are unable to obtain documentation by trying to do so, by approaching the embassy. This is a big step to take and they need someone to be with them not only to give moral support but also to witness and record what happens and be ready to give evidence of this.

JRS UK are looking for volunteers who can accompany, in person, refugee friends who would welcome this form of support when visiting embassies. By going with them, making notes, recording what happens, and drafting statements we can help build up crucial evidence to support fresh claims or applications where people are stateless.

If you’re interested in this volunteer role, please e-mail uk@jrs.net to request an application form.

Volunteer Role Description | Volunteer With JRS 

Welcome Volunteer

The Welcome Volunteer provides the first point of contact for all visitors to JRS UK throughout the week, from refugees coming to access our services to people offering donations. You will also be the first point of contact on the switchboard, as well as undertaking general ad hoc tasks to support and accompany refugees throughout the day.

Accompanying those we serve is an essential ingredient of our work, and a unique ethos that radically alters the beneficiary-service provider relationship.  Key to the role will be the fostering of a warm, calm and friendly environment at JRS UK, through engaging in accompaniment and helping refugees flourish as individuals.

If you’re interested in this volunteer role, please e-mail uk@jrs.net to request an application form.

Volunteer Role Description | Volunteer with JRS

At Home Scheme Volunteer

Destitute refugees are often forced to seek respite on night buses, rely on friends who might host them for a night or two, or else find a nook where they can bed down for the night. In response, the JRS At Home scheme aims to match destitute refugees with those who are able and willing to offer accommodation for a three-month period.

We are looking for a volunteer to support the At Home scheme – to accompany our refugee friends as they move between hosting placements and assist our At Home Coordinator. Moving between hosting placements can be a distressing time, and we are looking for a volunteer with a sympathetic disposition, who can be a reassuring presence for our refugee friends.

If you’re interested in this volunteer role, please e-mail uk@jrs.net to request an application form.

Volunteer Role Description | Volunteer With JRS 

Destitution Support Volunteer

JRS UK is looking for a volunteer to help support the work that JRS does for our refugee friends. This role will be particularly focused on helping preparations for our weekly Day Centre held every Thursday. Each of our refugee friends receives a toiletry pack once a month and, when supplies allow, a food parcel containing essential food supplies. These packs must be put together from supplies kept at the JRS Office. This role will also entail general tasks and office support to assist the work of the JRS office staff.

If you’re interested in this volunteer role, please e-mail uk@jrs.net to request an application form.

Volunteer Role Description | Volunteer With JRS