For the Attention of Volunteer Co-ordinators/Managers in Edinburgh

Good news! In Edinburgh there is a whole community of potential volunteers who are friendly, enthusiastic, capable and keen to contribute to their city. They are members of the Refugee and Asylum Seeker community, also known as New Scots. 

New Scots fully appreciate the value of volunteering, not only in terms of the practical and social benefits — improving English, learning new skills, meeting new friends and integrating into the wider community — but also the health and wellbeing benefits. Volunteering can improve confidence and self-esteem, provide a sense of achievement from contributing to others, help people feel empowered and self-motivated (especially valuable for those who have little agency over their own lives), and support improved mental health. 

So how can volunteer-involving organisations in Edinburgh benefit from the contribution of New Scots? Put simply, it may require small adaptations to recruitment, application and induction processes to enable people from this community to volunteer within your organisation. 

We have identified that the two main barriers New Scots face are level of English and lack of references. 

In terms of English, many New Scots are attending ESOL classes and are steadily improving their language skills. Being around English speakers greatly accelerates this process, and volunteering provides an excellent opportunity to practise both speaking and comprehension skills. With a little additional support and patience at the beginning, a volunteer who may initially lack confidence can make significant progress within a few months. 

Lack of references can also be a challenge. Understandably, members of this community may have had limited opportunity to establish relationships that could provide formal references. For this reason, please consider whether two references are essential, or whether one would suffice. It may also be helpful to be flexible about who can provide an acceptable reference. Many New Scots can obtain character references from ESOL tutors, support workers or advisers, solicitors, members of a faith group or friends. 

Please also consider other ways to make your volunteer opportunities accessible to New Scots. Could you offer an alternative to online applications? This format can exclude someone whose first language is not English or who may not have reliable internet access. If an online application is necessary, could you offer support to help someone complete it? 

You might also consider creating entry-level volunteer roles for individuals with limited English, enabling them to progress to other roles as their confidence and language skills improve. Pairing a New Scot with an existing volunteer could also help facilitate their development within your organisation. 

We understand that not all organisations are able to offer volunteer expenses; however, where possible, travel expenses can make a significant difference for refugees who receive £7 per day for clothing, toiletries and travel. 

In short, with a small initial investment of time and flexibility, your organisation can benefit greatly from engaging New Scot volunteers. 

If you receive enquiries from members of the Refugee and Asylum Seeker community and are unable to assist at that time, you can direct them to our monthly Refugee/Asylum Seeker Information Session at 222 Leith Walk. These sessions offer a welcoming space to learn about volunteering opportunities, meet others, and discover how New Scots are contributing their skills and energy to Edinburgh’s communities. 

Anyone interested in engaging with New Scots or learning more about their volunteering interests is very welcome to attend. For further information about our services for the Refugee and Asylum Seeking community in Edinburgh, please contact clare.mangan@volunteeredinburgh.org.uk