The work and support of volunteers is critical to the success of the Step Change Consortium and its partner organisations in creating a joined-up and collaborative ecosystem of support for refugees and people seeking asylum across Greater Manchester.
Many of these volunteers are people with lived experience of the asylum and refugee system in Greater Manchester. For this short report, three members of the Consortium were interviewed about how working with volunteers is a ‘triple win’;
1) a win for the organisations
2) a win for the volunteers, and
3) a win for creating a more supportive environment for refugees and people seeking asylum.
They also share top tips for how organisations can work effectively with volunteers, particularly those with lived experience of the asylum process.
Authors: Therese Mahon (Step Change volunteer) together with Patrick Masebo (EBE coordinator), Malcolm Ngouala (Executive Director – BRASS) and Kati Silverberg (Activities and volunteer coordinator – Rainbow Haven) who are all partners of the Step Change consortium.
