Volunteering & Training with New Routes
All New Routes volunteers are required to do a half-day New Communities Awareness training. For those who would like to volunteer as mentors and befrienders, a further day and a half of training develops the skills needed for this one-to-one support. All training typically takes place on two consecutive Sundays.
New Routes volunteers fall into three broad categories (some people might do all three!):
- ESOL teachers – typically commit to teaching one lesson per week on Mondays, Tuesdays or Thursdays. May also be ‘bank’ substitute teachers, available for SOS callouts when regular teacher unavailable.
- Youth mentors and adult mentors/befrienders – six month commitment to meeting with mentee/befriendee once a week for 60-90 minutes. Provides one to one support around achieving goals (studies, work etc), navigating British systems/culture/bureaucracy, structured social interaction.
- General volunteers for ad-hoc/drop-in activities – usually helping at Homework Club and International Families Club. No regular commitment necessary. May also help with ad-hoc activities, such as fundraising, summer activities/outings, events.
Upcoming training dates
We are currently operating a waiting list for volunteer training. We are accepting applications for general volunteers for ad-hoc/drop-in activities, but we are prioritising the recruitment of ESOL teachers for online and in-person classes and mentors/befrienders.
If you would like to volunteer in one of these capacities, please email Richard (Volunteer Coordinator) at volunteers@newroutes.org.uk to be sent a volunteer application form and to be added to the training waiting list.
Please note:
- To volunteer as an English teacher, you must have a qualification in teaching English as a foreign language.
- Mentoring/befriending requires a six month commitment.
