SWVG’s training for volunteers

This page is about SWVG’s training for volunteers. Training is organised by the Training Group.

Part 1 – introduction to SWVG and seeking asylum

1.  SWVG-Initial-Training-V7.8 be worked through independently (last revised December 2024)

Duration 1 hour to 1.5 hours

Aim of Training: To enable participants to:

• • meet members of SWVG
  • meet other new volunteers
  • reflect on and discuss training pdf above
  • ask questions
  • consider next steps

Structure

1. Welcome – including context and ethos
2. Introductions
3. Motivation and experience of volunteers
4. Reflections on training pdf– surprises/ areas of interest……
5. Questions
6. Plans for future training/contact/support group allocation/visit to AMC

Part 2 and Part 3 

Duration 8 hours

Aim of Training To enable participants to:

• • understand the needs of people seeking asylum
  • develop an awareness of the legal system for people seeking asylum and support systems in the UK
  • understand the roles of befrienders/visitors; teachers and desk support
  • understand the importance of the SWVG support systems for SWVG volunteers (especially for those in direct contact with people seeking asylum)
  • transfer the skills of communication, listening and assertiveness to those of different cultural groups

Structure

1. Legal system and asylum support system
2. Experience of a person seeking asylum
3. Experience of a befriender/visitor
4. Experience of being a teacher
5. Health and wellbeing
6. Introduction to support groups
7. Communication and Assertiveness skills
8. Listening skills
9. Introduction to resources

Materials

• Look Beyond Borders – 4 Minutes Experiment  video illustrating the power of eye contact and body language