For further information please visit - https://www.scvs.org.uk/a-better-welcome-to-swansea

Have you recently arrived in Swansea? Read on for information about our mentors

Have you recently arrived in Swansea? Or have been here for a while but have not been able to get help? Or have things changed?

We would like to offer you a warm welcome to the city. We hope that you find it an enjoyable place to be. We understand that it is not always easy to arrive in a new city.  If you would like support, then why not call or us or come to see us?

What does a mentor do?

A mentor is a trained volunteer who can help you to get the things that you need and want to do in Swansea. For example, they might:

• Show and explain bus routes.
• Show cheap places to shop.
• Give information on health and social care services.
• Help you to meet other people.
• Help you to find things that you like to do, for example, football, singing, arts, dance…
• Help you to find English classes and other training and volunteering opportunities.
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Who will be your mentor?

Our mentors are trained volunteers who support people. If possible, we will do our best to give you a mentor who speaks your language or knows your local area.

Who can access a mentor?

Anyone who is an asylum seeker or refugee who feels that they need extra help to get to know Swansea or to find local opportunities. 

Contact Involve: involve@scvs.org.uk 

Become a Volunteer Mentor with ‘A Better Welcome to Swansea’

Mentors provide a crucial service at an important time in people’s lives. Many asylum seekers and refugees who arrive in Swansea may not have familiarity of the place, how things work, how to access services and most importantly have any connections with other people. Having a friendly face to provide a welcome can make all the difference.

Who can become a mentor?

Anyone can become a mentor. We particularly welcome applications from people who have experience of seeking sanctuary or who live in areas close to Sanctuary seekers.

We do ask for some skills and attributes which are outlined in the role description.

What does a mentor do?

A mentor is a trained volunteer who supports people to access the things that they want and need to be doing.

For instance, they might:

Demonstrate bus routes.

Show affordable places to shop.

Give information on health and social care services.

Support people to find social and leisure activities.

Support people to find training and volunteering opportunities.

The mentoring process aims to support a person to become as independent as possible.

What is involved?

The project involves 3 stages: Initial induction and training period: Where we find out a bit about you and tell you about the scheme. Regular sessions with a participant: There will usually be between 2 and 8 sessions. They usually last 2-4 hours each, depending on individual needs. An evaluation session: to see how useful it has been and how we can improve.

We offer you the opportunity to mentor as often as you like. 

Contact Involve: involve@scvs.org.uk

HOW TO JOIN THE CLASSES

Swansea University beginners/intermediate classes – use this link below to register:

https://tinyurl.com/2p86cb7e

Pre- intermediate and Upper-intermediate-  Free classes at Swansea University (face to face):

contact elts@swansea.ac.uk For SASS classes:

contact George on 07719876193 or georgefw1@gmail.com

For UiD classes: contact David on 07431294145 or jendavebrowell@gmail.com

For Grow Cymru: classes contact Yvonne on 0791865675 or info@growcymru.org.uk

For FAN: contact Philippa on 07938978397 or philippa.wisdom@thefancharity.org

For the African Community Centre: use the link below to register, or contact Chizobam on 07826596900 or chizobam@africancommunitycentre.org.uk

docs.google.com/forms/d/1FylEaf-Go8sxW0rm8UYYqBbYWMq-KFCh?19LqNVUX4Q/edit

For the Welsh Refugee Council, use this link below to register: https://forms.office.com/r/DE3xeAgYHK

Our Volunteer Centre team at SCVS can help you find out about volunteering.

There are some volunteering opportunities within SCVS, and other Swansea options include outdoors – helping with gardening or animals, assisting in lots of ways in lots of charity shops or helping to make Swansea health services better.

We can help you choose the right volunteering for you and find a volunteering opportunity where travel expenses can be reimbursed.

Please feel free to contact us by email: volunteering@scvs.org.uk.