Go to cart
This year, we at Birch celebrated five years of providing support to destitute asylum seekers. To date, we have provided in excess of 4600 nights of accommodation through our hosting programme and supported vulnerable families and young people through our other schemes. We couldn’t have done this without the support of our dedicated and passionate team of volunteers.
As we celebrate the start of 2017, we would like to let you know how you can support our work throughout the coming year. There are a range of opportunities, suitable for however much time you have and the level of commitment you feel able to give.
Hosting
We are looking for hosts who can provide accommodation in their homes to support individuals who have become homeless because of their immigration status.
In order to be accepted as a host for BIRCH, an individual or household will usually need to have as a minimum a spare room with a bed and bedding, and the capacity to provide food towards the guest’s daily needs.
This is a great opportunity for those with the capacity to house a guest and feel that they have a significant amount of time to give.
Further information about hosting can be found on our website
Meet and Greet
We deliver a weekly drop in for newly arrived families who are seeking asylum in Birmingham. The drop in offers families who attend the chance to meet new friends, for children to play and for all attending to enjoy a hot meal.
As a volunteer at the Meet and Greet you would be supporting these sessions; chatting to families, helping with meal preparation and supporting the staff in attendance.
This opportunity best suits those who are looking to gain experience in supporting families and/or those from asylum seeking backgrounds – as well as those just hoping to make a positive difference.
Family Befriending
Many young people who arrive in the UK as asylum seekers without their families express to us that they miss the comfort and companionship that their family previously provided. Through our Family Befriending scheme we match young people to families who can support them. The young person attends the home of the family once or twice a week for a meal and a chat.
Family Befriending is an excellent way to support young people who can feel isolated. The scheme is a great way to give back on its own, but also serves as a great way to determine if Hosting may be for you if you are unsure.
All our volunteers receive support from our staff team who will ensure that you are appropriately trained and supported for the activity you are seeking to undertake.
If you are interested in volunteering to support any these initiatives, please contact: david@birchnetwork.org or sarah@birchnetwork.org
Happy new year from all at Birch!