Volunteer Hub
Bilingual Community Support Volunteer (Romani, Romanian, Ukrainian, or Polish)
Organisation Details
Europia
Sub theme: Asylum Seekers and Refugees, Disability, Health and Wellbeing, Heritage, Hospitals and Hospices, Mental Health
Stellify Award: This opportunity is part of 'Make a Difference'
Description of role: Europia is looking for volunteers who speak English alongside one (or more) of our target languages—Romani, Romanian, Ukrainian, or Polish—to support community sessions for the Salford Central and Eastern European Health Navigators Project.
The project supports Central and Eastern European residents in Salford who may face language, digital, or other barriers when accessing health and community services.
The volunteer will help welcome people, provide language support in their language, and help residents use digital services. They will work alongside Europia staff to make sessions welcoming and accessible.
What the Role Will Involve
Interpret between residents (speaking Romani, Romanian, Ukrainian, or Polish) and Europia staff during community sessions.
Help residents communicate with Europia staff in their native language.
Clearly interpret information provided by Europia staff.
Translate short written information, messages, and instructions between your non-English language and English.
Help check that translated information is clear and easy to understand.
Welcome residents when they arrive at community sessions.
Explain how the session works and who service users need to speak to.
Help service users use mobile phones, websites, online forms, and digital services.
Help prepare the room before sessions and tidy the space afterwards.
Support the general running of community sessions.
Communicate information clearly, accurately, and sensitively.
Comply with Europia’s Data Protection Policy and keep personal and sensitive information private.
Follow Europia’s safeguarding, data protection, and professional boundaries procedures.
When
Community sessions will run until March 2027.
The project will normally hold one community session each week.
Each session will last around three hours.
Volunteers will support agreed sessions as part of a rota.
The exact days, times, and number of sessions will be agreed with each volunteer.
Where
The project will be delivered across Salford. Sessions will take place at community venues, including:
Eccles Gateway, M30 0TU
Broughton Hub, M7 4BQ
Together Family Centre, M44 6GX
St Aidan’s Church, M7 3SE
Selected Salford libraries
Note: Volunteers may support sessions at one or more venues, depending on their availability and the needs of the project.
Skills and Experience
We are looking for someone who:
Can communicate verbally and in writing in English AND at least ONE of the following languages: Romani, Romanian, Ukrainian, or Polish.
Is friendly, patient, and respectful.
Has good communication and listening skills.
Is comfortable speaking with people from different backgrounds.
Can use basic websites, online forms, and mobile phones.
Is willing to help people with simple digital tasks.
Can keep personal information private.
Is reliable and able to attend agreed sessions.
Is willing to learn and work as part of a team.
Previous volunteering, community work, language support, or digital support experience would be helpful, but it is not essential.
Training and Support
Volunteers will receive:
An induction before starting.
Safeguarding training.
Training on professional boundaries.
Clear guidance about their role and responsibilities.
Structured supervision and support from Europia staff.
A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.
Information about possible pathways towards Immigration Advice Authority Level 1 qualifications, where appropriate.
Benefits
Use your language skills to support local residents.
Gain experience in community support.
Develop your communication and digital support skills.
Build confidence and meet new people.
Learn more about local health and community services.
Receive regular support and supervision.
Support Central and Eastern European communities in Salford.
Receive agreed volunteer expenses.
Gain experience that may support future employment, training, or volunteering opportunities.
The project supports Central and Eastern European residents in Salford who may face language, digital, or other barriers when accessing health and community services.
The volunteer will help welcome people, provide language support in their language, and help residents use digital services. They will work alongside Europia staff to make sessions welcoming and accessible.
What the Role Will Involve
Interpret between residents (speaking Romani, Romanian, Ukrainian, or Polish) and Europia staff during community sessions.
Help residents communicate with Europia staff in their native language.
Clearly interpret information provided by Europia staff.
Translate short written information, messages, and instructions between your non-English language and English.
Help check that translated information is clear and easy to understand.
Welcome residents when they arrive at community sessions.
Explain how the session works and who service users need to speak to.
Help service users use mobile phones, websites, online forms, and digital services.
Help prepare the room before sessions and tidy the space afterwards.
Support the general running of community sessions.
Communicate information clearly, accurately, and sensitively.
Comply with Europia’s Data Protection Policy and keep personal and sensitive information private.
Follow Europia’s safeguarding, data protection, and professional boundaries procedures.
When
Community sessions will run until March 2027.
The project will normally hold one community session each week.
Each session will last around three hours.
Volunteers will support agreed sessions as part of a rota.
The exact days, times, and number of sessions will be agreed with each volunteer.
Where
The project will be delivered across Salford. Sessions will take place at community venues, including:
Eccles Gateway, M30 0TU
Broughton Hub, M7 4BQ
Together Family Centre, M44 6GX
St Aidan’s Church, M7 3SE
Selected Salford libraries
Note: Volunteers may support sessions at one or more venues, depending on their availability and the needs of the project.
Skills and Experience
We are looking for someone who:
Can communicate verbally and in writing in English AND at least ONE of the following languages: Romani, Romanian, Ukrainian, or Polish.
Is friendly, patient, and respectful.
Has good communication and listening skills.
Is comfortable speaking with people from different backgrounds.
Can use basic websites, online forms, and mobile phones.
Is willing to help people with simple digital tasks.
Can keep personal information private.
Is reliable and able to attend agreed sessions.
Is willing to learn and work as part of a team.
Previous volunteering, community work, language support, or digital support experience would be helpful, but it is not essential.
Training and Support
Volunteers will receive:
An induction before starting.
Safeguarding training.
Training on professional boundaries.
Clear guidance about their role and responsibilities.
Structured supervision and support from Europia staff.
A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.
Information about possible pathways towards Immigration Advice Authority Level 1 qualifications, where appropriate.
Benefits
Use your language skills to support local residents.
Gain experience in community support.
Develop your communication and digital support skills.
Build confidence and meet new people.
Learn more about local health and community services.
Receive regular support and supervision.
Support Central and Eastern European communities in Salford.
Receive agreed volunteer expenses.
Gain experience that may support future employment, training, or volunteering opportunities.
Skills / qualities associated with the role: Numeracy and Finance, Administration, IT Skills, Oral Communication Skills, Team Working, Written Communication Skills
Are volunteer expenses available?: Yes
Duration of role: Ongoing / Long term
Opportunity times: Monday Morning, Monday Afternoon, Wednesday Morning, Wednesday Afternoon
DBS required: On
Can reasonable adjustments be made regarding additional needs?: Yes
Is this organisation part of the Sports Volunteering Scheme (SVS)?: No
Minimum hours commitment: 3
Location:
Various
Salford