Digital Skills Volunteer

Caras; Tooting; On-site; GBP 10,000 - 40,000; Part time

Job summary

A community support organization in Tooting is seeking a Digital Skills Volunteer to assist young refugees and asylum seekers in improving their computer literacy. The role involves providing one-to-one and small group support during digital skills sessions, aimed at helping students aged 14 to 18 engage more fully with education. This volunteer position requires a commitment of at least one session per week for a minimum of 4 months, and is crucial for fostering independence and confidence among the youth.

Benefits

Travel expenses reimbursed

Volunteer induction training

Access to relevant training

Qualifications

• Aged 18 years or older.
• Currently resident in the UK or has asylum-seeker/refugee status.
• Able to provide five years' worth of addresses for DBS check.

Responsibilities

• Provide one-to-one or small group support during sessions.
• Help set up classroom and digital equipment.
• Attend debriefs after sessions.

Skills

Interest in education

Confident using digital devices

Good communication skills

Patience in explaining digital concepts

Job description

CARAS-Volunteer-Application-Form

About CARAS:

Community Action for Refugees and Asylum Seekers (CARAS) is a charity that supports refugees and asylum-seekers living in South West London, and helps them to play their full part in the community. Arriving as an asylum seeker in the UK can be a terrifying and disempowering experience. Difficulties with language, accessing services and overcoming prejudice are ever-present. We exist to help people seeking asylum overcome those challenges, and to help them rebuild their lives.

We offer a range of individual and group support to improve the holistic wellbeing of people who have a forced displacement background, providing them the tools they need to build lives filled with value, meaning and purpose in the UK. Our activities for adults include currently include: ESOL classes; sports; women’s creative writing; women’s coffee morning, and casework.

About the CARAS Adult Team:

In the post-pandemic environment, CARAS is responding to the role of digital literacies in our programme delivery to learners of asylum-seeking and refugee background. In contrast to the UK essential Digital skills framework, we have built in language inclusion to create a participatory learning course for Essential Digital Literacies for learners who are new to reading and writing in English. The individuals joining CARAS are highly diverse, with different countries of origin, linguistic and educational backgrounds. We have observed over the last year that many CARAS community members have limited digital skills, particularly in regard to using computers. Community members have highlighted that computers are important for many individuals to achieve their educational and employment goals, whilst increasing confidence and independence. We have co-designed a digital skills program in partnership with CARAS community members to improve computer literacy and skills, focusing on basic computer literacy.

Our values are at the centre of all our work:

• Kindness: CARAS will nurture all who are part of our community, helping everyone to develop their skills, talents, and interests.

• Justice: CARAS will strive for social justice following a rights-based approach in all our work and challenging instances when rights are not upheld in wider society.

• Empowerment: CARAS works alongside people, recognising and respecting their skills and strengths and striving together for better outcomes.

• ‘With’ not ‘for’: CARAS will put the voices, opinions, experiences and needs of its beneficiaries at the heart of all that we do.

About Youth ESOL:

Our ESOL project offers English language classes to young people at a wide range of levels. This provides vital skills, opportunities and social contact and is crucial for enabling young people to do well at school or college.

About the Role:

CARAS is looking for Digital Skills Volunteer to support our face-to-face study programme for young people.

The Digital Skills group is in Streatham and is an important element of a study programme for young people aged 14 to 18 who are out of formal education. The timings of the digital skills sessions is as follows:

• Tuesday evenings 4pm to 6pm

Volunteers are required to attend one session per week. They are also welcome to come early and support ESOL classes before the Digital Skills sessions, where appropriate.

The Tuesday Digital skills sessions focus on practical, accessible digital skills, such as, but not limited to:

• Using computers, tablets, or smartphones confidently

• Keyboard and navigation skills

• Using email and online communication tools

• Accessing learning platforms and online resources

• Online safety and digital wellbeing

• Using digital tools to support English learning, homework and study skills

The aim of the Digital Skills sessions is to build independence, confidence, and digital inclusion, supporting young people to engage more fully with formal education and everyday life in the UK. Enrolments to the programme are based on rolling admissions, requiring adaptability to the changing digital skills needs of the group through participatory enquiry led by the ESOL teacher.

The ESOL teacher will provide guidance, session plans, and tips for supporting learners with emerging English, including how to explain digital concepts in clear, accessible ways.

Volunteers will typically work with 1–5 students, offering one-to-one or small group support and adapting tasks to different ability levels.

Please note that ESOL classes do not run during school holidays, and we follow Wandsworth Council term dates:
https://www.wandsworth.gov.uk/schools-and-admissions/schools/school-term-dates/

Volunteer tasks and responsibilities:

• Providing one-to-one or small group support during Digital Skills sessions

• Supporting young people to use digital devices and software confidently

• Helping to set up the classroom and digital equipment

• Attending and contributing to volunteer debriefs after each session

• Sharing observations on learners’ progress, challenges, and successes

• Making use of any community languages if any, to support learners’ understanding

• Working collaboratively as part of a team and helping to shape the project

• Supporting young people to recognise and celebrate their achievements

• Showing flexibility to a wide range of ability levels and confidence with technology

• Following CARAS’ confidentiality, safeguarding, health & safety, equal opportunities, data management, and all other relevant policies

Requirements:

Essential:

• Aged 18 years or older

• An interest in education, digital inclusion, and supporting young people

• Confident using computers, smartphones, or tablets

• Currently resident in the UK or has asylum‑seeker or refugee status

• Able to provide five years’ worth of addresses and willing to undergo a DBS check

• DBS and proof of residency are not necessary if you are a CARAS community member who is more recently arrived in the UK

• Able to attend volunteer induction training (online) prior to starting

• Able to travel to our community centre in Tooting (food and travel expenses can be reimbursed)

• Non‑judgemental and able to engage with young people from diverse backgrounds

• Reliable and punctual, with a commitment of at least one session per week for a minimum of 4 months

• Good communication skills, especially with people who are new to English

• Willingness to explain digital concepts patiently and clearly

• Ability to volunteer during Wandsworth term time

Desirable:

• Experience supporting young people with digital skills or IT (formal or informal)

• Knowledge of community languages such as Arabic, Tigrinya, Amharic, Pashto, Dari, Farsi, Kurdish, Somali, or Spanish

• Experience working with young people, refugees, or learners of English in a work or volunteer capacity

• Interest in using digital tools to support language learning

Through volunteering with us you will:

• Gain experience of English language teaching;

• Meet new members of your local community;

• Learn about different cultures;

• Learn about issues relating to refugees and people seeking asylum;

• Work as part of a friendly, welcoming team;

• Develop your skills and competencies such as literacy and phonics strategies for emerging learners of English;

• Be able to access relevant training, including safeguarding training.

• Be able to obtain a reference from us relating to your placement after 3 months of regular volunteering.

To Apply:

To apply for this opportunity, download and complete the CARAS volunteer application form, using this volunteer role description to inform your answers. Email your completed form to Mirza at [e-mail] with the email subject header, “Youth ESOL – Digital Skills Volunteer.”

Successful applicants will be invited to a taster session at CARAS, following which they will have an informal interview with a staff member of the CARAS ESOL team and a community member. All volunteers must complete an enhanced DBS check for working with young people and attend training with us before starting. You will also receive training and support relevant to your specific role. These meetings and the induction training will be on a rolling basis, so apply ASAP!