'Paving the Way' Handbook - ICMC

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Drop-in Services
Providing a regular ‘drop-in’ location one to three times a week, attended by the caseworker
and other relevant services, can provide an opportunity for refugees to seek advice for
themselves and to socialise with fellow refugees. Many countries have a drop-in service to
pool resources in terms of caseworker time and travel. To enable the participation of single
parent families, it is helpful to provide childcare for the drop-ins and group briefings. It is
important to use the drop-ins in conjunction with home visits, so that refugees who are
unable to leave their accommodation and seek assistance do not miss out.
3.6 Working with Volunteers
Part II - Essential Services
In many countries, including Denmark, the Netherlands and the US, volunteers play a vital
role in supporting and guiding resettled refugees and assisting them to integrate, by providing
a personal link with the host community. Volunteers in the receiving community can
offer specialised integration support, often on a one-to-one basis, investing time and an
assortment of skills and experience.
They can have a variety DRC has a network of over 4500 volunteers in 71 out
Denmark – Danish Refugee Council (DRC)
of backgrounds, such as students,
retired teachers, social payment for travel and can attend courses offered by
of Denmark’s 98 municipalities. The volunteers receive
workers and church parishioners.
Employers with social society from retired persons to students. They carry out
DRC. The volunteers represent a broad spectrum of
responsibility schemes may a variety of roles including language training, sports and
also allow employees time cultural activities, advice to refugees (for those with a
off to ‘give back to the community’
through volunteering area and the refugees’ homes. The DRC and their volun-
legal or social background) and orientation to the new
(see the national centre for teers work closely with municipalities before and after
volunteering in the UK guide arrival to ensure a warm welcome and ongoing support
on how to set up employee for the refugees.
volunteering schemes 40 ).
Volunteers can be used in many different roles, including:
‣¾ Language support
‣¾ One-to-one mentoring for employment and befriending
‣¾ Orientation to the local area
‣¾ Social guidance, e.g. accompanying refugees to appointments
‣¾ Computer, art, sport classes
40 National Centre for Volunteering (2001), Employee Volunteering the Guide, National Centre for Volunteering, UK.