Family re-union Project Volunteer

This is a new and exciting opportunity to assist refugees in Nottingham reunite with their family members and gain invaluable experience in immigration and asylum law. The initiative is a partnership between Nottingham Trent University Law Clinic and Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Refugee Forum (NNRF) which seeks to provide free advice and representation to refugees applying for their family members to join them from abroad. Successful applicants will receive training in asylum and immigration law and the opportunity to accredit with the Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner (OISC) as a Level 1 advisor.

Applicants must be available on 5th and 6thJanuaryand13th, 14thand15thFebruary to partake in training for OISC Level 1 exams. The training is delivered via online webinar and participants can therefore access the course remotely from their own computers.

How to apply: Please send your CV and a covering letter outlining how you meet the person specification highlighted below to

Deadline for applications: Wednesday 23rd November at 9am

Interviews: Monday 28th and Tuesday 29th November 2.30pm – 5.30pm

Family re-union Project Volunteer
Main Duties /
  • Providing information sessions to clients on refugee family reunion i.e. the eligibility criteria, types of evidence required and the application process.
  • Assisting qualified advisors in family reunion casework appointments and to prepare family re-union applications
  • Undertaking OISC Level 1 immigration and asylum law training and OISC Level 1 exam

Supervisors / Volunteers will have regular group supervisions with the Legal Project Manager as well as briefings and de-briefings at each volunteering session.
Days and Hours per week /
  • Weekly on Wednesdays 2pm – 5pm
  • 5 day OISC level 1 live webinar training on 5th and 6thJanuaryand13th, 14thand15thFebruary

Time commitment / Minimum of 12 months commitment, ideally 24 months.
Person specification /
  • Able to demonstrate a high level of commitment and motivation to join the project
  • Strong interest in Refugee and Human Rights Law
  • Willingness to accredit as an immigration advisor including undertaking training, homework and revision for the OISC level 1 exam
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills including ability to work with non -native English speakers and interpreters
  • Ability to assimilate written information and follow procedures quickly and accurately
  • Good listening skills and ability to empathise with others
  • Ability to work in a busy and pressurised environment
  • Ability to work as part of a team
  • Desirable: experience in providing advice
  • Desirable: fluency in a community language

Training provided / Extensive training will be provided with the expectation that volunteers will successfully take the OISC (Office of the Immigration Service Commissioner) Level 1 exams within 12 months.
Volunteers will be required to attend the following training:
  • OISC Level 1 online webinar training on 5th and 6thJanuary 2017and13th, 14thand15thFebruary 2017
  • Refugee family re-union
  • UK asylum process and asylum support
  • Confidentiality and professional boundaries
  • Working with interpreters
Additional training organised regularly by NNRF and open to all volunteers: Young People and Asylum, Housing for Refugees, Access to Health Services, Asylum and Destitution, Safeguarding vulnerable adults, working with trafficked people.