Volunteer with Beyond Detention
Beyond Detention provides emotional and practical support such as befriending, clothes and phone credit to people detained in Yarl’s Wood IRC and phone credit, supermarket vouchers and devices post-detention.
We have over 30 volunteers with lots of different skills helping us with a range of tasks.
“I became a Yarl’s Wood befriender for two reasons: I wanted to make a difference in my community and I wanted to show people who come to the UK to seek a better life that there are many of us who welcome and support them. I’ve been a befriender for three years, visiting people in Yarl’s Wood before the pandemic and befriending over the phone when the centre was closed to visitors. I’ve visited and spoken to lots of different people and it’s always interesting to hear their stories. Some people have made difficult trips to get to the UK while some have lived here for many years.
It is sometimes hard being a befriender but always rewarding. People in detention often have no family in the UK and can feel isolated, scared and overwhelmed. The people I visit often tell me how grateful they are to have someone to talk to or how much better they feel after spending time with someone who really listens to them. It feels good to know that the small amount of time I contribute makes such a big difference.”
Frank - Befriender
Our vision is a time when people who experience immigration detention in the UK have their rights respected. Our mission is to through emotional and practical support, we empower, restore dignity to and improve the wellbeing of people in immigration detention and after their release. Our values are that;
•we are compassionate, empowering and inclusive
•we act with integrity and kindness
•we are respectful and non-judgmental
“I just wanted to say how impressed I have been with the training and induction process I have experienced as a new volunteer with Beyond Detention. The team has gone out of its way to help me settle in, provide answers to many questions even before I asked and provided a forum in which I feel able to raise any concerns about anything at all. I am very impressed how professionally such a small charity is operating.”
Heather – Drop-in Volunteer
We run regular Information Sessions where you can find out more about volunteering with us. You can register here https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/beyond-detention-10852411811
Check out the roles available on our Simply Connect system:
- Post Detention Casework Volunteer
- Volunteer Befriender — In Detention
- Volunteer Befriender — Post Detention
- Drop in Volunteer
- Support Volunteer
If you would like to talk further about volunteering, or would like some help using our Simply Connect Platform to register your interest in any of the above opportunities, then please do get in touch. volunteering@cvsbeds.org.uk.
