Afghan Association Paiwand was formed in 2002 by committed volunteers from the Afghan community in the UK. The association was formed in response to a manifest growth in problems faced by members of the Afghan community living in the UK in the areas of housing, employment, education, children and family support and mental health. Paiwand now supports all refuges and migrants to the UK.
The Paiwand Advocacy Service aims to assist and empower refuges and asylum seekers to have their views taken into account by the organisations who make decisions which affect them. Advocacy is not about making decisions for people, but about giving them the information and resources they need to make decisions for themselves and then assisting them in following through those decisions. The service provides people with advice in support in a number of areas including housing, welfare benefits, legal rights, access to education etc.
The advocacy service provided by Paiwand is both free and independent.
They require volunteers to work under the supervision of the Advocacy Project Manager to interview clients and assist in providing advice and advocacy to clients. This may involve providing clients with written advice, writing letters on behalf of clients, making phone calls on behalf of clients and carrying out research as well as other tasks.
Working hours will be flexible, however, the minimum commitment is three advocacy surgeries plus follow up work. Surgeries are either a full or half day and the follow up work will take no more than one day.
It would be desirable for volunteers to have knowledge/experience in one or more of the following areas:
Housing
Welfare Benefits
Job Seekers Allowance
Law
Rights
A full induction and training will be given and the opportunities are based in Barnet, Harrow, Brent, Haringey and Enfield.
If you are interested in finding out more about this position, please email volunteers@tpp.co.uk with a CV and covering letter quoting reference BF023.