Volunteering

These are all the skills that you could gain by giving some of your time to MWRC. Volunteering is FUN and an invaluable experience for all involved whether you have lots of time to spare or can only offer a few hours spare or even if you are available occasionally, your support will be greatly appreciated.

The voluntary help of sisters will always be crucial to the effective running of this service. By giving your time and skills you will not only be helping others in the community, you will also have the chance to meet other people and develop your skills, which may help your future job prospects.

Before anyone starts as a volunteer we will have a short interview with them to make sure that you know what is expected of you and to make sure you will be committed. Each role will be explained to you and we also tell you more about our work and organisation to you.

Each volunteer will then undergo induction, confidentiality and equality training.

Background Information

The Muslim Women’s Resource Centre is the first of its kind in Scotland, and is a very exciting new project, which has been developed, to run alongside mainstream agencies and in turn making them more responsive to the wants and the needs of Muslim women living within the community. All our services operate within a strict code of confidentiality and non-judgementalism. We aim to offer services in the users first language using interpreters where necessary.

It has taken a number of years and a very dedicated steering group to develop the project. Various studies and public meetings, combined with the everyday experiences of Muslim women living in Glasgow have resulted in mainstream agencies accepting that there is a need for an organisation to help combat the widespread isolation and exclusion experienced by Muslim women in Glasgow.

In addition to the established Muslim community the majority of whom emigrated from the Indian sub-continent, in Scotland and particularly in Glasgow there is a growing Muslim community, Glasgow has become home for many Asylum seekers and Refugees, and 85% of whom are Muslim, come from various ethnic backgrounds.

MWRC can provide many complementary services aimed at encouraging the development of Muslim women and through this, the Muslim community. The services we provide facilitate ongoing research and analysis on the changing needs of Muslim women. These are used as a basis for liaison and discussion with local authorities and other service providers to help make their services more responsive to the needs of Muslim women and the Muslim community in general.

The Aims & Objectives of MWRC:

1. To promote the welfare of Muslim women and counter any disadvantages they may face
2. To enable Muslim women to fully participate in society without having to compromise basic Islamic values and to ensure that they are able to access appropriate services and facilities

We do this by:

1. Working in partnership with statutory, voluntary and private organisations to ensure Muslim women’s needs are considered in the provision of services
2. Providing services that promote and encourage the development of Muslim women in a culturally and religiously sensitive manner
3. Providing a community focal point for Muslim women from all “ethnic” backgrounds
4. Involving women in an exciting and educative volunteering system

Services we provide:

1. Resource library & Information facilities: We provide a women’s drop in area with library and computer access
2. Advice & Information: We provide advice and information to women on a broad range of subjects
3. Advocacy Support: We accompany women who may lack confidence or require assistance to ensure that their views are clearly represented
4. Confidential Telephone Help Line: Provides confidential information, advice and support in a range of languages
5. Counselling: We offer support and counselling to help women with difficulties
6. Befriending: Helps overcome social isolation and facilitate access to a range of opportunities
7. Groups and Seminars: We run regular women’s groups and hold seminars and events

At present MWRC employs a full time Project Coordinator, three Administration Officers, two Helpline Development Workers and one Volunteer Coordinator, and Administration Worker-Volunteer’s Project.

Amina -the Muslim Women’s Resource Centre is based within Network House, in Govanhill, Glasgow. Network House has full wheelchair access and MWRC has use of an excellent crèche. The Resource Centre has been designed to meet the needs of Muslim women who work or volunteer here and the service users. We strive to meet the specific needs of all volunteers, within the constraints of our sometimes-limited resources.

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Volunteering with MWRC

Volunteering with MWRC could give you:

1. A chance to learn new skills
2. A chance to meet new people
3. Work experience
4. Access to training

These are all the skills that you could gain by giving some of your time to MWRC but most importantly volunteering is fun and an invaluable experience for all involved. Whether you have lots of time to spare or can only offer a few hours occasionally, your support will be greatly appreciated.

Before anyone starts as a volunteer we will have a discussion with them to make sure they understand what is expected of them, and that they are suited to the work they have indicated. Each volunteer will then undergo some general “induction training”.

MWRC has a dress code, all staff and volunteer are required to wear clothes that are not form fitting and cover the body to the wrists and down to the ankles.

The voluntary help of sisters will always be crucial to the effective running of this service. By giving us your time you will not only be helping others in the community, you will also have the chance to meet other like-minded people and develop your skills, which may help your future job prospects.

If you need any further information on any of the enclosed volunteer “job descriptions”, or require assistance filling in the enclosed application form, please contact us, by calling on 0141 585 8103 or 585 8026.

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Frequently asked Questions

Are all nationalities welcome?

Yes, the centre welcomes all women from all nationalities. MWRC tailors its services to suit the needs of Muslim women and we have volunteers from all over Europe, Asia, and Africa etc, in short the centre welcomes all women.

Will I get paid?

Although volunteering is an unpaid work, MWRC will pay all out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the volunteer, such as travel expenses which have been previously agreed by the volunteer coordinator.

Am I allowed to volunteer as an Asylum Seeker?
Will volunteering affect my claim for Asylum?

Yes, you can volunteer and No It will not affect your claim. Since April 2000, asylum seekers (people in the process of applying for refugee status) have been allowed to volunteer, including the time when they are appealing against any decision regarding their asylum application. The new Home Office guidance states that as long as Asylum Seekers are working for a non-profit making organisations (which we are), it does not count as employment and that you can receive out of pocket expenses just like other volunteers.

I am on Incapacity Benefit, can I volunteer?

If you are in receipt of Incapacity Benefit then you can volunteer as much as you can.

I am unemployed and on benefits will I still be able to volunteer?

Yes, volunteering for MWRC should not affect your benefits. However, individuals in receipt of benefits are advised to inform the Benefit office. Volunteers claiming Job Seekers Allowance (JSA) should inform their local Job Centre that they are doing voluntary work and give details about how to contact them when they are volunteering. To be in receipt of JSA people have to be available for work and actively seeking work. Provided these conditions are met there is no stated limit as to the number of hours per week volunteers can work and still claim JSA.

What if I have health concerns or disability?

MWRC will take account of your health issues when assigning tasks to you. We take our time to explain the area of volunteering work you are interested in so that you will be informed before volunteering and you’ll know if you are fit enough. MWRC continually looks at the best ways to ensure access for all e.g. use of interpreters, translated and audio materials. The building we are housed in has full disability access.

Can volunteering help me get a paid job?

Volunteering can provide new/improved skills, experience and personal benefits, such as increased confidence, which can assist a person to obtain a paid job. If you are looking for a paid job, it would be better for you to work out what you require from volunteering, so that you can choose voluntary work that is beneficial to you. You will not automatically get a paid job with MWRC as a result of volunteering.

I work part-time & therefore don't have alot of spare time on my hands, can I still volunteer for the project?

Yes, you can still volunteer whether you work full time or part time, you might be interested in the category of our irregular or back up volunteers; you might consider being a befriender or helping out during special events, Fundraising, or be a member of MWRC.

How much time do I have to give?

As a regular volunteer, the minimum amount of time is 3 hours a week and there is no maximum amount of hours you can give. But depending on your other commitment, and the kind of volunteering tasks you are interested in you might want to consider other possibilities of being involved e.g. a member of MWRC.

Do I have to cover my hair (wear hijab)?

No, volunteers are not required to use hijab but they have to dress appropriately by wearing clothes that are not tight fitting or see through and cover the body to the wrists and down to the ankles.

Will I have access to training if I want to volunteer?

MWRC provides training for all areas of volunteering work. However, we require commitment from volunteers to put this training into practice with us.

Who is a member of MWRC?

As a member of MWRC, you are expected to be committed to the aims and objectives of the organisation, are entitled to attend the Annual General Meeting, are entitled to stand for nominations to the Management Committee, to be kept up to date with events and activities at MWRC.

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Telephone Help-Line Volunteer

Purpose - Telephone Helpline is to provide confidential information, advice and support in a range of languages.

Tasks

1. To staff a minimum of three help line shifts per month providing information or listening ear to callers
2. To help organise information that might be of use to MWRC and our callers
3. To gather information regarding matters addressed and complete case files

We need you to help if you have the following qualities:

Essential

1. An ability to listen and empathise on the telephone
2. An ability to speak clearly and to be understood easily on the phone

Desirable

1. An ability to speak a community language as well as English
2. Previous experience of working on the telephone

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Administration Volunteer

Purpose - MWRC will not be able to function without the support of a committed clerical and administration team to ensure the smooth running of the day-to-day work of the centre.

Tasks

1. Word processing and basic desktop publishing duties
2. Reception duties including dealing with face to face and telephone callers. This may involve answering straightforward queries or referring on to another worker
3. Filing and photocopying
4. Distributing information

We need you to help if you have the following qualities:

Essential

1. Are good at organising events or helping with the organisation of events
2. Are good at following instructions
3. Have a polite and helpful manner

Desirable

1. Previous administration experience

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Advocacy Volunteer

Purpose - To accompany a service user who may lack confidence or require assistance to attend a meeting, and to ensure her views are clearly presented. Then after the meeting to confirm that the service user fully understands the outcome. Advocacy can be one off or can happen over a period of time. Sometimes people need help in communicating with their friends and families and this is also an area where advocacy can be of use.

Tasks

1. To discuss before the meeting/negotiation with the service user requiring advocacy, who is likely to be involved and what is likely to arise
2. To encourage the service user to represent herself
3. Put across the views of the service user and not your own

We need you to help if you have the following qualities:

Essential

1. An open, gentle, calm and reassuring manner
2. Have good listening skills
3. An ability to gain information sensitively
4. Have good verbal communication skills

Desirable

1. Experience in advocacy work
2. Can communicate in a community language and English

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Information/Advice Work Volunteer

Purpose - Information and advice work will be a core element of the work of MWRC, with people phoning and coming in for advice and information. The resource bank will be constantly updated.

Tasks

1. To provide advice and information to women on a range of subjects
2. To maintain and develop the resource bank
3. To develop and maintain contacts with specialist advisors, and refer to them where necessary before giving advice
4. To make referrals assist with self referral to specialist agencies and to ensure that interpreting advocacy facilities are available
5. To provide advice to statutory and voluntary agencies on the needs of Muslim women

We need you to help if you have the following qualities:

Essential

1. Are good at talking and listening to people
2. Can work well as part of a team
3. Are good at organising
4. Have good verbal communication skills

Desirable

1. Can communicate in a community language and English
2. Experience of gathering and collating information and establishing database

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Counselling Volunteer

Purpose - Counselling will take place within an Islamic framework, and its purpose will be to enable service user with difficulties to reach their own decisions, based on discussing issues with a counsellor who will not judge them and shares an Islamic reference point.

Tasks

1. To provide a listening ear for a service user who might need it
2. To provide counselling support
3. To work closely with advice staff to ensure an easy transition is made between our advisory service to counselling
4. To participate in the development of Islamic counselling training for other volunteers

We need you to help if you have the following qualities:

Essential

1. An open, gentle, calm and reassuring manner
2. Are good at listening, and picking up unspoken cues
3. Are not judgemental of others
4. Have good verbal communication skills
5. And have a counselling qualification or counselling experience

Desirable

1. An ability to communicate in a community language and English

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Research Volunteer

Purpose - The research we undertake will be used to ensure that mainstream agencies are aware of the needs of Muslim women, and encourage them to adjust their services to make them more sensitive.

Tasks

1. Outreach work through surveys, questionnaires and other research techniques into specific aspects of Muslim women’s experiences
2. Collation and analysis of the enquires and issues brought to MWRC
3. Library research to analyse useful information researched elsewhere

We need you to help if you have the following qualities:

Essential

1. Basic computing skills
2. Are good at communicating with people

Desirable

1. Experience of collating information
2. Establishing databases
3. The ability to communicate in a community language and English

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Fundraising Volunteer

Purpose - To raise money for the running costs of MWRC and to raise the profile of the centre in the community and with other agencies. All fundraising activities must be in line with Islamic requirements, and will be subject to the agreement of the management committee.

Tasks

1. Community fundraising events such as sponsored activities and meena bazaars
2. Written applications for grants to charitable organisations, government bodies, corporate sponsorship etc
3. Individual donations

We need you to help if you have the following qualities:

Essential

1. Are good at communicating with people
2. Are good at organising events

Desirable

1. Previous fundraising experience
2. Budgetary and accounting skills

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Befriending Volunteer

Purpose - Many sisters in Glasgow feel isolated, lonely or just lack the confidence to do something alone. MWRC hopes to reduce this issue by putting service users in touch with other service users who share similar interests, by arranging a “Befriender”. Sometimes a service user might wish for their “Befriender” to accompany them to a public place or visit them in their home. All befriending arrangements will be arranged via MWRC, to ensure everybody’s safety.

Everyone who volunteers for Befriending will have to complete a Criminal Record Bureau (CRB) check and providing this is successfully vetted you will be allowed to befriend.

Tasks

1. To accompany a Befriendee to various places until she feels able to go alone
2. To listen to the Befriendee and where appropriate direct her to sources of advice
3. To provide a supportive relationship that develops the Befriendee’s skills and confidence

We need you to help if you have the following qualities:

Essential

1. Are good at communicating with people
2. Are good at talking to people and explaining things
3. Are willing to attend events with the client
4. Are good at encouraging/ motivating others
5. Are good at listening

Desirable

1. An ability to communicate in a community language and English

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Development Work Volunteer

Purpose - MWRC works alongside mainstream agencies to overcome social exclusion of Muslim women in Scotland. For this to happen successfully we need volunteers who can help to develop contacts within the Muslim community and between Muslims and non-Muslims

MWRC organises seminars on different issues facing Muslims, which are held in settings accessible to Muslim women.

Tasks

1. To assist with the development of support groups and participate in community development activities
2. To take part in the organisation of seminars and conferences
3. To promote and develop surgeries and outreach work
4. To undertake outreach work within the community

We need you to help if you have the following qualities:

Essential

1. Have good verbal communication skills
2. Can work well as part of a team
3. Good listening skills
4. Good organisational skills

Desirable

1. Previous experience of development work
2. Can communicate in a community language and English

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