Volunteers needed! Can you please help?

It’s Volunteers’ Week and we’re looking for groups of people from Greater Manchester, Lancashire, Liverpool, Leeds and Lancaster who might be able to help with a very special project we’re coordinating.   

Here, Yama from our team explains more… 

Can you please tell us about the project? 

The Afghan Welcome Project is a new government funded scheme, aiming to relocate eligible Afghan households who have been waiting in temporary accommodation overseas for relocation, so they can find a permanent and safe home in the UK.   We’re working with a consortium of partners to help, through safe and legal routes. 

What volunteering opportunities are on offer? 

We’re looking for groups of at least six volunteers that we can support to help with:    

• Finding and securing housing in Greater Manchester, Lancashire, Liverpool, Lancaster or Leeds for Afghan families over the next five years.   

• Matching with an Afghan family to provide tailored support for a person, couple or family, helping them to settle and become independent. 

• Providing individualised welcome, cultural awareness and community support. 

• Giving practical and relational support, ensuring families are supported to access English classes, healthcare, education, and work opportunities. 

• Building family independence and connection within 12 to 18 months, helping the families build confidence, friendships, and self-sufficiency. 

What can people expect from volunteering with their friends to support this project? 

All Afghan Welcome Project volunteer groups will receive training from the International Rescue Committee (IRC). The training is practical and designed to help you feel confident and supported.  It includes: 

• Core training: covering the application process, safeguarding, pre and post arrival support, trauma-informed and culturally aware practice. 

• Specialist sessions: including cultural awareness, interpreting, and volunteer wellbeing. 

• Monthly drop-ins: including ‘experts by experience’ and regular newsletters sharing tips, tools, and success stories, alongside monthly online sessions. 

What skills and experience do people need? 

Whether you can offer housing, skills, time, or local leadership, we can mentor and support you every step of the way. All you need to have is a kind heart and spare time to offer respectful and humanitarian support to the Afghan families who need your help. 

What skills and experience would people develop by volunteering? 

It’s an opportunity to use your experience, skills, and expertise to actively contribute to the safe resettlement of a family in your community.  Volunteers can grow in both confidence and self esteem, and have an increased awareness of their local community too.  A full induction and training will be given and there’s access to regular support too. 

The formal training will build your knowledge of safety and safeguarding as well as cultural awareness. And because you’ll be helping a new family settle in, you might find out more about your local area, too! 

Where would people be based/be expected to volunteer for this project? 

Wherever is most convenient for the volunteer – we are looking for help in Greater Manchester, Liverpool, Lancashire, Lancaster and Leeds. 

What difference will taking part make? 

By volunteering with Caritas under the Communities for Afghans, you will be changing lives, bringing hope, and you will transform a family’s story into a confident, successful and well established future. 

Why is it so important that volunteers come forward to help? 

You become part of something much bigger than one family’s journey. You’re helping to shape the future of community-led resettlement, showing what’s possible when local people lead the way in offering safety, dignity, and hope. 

Your involvement helps families rebuild their lives, strengthens your own community, and demonstrates that safe and legal routes work best when they are community led.

In a world that can feel divided, this work is a quiet but powerful reminder of what unites us – kindness, courage, and the belief that everyone deserves a place to belong. 

We’d love to hear from you if you’d be interested in helping – please do get in touch.