Volunteering at The Welcoming

Our volunteers support English classes, friendship groups, health and wellbeing activities, sustainability activities, and events.

Volunteers and participants walking together in a park as part of a community wellbeing activity.
Volunteer assisting a participant during an English language class at The Welcoming in Edinburgh.
A group of people gardening and planting seeds at an allotment site.

Game & Chat Group Volunteer

Are you friendly, a good listener, and enjoy connecting with people?

The Welcoming is currently recruiting two volunteers to support our Game & Chat Group – a weekly social session for male asylum seekers living in hotel accommodation in Edinburgh.

This group offers a relaxed, informal space where participants can meet others, practise English, play games and take a break from the challenges of daily life. Many people attending experience isolation and uncertainty, so your presence can make a real difference.

What you’ll do

  • Help set up and tidy the space
  • Welcome participants and help create a friendly atmosphere
  • Start conversations and support English language practice
  • Encourage participation in games and group activities
  • Join occasional team check-ins with staff and volunteers

Who we’re looking for

We’re looking for people who are:

  • Friendly, patient and reliable
  • Good listeners with strong interpersonal skills
  • Respectful of boundaries, privacy and different cultural backgrounds
  • Open to learning, reflecting and receiving feedback

An intermediate level of English is required.

Time commitment

🕑 Wednesdays, 2:45 – 5:00pm
📍 Comely Bank area, Edinburgh (full details shared after induction)
🗓️ At least twice a month for a minimum of four months

Training and support

We’ll support you with:
✔️ Volunteer induction
✔️ Trauma-informed practice training
✔️ Ongoing support from our Friendship Group Coordinator
✔️ Opportunities for group supervision and reflection

Why volunteer?

You’ll be helping to create a space where people can feel welcome, build confidence and connect with others in their new community.

Interested?

We’d love to hear from you.

📧 Contact Gosia Kowalewska at [email protected]

Do you want to support our work?

There are many meaningful ways you can support our work and help us create a more welcoming Scotland for New Scots.

You can support The Welcoming by making a donation, partnering with us through fundraising or in-kind support, or by sharing our story to help raise awareness.

Have a question about volunteering?

To find out more about other types of volunteering, please contact [email protected]

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General information for volunteers

ESOL Volunteer at The Welcoming
A group of refugees, migrants and volunteers standing in a park in Edinburgh.
Refugee Festival Scotland Event - a group of three volunteers standing and smiling at the tea station.

Volunteering opportunities with our partners

We work with a range of organisations across Edinburgh and Scotland. Sometimes, our partners have volunteering opportunities that are relevant to our volunteers. When these opportunities become available, they will be listed below.