Volunteer Position Description Committee Volunteers Title: Refugee Peer Support Group Member

Purpose
  To provide peer support to refugee claimants.

Qualifications
· Must be a refugee or former refugee.
· Familiarity with The 519 and its mission and values
· Knowledge of community outreach and promotion
· Knowledge of Canada’s refugee system
· Knowledge of services available to refugees, particularly those who are LGBT
· Sensitivity to issues faced by LGBT people, people with low incomes or who live in poverty, and people whose first language is not English

Responsibilities
· Attend meetings of the committee on a monthly or bimonthly basis.
· Provide peer support on an individual and group basis to refugees.
· Facilitate meetings of the peer support group.
· Coordinate group activities with the Programme Manager and Volunteer Coordinator.
· Ensure that 519 policies and procedures with regard to group and peer support are adhered to.
· Ensure that all members are aware of The 519’s structure of accountability and that any concerns may be brought to the attention of 519 staff.

Orientation/Training
  Committee members will be oriented to the group by the Volunteer Coordinator and/or other committee members.

  Training will be made available according to the needs of the group and available funding through The 519 Volunteer Programme.

  Training in peer support and group facilitation will be provided by the Vounteer Coordinator.

Hours
  Volunteers commit to a monthly 2-3-hour shift plus any additional hours required for peer support.

Commitment
  A minimum of 1 year.

Supervisor
  The Refugee Peer Support Committee is run as a volunteer collective with support from The 519 staff liaison (Volunteer Coordinator).