Roma Oral History Project Volunteer

Registration Pack

Last updated: 2017

Roma Support Group

P.O. Box 23610

London E7 0XB

Phone: 020 7511 8245

Phone: 020 7511 7343

Fax: 020 7511 0822

Dear candidate for a volunteer position,

Thank you for expressing an interest in becoming a volunteer with the Roma Support Group. Please find enclosed a Volunteer Role Description, Volunteer Registration Form and Volunteering Opportunities Equal Opportunity Form. Please complete all the relevant forms and return to us by email or by post. Our email address is: and postal address is: Roma Support Group, PO Box 23610, London E7 0XB.

Kind regards,

Roma Oral History Project Team

Role Description

Roma Oral History Project Volunteer

Organisation Name / Roma Support Group
Organisation Overview / The Roma Support Group (RSG) is a registered Charity and a Company Limited by Guarantee. The organisation was established in 1998 in order to improve the quality of life of Roma refugees and migrants in London. At present the organisation delivers the following projects and services: a/ general advice for Roma families; b/ Roma Community Advocacy Project; c/ Aspiration Project for young Roma; d/ Early Years Project; e/ Roma Arts Development Project (e.g. ‘Bridging Sounds Roma Youth Orchestra’); f/ Karate classes; g/ Policy & Information Project; h/ Roma Support & Engagement Programme; i/ Promoting understanding of Roma culture through publishing and disseminating resources, organising conferences and seminars.
The need and demand for our work is reflected in our casework statistics. At present we provide assistance to over 2,500 Roma refugees and migrants from Poland, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Romania, Lithuania, Balkan countries, etc. Our centres are located around high concentrations of Roma people in the London Boroughs of Newham and Hammersmith & Fulham.
Roma are amongst the most socially excluded communities in the UK. In the context of rising Romaphobia, it is more important than ever, to empower Roma to preserve and share their heritage in order to challenge negative perceptions and discrimination that are widely shared in British society.
Project Overview / The Project will focus on the unrecorded oral histories of Roma refugees and migrants from East/Central Europe living in London since the mid-1990s, exploring the themes of displacement, changing identities, and an emerging sense of belonging in their new country.
The oral histories will be collected and archived by the Roma researchers with the assistance of volunteers. All of the collected oral histories will be audio-recorded, transcribed, translated, catalogued and archived at the London Metropolitan Archives and Redbridge Museum, making them available to the wider public for the first time in UK.
Researchers and volunteers will be also engaged in organising educational workshops and creating educational materials bases on recorded oral histories.
Role title / Roma Oral History Project Volunteer
Location of position / Roma Support Group’s office in Canning Town (L. B. Newham), as well as outreach across London
Responsible to / Roma Oral History Project Co-ordinator
Purpose/Summary of role / Support Roma Oral History Researchers in recording and archiving their heritage, co-organising educational workshops, creating educational materials based on recorded oral histories and promoting the project and its aims.
Description of tasks / We are looking for a number of volunteers to support delivery of the Roma Oral History Project. Volunteers may support delivery of a chosen aspect of the project or they may get involved in all stages of the project (2 years) depending on their skills and interests. The extensive training will be provided for all volunteers.
Potential tasks include:
-Undertaking research into the history of the Roma community in London.
-Act as an interpreter for the Project (Roma dialects and Eastern European languages).
-Assisting in the use of the recording equipment (training provided by the Oral History Society) and taking responsibility for its safeguarding during the interviews.
-Assisting Roma Researchers with the interviews (setting up the recording equipment, making sure the material is properly recorded during the interview and looking after wellbeing of the people involved in the interviewing process).
-Assisting with the transcription of the interviews, translation and proofreading.
-Assisting with the delivery of the educational workshops to schools.
-Providing help in creating an interactive website, editing recorded materials, designing promotional materials, e.g. leaflets, posters.
Time Commitment / At least 6 months and no longer than 24 months (exception can be made for shorter periods of volunteering).
Flexible hours to meet needs of the volunteers and the project (weekdays am/pm and/or some unsociable hours, e.g. after-school hours and evenings - depending on the role).
Skills and Qualifications / You do not need to have any related qualifications for
this role (training will be provided) but you should be able to communicate cross-culturally in a variety of settings. You should be tactful and patient when dealing with people and have a good sense of humour.
Other requirements / Age: 18+
Willingness to undertake Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks: volunteers involved in an outreach work
Training and Support / You will be given an induction training into various aspects of work (project’s methodology, themes, outreach, data protection, health and safety and administration), as well as Roma Cultural Awareness Training.
You will receive ongoing support and supervision fromProjectCo-ordinator.
You will attend specialist training sessions in:
-Oral history skills (research, interviewing, collating data, using recording equipment, transcription) provided by the Oral History Society
-Collections and conservation (acquisitions, cataloguing, handling and caring for collections) provided by the London Metropolitan Archives (LMA)
-Creating and delivering educational workshops for schools provided by the London Metropolitan Archives (LMA)
Reimbursement of expenses / Out of pocket expenses will be reimbursed:
-Travel expenses
Benefits to volunteer / -Opportunity to gain practical experience in aprofessional environment.
-Learning new skills through an extensive training programme.
-Being part of a team and playing an important role in aunique and innovative project.
Application Procedure / Application
Informal interviews
References
DBS (if applicable)
Contact Information / If you require any further information please contact or call 020 7511 8245 (Tuesday & Thursday)

Roma Support Group

Volunteer Registration Form

First Name(s):
Surname:
Address:
Address:
Telephone number:
Mobile:
E-mail address:
Nationality:
Languages spoken:
Occupation:

For how long approximately are you planning to volunteer for RSG (e.g. few months*, year, do not know)?

How many Hours/Days per Week/Month/Year would you like to volunteer for RSG?

Why did you choose to volunteer for the Roma Oral History Project?

What is your knowledge of Roma and their culture?

Your comments and questions:

Date:

Signature:

If you are not sure how to fill this form get in touch with us or explain below in your own words in what RSG activities you are interested.

Please mark that mentoring, due to its nature has a six months minimum period of volunteering. We apologise for any inconvenience.

Roma Support Group

Volunteer Equal Opportunities Form

Please fill or tick as appropriate.

First Name
Surname
Gender / Female
Male
Age/ Date of Birth
Ethnicity
Roma
White – British
White – East European
White - Any other white background
Please describe:
Black- African
Black - Caribbean
Black other
Please describe:
Asian - Pakistani
Asian - Bangladeshi
Asian – Other Asian background
Please describe:
Chinese
Other ethnic group
Please describe:
Do not wish to disclose
Do you have disability? / Yes
Please describe
No
Do not wish to disclose

In the interest of the RSG Equal Opportunities Policy RSG staff and volunteers are asked to complete this questionnaire. This information will be kept strictly confidential and will be used for the purpose of equal opportunities monitoring only.

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