Matching Skills with Opportunities
What is Skills match?
Skillsmatch is a platform that matches the skills, experiences and interests of asylum seekers and refugees with a broad range of volunteering opportunities in the Newcastle area.
Many refugees and people seeking asylum arrive in the UK with a wealth of skills and experiences. However, the majority are not allowed to undertake paid work. skillsmatch aims to connect these individuals with local organisations who need volunteers with specific skills and interests to help deliver their services and support their projects.
Volunteer Links
Volunteering can bring huge benefits to refugees and people seeking asylum. Many wish to contribute to and connect with their local community. Click the button to find opportunities and information about volunteering .
If you are an organisation keen to welcome refugees and people seeking asylum as volunteers please continue by clicking the button.
“I enjoyed spending time, being useful and helpful. I learned how to work on stage, working while people were watching”
—Skillsmatch volunteer
Covid-19 Update
Whilst Covid-19 has brought huge challenges to the voluntary sector and the people that WERS supports, the project is now up and running again. Whilst there are currently fewer opportunities to volunteer than there were pre-Covid, we are working with several partner organisations who have safe roles to offer, and who have Covid security measures in place.
We continue to work with new and existing partners to re-establish a broader range of roles going forward and will continue to explore new roles as restrictions ease.
Project background
Skillsmatch is managed by the West End Refugee Service (WERS) and have been created and shaped with a group of refugees and people seeking asylum.
skillsmatch is funded by the National Lottery Community Fund, Newcastle City Council and Shears Foundation. The project was developed initially as a Creative Fuse Innovation Pilot in 2018, a partnership between the West End Refugee Service, local creative agency Roots and Wings and Newcastle University Business School and Teesside University School of Social Sciences. This website was developed in close consultation with a group of WERS clients and a range of local organisations.
our Conception
You can read more about how Skillsmatch was initially developed in this project report published in June 2018.
