Amreet: One visit to RMC that changed a lot
Former volunteer at RMC and now a full-time staff member, 22 year old Amreet from Wolverhampton shares why she first decided to contact the centre and what the experience has been like.
I first heard about RMC three years ago when I was working on a youth programme. The group of young people that I was mentoring were partnered with the charity on a social action project.
After spending a single day with staff and clients at the centre, I knew that this was a vital resource in our city.
Learning about the work of RMC made me feel proud to live in Wolverhampton, where such care was being taken to help refugees and migrants.
I decided to start volunteering in November 2017 while I was studying for a degree in Philosophy and Literature. I wanted to spend my free time doing something worthwhile.
RMC immediately came to mind as a place where I could invest my time and help to make a difference in our local community. his combined with watching the international refugee crisis unfold with a sense of disbelief and helplessness, compelled me to do something. RMC gave the opportunity to do this and is a great example of an organisation that has a positive impact within its local community and beyond.
I started by volunteering on reception, but soon had the opportunity to try health and immigration casework too.
My favorite part of volunteering at RMC was that every day is different, with a range of people to meet and various problems to try to solve.
I also really enjoyed spending time with the other volunteers and staff, as there are people from every walk of life who are brought together by the shared goal of helping others. It is lovely to spend time with those who you might not meet in any other context; to share and learn about other cultures.
I gained so much from my time at RMC, both practically and personally. It (volunteering) allowed me to see that I can make a difference to the world around me.
On a practical level, I developed a much better understanding of the issues that those who move to the UK face and, more importantly, what can be done to ease some of those concerns. On a personal level, I also gained self-confidence through volunteering.
An unexpected benefit from volunteering was also my Punjabi language skills when speaking with clients. This helped me to feel much closer to my own heritage and made my parents happy to know that I am getting some speaking practice!
After graduating in August 2018, I cntinued to volunteer at the centre for three or four days per week. In December 2018, I was employed full-time at RMC, which is something I am both grateful for and proud of. It is an incredibly inspiring place to work at, and I look forward to every day I spend at the charity.
For a volunteer application pack, please email RMC’s Volunteers Manager Craig Hands at craig@rmcentre.org.uk.
Volunteers’ Week (1st – 7th June) is a nationwide opportunity to say thank you for the fantastic contribution volunteers make. Throughout this week, the Refugee and Migrant Centre (Black Country and Birmingham) (RMC), will be bringing our supporters a story each day, highlighting the diverse and invaluable contributions these people make. To find out more about how we’re celebrating, follow our Twitter or Facebook.
