June 7, 2021 by admin
Volunteers Week 2021 – Kelly
Our long-standing volunteer Kelly explains why she was drawn to HMSC and the different ways in which she has supported visitors:
I heard about HMSC when I was on the BPTC and immediately felt a connection, having recently completed an LLM in Human Rights. I have always had an interest in immigration, and what gives us the right to give or take away status. As well as this, I’ve lived in Haringey since coming to London in 2014.
My role at HMSC has recently changed. I started as a triage volunteer where I was meeting the visitor for the first time and assessing their needs.
I am now a Legal Support Volunteer. I typically have a Teams meeting with the legal support team on a Tuesday morning, take on a visitor and start the work. This might be making a referral to a solicitor, a Subject Access Request, organising a food voucher or starting the process to access legal aid because many of our visitors are not able to work or access funds due to their status.
The best part about volunteering is the immediate and obvious difference you make to a person’s life. Whether it be a mother and children being housed or a single homeless man being given a status where he can access the vital services he needs. Every day I learn something new, whether it is from the visitor themselves or the staff.
If you are considering volunteering at HMSC, you will be making such a difference to someone’s life. It is thoroughly rewarding seeing someone go from destitution to stability. There is a growth mindset at HMSC and it’s a pleasure to be part of.
Volunteers’ Week (1st – 7th June 2021) is an opportunity to celebrate, recognise and say thank you for the fantastic contribution volunteers make around the UK. Each day this week, we’ll be bringing you stories from HMSC’s incredible volunteers. To find out more about our work, follow us on Twitter.
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