Northern Ireland Refugee Support Service (NIRSS)
These volunteers are dedicated, reliable and diligent in their roles in the NIRSS, which supports Syrian refugees on their resettlement and integration journey in Northern Ireland. Throughout the pandemic, these volunteers have assisted the advice clinic and its service users with issues such as booking GP appointments, reporting housing issues and accessing English classes for newly arrived families. The volunteers ensure that service users are treated with dignity and can make informed choices. They offer reassurance to service users and build trusting relationships with them, so that they feel comfortable asking for help. The volunteers have gone above and beyond during the pandemic, covering extra shifts, dealing with unforeseen challenges such as food shortages for families and alleviating pressure on members of staff. They have adapted to the challenges of volunteering remotely throughout the pandemic with patience and positivity and worked well together as a team.
This Year’s Regional Winners are:
- Central England – Hertfordshire Family Support Volunteer Team
- Cymru and South West – Breastfeeding Peer Support Team
- North England – Eden Breastfeeding Peer Supporters
- South East – West Essex Virtual Breastfeeding Peer Support Volunteer Team