Remote Vietnamese Interpreter Volunteer — Help Refugees

National Interpreter Volunteer (Vietnamese - Remote)

Our Interpreter volunteers provide an essential communication link between people who use the refugee support, restoring family links services and anti-trafficking (Migration & Displacement) Directorate, and staff and volunteers who provide the service.

Many of our service users do not speak English as their first language and rely on a high quality, confidential and standard of interpretation and translation to relay their personal information. For many of our service users this can be a difficult and distressing process. We help them to find a way forward and help them start their lives in a new country.

We would like you to:

• Be available to volunteer for up to 2 hours per week or 2 hours per month for British Red Cross staff members.
• Be able to commit to volunteering for at least 6 months.
• Be fluent in speaking and/or translating Vietnamese and have a good level of English.
• Have access to a mobile and computer/laptop, as well as a quiet space to interpret over the phone.

We welcome applications from those with previous experience of interpreting and preferably with a qualification in interpreting and/or translation. Depending on experience and qualifications you may be required to undertake a language assessment.

The National Interpreter Volunteer role will be mainly home based with potential for working at a local office with prior arrangement.

We would be particularly interested to hear from you if you have experience of being a refugee or asylum seeker.

Unfortunately we aren't able to accept applications from 15 – 17 year olds for this role. Please get in touch and we can support you to find another role in your area.

Diversity is something we celebrate, and we want you to be able to bring your authentic self to the Red Cross. We want you to feel that you are in an inclusive environment, and a great position to help us spread the power of kindness.

We take an individual approach to ensuring your safety.

We may ask you to complete a simple risk assessment and will also have a conversation with you to discuss and identify any adjustments you may need.

The British Red Cross helps millions of people in the UK and around the world to prepare for, respond to and recover from emergencies, disasters, and conflicts.

We are part of the global Red Cross and Red Crescent humanitarian network and we refuse to ignore people in crisis.

The British Red Cross is committed to providing, where possible, helpful interpretation and translation for individuals who use our refugee support, restoring family links and anti-trafficking services, as well as those who choose to call our National Support Line for support.

This role is an essential communication link between people who use the refugee support, restoring family links services and anti-trafficking (RSRFLAT) Directorate, or the National Support Line and staff and volunteers who provide the service. Many of our service users do not speak English as their first language and rely on a high quality, confidential and standard of interpretation and translation to relay their personal information.

For many of our service users this can be a difficult and distressing process.

Good communication is at the heart of a quality, safe and effective service. Due to the intensity and complexity of parts of our services, it is essential to work at the highest standards that allow for effective communication between people and cultures.

Professionalism, compassion, neutrality and contextual knowledge are important alongside service users having choices regarding gender, dialect/language and the mode of interpreting.

• Facilitating communication between staff/volunteers and service users by providing interpretation and/or translation services by telephone
• Interpreting/translating according to the British Red Cross guidelines, policies and procedures
• Identifying and respond appropriately to safeguarding and protection issues with vulnerable clients, including children and vulnerable adults

• Experienced as an interpreter
• Empathetic and professional; inspiring confidence that…