It’s Volunteers’ Week– a time to highlight the work of all those amazing people who give their time and skills freely so that charities like ours can support those using our services.
Here Charles Drax, who’s been a Language & Learning teaching assistant for the past two years, talks about his experience of volunteering with Action Foundation.
Had you worked with refugees before volunteering with us?
Funnily enough I got involved through my child who’s an extraordinary young person who has done some really quite unusual things in their short life. They’re 28 and have a real social conscience.
Just before the pandemic, they were out in what used to be called ‘the Jungle’ in Calais, France and I was intrigued as to why my child wanted to do that. Their job was helping provide shelter, electricity and organising food. They also went to Lesbos in Greece and Northern Iraq.
So, I thought I’d pop down to Calais, and go and see them. It was the first time I’d ever done anything like that in my life! I took the train to Calais then hired a bicycle and biked over to the camp. I spent the week teaching refugees English, German, French – whatever they wanted to learn.
How did you become an English teaching assistant with Action Foundation?
After I retired in July 2023 from my job as a language teacher at Newcastle School for Boys, I thought teaching English as a volunteer would keep the brain matter going – also it’s a good cause – so I put myself forward.
On my first day I really enjoyed meeting some of the other teaching assistants and it felt right, it felt like something I could do, something I could contribute to. I began volunteering every Tuesday and Thursday.
I had been a bit nervous about what retirement would be like and it helped me deal with that huge life change. Action Foundation really provided that structure. It’s perfect.
What do you enjoy about the role?
The friendship of the teachers I work alongside and the students from different nationalities. Their motivation to get on with their lives, to deal with the appalling situations they find themselves in by learning English and being able to contribute more to where they now live. I find that inspirational.
For example, Nina, a Ukrainian headmistress (who’s now a student here) is an extraordinary woman. You just cannot believe how some people get up in the morning. They come to your lesson and are just determined to get on. It’s hugely inspiring. It makes you want to do your job and be there and do what you can really.
You’ve also begun volunteering with Young Lives Charles – how is that?
Charles with Young Lives participant Ryan at Hadrian’s Wall
During my time at Newcastle School for Boys I got involved with the Duke of Edinburgh Awards scheme and I absolutely loved doing it and grew it from scratch. In fact I still work as a D of E leader.
When I found out Bridget (Stratford – who manages Action Foundation’s Young Lives service) had taken some young people on outward bound trips, I offered to help.
In the Easter holidays, we managed to organise a five kilometre walk along Hadrian’s Wall to Housesteads Fort for seven refugee boys aged 11-17 who come along to Young Lives.
I planned the route, provided suitable kit and trained the boys on map reading and compass work before and during the walk.
Kit was a big issue so I collected some items from charity shops beforehand like gloves, hats and jackets. I used my own collection of Wellington boots, supplemented by some charity shop walking boots. I also had a good collection of waterproof trousers and jackets.
Each pair of students led one of the three legs and were given compasses, a map and map case. Some of the boys had attended earlier training sessions so knew how to set the compass on a bearing. They all tried to use the map with the compass, some having had more training than others. They all got the hang of working out distances though and how long each leg would take. It was a good day and I think they enjoyed it.
What would you say to anyone thinking of volunteering with us?
Definitely I’d encourage them. I think Action Foundation is doing a great job, not just with English teaching, but also with housing, the Drop-in and advice. Refugees have so much to contribute and they just need the support.
