HARINGEY WELCOME 

VOLUNTEER INDUCTION

(BASE PACK – ALL VOLUNTEERS)

PURPOSE OF THIS DOCUMENT

This document sets out the base induction information for all Haringey Welcome volunteers. It reflects the agreed Volunteer Policy and Volunteer Journey, and is designed to be proportionate to current capacity as a volunteer-led organisation. It does not set out role-specific guidance for Core Volunteers, which will be covered separately.

This induction pack is primarily designed for volunteers. It may also be used, in part, to orient new staff to Haringey Welcome’s values and ways of working.

WELCOME AND PURPOSE

Haringey Welcome is a local organisation working as part of a wider movement to replace hostile immigration policies with a fair and inclusive system grounded in justice, equality, dignity, and anti-racism. We work to show that fairer systems and more inclusive communities are possible. Our aim is a borough where all residents, including migrants and refugees, can live with dignity, safety, and a sense of belonging.

Haringey Welcome plans to employ a small number of staff by the last quarter of 2026 as part of strengthening sustainability and coordination. We expect, however, to remain fundamentally volunteer driven.

This induction pack sets out what it means to volunteer with Haringey Welcome, how we work, and what is expected of everyone involved.

 

WHO WE ARE AND WHERE WE’VE COME FROM

Haringey Welcome began in 2015 when a small group of local residents responded to the lack of local engagement with the refugee crisis. Early campaigning contributed to Haringey Council committing to resettle Syrian families in 2016. Over time, the group expanded its focus from refugee welcome to challenging the wider hostile environment policies affecting migrants and people seeking asylum.

In 2025, Haringey Welcome became a Company Limited by Guarantee as part of a transition to strengthen sustainability and governance, while remaining rooted in grassroots activism and solidarity.

Our priorities and activities continue to evolve depending on context, capacity, and the people involved.

 

OUR VALUES AND SOLIDARITY APPROACH

Haringey Welcome is grounded in solidarity, not charity.

This means:

  • We work with, not for, people directly affected by the issues we care about.
  • We recognise and value lived experience.
  • We act collectively and seek to share power, rather than positioning ourselves as helpers or service providers.
  • We aim to act with dignity, respect, fairness, and accountability in all our work.
  • We remain open to learning and challenge, while treating others with respect.

Volunteers are expected to reflect these values in how they speak, behave, and represent Haringey Welcome.

 

HOW WE WORK

Haringey Welcome is driven by volunteers and supported by a Board that leads on governance and legal responsibilities. Most of our work is delivered by volunteers, and our capacity depends on the time and energy people are able to contribute.

We plan to appoint a small staff team in the second half of 2026, including a Director and Coordinator, to strengthen coordination and sustainability. Even with staff in place, we expect to remain volunteer-driven.

We actively welcome volunteers from minority and migrant backgrounds, and from people with lived experience of the hostile environment. We recognise lived experience as essential knowledge. People directly affected by the issues we work on bring insight that strengthens our priorities and decisions, and we aim to create meaningful opportunities for that experience to shape our work.

This has some important implications:

  • We can only deliver work that volunteers are willing and able to lead or support.
  • Capacity constraints affect what we can take on and how quickly we can respond.
  • Plans may change, pause, or stop depending on volunteer availability.

 

DECISION-MAKING AND COORDINATION

  • Volunteers are expected to keep each other informed about work they are involved in.
  • Volunteers should check in with their project group and/or the relevant Board member before taking decisions that could affect the wider organisation, for example committing Haringey Welcome to an activity, partnership, public position, or expenditure.
  • Volunteers should avoid making public statements on behalf of Haringey Welcome unless this has been agreed.
  • When unsure, volunteers are expected to pause and ask rather than act independently.

 

VOLUNTEERING ELSEWHERE AND BRINGING IDEAS BACK TO HARINGEY WELCOME

Many volunteers with Haringey Welcome are also involved in migrant-led organisations, service-providing groups, or other forms of community organising. This experience is valued and often deepens understanding of the impacts of hostile systems.

When volunteers wish to bring ideas for campaigning or advocacy to Haringey Welcome that are connected to work happening elsewhere, they are encouraged to:

  • Act transparently and respectfully
  • Be mindful of relationships, power, and consent
  • Discuss the idea within Haringey Welcome before making any public commitments or representations connected to that work

Haringey Welcome aims to act in solidarity and does not seek to speak on behalf of other organisations or communities without agreement. Ideas for campaigning or advocacy are best brought into Haringey Welcome through discussion, reflection, and collective decision-making.

 

VOLUNTEER ROLES AND TIME EXPECTATIONS

Core Volunteers

People who take on ongoing or strategic roles, such as leading projects, recruiting and inducting new volunteers, serving on the Board or Advisory Group, or holding specialist responsibilities. Time commitment varies but is usually regular and ongoing.

Community or Project Volunteers

People who support specific activities, events, or pieces of work on a more occasional or time-limited basis.

Supporters

People who take part in actions or events, share information, or show support without ongoing involvement.

Time expectations vary by role and are discussed openly. Volunteers are encouraged to be honest about what they can and cannot commit to.

 

BOUNDARIES, RISK, AND REPRESENTATION

Haringey Welcome operates in a politically contentious space. Volunteers may encounter disagreement, challenge, or criticism.

Volunteers are expected to:

  • Act responsibly when representing Haringey Welcome in public or online: actions, language and tone should be considered and respectful at all times.
  • Be clear about the limits of their role.
  • Avoid making commitments or statements on behalf of Haringey Welcome without agreement.

 

WORKING WITH VULNERABLE PEOPLE

 Some activities may bring volunteers into contact with people who are vulnerable due to their circumstances.

 Where a project involves regulated activity or direct work with children or vulnerable adults, additional safeguards may apply. In such cases, Haringey Welcome may require DBS checks for volunteers involved. This will be discussed on a case-by-case basis, and reasonable costs will be covered.

 

WHAT WE EXPECT FROM ALL VOLUNTEERS

 All volunteers are expected to:

  • Act in line with Haringey Welcome’s values and solidarity approach.
  • Treat others with dignity and respect.
  • Follow the Code of Conduct and other relevant policies.
  • Protect confidentiality and personal data.
  • Raise concerns if something does not feel right.
  • Use agreed processes for expenses and commitments.
  • Step back if they are no longer able to participate, and let others know where this affects shared work or commitments.

 

SAFEGUARDING AND RAISING CONCERNS

Everyone has a role in maintaining safe spaces. If you have a concern about safety, behaviour, safeguarding, data protection, or anything that feels inappropriate or risky, you should raise this promptly using the routes set out in our policies. Safeguarding concerns should be escalated to the Designated Safeguarding Lead. Concerns will be taken seriously and handled proportionately. Raising a concern will not result in retaliation.

 

EXPENSES AND PRACTICAL MATTERS

Volunteers may claim reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred while volunteering, in line with the Expenditure Policy. Information on how to claim expenses is provided separately.

 

KEY POLICIES

You are expected to read and follow the policies listed below. These form part of your induction and provide the framework within which Haringey Welcome operates.

Please read each policy carefully and raise any questions during your induction follow-up conversation.

 

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT

After reading this pack:

You will have a short follow-up conversation with your point of contact to check understanding and answer any questions. You will be asked to confirm that you have read this pack and agree to be bound by the relevant policies.

You can then begin volunteering in an agreed role or activity.

Volunteering with Haringey Welcome is voluntary. You are free to step back or stop at any time.

 

ANNEXE A: ADDITIONAL GUIDANCE FOR CORE VOLUNTEERS

Applies where relevant

Purpose of this Annexe

This annexe provides additional guidance for volunteers who take on Core Volunteer roles within Haringey Welcome. It should be read alongside the Base Volunteer Induction Pack and the relevant policies.

Who This Annexe Applies To

This annexe applies to volunteers who:

  • Lead or coordinate a project or area of work
  • Act as a spokesperson or take a lead on communications
  • Serve on the Board or Advisory Group
  • Hold delegated responsibility for a specific function, such as finance, communications, or volunteer coordination

Not all volunteers will need to refer to this annexe.

 

Acting as a Spokesperson or Communications Lead

Volunteers acting as a spokesperson, or leading on communications, are representing Haringey Welcome publicly.

This may include:

  • Speaking to the media
  • Posting or responding on public platforms in an official capacity
  • Representing Haringey Welcome at events, meetings, or online forums

 

Core Volunteers in these roles are expected to:

  • Act in line with Haringey Welcome’s values and solidarity approach
  • Be mindful of tone, language, and potential impact
  • Avoid making public statements on behalf of Haringey Welcome without agreement
  • Pause and check with the Director (if one is in post), or relevant Board member or group if unsure

Leading or Coordinating a Project

Leading a project within Haringey Welcome involves additional responsibility as well as initiative.

Core Volunteers leading projects are expected to:

  • Be thoughtful about what they take on, recognising personal and organisational capacity
  • Be clear about the scope of the work and what is realistic to deliver
  • Keep relevant people informed about progress, challenges, and changes
  • Check in before committing Haringey Welcome to actions, partnerships, or expenditure that may affect the wider organisation

If a Core Volunteer needs to step back from a project, they are encouraged to do so openly and to work with the organisation to manage handover, pause the work, or bring it to a close in a responsible way.

Leading a project means acting with care for both the work and the organisation as a whole.

Recruitment, Induction and Volunteer Engagement

Some Core Volunteers may take on responsibility for supporting volunteer recruitment, delivering elements of the induction process, or organising informal volunteer gatherings.

Where this role is delegated, the Core Volunteer is expected to:

Follow agreed recruitment and induction processes.

  • Ensure prospective volunteers receive the Base Induction Pack and are offered a follow-up conversation.
  • Conduct or support initial conversations in line with agreed guidance.
  • Model Haringey Welcome’s values and solidarity approach in all interactions.
  • Avoid making commitments on behalf of the organisation without prior discussion where these may affect the wider group.
  • Escalate safeguarding, conduct, or data protection concerns in line with policy.
  • Keep the Director responsible for volunteer oversight informed of emerging issues, risks, or significant developments.

Limits of the Role

  • Core Volunteers carrying out recruitment or engagement functions:
  • Do not act as line managers or supervisors.
  • Are not responsible for providing pastoral or therapeutic support.
  • Should refer concerns beyond their role to the Director responsible for volunteer oversight or the Designated Safeguarding Lead, as appropriate.

Overall responsibility for volunteer recruitment and induction oversight sits with the Director responsible for volunteer oversight. This may be a Board Director or, when appointed, an employed Director, who may delegate administrative elements of the process.

Working With Other Volunteers

Core Volunteers may work alongside, coordinate, or support other volunteers.

In doing so, they are expected to:

  • Support participation without managing or supervising people
  • Avoid informal hierarchies or pressure
  • Respect boundaries, consent, and differing capacities
  • Be clear about roles and expectations

Volunteers are free to step back or change their level of involvement at any time.

Board and Advisory Group Roles

Board and Advisory Group members are Core Volunteers with distinct roles.

Board members are responsible for:

  • Governing the organisation in line with its purpose and values
  • Providing oversight, accountability, and stewardship
  • Ensuring legal, financial, and safeguarding responsibilities are met

When Haringey Welcome has no paid staff, Board members may also oversee or support the execution of agreed strategy. Where a Director or other staff are in post, staff lead delivery and the Board retains an oversight role rather than managing day-to-day work.

Advisory Group members contribute to:

  • Strategic thinking and direction
  • Specialist insight or lived experience
  • Shaping priorities and approaches

Advisory Group members do not hold governance responsibility, but may take on leadership roles within specific initiatives where this is agreed.

Both Board and Advisory Group members act collectively and in the best interests of Haringey Welcome. Members have no authority as individuals.

Risk, Safeguarding, and Escalation

Core Volunteers are expected to be particularly alert to issues of risk, safeguarding, and reputation.

Concerns relating to:

  • Safeguarding
  • Data protection
  • Serious conflict or harm
  • Reputational risk

should be escalated promptly using the routes set out in Haringey Welcome’s policies.

When in doubt, Core Volunteers are expected to pause and seek guidance rather than attempting to resolve serious issues alone.

Final Note

Taking on a Core Volunteer role does not imply permanence or unlimited availability. Core Volunteers are encouraged to be honest about capacity and to step back from roles when needed.

Document Approved by Board 13/02/2026

 

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Haringey Welcome is a local grassroots collective with a vision of Haringey as a Welcome Borough where refugees, migrants and all residents are treated with fairness, dignity, and respect.