Gatwick Detainees Welfare Group

Supporting people in detention at Gatwick

For Current Volunteers

We would like to thank all our volunteers for your ongoing efforts. On this page, you'll find details on forthcoming events and training, the expense claim form, and the visitor feedback form.

Volunteer Visitor Groups

There are five groups, roughly divided geographically, which meet approximately every six weeks to discuss informally and confidentially their experiences with visiting.  These groups are: Brighton, Crawley, Horsham, Oxted and Reigate.  Please contact the office for further information.

Buddy system

GDWG offers a ‘Buddy system’ to connect new visitors to those with more experience for advice and support. Please contact the office if you would like to be put in touch with a buddy.

Training

GDWG offers regular external training on a range of topics, such as Drugs Awareness, Understanding Trauma, and Suicide Awareness, which were offered in 2018.  Please contact the office for notes on past trainings. Future trainings will be posted here.

There is also an up-to-date Visitors Handbook, which is given to all new volunteers.

Loomio

Loomio is an on-line platform for organising and sharing ideas. It can also be used for organising meetings and lift-sharing to Brook and Tinsley Houses. Like most shared resources, the more people who are involved, the better it works. Please contact the office to receive the link for you to join Loomio.

Volunteer Expense Claim Form

Please click here to download the expense claim form.  Please complete, sign, and return to Marygold or James by email or post.

Volunteer Feedback - For GDWG Visitors Only

Did you keep in touch between visits (by phone, text or email)?

Do you think the person you visited experienced feelings of loneliness or isolation whilst in detention?

If so, do you think your contact helped to alleviate their loneliness or isolation?

Do you think the person you visited experienced feelings of anxiety or depression whilst in detention?

If yes, do you think your contact with the detainee helped to alleviate either anxiety or depression?

Which language did you mainly speak during visits?

Have you noticed any improvement in their level of English over the course of your visits?

Did you provide any additional support to the person you visited?

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