Evaluating the experiences and impact of the Health Access for Refugees (Harp) project on peer volunteers in Northern England

Bibliographic Data

ID11043310
AuthorsMarie‐Clare Balaam (0000-0003-4511-7352, School of Community Health and Midwifery University of Central Lancashire Preston UK, corresponding author), Melanie Haith‐cooper (0000-0002-1389-5865, Faculty of Health Studies University of Bradford Bradford UK), Dinah Mathew (Leeds Refugee Council Leeds UK), Rose McCarthy (Leeds Refugee Council Leeds UK)
Year2023
Volume51
Issue7
Pages2712-2723
Publication date2023-09-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Community Psychology (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0090-4392 • E-ISSN: 1520-6629
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1002/jcop.23066
PMID37222681
OpenAlexW4377940708
LanguageEN
Citations received4
References cited16

Community-based peer volunteer interventions are increasingly used with people who are asylum seekers and refugees accessing health services. There is a dearth of evidence evaluating the benefits of volunteering for asylum seeking or refugee volunteers. Volunteers may have poor mental health and feel socially isolated due to their experiences as refugees and asylum seekers and may struggle or be unable to obtain paid employment. Volunteering in other contexts has been found to be beneficial to the health and well-being of the volunteer. This paper reports on an aspect of a wider study evaluating the community-based Health Access for Refugees Project, with the aim of exploring the impact of volunteering on the health and well-being of the peer (asylum seeker or refugee) volunteer. In 2020, we conducted qualitative semistructured interviews by phone with 15 volunteers who were asylum seekers or refugees. The interviews were audio recorded, data were transcribed verbatim and the data set was thematically analysed. We found that the positive relationships which developed and the training received through volunteering boosted volunteers' mental well-being. They felt motivated and confident in helping others, felt a sense of belonging and this reduced their social isolation. They also believed they benefited personally, helping their access to health services, and preparing them for future education, training or a career. In light of the beneficial nature of volunteering identified in this study, establishing more volunteering opportunities for this population and other marginalised groups with poor mental health is recommended. However, more research is needed to assess both the long-term impact of the role in terms of the peer volunteer's health and well-being, and the societal benefit of people moving on, integrating and contributing to society.

Asylum seeker · Environmental health · Mental health · Phone · Political science · Population · Psychiatry · Psychological intervention · Qualitative research · Refugee · Sociology · Employment and Welfare Studies · Global Health Workforce Issues · Medicine · Migration, Health and Trauma · Nursing · Psychology

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