Newham Monitoring Project (NMP) is a grassroots community-based anti-racist organisation in the borough of Newham, East London, England working against racial discrimination / violence, police misconduct and around civil rights issues. It provides advice, support, advocacy and a 24-hour emergency helpline to members of the black community facing racism. It also provides community outreach / educational projects and campaign work around issues arising from its cases and/or pertinent to the black community. Since its foundation it has always pursued one simple aim - the right to a life free from harassment, safe from attack.

As a small community organisation we have limited funds. However, it is our aim to regularly produce a wide range of vital practical /educational and campaign information to distribute to the local community. Because of the nature of our work in responding to emergencies, this material is often needed very quickly.

If you have experience of designing leaflets / small booklets in a format ready to go to a professional printers and could spare us some time for free we would be extremely grateful. Unfortunately, we cannot provide either a computer or software for this – you would need to possess these already yourself. We would provide all the text / images and guidance of how we would like the information presented.

If you are interested, fill out our Volunteer Application form or contact us directly in the office to discuss it further.

NMP regularly produces information specifically for black and minority ethnic communities (BME) whose first language is not necessarily English. On subjects such as knowing your rights under stop and search or using our emergency line it is vital that information is widely available amongst BME communities as they are those most likely to be affected by these issues.

If you are able to offer to do occasional written translation of short documents - particularly if you have access to computer software containing the script for that language, although it is not essential - we would be most grateful.

If you are interested, fill out our Volunteer Application form or contact us directly in the office to discuss it further.

Volunteer role
To support the work of NMP workers and MC in any campaigns NMP is currently facilitating / supporting.

What volunteers have done to support campaigns in the past
• Provide practical support to the campaign by assisting NMP workers when we go out leafleting, helping to staff stalls at events, getting people to sign petitions, attending gatherings such as public meetings / vigils / protests etc.

• Assist in producing campaign materials by helping paint banners, design leaflets, provide pictures for leaflets / annual reports

• Attend campaign meetings held by NMP

• Attend campaign meetings /events held by other organisations and feed back information from them to NMP. As we have quite a small staff team, this helps us stay in touch with what is going on a broader level

• Help disseminate or distribute information on our campaigns out to local organisations / schools / community centres / individuals etc.

If you are interested, fill out our Volunteer Application form or contact us directly in the office to discuss it further.

If you wish to volunteer to assist with campaigns at NMP, it may be helpful to understand NMP’s key work first. The best way to do this is by volunteering to become an Emergency Service volunteer

Volunteer role
To help provide 24-hour emergency telephone support to people from black and ethnic minority communities who are targets of racial attacks and harassment, police harassment, arrest and other civil injustice issues.

How it works
NMP transfers the 0800 number to the volunteer’s telephone so the service can be operated from the volunteer’s home.

Training Training is provided by solicitors and experienced Emergency Service volunteers and is compulsory for all new volunteers for NMP.

ES training sessions are held at least every 8-10 weeks. After submitting the Volunteer Application form, you will be notified as soon as the next training date is set.
The training takes place over a Saturday in East London approximately 11am-3pm, Tea/coffee and lunch is provided.

The training day covers the range of emergencies that volunteers may encounter. This includes basic legal knowledge, although volunteers do not actually give legal advice.

Training covers the following areas:

What to do if you receive a call from / regarding:

• someone in connection with a Stop & Search including under Anti-Terrorism legislation
• someone on behalf of somebody who has been detained
• someone being held in a police station
• contacting the police
• someone who fears imminent arrest
• asylum and/or deportation emergency
• people suffering racial harassment

What we provide to our ES volunteers

• At the end of the training session each volunteer receives a comprehensive handbook containing detailed information on everything covered by the training and numbers of useful agencies to contact when answering a call
• By no means are our volunteers 'on their own'. The handbook also has a list of numbers of experienced 'second tier' volunteers, who can be contacted for further advice and support when responding to a call
• NMP organises regular socials in East London as a way of saying thanks to volunteers and to provide volunteers with an opportunity to meet each other

What we ask of volunteers

• A commitment of one or two shifts per month, from your home. Shifts are usually 6pm to 9am weekdays and/or 9am-1.30pm, 1.30pm -6pm or 6pm-9am at weekends.

• Regular contact with NMP by email or telephone for booking shifts and feedback, including a completed casesheet, if you receive any calls.

• Emergency Service volunteering isn’t for everyone. On occasion we may feel it more appropriate for potential volunteers to offer their skills in other areas of NMP’s work.

If you are interested, fill out our Volunteer Application form or contact us directly in the office to discuss it further.

If you would like to apply to be a volunteer - please use our Volunteer Application form.