Volunteers Week Scotland: Ndubuisi
My name is Ndubuisi (he/him) and I am an asylum seeker here in Glasgow originally from Nigeria. I am a volunteer at LGBT Health and Wellbeing for the Refugee Project. In my spare time, I love swimming, it’s something I used to share with my partner in Nigeria, we would relax and have fun together.
What was your journey to becoming a volunteer at LGBT Health and Wellbeing?
I find out about the organisation in March 2020 through my partner. I joined LGBT Health and Wellbeing, not only because I’m a gay man but also because I was looking for support with my mental health. I contacted Stella who coordinates the Refugee Project and I joined online meetups like Queerantine Nights and many more. I then started to volunteer in January 2021 to provide 1:1 support to asylum seekers and refugees.
What is your role as a volunteer?
The first person I supported was an asylum seeker who was mentally down and on a 6-month waiting list to get support so I made myself available to check on him every week during that time. I was a barber in Nigeria so I also offer free haircuts to asylum seekers and refugees, 3 times a week. And I help run the Men’s Group (there is also a Women’s Group) which meets twice weekly (online for now) where we share information about support available for asylum seekers and refugees at LGBT Health and Wellbeing (such as the counselling service, monthly phone top-ups, food vouchers, etc…) and information about the Home Office and the process of seeking asylum as an LGBT person. We also have a What’s App group so we can all stay in touch and I make sure new people feel welcomed to the group.
What are you the most proud of as a volunteer at LGBT Health and Wellbeing?
I am passionate about working with the most vulnerable in society and particularly asylum seekers and refugees like me to help them with their mental health. The asylum-seeking system in the UK is very hard and it has a big impact on people’s wellbeing. I want to work towards setting up a charity to support asylum seekers and refugees with their mental health through digital support. Digital is my line of profession and I want to use this to help others cope when they need mental health support.
Who do you look up to?
I got a lot of support and love from charities in Scotland, they gave me life and hope as an asylum seeker and inspire me to do the same and support those less privileged. I would also like to thank Stella (the Refugee Project Coordinator) for her quick response to issues faced by LGBT asylum seekers in Scotland. She has done so much for us especially during the pandemic, checking on us regularly to make sure we were ok. I am proud to be able to support Stella’s work now and to give back to my community.
