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MEET OUR VOLUNTEERS AND COMMUNITY CHAMPIONS
Our ICM volunteers are an integral part of ICM, operating at every level, from our finance and marketing teams to our Board of Trustees. In our ESOL classrooms dozens of volunteers support their peers every week and give refugees and migrants a voice in co-production workshops and advisory groups. Across our youth projects volunteers support young people to grow their confidence through music and creativity giving a voice to the next generation.
Our Community Champions are a unique blend of current or previous ESOL learners, embedded in their local communities, bringing their voices and diverse needs to ICM’s strategy discussions and project development. An invaluable bridge connecting local people with decision-makers and meeting the needs of their neighbours through collaboration with local GP surgeries, health providers and decision-makers.
Community Champions
Romeo is always ready to get involved, whether that's helping in our classrooms, providing Romanian interpretation and translation, attending numerous events throughout the year, or even running art workshops!
A real champion for his community, in 2020, with the help of ICM Romeo launched his very own CIC 'Ipswich Romanian Community' to support Romanians in Ipswich through culture, art, education, and community.
About his experience with ICM he says:
"I am truly grateful to volunteer with Ipswich Community Media as a way of giving back for the support, trust, and kindness I have received over time."
Romeo
After starting as a learner herself Alicija now assists in our ESOL classes and helps with Lithuanian, Polish, and Russian interpretation. She says her favourite thing about volunteering with ICM is being able to communicate with new people.
"ICM once helped me improve my English, now I can help others."
Alicija
Hatice is a dedicated classroom volunteer who also helps with Arabic and Turkish translation and interpretation.
"It makes me happy to be useful to the community and make a positive difference. I really enjoy volunteering at ICM in classroom, supporting learners from different nationalities in their English learning journey."
Hatice
Meena supports ICM as a volunteer by helping in our classrooms, assisting with interpreting for community members that speak Dari and Pashto, and supporting community events and activities.
In her own words, she says she enjoys volunteering with ICM because...
"It allows me to support the community, help people feel welcome and confident, and work with a friendly and supportive team."
Bibi Meena
Bhushan draws on his creative talents to contribute to community events, cultural festivals, charity initiatives, and creative workshops. Bhushan's passion is dance. He has designed and delivered dance-based activities, assisted in public celebrations, and participated in outreach programmes that promote arts, inclusion, and community wellbeing.
"I began my journey with ICM contributing as a dance director and volunteer in December 2023 and then joined in as a learner in September 2024, which has made my experience especially meaningful. I value ICM’s diverse and innovative initiatives that support people from different walks of life — from senior citizen wellbeing programmes to English language education for migrants. Volunteering with ICM has broadened my understanding of community needs while contributing significantly to both my personal and professional enhancement."
Bhushan
With Portuguese as his mother tongue, Evaldo offers valuable language support and community engagement, helping individuals feel welcomed and confident as they integrate into life in the UK.
Drawing on his professional experience, he regularly appears as a guest speaker for our ESOL and Driving course, delivering sessions about parking regulations and enforcement in Suffolk and Essex, and offering practical guidance to help new drivers understand their legal responsibilities, avoid penalties, and operate safely and professionally within their communities.
"What I value most is the opportunity to empower others — whether by supporting someone who is still building confidence in the language, or by sharing knowledge that helps them move forward professionally."
Evaldo
Eric is a long-standing ICM volunteer, having started as an ESOL learner himself, he now confidently supports students during lessons, provides Polish translations in his community and is one half of ICM’s dynamic events duo representing ICM at community events.
Eric regularly contributes to strategy discussions at Away Days, project development and Co-production workshops in key areas like ICM’s Westgate Wellbeing strategy.
He says that his favourite things about volunteering with ICM are "spending time with people, meet new people, helping others" and reflects that “from my heart, I feel that ICM is like a second family to me”.
Eric
Selma
Selma uses her language skills as a fluent Turkish and Kurdish speak to support her peers in our ESOL classes and supports her wider community by interpreting at events and translating key health documents.
She says her favourite thing about volunteering with ICM is the friendly environment!
After relocating to the United Kingdom from Syria, Hiba began her journey with ICM as a student, studying English with our Integration Team. As her confidence and skills developed, she progressed to volunteering in the classroom, supporting her fellow learners. She later became one of ICM’s Community Champions, where she plays an active role in supporting and empowering Arabic speaking members of her community to access vital services and support.
Hiba
Volunteers
As a regular classroom volunteer Varsha works directly with ESOL tutors and makes sure that any learners in the classroom that need extra help can receive it quickly.
"The fact that I can help the people that come over there, I'm gaining experience in the teaching sector and I'm building my own confidence by helping them as well."
Varsha
Kishori volunteers across a range of projects and events, as well as in our classrooms, using her skills as a speaker of four languages (Marathi, English, Hindi, and Bengali) to support ESOL learners. She’s also a pro with a paintbrush, as we discovered when refurbishing the café.
"I enjoy volunteering in class room. Helping students understanding the concept and completion of their task. I enjoyed various ICM events in past. The supportive staff is very supportive. You become part of their family member. And the way this team is involved in their sincere approach to help the society."
Kishori
A long-time volunteer with ICM, Dee has used her creative skills to great effect - writing a wide range of blogs and stories for ICM’s website and most recently joining the Marketing team, where she’s putting in practice what’s she’s learned in his studies, while gaining skills and valuable work experience.
"Volunteering helps me feel connected to my wider community; I love feeling like I’ve contributed something meaningful to a cause that helps uplift others."
Dee
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Divya is a regular volunteer in our ESOL classes. Describing her role she says...
"My job is to support students by tutoring them in writing. I help them to improve their grammar, organise their ideas, and build confidence in expressing themselves clearly."
"I enjoy volunteering at ICM, because it gives me the opportunity to make a meaningful difference in students lives. Supporting students with their writing and watching their confidence grow is very rewarding. I appreciate being a part of positive learning environment where students feel encouraged to express their ideas and improve their skills."
Divya
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Elijah volunteers with our Marketing team. He has a passion for Photography and uses his skills to help out both ICM and Roots Community Café.
"I love volunteering and spending my time at ICM seeing so many hard working and caring people. knowing I am a part of an organisation that loves to help it's community really drives me forward and a young individual."
Elijah
Sam began volunteering with ICM in 2016 as part of IO Radio, working tirelessly to provide individual support to those with the greatest need as well as ensuring the overall smooth running of the radio station.
Most recently he has been an invaluable member of the team setting up ICM’s new Alternative Education provision ‘On Track’. This has given him the confidence to build on his years of voluntary work by progressing to study for a Youth Work qualification.
“I’ve never worked anywhere that treats people with such kindness, respect and empathy”
Sam
As well as volunteering in weekly ESOL classes, David also volunteers in ICM’s Community Café ‘Roots’ on the weekends and using his qualifications as a counsellor is a champion for mental health, running a fortnightly talking groups for men at Roots.
"I was an immigrant in Spain and lived there for 25 years, I then came back to the UK in June 2023 and felt an immigrant here, so I feel I have an understanding of what our learners face in their daily lives and helping them learn English and seeing them grow in confidence and helping them see that they are in a country which welcomes diversity and respects those of other faiths, colours and ethnic origin hopefully means they will settle in the UK and add to society and not feel excluded. Volunteering has helped me on my journey as I have struggled with physical and mental health issues and volunteering has given me so much. I admire the ethos of ICM and am proud to be a representative of such a great charity."
David
Vedant
Vedant not only speaks Marathi and English, but also some French, German, and Japanese, and uses these language skills to support learners in weekly online ESOL classes.
"I really enjoy volunteering with ICM because it feels like being part of something that genuinely brings people together. I love meeting people from different backgrounds and cultures, and it’s incredibly rewarding to support them as they grow in confidence and skills. I always feel like I learn just as much from them, and it’s definitely helped me become more patient and a better communicator."
Louis is part of ICM’s weekly Emulate project for young men, but he has gone one step further and taken up a volunteer role to directly support the project delivery. He turns up early every week to work with staff to set up video and audio tech at The Smokehouse, ready for the group of young men to get started.
"Volunteering gives me a purpose and I appreciate ICM for this opportunity... it's always a great way to start the week!"
Louis
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Rosy started, as many of our volunteers do, supporting our learners in the weekly ESOL classes, but she quickly progressed to the finance team, where she is an invaluable part of the finance department.
"I really enjoy volunteering with ICM because it brings together everything that matters to me in a meaningful way. The people I work with are genuinely supportive, collaborative, and inspiring, and I feel a strong sense of belonging within the team. I’m deeply connected to the purpose of the organisation, and it’s incredibly fulfilling to contribute to work that aligns with my values. What stands out most is the culture — it’s truly inclusive, psychologically safe, and reflective of the diversity it champions. I feel comfortable being myself here, and that makes the experience both energising and rewarding. "
Rosy
Our long running ESOL classroom volunteer Chris says the best thing about volunteering with ICM is "meeting and talking to people and feeling a part of a vibrant, caring community."