Need4Deed Guidelines

General Information

1Request and Placement Process
Requests for support are made exclusively via the Need4Deed online form or App by the respective accommodation centers or organization. We verify that the information is complete and subsequently contact suitable volunteers. Once a match is successful, we send an email containing all relevant information to all parties involved. As this is a volunteer-based service, we ask for your understanding and patience during the process.
2Screening of Volunteers
All new volunteers participate in a personal phone call with us. The activities they are interested in are recorded during this initial conversation or through initial communication. Furthermore, they are required to apply for a certificate of good conduct (criminal record check) and provide proof of measles vaccination. For volunteers who apply for accompaniment services, we conduct an additional video introductory meeting to provide them with comprehensive instructions.

Leisure Activities and Regular Engagement

3Contact
We ask volunteer coordinators to invite the volunteers to an introductory or trial session within 5 to 7 business days after the placement email and to include us in CC.
4Updating Listings
All offers published on Need4Deed should be updated approximately once a month. We generally send an update request via email or App and ask for feedback regarding the placed volunteers.
5Visits and Photography
Occasionally, we visit the centers to take photos of the activities. These are used to recruit new volunteers. We ensure that no faces of children or refugees are visible unless explicit permission has been granted.

Areas of Support for Accompaniment

6Volunteers can provide low-threshold accompaniment in the following cases:
  • Medical appointments (excluding appointments at Charité and Vivantes, all pre- and post-operative appointments, and appointments with the following specialists: surgery, neurosurgery, anesthesiology, radiotherapy);
  • Appointments at public authorities (except the registry office and court);
  • Appointments at counseling centers or banks (no appointments with lawyers);
  • Opening bank accounts;
  • Apartment viewings;
  • Appointments at schools and daycare centers;
  • Wayfinding/route accompaniment.

The volunteers are not professional interpreters; they mediate to the best of their knowledge and belief. Need4Deed and the volunteers assume no liability for the accuracy of the language mediation. Volunteers do not take on a counseling or advisory role.

7Deadlines and Procedure
Accompaniment for appointments must be requested at least 7 business days prior to the appointment. Appointments should not exceed a duration of 3 hours and should not begin before 9:00 AM. You will receive feedback no later than 4 business days before the appointment regarding whether we have found someone to provide accompaniment.