Volunteers wanted to give migrants a 'great big hug' of welcome

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Mentors could teach newly-arrived immigrants to speak English and to apply for jobs, according to the report of a review ordered by Gordon Brown.

They could help individuals and familes adjust to the subtleties of life in Britain and show them around their new neighbourhoods.

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Volunteers: Mentors could teach migrants to speak English and how to apply for jobs

Those mentors looking for a "more socially focused" relationship could offer migrants a warm welcome in the form of "a great big smile and a great big hug".

The plan for volunteers to spend an hour or more each week helping immigrants get used to their new country was published by former Attorney General Lord Goldsmith, who is running the Prime Minister's Citizenship Review.

The review is meant to define the meaning, rights and duties of being British.

Lord Goldsmith said mentoring would help newcomers to Britain build confidence and understanding and would also benefit the districts, towns and cities where they settled.

Tories were scathing, saying the scheme for helping migrants get work undermined Mr Brown's pledge of "British jobs for British workers".

The plan for mentoring migrants was developed for Lord Goldsmith's review by a charity called TimeBank, which has for several years been running schemes for volunteers to help refugees.

Migrants could be helped with "accessing public services, finding a job, applying for a place at college or university, and attempting to make friends," the paper said.