Asylum support coordinator jobs

BACKGROUND

This is an exciting opportunity to join the legal aid casework team at Asylum Aid. You will be responsible for coordinating and delivering the billing of our legal aid work (including controlled work, certificated work and inter partes bills), which is vital to ensure the financial sustainability of our work. Asylum Aid holds legal aid contracts in the immigration & asylum and public law categories.

For thirty-five years, Asylum Aid has been providing legal representation to some of the most vulnerable people seeking asylum. We have built an expert service, delivering vital and life-saving services in some of the most complex legal cases, with a particular speciality working with unaccompanied children, survivors of trafficking, torture or other forms of human cruelty, and stateless people. Our vision is that all those in need of protection from persecution and other forms of human cruelty in the UK can obtain it, and are treated fairly and with dignity.

Since August 2020, Asylum Aid has been part of the Helen Bamber Foundation Group. Asylum Aid operates as an independent charity, led by its own Executive Director within the group structure, and is ambitious about growing its impact and reach in the future to ensure protection from persecution for those who need it. 

ABOUT THE ROLE

This role would suit a person with strong attention to detail and excellent organisational skills and numeracy. The ideal candidate will have already embarked on or be looking to develop a career providing excellent legal aid billing support and coordination essential to the financial sustainability of legal aid practice, whether within the charity sector or private practice. You will have a strong commitment to the values of Asylum Aid and an understanding of the importance of sound legal aid billing practices to our continued ability to provide our expert service to our clients. Prior experience is not essential as full training will be given and peer support is available.

The focus of the role of billing coordinator is to ensure the efficient and robust delivery of costing and billing of legal aid files conducted under Legal Aid Agency (LAA) contract (Legal Help / Controlled Legal Representation and certificated work) as well as liaising with external costs lawyers to oversee the preparation of Inter Partes bills and negotiations with the paying party where we have obtained an order for our costs in judicial review proceedings.  This includes reconciliation of Legal Aid Agency payments received and made, and to provide essential coordination within the organisation to support lawyers in ensuring files are billed promptly and accurately, and costs are maximized. The billing coordinator will work with the Director of Legal Casework to develop and maintain an effective tracking system to ensure timely progression from case closure to billing.

This role will work closely with the Legal Team of Asylum Aid and the Finance team of the Helen Bamber Foundation Group. You will also have access to the London Legal Support Trust Centres of Excellence legal aid billing peer support group and peer-to-peer support.

As this is a new role, there will be clear targets set as to the additional legal aid income brought in as a result of the extra capacity it will bring and a review will be undertaken after 12 months as to whether it is having the desired impact on our legal aid income.

Equal Opportunities

Our commitment to principles of equity, diversity and inclusion is an integral part of our approach to our clients, our volunteers and our staff, and we are an equal opportunities and Living Wage employer.

We are committed to attracting and recruiting diverse candidates because we are keen to make sure that our staff, trustees, volunteers and ambassadors reflect the communities we serve and the wider community we work in.

We genuinely welcome and encourage applications from candidates from range of backgrounds, especially people of colour, people with disabilities, people from low socio-economic backgrounds, refugees, stateless people and others with lived experience of forced migration or trauma who are under-represented in our organisation.

We recognise and value the role of lived experience in meeting the needs of our clients and acknowledge the under-representation of people with lived experience of forced migration and statelessness in the refugee and migration sectors. We value experience gained overseas as well as in the UK and you will receive full training to enable you to transfer your knowledge and skills to the UK context.

How to apply 

Please note that the successful candidate will be offered the job subject to suitable references and a basic DBS check.

If appointed you will be required to give your consent to Asylum Aid to receive regular updates on your criminal records status throughout your employment. 

The first stage is to complete on our online application form on our website by 9.00am on 12 May 2025

The website form will ask you to:

1. Upload a short covering letter. Please tell us why the position appeals to you, and how your

relevant skills and experience, including any voluntary experience and lived experience, matches the listed responsibilities and person specification. Please also state in your covering letter when you would be available to start the role.

2. Upload your current CV

3. Complete an online Equal Opportunities monitoring form – completion of this form will help us ensure that our recruitment procedures operate in such a way as to provide genuine equality of opportunity. The questions are entirely optional and this information will not be available to members of the selection panel.

Selection Process

We anticipate that we will invite candidates to an initial 15-minute online screening meeting week commencing 19 May 2025, followed by shortlisted candidates attending in-person interview week commencing 26 May 2025. We will also ask you to complete a short written task ahead of/on the day.

At Helen Bamber Foundation Group we want to be transparent about what kind of qualities we are looking for and build trust from the very beginning of your journey with us. The first step is your interview, and we mean ‘your’ interview so we will provide you with your interview questions ahead of the interview. This will allow you time to prepare, and ensure you have your best examples in mind.

We regret that we can only respond to applicants who make it to the interview stage.

We offer a guaranteed interview for refugees, stateless people and others with lived experience of forced migration, provided that they meet at least 50% of the essential criteria.

Eligibility

Please note that the successful candidate must have the right to work in the UK (as a small charity we do not have the capacity to sponsor work visas).

Successful candidates will also be subject to a basic DBS check. If appointed, you will also be required to give your consent to the charity to receive regular updates on your criminal records status throughout your employment and to disclose any relevant convictions incurred during your time with us.

Adjustments

We are committed to providing reasonable adjustments throughout our recruitment process and we’ll always endeavour to be as accommodating as possible. If you require a different format of the application form, such as large print or Word format, or if you would like to discuss any specific requirements, please get in touch with us though phone or email.

Experts by Experience Support

We are also proud to be a member of the Experts by Experience Employment Network , which aims to increase representation of people with lived experience in the charitable sector.

If you are an expert by experience (a refugee or a migrant with direct, first-hand experience of issues and challenges of the UK asylum or immigration system), you can ask for an independent and confidential support for your job application from the Experts by Experience Employment Network and access other information and resources at  which may help in preparing your job application. .

Please complete this form request support and they will confirm if they can match you with a mentor to support your application

Reporting to: Service Manager

Location: Baca office, Cambridge, England with regular travel to locations where Baca’s services are delivered.

Salary: £29,009 - £31,203 per annum for full time hours. Equivalent to £23,207 to £24,962 per annum for 30 hours. The role also comes with an allowance of £2301 (pro rata) for Cambridge cost of living.

Working hours: 30 hours a week.

About Baca: Baca is dedicated to supporting young refugees aged 16 to 18. Our mission is to empower these young individuals to become positive, independent contributors to society. We are looking for a passionate and dedicated Education Coordinator to join our team and lead the delivery of our education program.

Overall Purpose: As the Education Coordinator, you will be responsible for leading, coordinating, and delivering Baca's education program. Your role will be crucial in enabling the young people we support to achieve a standard of English that allows them to enrol in local college courses and become empowered individuals.

Key Responsibilities:

• Deliver the education program creatively to meet the diverse needs of young people.
• Support the achievement of outcomes in line with Baca’s Theory of Change, including improved physical and emotional wellbeing, increased engagement with education, employment, and training, social engagement, and personal safety.
• Review and develop the education program to ensure it meets the needs of young people and college course requirements.
• Liaise with colleges and education providers to support student enrolment and ongoing academic success.
• Recruit, train, support, and supervise education volunteers, including developing volunteer resources and training packs.
• Coordinate education support from volunteers, ensuring effective matching with young people and development of appropriate activities.
• Participate in meetings to deliver services effectively.
• Oversee the education volunteering budget and resources.
• Conduct monitoring and evaluation of volunteer activities.
• Maintain accurate records and databases, including monthly and end-of-year reports.

General Responsibilities:

• Be a role model, practicing Baca’s values.
• Play an active and supportive role within the organization.
• Maintain strict confidentiality and adhere to Baca’s policies and procedures.
• Treat all staff and young people fairly and without prejudice.
• Employ correct procedures for safeguarding incidences or concerns.
• Work flexible hours as needed.

Personal Specification:

• Highly organized, able to work under pressure, and prioritize tasks effectively.
• Passionate, humble, disciplined, wise, determined, proactive, and a self-starter.
• Aligned with Baca’s values and mission.
• Flexible and able to respond to change at short notice.
• Able to lead with hope, patience, calmness, and tenacity in challenging circumstances.
• Critical and creative thinker, able to innovate solutions and make challenging decisions.
• Resilient, able to work under pressure and meet deadlines.

Experience and Skills:

• Proven experience in a similar role, coordinating services for young people.
• Experience working constructively as part of a team.
• Experience analysing service delivery challenges and presenting solutions.
• Experience developing and managing volunteers.
• Strong organizational, project, and time management skills.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills.
• Strong Microsoft Office skills.
• Knowledge of issues faced by unaccompanied asylum-seeking young people.
• Ability to drive/travel to all service delivery locations.
• Enhanced DBS check required.

How to Apply: If you are passionate about making a difference in the lives of young asylum seekers and meet the above criteria, we would love to hear from you. If suitably strong candidates are shortlisted before the deadline, in-person interviews will take place immediately after shortlisting.

Join us at Baca and help us support young people to rebuild their lives and achieve their dreams!

Overview  

At Young Roots, we want to see a compassionate and welcoming society for young refugees and asylum seekers in the UK. We work alongside young people seeking safety in the UK, building trusted relationships, providing practical and emotional support and promoting young people’s rights and power.   

Our youth clubs and casework are transformative for young refugees, allowing young people who have fled danger, had traumatic journeys and who are often here alone, to find community and connection, have a space to be a young person and access support in addressing a whole range of practical challenges they face. We also draw on our evidence from working every day with young refugees and asylum seekers to call for change to the laws and policies which are harming young people.  

The Youth Development Coordinator is responsible for the development and delivery of our youth development programme for young refugees and asylum seekers. 

You will be focused on ensuring our programme activities achieve our outcomes, are in line with our strategy and identify areas for change and development under the direction of the Head of Services. An excellent communicator and skilled at working with partners, you will be key in the implementation and running all of our weekly youth activities, including a Youth Club and Advice and Support Hub working closely with the Youth Development Worker and having oversight of our weekly Young Women’s group. 

As an experienced manager, you will lead our team of skilled youth workers, working alongside the Brent team to provide holistic support to young asylum seekers and refugees in Brent.  

You will prioritise the participation of young people in all activities, ensuring excellent safeguarding by following our policy and protocols, and ensure that we collect excellent data for monitoring and evaluation and to aid our future planning. You will also assist with staff and volunteer recruitment and reporting to our funding partners. 

The Youth Development Coordinator will hold a Designated Safeguarding Officer role at Young Roots for which they will receive full training.

Interview dates:

- First round interviews to take place on 20/05 and 22/05
- Second round interviews for successful candidates will take place on 27/05

Job Title:  Health and Wellbeing Senior Project Coordinator - Physical Health (Fixed Term)

Department: Health and Wellbeing

Reports to: Senior Manager for Health and Wellbeing

Salary: £26,000-£30,000 (Dependent on Experience)

Contract: Fixed term (12 months) 

Closing Date: 19th May 2025

About Us:

With community work spanning three decades, Brentford FC Community Sports Trust has established itself as a pioneering organisation for the local community. It uses the power of sport to educate, motivate and inspire people from all walks of life.

Working in partnership with Brentford FC, the Trust offers a portfolio of programmes in education, health, sports participation and community engagement. The Trust has won the ‘Football League Community Club of the Year’ award four times and now employs more than 100 members of staff. 

The Role:

We are passionate about using sport as a hook to engage communities and inspire them to be more active and socially connected.

We are looking for an ambitious, personable and experienced Senior Project Coordinator who can work with a proactive approach to coordinate and deliver impactful programmes that improve health outcomes, with a specific focus on physical health.

The Health and Wellbeing Senior Project Coordinator will oversee a portfolio of high quality, accessible community-based programmes including On Your Side and Brentford Welcomes, working with specific target groups including refugees and people seeking asylum, mental health service users and adults aged 55+. They will also support the Bee a Hero project, designed to raise awareness of the need for more blood donors, with a particular focus on people of Black Heritage.

In addition, we are opening a Clubhouse Café in Gunnersbury Park in Summer 2025 and the successful candidate will work on innovative social impact programmes linked to the Clubhouse Café. This is an exciting opportunity to join an ambitious, forward-thinking department and play a pivotal role in improving health outcomes through new and existing projects.

The ideal candidate will be self-motivated and enjoy working with autonomy. They will also be confident working in a fast-paced environment and will have efficient time management skills. Innovative approaches to session design and promotion of activities to varying target audiences will be important as well as building networks and inspiring engagement.

Capacity to work some unsociable hours including evenings and weekends is necessary.

Brentford FCCST is an organisation which values and is passionate about diversity and inclusivity. We welcome and encourage applications from qualified candidates, including those from underrepresented groups – such as those from ethnically diverse backgrounds, women, those from the LGBTQ+ community and those with disabilities.

Should you require any workplace accommodations (also known as ‘reasonable adjustments), you will have the opportunity to let us know at the appropriate points in the hiring process.

 Please note that where appropriate for the role, you will be required to complete additional background checks such as Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks and police checks for any time you have lived or worked outside of the UK in the last 10 years. 

 If you would like to find out more, please click the apply button. You will be directed to our website to complete your application for this position

RLS Caseworker / Solicitor

As a RLS Caseworker / Solicitor you will conduct a small strategic caseload of asylum and refugee family reunion cases and assist on litigation (where eligible) under our legal aid contract to push for better decision-making, secure results for individuals and pursue improvements in the relevant law, policy and practices. 

You will also act as the supervising caseworker/lawyer for the Afghan Pro Bono Initiative (APBI), which is a specialist casework project delivered by RLS with funding and pro bono assistance from 11 leading commercial law firms. As part of this role, you will supervise pro bono lawyers to provide high quality legal representation for Afghans on matters including family reunion, the ARAP scheme, the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme and others. The project is now in its 3rd year and won the Most Effective Pro Bono Partnership Award at the Law Works Pro Bono Awards in 2022 as well as being nominated and commended for numerous other awards in 2022 and 2023. Please note that RLS recognise that pro bono legal work is always an adjunct to, and not a substitute for, an adequate system of publicly funded legal services. 

Key responsibilities

• Have conduct of a small strategic caseload and provide high quality legal advice and representation to clients
• Supervise the work of volunteer pro bono commercial lawyers on cases
• Deliver training to pro bono commercial lawyers
• Ensure that all legal work is promptly and accurate recorded on RLS’s case management system and keep relevant time recording
• Develop and disseminate relevant information on legal developments in this area for relevant stakeholders, including both the Afghan Community and building the capacity of other practitioners
• Work in close collaboration with the other project Lawyer/s to develop and share experiences and best practice in relation to all aspects of casework (legal, evidential and procedural) and relevant internal processes
• Work in close collaboration with the Legal Director and Casework Supervisorto ensure that appropriate steps to achieve the aims and objectives of the project are taken, including ensuring that relevant data is obtained and assisting with the timely completion of the project Operational Plan/s
• Work in close collaboration with the APBI Coordinator to contribute to the production of materials such as project periodic reports, information on emerging and strategic issues in relation to ‘safe’ routes for use in advocacy, content for newsletters, social media posts and articles to raise awareness of the project and its aims and outputs
• Participate in, and contribute to, RLS’s monitoring, evaluation and learning framework
• Be an active member of the RLS team participating in team meetings at both the UK and International level: engaging in a collegiate and collaborative environment that includes participating in the development of a new and exciting legal organisation
• Work in close collaboration with the Community Engagement and Research Lead to contribute to the production of information sheets and other materials to disseminate to the Afghan community/ies
• Maintain accurate and confidential records in line with GDPR
• Adhere to RLS safeguarding policies and procedures at all times. 

Person specification: 

Essential

• Be either a member of the Bar, a solicitor and accredited to IAAS Senior caseworker level, accredited to IAAS Senior caseworker level, or OISC accredited to Level 3
• Experience of asylum casework
• Experience of refugee family reunion procedures and applications, including applications outside of the Immigration Rules reliant on Article 8 ECHR and other human rights provisions
• Experience of online immigration applications
• Demonstrable knowledge of legal aid provision and ECF applications
• Experience of and commitment to working in a collaborative way on legal cases
• Good verbal and written communication skills in English
• Strong organisational skills, including the ability to prioritise work and meet deadlines
• Strong attention to detail, responsiveness, reliability and dependability
• Strong interpersonal and relationship management skills and an ability to deal professionally and collaboratively with both legal and not-for-profit stakeholders
• Computer literacy
• Right to reside and work in the UK
• Enjoy working with a small team in a flexible and fast-paced environment, as well as being an independent self-starter able to work with a high degree of autonomy
• Have a strong commitment to upholding the human rights of asylum seekers, migrants, and refugees
• Commitment to the aims of the project and the values of RLS
• The successful candidate will be required to obtain an enhanced DBS certificate (we cover the cost). However, a criminal record is not a barrier to the role. 

Desirable

• Demonstrable supervision experience strongly preferred
• Those with lived experience of navigating immigration systems are strongly encouraged to apply and will be favourably considered
• Experience of legal aid casework
• Experience of conducting immigration appeals and/or public law litigation
• Experience of supervising commercial lawyers in a pro bono project setting
• Experience of preparing and delivering training

We are recruiting a General Advice Officer to support with the delivery of advice and welfare support to vulnerable guests who access the Community Wellbeing Service, a local support hub offering relief from the rising cost of living for local families. The General Advice Officer will support our guests on a range of areas including benefits, immigration, housing, money management and access to training and employment services. The postholder will provide high quality welfare advice and guidance through weekly one-to-one advice sessions, undertake case work, work with partners to facilitate referrals, and provide support to advice volunteers. 

The successful candidate must have at least two years’ experience delivering effective advice or in a similar capacity, demonstrate empathy, an understanding of the issues facing vulnerable people, and have in-depth and up-to-date knowledge of welfare benefits and housing policies/legislations, with a strong focus on achieving tangible outcomes for our guests.

Advice Work

• Carry out assessments to identify urgent needs and appropriate support pathways for members at the Community Wellbeing Service.
• Support outreach or community engagement activities as needed.
• Provide holistic and person-centred advice and casework on the main enquiry areas, particularly welfare benefits, housing, employment, health and wellbeing, immigration and money management.
• Maintain Sufra’s Advice Quality Standards and meeting tangible outcomes.
• Produce detailed case records on our case management system for the purpose of continuity, statistical monitoring and report preparation
• Apply for funds from trusts and foundations to support individuals and families with essential costs such as housing deposits or white-goods and/or cancellation of debts;
• Develop and maintain good working relationships with external stakeholders for joined up working, including statutory and voluntary service providers, making referrals for guests where appropriate.
• Enable and support guests to act for themselves, wherever appropriate.
• Monitor the progression of all cases to the point of resolution.
• Conduct follow-up calls with guests where needed and track outcomes
• Support volunteers who are working on delivering Advice Services e.g triage volunteers and pathways volunteers
• Provide advice to the General Advice Service as and when required

Case Management

• Manage own caseload and work independently to support guests
• Use of Case Management System (AdvicePro) as well as Microsoft Office for communication and document production.
• Support with developing case studies and gathering guest feedback
• Collect statistical information as requested for reporting purposes.
• Feed into the development of monitoring reports for funders and other stakeholders

Other Responsibilities

• Maintain and update the charity’s record of referral and signposting agencies;
• Ensure data protection regulations are adhered to, and that sensitive data is handled in accordance with relevant legislation and organisational procedures.
• Keep informed of new and changing legislation relevant to the post, and of local issues and policies
• Be committed to the aims, procedures and policies of Sufra’s advice service in every aspect of service delivery.
• Take part in supervisions, personal development training, team meetings and appraisals
• Undertake any other reasonable duties to support the operations of the charity.

You will provide advice and representation to rough sleepers within northwest London to end homelessness. By resolving immigration status of service users, you will help eliminate destitution and allow them to access support for a better future - an initiative funded under the London Councils Homelessness Project. 

You will work closely with supporting organisations including local authorities and homelessness organisations to break down barriers caused by immigration status and support migrant communities to thrive and become independent. 

Established in 1970, NKLC is the first community-based legal service centre that fights for equality and justice for the disadvantaged residents our locality.  We are proud that we have ended homelessness for many within our community who now have access to employment and study for a better future ahead. Sadly, due to In the height of the cost of living crisis, homlessness persists in the capital. As a result, the Mayors project has now been extended to end of March 2026 so we can continue supporting those facing destitution.

We are recruiting a high energy and hands on Garden Manager to work closely with the Senior Leadership team at Sufra to support the development and expansion of the community garden, and manage the team of garden staff and volunteers. This is an exciting time in the development of St. Raphael’s Edible Garden, as we are looking for an experienced Garden Manager to oversee the next steps in the development of the site, deliver a range of learning outcomes and fully implement, manage and further develop all aspects of the garden project.

Alongside practical educational outdoor experience, the successful candidate will understand how to design educational programmes that are accessible and engaging for a range of audiences, including school children and young people, adults with additional needs, and wider community. Project management and organisational skills are also essential. This is an immensely rewarding role working in a dynamic charity built on an ethos of sharing, hospitality and inclusivity, that would suit a committed individual who is willing to go the extra mile. Through their activities, the Garden Manager will be able to convey the charity’s passion and commitment to supporting vulnerable people in Brent and transforming the lives of beneficiaries. 

This is a fantastic opportunity for an aspiring individual to develop their career in a charity that is passionate about families with young children. We're looking for someone who is a self-starter, well-organised and committed to the cause. In addition to providing administrative support to the organisation, you will be a natural communicator who is comfortable with using social and creative media, as well as basic IT systems. 

Home-Start Barnet delivers early intervention programmes to families with young children, who have multiple needs and are struggling to cope with the challenges they face. Our trained volunteers provide the emotional support needed to prevent crisis and the practical tools to empower parents and carers to give their children the best start in life.

Key responsibilities are to:

• Handle all incoming communications - phone, email and other communications
• Provide central administration support to the charity
• Support and build engagement across different social media channels
• Update content for HSB’s website
• Support and help organise training and events

Further details can be found in the Job Description.

The role is based at our offices in Finchley, N3. Due to the nature of our work, we require someone to be present in the office 5 days a week. We have a welcoming and relaxed office environment, but also take pride in our professional standards.

We welcome applications from candidates who may not have previous office or administrative experience, but who can demonstrate that they have the right skills and are keen to learn. This role would suit new graduates, or someone who would like to work shorter days around other commitments. We are a diverse workplace and we offer flexibility and accomodations for staff to ensure they can deliver their full potential.