A fantastic opportunity to build knowledge of the UK asylum system, gain experience of casework and deliver an essential service to young asylum seekers.
About Care4Calais
Care4Calais is a volunteer-based charity providing essential aid and support for refugees in France and the UK.
In northern France we operate year-round from Calais, providing warm clothing, bedding, food and assistance to refugees who live in appalling and dangerous conditions.
Across the UK we collect and distribute clothes, shoes, mobile phones and other essential items, as well as offering social support and interaction, including language lessons, sport and music workshops. We also help with vital access to legal, medical and educational services.
Our Legal Access Department is an access to justice project that exists to arrange critical legal representation for people seeking asylum and, more than this, to support people through the hostility and difficulty of claiming asylum. The department, made up mostly of volunteers, works tirelessly to ensure that people feel informed, empowered, and far less isolated and alone.
About the role
This role provides crucial one-to-one casework and support to people seeking asylum in the UK. Our Age Dispute Team assists young unaccompanied asylum seekers whose age is disputed, and are subsequently treated as adults though they are children, to access the support they deserve through referrals to local authorities and legal representatives. The casework support provided is invaluable and ensures that clients have someone to turn to and someone advocating for their safety and care in a confusing and often scary system.
You’ll have the chance to gain broad experience of working in a fast-paced and experienced team while meeting the ever-changing needs of those we support. So, if you thrive in a collaborative environment and are looking for a role where you can make a real difference, we want to hear from you!
We ask volunteers to commit to a minimum of 6 hours per week. We can be flexible in how this time is allocated. Successful applicants will be provided with the induction and training needed for them to succeed in the role.
We are looking for people who have a genuine passion for human rights and refugee protection. If this is you, please get in touch.
Responsibilities:
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Supporting people seeking asylum to understand the process and ensuring that they are able to make their own, informed choices.
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Attend induction, ongoing training and keep up to date with resources and procedure to ensure you can carry out the role effectively and efficiently.
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Working independently and managing your time, sometimes working to tight deadlines.
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Taking on new cases regularly, whilst also providing ongoing support to existing clients.
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Sorting and organising client’s paperwork and accurately maintaining client records.
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Liaising with other professionals including lawyers, Migrant Help, children's services and other C4C teams.
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Following safeguarding procedures and reporting safeguarding incidents appropriately.
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Provide emotional support and reassurance and make referrals and signpost to more appropriate support if needed.
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Keeping the management team updated of any issues that may impact your ability to carry out the role effectively.
Person Specification
Essential criteria:
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Ability to use spreadsheets, Google Workspace, messaging platforms and secure databases.
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Dedication to social justice with a clear understanding of the challenges faced by vulnerable populations, or a willingness to learn about these.
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Ability to work sensitively with a diverse range of clients, demonstrating cultural competence, respect and compassion.
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Experience or transferable experience in efficiently managing high volume caseloads while maintaining a high standard of care and attention.
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Resilience in the face of challenging and emotionally demanding situations, with a positive and solution-oriented mindset.
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Proactive and self-motivated, with the ability to take initiative.
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Excellent communication skills and the ability to communicate with people who do not have English as their first language, working alongside interpreters to ensure clients’ understand the process.
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Professional and dedicated to ensure that the best interests of the clients and Care4Calais are represented at all times.
Not essential but we welcome individuals with the below skills to offer:
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Proficiency in one or more of the languages spoken within asylum seeking communities, such as but not limited to Arabic, Farsi, Pashto, Dari, Kurdish Sorani, Tigrinya, Amharic, is a strong asset.
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Having experience of the asylum system in the UK is a strong asset.
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Knowledge of local authority's responsibilities to unaccompanied asylum seeking children.
Lived Experience Inclusion:
We are an anti-racist organisation and a proud member of the Experts by Experience Employment Network (EBE), which aims to create a charitable sector led by individuals with lived experience of the asylum system.
As part of our membership, we are dedicated to creating inclusive employment practices that recognise and accommodate the unique circumstances and strengths of people with lived experience. We actively move away from a one-size-fits-all approach, ensuring our recruitment processes are fair, supportive, and accessible.
We warmly encourage applicants with lived experience to make use of the guidance and resources available on the EBE website (ebeemployment)
In addition, applicants with lived experience are welcome to connect with the EBE support team for tailored assistance with completing the application form and, where available, one-to-one interview preparation.
Importantly, we recognise the significant cultural, linguistic, and experiential insights that individuals with lived experience of the UK asylum system bring to this role. As such, all applicants from this background who meet the essential criteria will be automatically shortlisted and invited to interview.
Application Instructions:
To apply, please submit your CV and complete the application form in full. Kindly note that incomplete applications (i.e. missing a completed form) will not be considered.
We look forward to hearing from you.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Please read the attached Trustee Information Pack for more detail
As a Trustee, you will play a crucial role in the governance and strategic oversight of the charity, ensuring that we operate effectively, achieve our mission, and comply with all legal and regulatory requirements. Trustees are collectively responsible for safeguarding the charity’s assets, ensuring they are used exclusively to further our objectives, and overseeing the charity’s financial health, including budgets, financial controls, and reporting. Acting with integrity and in the charity’s best interests is at the heart of the role.
To strengthen our board and support the growth of our charity, we have identified three key areas where additional expertise is needed:
- Marketing
- Legal
- Fundraising
Each of these areas play a vital role in helping us achieve our mission, enhance our impact, and ensure the charity’s sustainability for years to come. In the attached Recruitment Pack, we have outlined individual role profiles for each of these specialisms.
We welcome candidates from diverse professional backgrounds who share our commitment to supporting those affected by Body Dysmorphic Disorder. If your current or previous skills or experience align with any of these profiles, we encourage you to apply and join us in driving meaningful change.
To apply for this role, please submit the following documents:
- An up to date CV outlining your relevant experience and qualifications.
- A cover letter of no more than 800 words indicating which role you are applying to, explaining why you are interested in the Trustee role, what you would bring to the board, and how your skills align with the needs of the charity.
Shortlisted candidates will be invited to a panel interview. The interview panel will include:
- Dr. Rob Willson (Chair of the Board)
- Dr. Amita Jassi (Vice Chair of the Board)
- Kitty Wallace (Managing Director)
- Gemma Ponting (People & Projects Manager)
Interviews are due to take place week beginning 16th & 23rd June 2025
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Activity Alliance looking for a Chair and three new Trustees who will add value to the charity and exciting journey ahead. You will bring your expertise and/or lived experience to drive meaningful change for disabled people. Two Trustees will be Board-appointed, and one will be Member-appointed. Their start times will vary. We are pleased that you are interested in joining us to work towards our vision and thank you for your interest.
The key responsibilities of the Chair will be:
- Provide visionary leadership to the Board of Trustees, ensuring that Activity Alliance fulfils its mission and objectives.
- Foster a culture of continuous improvement and innovation within the organisation.
- Oversee the governance framework, ensuring compliance with legal and regulatory requirements.
- Lead the Board in monitoring organisational performance and ensuring effective risk management.
- Act as an ambassador for Activity Alliance, promoting our vision and mission. This includes being a spokesperson for the charity with the media and at events.
- Champion the voices of disabled people, advocating for change and influencing policy and decision-making at the highest levels.
- Build and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders, including partners, funders, and government bodies.
The key responsibilities of the Trustees will be:
- Have outstanding commitment to Activity Alliance with a strong understanding of the organisation’s values as well as of the Nolan Seven Principles of Public Life.
- Contribute actively to the Board of Trustees role in giving strategic direction to the organisation, setting overall policy, defining goals, setting targets, and evaluating performance against agreed targets.
- Ensure that the organisation complies with its governing documents, charity law, company law and any other relevant legislation or regulations.
- Safeguard the reputation and values of the organisation.
- Represent the organisation at functions and meetings when appropriate, and act as an ambassador for Activity Alliance.
Currently, we are particularly interested in recruiting Trustees with understanding, skills, and/or experience in one or more of the following areas:
- Legal
- Commercial and corporate affairs
- Income generation
- Application of AI and technology
The posts are for an initial term of up to three years, which may be extended for two further terms of three years.