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.
Thank you!
Do you believe in a future where no animal suffers for science?
Do you have spare time you can volunteer to make a difference to the lives of animals and humans?
If so, we would love you to consider being one of our new trustees.
At Replacing Animal Research, we’ve been working for over half a century to replace the use of animals in research. We have significantly contributed to the development, and uptake, of non-animal methods by:
- Empowering scientists with our educational opportunities.
- Funding exciting research aimed at replacing animals and improving human healthcare.
- Collaborating with policymakers to ensure more rigorous policy on the use of animals in science.
Our mission is to ensure scientists use non-animal approaches in biomedical research and testing. It’s a better future for animals and humans. For us to achieve this, we need to ensure that Replacing Animal Research is a resilient organisation with sufficient skills, support, and income to continue its work in the long term. Our trustees are critical to the future of the organisation.
We are currently seeking more trustees to strengthen our board by providing strategic and governance support. We are looking for enthusiastic individuals with an interest or experience in scientific and medical research and testing and the development of non-animal methods. We’d also be interested in hearing from anyone passionate about eliminating animal use in research. We encourage applications from all people regardless of age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, belief or race. We are looking for trustees who can demonstrate:
A commitment to our purpose and aims and the strategic vision to support the Replacing Animal Research's future development.
- A willingness to devote the necessary time and effort to support the charity. (Please see below for more details on the time commitment).
- An understanding and acceptance of the legal duties, responsibilities and liabilities of trusteeship.
- Sound, independent judgement and the ability to challenge constructively.
- The ability to work effectively as a member of a team and make decisions for the good of the charity.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
A full induction is provided for new trustees as well as ongoing CPD opportunities and support. The role of trustee requires an annual time commitment of around 8 working days which works out around 5 hours per month. This includes:
- Preparation for and attendance at 6 general board meetings, which are held remotely.
- Preparation for and attendance at sub-committee meetings as appropriate.
- Between meetings, trustees may be asked to contribute to discussions via email or ad hoc telephone conferences on specific issues.
- Trustees may be asked to sit on or contribute to other project groups or activities from time to time.
- Attendance at 1 or 2 in-person board away days.
For more detailed information on being a trustee for Replacing Animal Research please take a look at our Trustee Role Description.
To apply for this opportunity please do so via Charity Job and submit your CV and a supporting cover letter. Please detail why you are interested in the role and how you can fulfil the role requirements and be an ambassador for Replacing Animal Research. Please ensure you read our Trustee Role Description and refer to this in your application.
Thank you for your interest in working with Replacing Animal Research and we look forward to hearing from you.
Benefits
The role of trustee is voluntary but travel and subsistence expenses are covered as required.
Notes
Shortlisted applicants will be invited for an interview in the week of 23/06/2025 and successful candidates will be invited to attend the next Replacing Animal Research board meeting as an observer on 17/07/2025. Full details will be given to candidates nearer the time.
Registered Charity
6 - 10
We’re a charity working tirelessly to build a world where no animal suffers for science.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
This is an exciting time in our growth as we look to grow our governance systems, build on our successes and ensure we are a radical, dynamic organisation rooted in our anti-racist and anti-oppressive values. We are looking for a new Chair for our Trustee board, to join us and help lead and shape the future of the organisation.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.