We have an exciting opportunity for a creative, strategic and enthusiastic individual who is passionate about refugees being welcomed by their local church, to join the growing Welcome Churches team. This role would be suitable for a self-motivated leader with knowledge and experience of implementing effective communications strategies in organisations.

Context of the role

Refugees and asylum seekers in the UK are a very transient people group. Often through no choice of their own, they can be required to move to a new part of the UK at very short notice. This can be very unsettling for individuals who find themselves in an unfamiliar environment with no support around them. By being connected to a local church, they are able to make local friends more quickly and find a place to belong. This is often in the church community itself and many refugees and asylum seekers enjoy strong friendships with Christians in UK churches, with many coming to faith in Jesus too.

Over the last year we have established a national Welcome Network which enables newly-arrived refugees and asylum seekers to be referred to a local church who will welcome them to the community. The Welcome Network is a key component of our charitable activities, enabling refugees to be easily connected with their local church. The Communications Officer will be responsible for raising the national profile of the Welcome Network, and also the wider work of Welcome Churches. This will mean that more churches will participate and more referrals can be made to ensure that more refugees and asylum seekers can be welcomed by their local church into community.

Applicants are required to have an active Christian faith and be passionate about the UK Church welcoming refugees into the church community.

The Communications Officer is likely to be based in Derby, but remote working will also be considered. This is a fixed-term contract for one year with the possibility of becoming permanent depending on funding.