Information support volunteer volunteer roles in birmingham

Location: Remote (with weekly virtual check-in)
Time Commitment: 2–3 hours per week
Reports to: Charity Operational Director
Contract: Volunteer (unpaid)

Help Us Grow by Using Your Research Skills for Good

Are you an avid reader, a natural researcher, or someone who enjoys deep dives into information online? Would you like to use those skills to support a grassroots environmental charity?

Willowbrook Farm Charity is looking for a dedicated Volunteer Funds & Partnerships Researcher to help us identify potential grant opportunities and partnerships that align with our mission:
Nurturing Sustainable and Equitable Communities through education, biodiversity, and sustainable farming.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Conducting deep online research to identify grant providers, CSR programmes, and funding opportunities that align with our values

• Reading and analysing funder guidelines to assess eligibility, fit, and application requirements

• Creating clear summaries and recommendations based on your findings

• Identifying potential partnerships with organisations, trusts, or foundations that share our ethos

• Meeting with the Director once a week (remotely) to discuss research progress and priorities

This Role Is Ideal For Someone Who:

• Loves researching and reading in-depth content

• Has excellent comprehension and analysis skills

• Can spot opportunities that match specific criteria

• Is detail-oriented, thorough, and curious

• Enjoys working independently with a purpose

• Wants to support sustainability, inclusion, biodiversity, and ethical living

What You’ll Gain

• The chance to contribute directly to the growth and sustainability of a values-led charity

• Experience in nonprofit research and funding development

• A flexible role that fits around your schedule (just 2–3 hours a week)

• Weekly contact and support from our friendly team

• A reference or LinkedIn endorsement after 4+ months of contribution

• The satisfaction of helping secure funding for meaningful, community-based work

The Impact You'll Have

As a Volunteer Funds & Partnerships Researcher, you will play a critical behind-the-scenes role in helping Willowbrook Farm Charity grow and thrive. Your research will directly contribute to:

• Identifying funding that sustains our projects – Your work will uncover grant opportunities that help us deliver hands-on environmental education, protect biodiversity, and promote sustainable living.

• Ensuring we apply only to relevant opportunities – By carefully reading funder criteria and guidelines, you’ll save our small team time and resources, allowing us to focus our energy on the best-aligned funders.

• Laying the foundation for long-term partnerships – Your research may open doors to strategic partnerships with trusts, foundations, and organisations that share our values.

• Strengthening our resilience – In our post-pandemic rebuilding phase, every successful grant or partnership helps us remain independent, community-driven, and inclusive.

• Turning curiosity into change – Your love of reading and research will translate into tangible impact, helping create a fairer, greener future for the communities we serve.

You won’t just be gathering data—you’ll be helping connect people, values, and resources, shaping the future of a small charity with a big vision.

About Willowbrook Farm Charity

Based in Oxfordshire, we provide hands-on environmental education, promote sustainable living, and support inclusive access to nature. We work with people from all walks of life—especially those facing barriers to green spaces—and believe in building a fairer, greener future through practical, grassroots action.

Few institutions are or Students Unions are developing as fast as we are. Both UCB and the Guild of Students aspire to being models of excellence serving our unique a diverse student body.

We serve students from 6th form, vocational courses and degree and post grad, local and many international students. We have an exciting plan to take us into the next few years and need someone brilliant, experienced and enthusiastic to help steer us on this ambitious, challenging journey.

We think someone with experience as a senior Students' Union and perhaps some broader experiences and interests too would be great for the role but we would be happy to talk to someone who has a good understanding of governance and students' unions acquired during their varied history.

About the Guild of Students

Since becoming an independent charity six years ago, the Guild of Students has become a hub of student life and advocacy, in line with our mission to help every student at University College Birmingham achieve their potential. We run a Course Representative scheme of over 400 volunteers, lead change campaigns in students’ interests, facilitate around 25 student-led clubs and societies, and organise exciting social opportunities.

We’ve been recognised with several accreditations, including Investors In People, Disability Confident, and most recently the National Union of Students’ ‘Quality Students’ Union’ status.

The Guild is led by three elected full-time Officers: an Education Officer, Equalities and Wellbeing Officer, and Societies & Activities Officer. They, in turn, are supported by a team of 6 part-time volunteer Officers and a small but dedicated staff team, which we are keen to expand to develop the quality and breadth of our services.

About our Members

UCB is home to a wide range of courses with a particular emphasis on skills-based education. We are proud to welcome a diverse student body, including many from the West Midlands who have traditionally faced barriers to accessing further or higher education.

The Guild represents around 10,000 students, including apprentices, college-level students, UCB’s new Sixth Form, and university-level students. We engage with a clear majority of our members each year, and are keen to deepen our reach — especially with FE students.

About the Role

As Chairperson, you will lead a Board comprising external trustees, student trustees, the three full-time Officers, and a member of UCB’s governing body. The Board meets quarterly for around three hours, and the chairperson will be expected to provide additional support and guidance between meetings (which can be done remotely).

The initial term of appointment is four years, with the option of renewal.

We ask candidates to note the following key dates:

• Applications close: Friday 7th November, 16:00
• Interviews: Week commencing 17th November (to be confirmed)
• First Board meeting (if appointed): Thursday 27th November in an observing capacity

Further Information and Adjustments

For an informal conversation about the role or to discuss the appointment process in greater detail (including any adjustments we can make to ensure accessibility) please send us a message for the attention of Alex Harden-Way, Guild Director.

Over past decades, enormous advances have been made in our understanding of MS. Research has got us to a critical point, and we can see a future where nobody needs to worry about their MS getting worse. Our Stop MS Appeal needs to raise £100 million to find treatments for everyone with MS.

Our Stop MS Champions help us reach more people and inspire them to get involved in our Stop MS Appeal by encouraging raising funds and awareness by delivering presentations, attending events and identifying new audiences to speak to. They inspire people to engage with and influence fundraisers and groups, enthuse people and make sure our community’s voice is heard.

As our Lead Stop MS Champion, you’ll motivate your team of Stop MS Champions to help reach more people and inspire them to get involved in our Stop MS Appeal.

By using your ability to motivate and support, you will oversee and lead a team of 5-10 Stop MS Champion volunteers, encouraging them to engage the people they know to raise funds and awareness, and provide reliable information and guidance.

You’ll also network to engage with and influence fundraisers and community groups, enthusing people by delivering presentations at events and finding new audiences to speak to. In this role, as well as developing your leadership, networking, influencing, communication, organisation and presentation skills, you’ll have a chance to be part of something amazing – you could help us stop MS.

"We are looking for 3 candidates to join our volunteer enhanced professional development programme and gain real world experience in your chosen field). While we only have 3 vacancies available through this programme, other options are available if your skills match our criteria".

QuilomboUK is looking for a PR & Marketing Assistant, who would love to join a growing organization. Quilombo UK works with the objective to promote different arts, sports, and cultures to encourage an intercultural understanding between different communities and societies; To promote cultural awareness in the community and educate, regardless of nationality or origin, about race diversity and mutual respect; To promote good health and wellbeing; and run a community organisation with a strong focus on individuals, the community and society.

This role offers a great opportunity for the right person who is looking to; gain experience in marketing; develop their skills and management experience; or just simply ‘give something back to their community’. The role provides you flexibility and autonomy at work. Where necessary specific training will also be provided to help you develop and grow your skill set.

As a PR & Marketing Assistant at Quilombo UK, you will play a vital role in providing general marketing support while actively engaging in various marketing tasks to contribute to the overall success of our initiatives. This position offers opportunities for personal and professional development within the different units of Marketing, including Social Media, Images, Video, and Website. Your responsibilities will encompass a wide range of tasks, from data collection and report compilation to active participation in campaign organization and development. You will also be actively contributing to real-life marketing projects and playing a key role in planning, developing, and implementing effective marketing strategies. This role requires a proactive and creative individual who will promote our organization through various channels, manage social media presence, contribute to innovative marketing programs, and engage in comprehensive market research.

This role is perfect for an enthusiastic and creative individual who is eager to gain hands-on experience in various aspects of marketing, from strategic planning to social media management.

Main tasks:

• Working on real life marketing projects

• Planning, developing and implementing marketing strategies.

• Promote the organisation through Social Media channels , and through maintaining and updating information about the organisation. 

• Managing the organisation’s social media pages by posting updates and responding to comments and messages

• Submitting ideas for marketing programmes/campaigns designed to enhance and grow the company’s brand

• Organising marketing campaigns

• Creating, organising and delivering presentations 

• Conducting market research and analysing participants’ reports, questionnaires and surveys. 

• Using social media and website analytics to find out the effectiveness of ongoing campaigns and understand the way users interact with the site and social media posts. 

• Contribute to staff meetings, and other internal meetings with views and suggestions.

• Analyze information to provide actionable insights and recommendations to the Directors

• Receive and interpret briefings from the Directors, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of organizational objectives

• Develop and deliver clear and concise communication to internal and external stakeholders

• Translate briefings into actionable outcomes, coordinating with various teams and individuals

·

Training and support available:

• Social media

• Canvas

Skills:

Essential

• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

• Attention to detail

• Flexibility and willingness to learn new skills

• Problem-solving, planning and creative-thinking skills

• Time management and prioritisation abilities

• Tactical understanding of all primary social media platforms

• Knowledge and understanding of online and offline marketing tactics

• Good Teamworking skills

• Strong organisational skills

• Numerical skills, which includes analysing and compiling spreadsheets

• Social Media skills.

• Office based skills (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)

• Adheres to the organisation’s key objectives 

• Delivering quality work in a timely manner

• Self-driven

• Ability to multi-task and adhere to deadlines

Desirable

• Committed to working with the community with a passion for helping others less fortunate. QUILOMBO UK is dedicated to fostering an inclusive workplace environment that values diversity and promotes equality for all employees. As part of our commitment to upholding these principles, we adhere to the guidelines outlined in the Equality Act 2010. We firmly believe in creating a workplace where all individuals are respected and treated fairly. Discrimination of any kind will not be tolerated.

• Good Knowledge of market research techniques and database

• Previous experience working in an office environment, dealing with administrative tasks or using a product database.

When needed:

Willing to volunteer at least 12 hours a week, for a duration of 16 weeks as part of a Personal Development Program (PDP).

QUILOMBO UK is dedicated to fostering an inclusive workplace environment that values diversity and promotes equality for all employees. As part of our commitment to upholding these principles, we adhere to the guidelines outlined in the Equality Act 2010. We firmly believe in creating a workplace where all individuals are respected and treated fairly. Discrimination of any kind will not be tolerated.

This is an exciting opportunity to join a charity at the very start and to make a difference in shaping how we move forward.

Who are we looking for?

At present we are working towards being fully operational, over the next year Living Reasons will be looking to ensure that all of our operational activity, whether internally or with people who come in contact with the organisation, are having the best experience they can possibly have and that the work we are carrying out, the campaigns we are focusing on and where we are focusing our time and our money, is relevant and remains so moving forward.

That is where I lived experience board of volunteers comes in. In essence that lived experience board is the driver for all that we do as an organisation and will inform, guide and develop the organisation.

The board is broken in to separate lived experiences which hold focus groups, support groups and communicated with each other to talk about members lived experiences, support each other and feel part of a community, while also using the voice and power of that lived experience to bring about change. The board chooses what information is passed on to the organisation and what is not.

Additionally, to the community aspects of the role, you will also be sent specific materials to share your experiences or take part in research or in new policy discussions or campaign ideas as the organisation evolves.

Additionally, to the specific lived experience groups, the full board can communicate with each other and will have periodic full board meetings that will allow people to share their experiences from various viewpoints, so that cross overs and shared experiences can become strength but can also guide the overall operation of Living Reasons.

For this role, all you need is to have lived experience of autism, ADHD, dyslexia or dyspraxia, either from a personal viewpoint, or as a supporter/care giver/guardian/family member. There will be two separate groups (one for personal experience and people who are supporting someone – this allows for different conversations to happen).

This role will really drive change, not just in Living Reasons as an organisation, but in society as a whole.

What is the plan?

The person who is starting the charity up is autistic, has ADHD, CPTSD and also multiple physical conditions that effect daily life and is part of the LGBTQ+ community and has faced a lot of issues in life because of these things.

Living Reasons is being created to fix what we think is a challenging situation that is getting harder to achieve every week, month and year in the current economic, political, environmental and societal landscape. It is not easily defined but we hope the charity objects below will help put context to what we want to achieve, what we can say is that below are the issues we are trying to address, how we do this will change as quickly as society does, but the issues we want to tackle are these:

1) Outdated and damaging employment practices

2) Accessibility to services

3) Limited employment, training and education opportunities

4) Lack of support during times of crisis or need

5) Lack of equity and agency for many people in society

6) Institutional discrimination that is not challenged

7) Abuse of the legal system at all levels

8) Abuse of power in government bodies

9) Poor access to healthcare

10)  Unequal treatment of many people in society by large corporations

11)  Assumptions made by wider society based on incorrect, outdated or discriminatory rhetoric that is used in daily life

12)  Outdated company engagement with the public

13)  Lack of support that is not talked about and not being addressed

Our Living Values -

Creativity

1) Imaginative Development (Individual)

2) Instilled Collaboration (Internal)

3) Changing The Status Quo (External)

Prospectivity

1) What Can You Do (Individual)

2) What Can We Do (Internal)

3) What Can They Do (External)

Revolutionary 

1) Inspire With Confidence (Individual)

2) Boundaryless Innovation (Internal)

3) Challenge Traditions (External)

Attentivity

1) Analyse and Redesign (Individual)

2) Rebel and Reform (Internal)

3) Enquire and Reimagine (External)

Web developers and designers wanted to support East London Waterworks Park in continuing to improve its website and digital infrastructure.

East London Waterworks Park is a volunteer-led charity that has won a 2024 New London Architecture award and raised £2m towards buying land from the Department for Education to transform the 14-acre Thames Water Depot on Lea Bridge Road on the border of Waltham Forest and Hackney, into a new biodiverse park with natural swimming ponds, forest schools and community spaces. 

We are looking for web developers and designers to contribute to our community-led working group who are working on coordinating content and infrastructure for the East London Waterworks Park website. 

There is opportunity to lead on projects across web development and UX and web design, and facilitate the direction of the working group.

The Comms Circle currently meets fortnightly on a Tuesday evening on Google Meet and spends voluntary time outside of the meeting completing agreed tasks remotely.

You should be experienced in HTML, PHP, CSS, Javascript and SQL, and or UX and web design. You should be comfortable with community-led processes. Our roles are quite flexible. We hope that people bring radical imagination, peace with nature, and courageous inclusiveness to the role. 

Contribute to the creation of a new biodiverse community-owned park with free access natural swimming ponds. Your skills in web design and development will be crucial in creating a visually engaging and user-friendly online presence that effectively communicates the park's biodiversity and mission. By designing engaging websites and interactive platforms, you'll help us connect with our community, inspire action, and secure the necessary support for the park's future.

1. Role

Fundraising Lead Trustee of Bromley Borough Foodbank CIO. 

1.1 Role rationale

To have a Trustee with a proven track record of fundraising expertise within the charity sector, who will take particular responsibility for guiding the delivery of our charitable aims through developing and realising an ambitious fundraising strategy. 

1.2 Role summary

· Trustee of Bromley Borough Foodbank.

· Particular responsibility to guide and work with the Trustee Board, Foodbank Manager and other team members in developing and realising a comprehensive fundraising strategy for the charity.

2. Responsibilities

2.1 General responsibilities of the Trustee Board

The Trustees are collectively responsible for:

· maintaining BBF’s Christian identity and ethos;

· developing and promulgating BBF’s strategy from time to time and measuring progress in implementing the strategy;

· ensuring and monitoring BBF’s legal and regulatory compliance and risk management;

· approving BBF’s policies and procedures and amendments to them;

· ensuring BBF’s financial stability and implementing appropriate financial controls; and

· providing oversight of, and Trustee-level support for, all of the Areas of Work that together comprise BBF’s operations.

2.2 General responsibilities of a Trustee 

· Attend in-person Trustee Board meetings (held every other month), subject to occasional absences, and an annual open meeting.

· Attend an annual awayday to discuss strategy and other issues.

· Participate in appropriate training and update sessions during the year.

· Participate in discussions and decisions on Trustee Board issues between in-person meetings, including by email and other means of electronic communication and occasional virtual meetings.

2.3 Specific responsibilities for the Fundraising Trustee

· Provide leadership for the development of a fundraising strategy with the Trustee Board, while respecting the role of the Foodbank Manager.

· Contribute knowledge of fundraising techniques, best practice, and strategies.

· Help us further develop our fundraising capabilities through effective people and processes.

2.4 Sub-committee responsibilities

Each Trustee sits on one or more of our Trustee sub-committees, which in the case of each sub-committee entails:

· familiarising yourself and keeping yourself up-to-date with the activities of BBF within that Area of Work;

· attending any in-person meetings of the sub-committee; 

· participating in discussions and decisions on sub-committee issues between in-person meetings, including by email and other means of electronic communication and occasional virtual meetings; and

The Fundraising Lead Trustee would sit on the Finance and Major Assets Sub-committee.

3. Required background

· A hands-on background in charity fundraising with experience of charity fundraising at a strategic and operational level.

· Knowledge of individual giving, corporate, major donor and community fundraising within the context of a small charity.

4. Other relevant matters

4.1 Time commitment

We estimate the average time commitment for a Trustee’s general and sub-committee responsibilities (as identified above, assuming membership of one Area of Work sub-committee) to be in the region of 4-5 hours per month.

We would expect to discuss the precise scope of the role, and the additional time commitment which it might involve, with the appointee. Our preference is to have our Fundraising Lead as a Trustee (with the wider general and sub-committee responsibilities that involves), but would be happy to consider a more targeted appointment for the right appointee.

4.2 Working as a volunteer in another role

To avoid conflicts of interest, we ask Trustees not to be part of any of our regular operational teams; but we do allow Trustees to provide assistance in particular areas of expertise on the same basis as would apply to any other volunteer.

4.3 Remuneration

You will not be entitled to any remuneration for undertaking your role as a Trustee.

the3million is currently seeking up to three new non-executive directors to strengthen its dynamic board and support the work of this passionate organisation at the forefront of migrants’ rights in the UK. 

Nine years after the Brexit referendum, we are navigating ongoing challenges affecting EU citizens’ communities. We are continuing to build power from the ground up, empowering people to get their voices heard. Your contribution will be crucial to making change happen.

These positions are voluntary and therefore unpaid.

About the3million

We are the leading organisation representing EU citizens in the UK. Our vision is a world where EU citizens can thrive, reach their potential and have an equal voice in UK society. Our work ranges from informing people of their rights and community organising of EU citizens’ communities, to holding the Government to account on the implementation of the Withdrawal Agreement and promoting access to justice. 

We are a grassroots and non-partisan organisation, working with a variety of stakeholders, from MPs to NGOs, legal advisors and the media on specific issues affecting migrants’ rights. We regularly engage with the Home Office and its monitoring bodies to advocate for change. 

We were formed through the efforts of volunteers from many different backgrounds who came together in the immediate aftermath of the Brexit referendum in 2016. We hold on to that can-do, nimble spirit and friendly and non-hierarchical collegiality.

In 2024, the3million’s contribution towards creating lasting and significant change for EU citizens living in the UK was recognised at the EmpowerEU Awards, in the "Outstanding Achievement” category.

the3million was incorporated as a limited by guarantee not-for-profit company with Companies House in November 2017. As such, the role of members of the Board of Directors is similar, though not identical, to that of Charity Trustees.

What does the role involve? 

You will join a small board of professionals committed to helping EU citizens in the UK. We are specifically seeking directors with expertise, skills and knowledge in any or several of the following backgrounds: fundraising, legal compliance, HR, risk management, community organising, racial justice and safeguarding.

As a the3million non-executive director, you’ll play a vital role in keeping the organisation on track with its objectives. You will apply your professional experience towards shaping our strategy on fundraising, governance, campaigning and other areas of work.

The main purpose of your role:

As directors at the3million, you will have responsibility to:

• Ensure the3million is meeting its aims and objectives and acting in line with any relevant legislation or regulations
• Act in the best interests of the organisation
• Ensure the3million applies its resources exclusively in line with its strategic aims 
• Ensure the financial viability of the3million 
• Contribute effectively to the Board of Directors in giving clear strategic direction, and evaluating performance against set targets
• Support the Chief Executive Officer and monitor their performance
• Act with reasonable care and skill

What you will gain:

• An insight into how the organisation runs;
• Confidence in building relationships with a wide range of people, and the opportunity to learn from the varied experiences that other Board members bring to the table;
• An opportunity to use your skills, knowledge and experience to the benefit of the organisation and the communities we serve;
• A sense of pride when hearing about the difference our campaigning and organising efforts make, knowing you have had a role in protecting the rights of EU citizens in the UK.

Being a director is a voluntary role and is not paid, but expenses including for travel are reimbursed.

Director Person Specification

Key skills:

• Knowledge of and ability to carry out the core responsibilities of being a director (please note that onboarding and support is available to new Board members, particularly those who have not served on a Board before)
• Timeliness and clarity in your communication on and around meetings or projects
• Strategic vision: an ability to think about the ‘bigger picture’ and longer term (5 years ahead) as well as the ‘here and now’ 
• A willingness to act as an ambassador for the3million, promoting our work to friends and colleagues
• An ability to work as a member of a team, to comment, challenge or question in a way that is helpful, supportive and constructive
• A good sense of judgement

Qualification and experience

You will ideally have one or more of the following:

• Experience of working in senior teams, preferably at board level;
• Experience of volunteering/working in the third  sector;
• Fundraising;
• HR;
• Community organising;
• Safeguarding;
• Racial justice;
• Experience working in the migration field would be an advantage.

Personal attributes

• Integrity and honesty
• Proactiveness
• A demonstrable commitment to the3million's aims and values
• Team player, flexible and adaptable

Time commitment 

• A two hour evening board meeting every two months (online)
• Regular discussion and meeting with fellow directors (online)
• Follow up to meetings – reading and commenting on minutes, carrying out any agreed actions.
• One to two away-days per year (in-person);

Restrictions

• Over 18
• Must be currently based in the UK
• Not bankrupt
• Subject to satisfactory DBS check and references
• Not excluded by Companies House or Charity Commission
• Conflicts of interest that would be so significant as to undermine the role in general, such as being a member of a group that discriminated against people based on gender, ethnicity or nationality.

Who should apply?

Applications are welcome from everyone with the relevant passion and experience in one or more of the areas listed above. Having worked in the migration sector or in campaigning is not necessarily required. We recognise that many other settings offer transferable skills.

One of the3million’s core values is equity - we are people-led, we value diversity and are enriched by differences. We strive to listen to, engage with and represent the broadest range of people. 

We are particularly eager to hear from candidates with lived experience of migration. If you are from a background that is underrepresented in the migration sector we also strongly encourage you to apply. This could include coming from a community that experiences racism, living with a disability or not having been to University.

We recognise our team is not currently representative of communities that experience racism and that our own ways of working may replicate wider societal oppression and injustices. We are actively working towards becoming an anti-oppressive organisation, including taking steps to create a more inclusive recruitment process.

We believe our work will be stronger with greater diversity. the3million welcomes the whole person to work, and we understand that each of us brings our experiences, our backgrounds and our own unique lens to what we do.

Please send your CV along with an accompanying letter explaining your reasons for applying. We highly recommend going through the role specifications below before you start your application.

Next steps
 
Applications are welcome from everyone with the relevant passion and experience. If you would like to speak to someone on our current Board or a staff member to find out more about us before applying, you are welcome to do so.

Shortlisted applicants will be invited for a one-hour interview. Interviews may be carried out over the weekend. 

Successful applicants will be onboarded by other Board members, ensuring they are welcomed into the organisation.

Application Instructions

Please send your CV along with an accompanying letter explaining your reasons for applying. Applications submitted without a covering will not be reviewed. 

If you are on LinkedIn, please share with us the URL of your profile.

Please also download and fill in the equality and diversity monitoring form. We only use this information to understand the demographics of people we are reaching and to guide us in making the3million fairer. This process is separate and confidential; this information is not reviewed or taken into account in the recruitment process.

Please email all the above to us at recruitment[at]the3million[dot]org[dot]uk.

Salary: N/A This is an unpaid volunteer role

Location: UK-based. Meetings are held in London, Manchester, Bradford, and Birmingham

About Refugee Action

Refugee Action exists to work with refugees and people seeking asylum who’ve survived some of the world’s worst regimes. We are a national charity with more than 40 years’ experience of empowering people who’ve survived some of the world’s worst regimes to secure the protection and support that they need to live with dignity and respect and build a new life in the UK. We do this by providing expert advice and casework, building the capacity of partner organisations and campaigning on the policies that affect them.

Our new 2030 Strategy

Here is the link to our 2030 Strategy; you can read more here.

Everyone involved in developing our new strategy was clear that if we want to create the future that refugees and many people in the UK want, we must demolish the hostile environment. It’s an environment that manifests itself in the racist rhetoric of our leaders and the systems they create; systems that are dehumanising and complex, which segregate people and sap their spirit. 

Our current leaders may be stooping to new lows with their words and policies, but they are simply repeating the behaviour of previous Governments. The hostility has been ramping up for years. And that hostility is rooted in a racialised logic that underpins the entire asylum and immigration system.

 As a trustee of Refugee Action

 We are currently looking to recruit 2 new trustees to join the Board of Refugee Action. Both roles are for people with lived experience of displacement.

You will be responsible for developing and guiding the strategic direction of the organisation and steering the long-term stability of the charity. You will need to persuade, influence and communicate effectively with the rest of the board.

Please don’t be discouraged if this isn’t something you’ve done before, or if you don’t meet all elements of the role specification; we will provide mentoring and training to support new Trustees to understand their role. Please do consider applying if you have the courage and enthusiasm to encourage, challenge and support us to be the best we can be.

All our trustees are committed to being actively anti-racist and removing the barriers to power for people with lived experience. You will need to be committed to and demonstrate an understanding of shifting power to people with lived experience, anti-racist practice and decolonisation.

Overall duties of Trustees

 Statutory duties

• To ensure that the organisation complies with its governing document, charity law, company law and any other relevant legislation or regulations
• To ensure that the organisation pursues its objects as defined in its governing document for public benefit
• To ensure the organisation uses its resources exclusively in pursuance of its objects: the organisation must not spend money on activities that are not included in its own objects, no matter how worthwhile or charitable those activities are.
• To contribute actively to the board of Trustees’ role in giving firm strategic direction to organisation, setting overall policy, defining goals and setting targets and evaluating performance against agreed targets
• To safeguard the good name and values of the organisation
• To ensure the effective and efficient administration of the organisation
• To ensure the financial stability of the organisation
• To protect and manage the property of the charity and to ensure the proper investment of the charity’s funds

 Other duties

 In addition to the statutory responsibilities outlined above, other duties may include:

• Lead and provide guidance to the board in a given area of expertise
• Meet with donors and any other stakeholders to represent Refugee Action and its beneficiaries
• Keep up to date with Refugee Action’s services to clients, Influencing and Fundraising work
• Attend 5 meetings a year– 4 board meetings and 1 away day.
• Read and scrutinise board papers before a meeting so as to be able to contribute fully in the meeting
• Occasional participation in a working group
• Occasional participation in staff interview, disciplinary or grievance panels

 Skills, knowledge, and experience need for this role

•  Commitment to Refugee Action’s vision, purpose and values and to act in a manner consistent with these, including being committed to shifting power to people with lived experience, anti-racist practice.
• Sound independent judgement with the confidence and insight to make positive contributions to board discussions.
• An interest in and some understanding of charity governance, the role and expectations of trustees.
• An ability to work collaboratively and effectively as a member of a team.
• Ability and willingness to positively represent the organisation.
• A willingness to learn and to enable us to learn from you.
• Experience of strategic thinking and of setting monitoring and reviewing plans
• Ability to read and understand financial information, review organisational policies and practices and identify key areas of risk (Training also offered in these areas if needed)
• Understanding of the role of Trustee and the legal duties, responsibilities, and liabilities this involves. (Training also offered in these areas if needed)

To apply for the Trustee role

To apply for the Trustee role, you will need to submit a maximum of no more than 4 A4 pages explaining how you meet the Experience, Skills and Knowledge section outlined in page 3 – 4 of the Role Description.

Experience may be paid or voluntary, full or part-time, in the UK or overseas. Don’t be discouraged if this isn’t something you’ve done before, or if you don’t meet all elements of the role specification; we will provide mentoring and training to support new Trustees to understand their role.

Closing date: 23:59 28 September 2025

Interviews: 15 October 2025

Refugee Action only operates in the UK, so all roles are UK-based.