Refugee support jobs in Ealing, greater london
Release is seeking to appoint a Supervising Solicitor — with genuine flexibility for part‑time or full‑time working — to help shape and expand our legal services at the intersection of social justice - housing, public and community care law.
This role is particularly well‑suited to candidates seeking reduced hours, portfolio careers, or a position that allows for balance alongside caring responsibilities, or other commitments. The successful candidate will join a values‑driven organisation delivering high‑quality casework, innovative community‑based legal services, and strategic litigation aimed at systemic change.
Person Specification
Essential
- Minimum 4 years + post qualified solicitor with a current practising certificate, and
- Minimum 3 years + substantial experience in legal aid casework, supervision and/or compliance, and
- Minimum 1 year + experience of supervising others, and
- Experience in public law, housing law, and/or community care law within legal aid practice, and
- Strong commitment to social justice, harm reduction, and trauma-informed practice.
- Approved legal aid supervisor with the Legal Aid Agency.
Desirable
- Experience working in a charity or non-profit organisation.
- Experience supporting or contributing to strategic litigation or test case work.
- Understanding of the impact of drug policy and criminalisation on marginalised communities.
- Experience in developing new services, partnerships, or funding-linked delivery models.
Important notice: For this job, Release will only consider applications from those who already have the right to live and work in the UK. See the Home Office Immigration & Nationality Directorate for information on the UK Government's immigration policy.
About the Role
The Supervising Solicitor – Legal Aid is a key role in shaping and strengthening Release’s legal services. Working closely with the Joint Head of Legal Services and Executive Director, and in collaboration with other colleagues, you will supervise the delivery of high-quality legal advice and representation, supporting the growth of legal aid practice whilst ensuring Release continues to train and develop social justice lawyers for the future.
We are looking for an experienced legal aid practitioner who is strongly committed to social justice and the legal rights of marginalised communities, and who wants to build leadership experience in a movement-led organisation. The role will combine hands-on practice, leadership, supervision and compliance responsibilities.
Please note: We do not expect the postholder to generate legal aid income at a multiple of their salary. While we do aim to grow legal aid income across the team to an initial target of £15,000–£25,000 per annum, the focus of this role is on developing high‑quality legal aid practice and building sustainable income collectively, as part of a mixed‑income organisational model.
As Supervising Solicitor – Legal Aid, you will:
• Support Strategic Development: Contribute to developing the direction and priorities of Release’s legal services, including expanding legal aid work and strengthening access to justice.
• Provide Practice Supervision: Support a multidisciplinary team of solicitors, legal advisers and volunteers to deliver excellent, trauma-informed legal support. Support and mentor team members on how to adhere to legal aid file compliance, time recording and CCMS applications.
• Ensure Quality and Compliance: Help ensure consistent regulatory compliance and quality assurance across legal casework, including legal aid requirements.
• Strengthen and Grow Services: Help develop and improve legal service delivery models, including responding to emerging needs and client priorities.
• Contribute to Systemic Change: Support Release’s wider mission by helping connect legal services with policy, research, and advocacy work.
This role is ideal for someone with legal aid expertise and management potential, who wants to take a meaningful step into leadership whilst continuing to centre client care, justice and harm reduction.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Would you like to work towards a more peaceful world? We are looking for a driven and thoughtful Communications Manager to help shape and strengthen our voice across social media, news media, supporter communications and our website. You will act as a spokesperson for the organisation, write and develop communications campaigns, respond to current events, and help grow our membership and supporter base.
The Peace Pledge Union (PPU) is a pacifist campaigning organisation that has promoted nonviolence and opposed war since 1934. We challenge the systems and ideas that normalise militarism, promote peaceful alternatives, and organise the annual white poppy campaign in remembrance of all victims of war.
We welcome applications from people with non-linear career paths and from those whose relevant experience comes through community organising, campaigning or lived experience, as well as formal communications roles. Political understanding, sound judgement, and the ability to communicate clearly and responsibly are essential.
This is an opportunity to play a vital role in a small, collaborative organisation at an important moment of our development. We are particularly interested in reaching audiences beyond established peace movement circles, and communicating in ways that are accessible, relevant and inclusive.
The PPU values diversity, champions inclusion and strongly encourages applications from people of all backgrounds. We are committed to being an organisation where all voices are heard and all individuals are valued and welcome.
If you would like to discuss the role informally before applying, you are welcome to get in touch with us.
Key Dates
- Interview dates - 8-9 April 2026
- Job start date - 6 May 2026 or as soon as possible - to be agreed with successful candidate
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
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!
We’re looking for a housing solicitor to help work on our Legal Aid Agency contract covering legal help, certificated cases and representation at court as part of the duty solicitor scheme. We would love to hear from you if you already qualify as a legal aid supervisor or could do so soon. You’ll need to have at least one year’s experience of advising and assisting in housing law, together with a talent for explaining complex legal ideas in simple language and the ability to manage a demanding workload.
We’ve supported our local community since 1975. We believe nobody should be excluded from legal representation because they are poor or vulnerable.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Citizens UK
Citizens UK is the UK’s biggest, most diverse and most effective people-powered alliance. We bring communities and local organisations together to work on issues that matter; from campaigning for zebra crossings on dangerous roads, to reforming the immigration system, to the Living Wage campaign. We have a track record of winning change through hundreds of local and national campaigns. We know everyday people have the ability to shape the world around them. We believe that through developing local leaders, we can drive nationwide change and create community-led solutions to big and small problems.
Purpose
This role will report to the Executive Director, Finance and Operations, and will be responsible for providing executive assistance to three Executive Team members; the Executive Director, Finance and Operations (EDF&O), the Director of Communications and External Affairs (DCEA) and the Director, London (DL). The main duties include scheduling meetings, handling correspondence and assisting with the management of projects that all Directors are involved in. To be successful in this role, you will be able to initiate, meet deadlines and communicate effectively. Ultimately, you will be identifying and addressing the needs of the Executive Director/Directors, performing management and administrative tasks and building good working relationships to increase the effectiveness of the organisation.
Main Responsibilities
Working as the Executive Assistant & Project Manager to three Executive Team members for Citizens UK, reporting to Executive Director, Finance and Operations, your main responsibilities will include:
Contribute towards CUK’s mission and strategic objectives through Executive Support function
· Manage Executive Director/Directors diaries including booking meetings, scheduling attendees and organising venues, in person and online.
· Manage Executive Director/Directors correspondence including prioritising and responding to emails.
· Schedule Appraisal and Supervision meetings and visits: ensuring Executive Director/Directors time is well used through proper preparation and follow-up with direct reports, other local staff and external stakeholders.
· Process expenses for Executive Director/Directors as well as processing of invoice payments.
· Maintain an electronic filing system, ensuring processes and software are up to date and in working order.
· Provide management and administrative support to assist Executive Director/Directors in their workload.
- Lead coordination of monthly financial budget calls, including scheduling and managing diaries for approximately 17 chapter meetings each month, alongside quarterly budget review sessions.
- Provide live meeting support for all budget calls, including screen sharing, documenting key points, managing attendance, and ensuring smooth delivery of all administrative aspects.
- Serve as Secretariat for the monthly Operations and Organisational Development (OOD) Team Meetings, including drafting agendas, circulating papers, taking accurate and timely minutes, and producing post-meeting action logs.
- Maintain and manage the OOD SharePoint site, ensuring documents, actions and meeting materials are updated, accessible, and appropriately organised.
- Act as the primary administrative point of contact for the OOD team, responding to queries, managing workflows, and ensuring effective communication across the team.
- Work closely with the Director of Organisational Development, providing proactive support in planning, preparing and running the OOD meetings they chair.
- Oversee action tracking and follow-up for all meetings, ensuring progress is monitored, deadlines are met, and information is escalated where appropriate.
- Support wider departments of each of Executive Director/Directors, as well as wider organisational and project administration, as required, to ensure smooth operational functioning during the maternity leave period.
Build and manage projects and achieve work targets effectively
· Co-ordinate projects and ensure follow-up with team members where required.
· Create and manage systems to monitor performance of the Chapters, Projects and staff supervised by Executive Director/Directors: e.g. through reporting mechanisms and supervisions and appraisals.
· Maintain an action log Executive Director/Directors including following up with those responsible to ensure actions are taken. Manage their workflow and to-do list, assisting with prioritisation and the delegation of tasks to staff.
Learning, expertise and inclusion
· Undertake appropriate personal and professional development.
· Provide others with relevant and helpful advice and technical support.
· Proactive in maintaining own wellbeing at work.
Develop and manage internal and external relationships
· Build and maintain good working relationships with staff and stakeholders.
· Schedule meetings as required, setting agendas and circulating any papers.
· Work collaboratively across Citizens UK to ensure that interactions meet the expectations of our network and stakeholders.
· Take minutes at meetings as requested at other meetings where necessary e.g. Executive Team, CUK Leadership Team, staff meetings and external meetings.
· Manage and coordinate work within team and colleagues across CUK.
· Effectively liaise with external stakeholders, suppliers etc.
Communications
· Assist with drafting and producing communications e.g. newsletters, emails and other media, liaising with the Comms Team.
· Attend/dial in and take minutes of meetings.
· Provide team and stakeholders with regular, timely communications.
· Attend meetings and represent CUK effectively to audiences in meetings and at events.
Knowledge Management
· Ensure data is handled and managed in a GDPR compliant manner.
· Maintain an electronic filing system, ensuring processes and software are up to date and in working order.
Managing income and resources
· Ensure careful use and stewardship of CUK’s resources when booking venues, travel and incurring other expenses.
· Create and manage admin systems to track income resources effectively.
Contribute towards the CUK mission & strategic objectives Demonstrates enthusiasm and commitment to the function and the core mission of CUK. Reliably implements and participates in the development of policies, procedures, and values in the delivery of work across the team.
Build and manage
projects and achieve
work targets
effectively Identifies opportunities, initiates and manages projects; incl. planning and organising work effectively. Delivers on functional KPIs and targets. Delivers to time and budget.
Learning, expertise
and Inclusion Keeps up-to-date with functional good practice, incl. within third sector. Tains and coaches others giving relevant advice and technical support., incl. ensuring team have access to training and development opportunities. Displays self-awareness of DEI issues and good practice. Considers the impact on direct reports. Acts as a role model for DEI awareness and implementation. Is alert to and manages the impact of DEI issues for direct reports and stakeholders.
Develop and manage
external
relationships Proactively develops and nurtures new and existing relationships that further CUK goals; manages a diverse range of relationships. Seeks feedback and acts to ensure that stakeholders are having a good experience of working effectively with CUK.
Develop and manage
internal
relationships Manages and coordinates their work within team and with colleagues across CUK. Effectively line managers and develops staff. Encourages a culture of transparency and sharing across CUK.
Communications Provides stakeholders with regular comms; ensuring their needs are met with timely, appealing, communication materials. Represents CUK effectively to audiences in meetings and at events.
Knowledge
Management Responsibility for ensuring team members record and store data accurately and GDPR compliantly.
Generate income
and resources Contributes to plans and proposals to grow sources of income/ manage resources. Negotiates with suppliers/ third parties to reduce cost base. Participates in the development of funding proposals.
Safeguarding, Health Proactively undertakes risk assessment and responsibility for team wellbeing.
& Safety & Wellbeing Proactive in maintaining own wellbeing and supporting direct reports in managing their own wellbeing at work.
Personal Specification
(D) Desirable, (E) Essential
Qualifications
QUALIFICATIONS
· Degree or Diploma in Business Administration or associated subject (D)
EXPERIENCE
· Provision of administrative and diary assistance to Executive level (E)
· Experience of handling a wide range of correspondence (E)
· Project management skills to track and monitor progress across teams (E) (D)
· Taking and writing minutes, developing reports and presentations (E) (D)
KEY SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE
· Able to build relationships with a range of people and communicate clearly (E)
· Advanced level Microsoft Office, particularly Word, Excel, PowerPoint, SharePoint and Outlook (E)
· Diplomatic approach and discretion in handling sensitive and confidential information. (E)
· Previously developed time management and prioritisation skills. (E)
PERSONAL QUALITIES & VALUES
· Ability to take initiative and work independently (E)
· Self-motivated and adaptable (E)
· A positive enthusiasm for working within third sector and aligned with Citizens UK’s values (E)
About the application process
We work within diverse communities bringing people together. In line with our Inclusion value, we would love to see applications from LGBTQIA+ people, people from racialised communities, people living with disabilities and people of faith, all to better represent the communities we work in. We want our employees to have the working conditions that allows them to fully participate, be able to be their best authentic selves and thrive doing so, and we have employee networks to support staff. Even if you don’t quite meet all the required criteria still consider applying, as we invest in our employees and support them to develop the skills and knowledge required to deliver their role.
For questions and reasonable adjustments regarding your application including information in a different format, or our recruitment process, please email us.


