Refugee education coordinator jobs

Action for Refugees in Lewisham is a thriving, dynamic community charity supporting asylum seekers, refugees and migrants across South East London. This is an exciting new role to the organisation forming a senior management team alongside the Executive Director, Casework Manager and Education and Finance Manager. This key senior position combines line management of central staff, high level fundraising, grants monitoring and compliance, development of enhanced member co-production, oversight of operational systems and management of pilot projects emerging from AFRIL’s 2027-30 strategy.

Job Purpose:

• To manage and coordinate the operations of the organisation, overseeing high level day to day operations including IT and systems, GDPR, Health and Safety, volunteer management, operational policies and procedures.

• To provide leadership and line management to the Monitoring and Operations Officer, Experts by Experience Coordinator and Community Activities Coordinator. With possible additional line of other project staff as organisational capacity requires.

• Lead the enhancement of processes and systems which support AFRIL’s frontline systems to work effectively and holistically together, providing capacity and support to project managers and leads.

• Lead the development and delivery of AFRIL’s co-production work, supporting the Experts by Experience Coordinator to amplify members' voices at all levels of the organisation.

• Supporting the Director in delivering the organisation's fundraising strategy. Writing a range of funding applications, holding key funder relationships and developing new funding relationships, including the establishment of enhanced individual, community and corporate fundraising relationships.

• Leading on the management and oversight of the grants compliance and reporting cycles, producing monitoring reports for funders with the support of the Operations and Monitoring Officer. Overseeing and developing evaluations and impact measurement systems alongside the Director.

• Assist the Director with the implementation of AFRIL’s strategy, taking a leading role in the delivery of new projects and areas of work to advance the mission and vision of the organisation.

• Supporting the Director with the development and implementation of a communications strategy, enhancing awareness of the organisation's work and impact.

• To represent AFRIL at a range of stakeholder meetings, and develop and manage partnerships to benefit AFRIL’s service users.

• To work collaboratively and dynamically in a small team, following AFRIL policies and reflecting AFRIL’s values.

About the Role

This is an exciting opportunity to join IRMO as our Youth Project Coordinator and lead the Latin American Youth Forum (LAYF) – IRMO’s youth-led group for migrant and refugee young people aged 13–19.

LAYF offers a safe, supportive and trilingual space (Spanish, Portuguese and English) where young people can overcome barriers and begin to find their feet in the UK. Activities are designed to build confidence, support integration and foster leadership. Through the programme, participants can learn English through fun and engaging ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) classes, take part in weekly educational, arts-based and themed workshops, and receive one-to-one support through a targeted coaching programme focused on education, volunteering and employment.

Young people also have the opportunity to join the LAYF Youth Steering Group, where they can develop leadership skills and inspire other Spanish and Portuguese-speaking young people, while exploring London and beyond through cultural trips and residentials.

As Youth Project Coordinator, you will be responsible for registering and onboarding new participants, designing and delivering a creative weekly programme of LAYF Space Workshops, and offering one-to-one mentoring to help young people access opportunities and build confidence. You’ll work closely with IRMO’s ESOL and Advice and Advocacy teams to ensure a joined-up and holistic approach.

This is a varied role that requires empathy, creativity and excellent organisational skills. You will play a key part in ensuring all activities are inclusive, engaging and safe, while monitoring progress and capturing the achievements of the young people involved. You’ll also be a positive role model, helping each participant realise their potential and feel empowered in their journey.

LAYF is delivered as part of Building Young Brixton (BYB), a consortium of ten Lambeth-based organisations working together to inspire and empower young people in the borough. Partnership working is central to the LAYF ethos, and the Youth Project Coordinator will collaborate closely with BYB partners to co-create activities, share skills and strengthen impact.

Key Responsibilities

• Recruit and register LAYF participants by assessing individual needs and matching them with appropriate activities

• Plan, co-produce and deliver a dynamic and engaging programme of LAYF activities – from arts and sport to inspirational talks – designed to build young people’s confidence, life skills and social connection

• Coach and support young people to thrive in their education and personal development through a targeted one-to-one coaching programme

• Plan and deliver quarterly trips and events that promote peer interaction and engagement with the local community

• Signpost and refer young people to relevant services at IRMO, BYB or other external partners

• Maintain accurate and up-to-date records, including registration forms, attendance, surveys, feedback, session plans and coaching logs

• Input and manage baseline and progress data using IRMO’s database and monitoring tools

• Produce compelling case studies and success stories to share with young people, funders and supporters

• Ensure the wellbeing and safety of all participants, following IRMO’s safeguarding policies and National Youth Agency (NYA) guidance

• Communicate with LAYF participants and families in a timely and appropriate way, respecting boundaries and overcoming communication barriers

• Promote LAYF activities through newsletters, social media and IRMO’s communications channels

• Represent LAYF and IRMO in meetings and forums with partners, funders and youth sector networks

• Work closely with IRMO colleagues to ensure the wider needs of young people and families are supported holistically

• Recruit, supervise and support LAYF volunteers

Please note that this job description is not exhaustive and may change depending on the needs and development of the organisation.

Person Specification

The list below outlines the experience, knowledge and skills we’re looking for. It will be used in shortlisting and interviews. If you meet the essential criteria but not the desirable ones, we still encourage you to apply.

Essential

• At least one year’s experience working with young people in the UK

• Experience designing and delivering engaging programmes for young people

• Experience providing one-to-one coaching to young people

• Experience using M&E tools to collect baseline/progress data and contribute to reports

• Able to build trust with young people and maintain clear professional boundaries

• Ability to manage your workload, meet deadlines and respond to changing demands

• Resourceful and creative, with a problem-solving mindset

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English 

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in Spanish

• Competent with Google Workspace, video conferencing tools, Word, Excel and PowerPoint

• Strong understanding of safeguarding

• Strong understanding of the barriers faced by young Latin Americans in the UK

• Clear commitment to IRMO’s vision, mission and values

• Willingness to work some evenings and weekends

Desirable

• Experience supervising or supporting volunteers

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in Portuguese

• Qualification in Youth Work

• Qualification in Information, Advice and Guidance (IAG)

• Understanding of the UK not-for-profit sector, and UK education and employment systems for young people

ABOUT MUSTARD TREE

At Mustard Tree, we believe everyone deserves dignity, opportunity, and hope.

We work alongside people experiencing poverty, homelessness, and financial hardship, providing practical support, life-changing opportunities, and pathways towards greater stability and independence.

Our work addresses both the causes and consequences of poverty. We support people not only in crisis, but as they rebuild confidence, develop skills, improve wellbeing, and take meaningful steps towards a more secure future.

ROLE PURPOSE

This role provides person-centred employment and progression support to individuals facing barriers to financial wellbeing, including homelessness or risk of homelessness. Working with a managed caseload, this role will support participants to build confidence and employability skills, and progress towards meaningful, sustained employment, further education, or accredited training.

The role includes a blend of structured employability support, responsive frontline 121 work combined with corporate partnership skills.  This role will work directly with Freedom Trainees and Mustard Tree clients, supporting walk-ins, referrals, and longer-term participants. This role will represent our values through high-quality, compassionate, and professional service delivery.

This role combines direct participant support, employability delivery, employer engagement working with the Salford Area Manager. You will work across our Eccles and Little Hulton sites, helping create meaningful opportunities that enable participants’ progression.

Key Competencies

1. World Class Welcome and Customer Service

· Deliver Work Placement and Employment service across Salford appropriate to participants’ needs, through a welcoming, inclusive, and professional service that reflects a world-class customer experience.

· Networking and building relationships in Salford with new and existing corporate partners to deliver work placement opportunities to Freedom Project trainees, attendees to structured courses/clubs, and referrals from partner organisations (JCP and Elevate partners)

· Provide tailored, 1:1 employment and skills support, including caseload management, action planning, CV development, job search, and interview preparation.

· Adapt support to meet the diverse and complex needs of participants, demonstrating empathy and resilience.

· Manage referrals and signposting effectively, ensuring participants access appropriate internal and external services.

2. Proactive in Living and Sharing our Culture, Values and Behaviours

· Consistently model Mustard Tree’s values, culture and expected behaviours in all interactions with participants, colleagues and partners.

· Promote equality, diversity and inclusion by creating safe, welcoming and respectful environments for everyone by building positive relationships, challenge inappropriate behaviour appropriately, and reflect on feedback to continuously improve practice.

· Communicate in an inclusive, accessible and person-centred way, adapting approaches to meet participants needs.

· Demonstrate professionalism, integrity and accountability while maintaining boundaries and delivering on commitments.

3. Courage in Problem Solving and Embracing Change to Meet Needs

· Identify barriers affecting participant progression and respond to reduce/remove the barriers

· Adapt quickly and positively to changing priorities, service demands and participant needs while maintaining high-quality support.

· Demonstrate resilience when managing complex situations, setbacks or competing pressures, whilst taking ownership of actions and outcomes

· Embrace learning, feedback and change to continuously improve ways of working and support positive participant outcomes

4. Confident in Safeguarding and Incident Management

· Manage situations calmly and professionally, maintaining dignity and safety for all.

· Follow safeguarding, health and safety, and incident management procedures, escalating concerns appropriately.

· Work collaboratively with colleagues, contributing to case discussions and team meetings

• Complete and maintain accurate documentation, incident forms, and risk records.
• Attend required training, supervision, and reflective practice sessions and keep up to date with relevant legislation and local statutory and voluntary-sector provision.

5. Skilled in Reporting

· Monitor progress, record outcomes, and adapt support in response to individual needs, using TreeSalt, case notes, and case studies to evidence impact.

• Signpost and refer trainees and participants to appropriate internal services and external agencies, including housing, mental health, benefits, and specialist support.
• Track participant outcomes including engagement, training completion, volunteering, work placements, and employment progression to support internal reporting requirements and funder monitoring.

6. Positive Management of Stakeholders, Partners and Supporters

• Build and maintain strong working relationships with local employers, job centres, statutory services, charities, and third-sector organisations.

• Coordinate referrals and progression pathways into and out of the programme. Establish and maintain pathways into employment, education, training, and volunteering.

• Identify, develop, and maintain work placement and progression opportunities with employers and partner organisations.
• Match participants to placements aligned with their interests, goals, and support needs.

• Ensure placements are structured, safe, and provide meaningful learning and development. Escalate any placement-related issues promptly and collaboratively.

General Duties

• Work in line with organisational policies, procedures, and values.
• Support colleagues and provide cover across services and sites when required.
• Take responsibility for professional development and ongoing learning.
• Act as a positive ambassador for the organisation internally and externally.
• Contribute to environmental responsibility through day-to-day working practices.
• Undertake any other duties appropriate to the role as required.

What we are looking for.

Person Specification 

Minimum of two years’ frontline experience supporting adults, including vulnerable individuals. - Essential

Experience supporting people facing multiple barriers such as poverty, homelessness, unemployment, or housing instability. - Essential

Experience of managing varied caseloads and achieving measurable outcomes with participants. - Essential

Experience of and/or ability to build and maintain partnerships with external organisations, local businesses or employers. - Essential

Understanding of employability pathways, training provision, and labour market opportunities. - Essential

Resilient, adaptable, with flexible enthusiastic approach. Able to work on their own initiative as well as contributing effectively as part of a team. - Essential

Knowledge and understanding of safeguarding, health and safety, and risk management. - Essential

Good interpersonal skills, including verbal and written communication skills. - Essential

Degree-level qualification and/or equivalent experience in responsible roles. - Desirable

Strong time management and administration skills, with the ability to multitask - Essential

Experienced in using IT systems including Microsoft Office, including Outlook, Excel, and Word - Desirable 

Full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle and willingness and ability to travel regularly across our Salford hubs - Desirable

Why Work for Mustard Tree

Working at Mustard Tree is more than a job - it’s an opportunity to be part of a community that is changing lives every day.

Our Culture

• A values-led organisation where compassion, dignity, and respect guide everything we do
• A supportive and collaborative team environment where your voice matters
• A place where lived experience is valued and people are encouraged to bring their whole selves to work
• A strong sense of purpose, with the opportunity to see the real impact of your work

What We Offer

• A meaningful role where you can make a tangible difference in people’s lives
• Opportunities for learning, development, and progression, including access to training and mentoring
• A flexible and supportive approach to working, with consideration for work-life balance
• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays (increasing with length of service), with additional bank holidays and a day off for your birthday
• Employer pension contribution
• Access to wellbeing support, including Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) Perkbox

We are committed to investing in our people and creating an environment where you can grow, feel supported, and do your best work.

How to Apply

Please submit your CV and a supporting statement - telling us about your experience and why this role matters to you.

This job description is intended as a guide and may evolve as our work continues to grow and respond to the needs of our community.