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Job Title: Refugee Support Worker.
Location: The Gap Centre, 42 Stow Hill, Newport, NP20 1JG.
Hours: 35 hours per week, Usual working pattern Monday – Friday 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM (including a 30-minute unpaid break).
The successful candidate will be expected to support occasional evening community activities, which may include our weekly Games Night programme.
Salary: £27,773.20 per year (actual), 35 hours per week.
About Us:
The Gap Wales – The Sanctuary Newport is committed to supporting asylum seekers and refugees as they rebuild their lives in Newport. We provide a welcoming, trauma-informed space where individuals can access advocacy, wellbeing support, community activities, and opportunities for social connection. We believe wellbeing grows through belonging, meaningful relationships, and participation in community life. Alongside practical support and advocacy, we create opportunities for people to build confidence, develop skills, strengthen social connections, and contribute to their local community.
Every week, refugees and people seeking sanctuary arrive at The Gap Wales needing practical guidance, emotional support, and a sense of belonging. As our Refugee Support Worker, you will help people rebuild confidence, navigate complex systems, and develop meaningful connections within the community.
Our work is rooted in transformation: personal, social, and community. Every interaction, every conversation, and every act of support helps to "fill the gap" where existing systems fall short.
The Role:
We are seeking a Refugee Support Worker to provide compassionate, practical and trauma-informed support to refugees and asylum seekers accessing our services. The role combines one-to-one support, advocacy, community engagement, practical assistance and partnership working to help individuals rebuild their lives, develop independence, improve wellbeing and become active members of their community.
You will support individuals to access essential services, overcome barriers, build confidence and strengthen social connections. You will also help coordinate community activities and community lunch programmes, working alongside volunteers and partner organisations to create a welcoming and inclusive environment for people seeking sanctuary.
This is a frontline role where your empathy, organisational skills and ability to build trusting relationships will make a tangible difference to the lives of refugees and asylum seekers in Newport.
· Providing one-to-one support and advocacy to refugees and asylum seekers
· Supporting individuals to access housing, healthcare, education, welfare advice and other services
· Conducting needs assessments and developing support plans
· Coordinating community activities, community lunches and opportunities for social connection
· Working alongside volunteers, partner organisations and community groups to strengthen support networks
Key Responsibilities:
Casework & Emotional Support
- Provide one‑to‑one practical and emotional support
- Conduct needs assessments and create personalised support plans
- Support individuals experiencing trauma, domestic violence, or other vulnerabilities
- Signpost to counselling, therapeutic services, and specialist mental health providers
Advocacy & Signposting
- Advocate for service users with statutory and community agencies
- Support individuals to understand and exercise their rights within the UK asylum system
- Liaise with social services, legal advisors, and mental health professionals
Group Work & Community Engagement
- Develop and facilitate wellbeing, confidence‑building, and social inclusion groups
- Organise community activities that promote integration and peer support
- Work with volunteers and community leaders to strengthen support pathways
· Organise community activities and community lunch programmes that promote integration and peer support
· Support the planning, purchasing and preparation of food for community meals and events
· Work with volunteers and community leaders to strengthen support pathways
Monitoring & Evaluation
- Maintain accurate case notes and data records
- Contribute to monitoring reports for trustees and funders
- Ensure compliance with safeguarding and data protection policies
Employment Details
· Reporting to: Operations Director
· Reasonable work-related expenses will be reimbursed in line with organisational policy. Benefits include 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays (Pro rata) and a pension scheme with contributions in line with organisational policy.
· This role is initially offered on a one-year fixed term, with the intention of securing funding to establish a permanent position. As The Gap Wales continues to grow, the responsibilities of this role may evolve in response to organisational needs.
What We’re Looking For:
· Experience supporting vulnerable individuals in a community, support, advice, housing, wellbeing or similar setting
- Understanding of trauma‑informed practice
- Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build trust with people from diverse backgrounds
- Ability to manage sensitive situations with empathy and professionalism
- Commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion
Desirable
- Experience working with refugees or asylum seekers
- Group facilitation experience
- Multilingual abilities
Why Join Us?
This role is an opportunity to make a meaningful impact in the lives of people who have experienced displacement, trauma, and significant barriers. You will be part of a supportive team committed to compassion, dignity, and community transformation.
· Regular supervision and reflective practice
· Opportunities for training and professional development
· A supportive and collaborative team environment
How to Apply
· Application Deadline: Sunday, 23rd August 2026 with interviews taking place in September.
· For enquiries or to apply, please send your CV and a cover letter. Interviews will be conducted shortly after the closing date, with an expected start date of Monday, 5th October 2026 (subject to agreement).
Safeguarding Statement
The Gap Wales is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and vulnerable adults. All appointments are subject to satisfactory references and appropriate DBS checks. We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace that values diversity and promotes equality of opportunity.
The aims and objectives of The Gap Wales are motivated by a Christian ethos. While we welcome applications from people of all faiths and none, all staff are expected to uphold and support the values, mission, and objectives of the organisation and not act in a manner that would knowingly undermine its Christian ethos.
Registered Charity
1 - 5
The Gap Wales is committed to serving the people of Newport & South Wales. We find ways to “fill the gap" left by existing services & charities.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
Job Purpose
Sequence ME & Long Covid is one of the most ambitious whole-genome sequencing studies ever undertaken into ME and Long Covid, co-led by Action for ME. Building on the success of DecodeME, this proposed £20 million study will use large-scale, long-read whole-genome sequencing to analyse the entire genetic code of 9,000 people with ME and 9,000 people with Long Covid - making it the world's largest 'long-read' whole-genome sequencing study of any disease.
Current funding supports project mobilisation, partnership development, and the development of the Long Covid arm of the study, including agreeing case definitions and gathering expressions of interest from people with Long Covid. Phase 2 has recently been confirmed, backed by £4.75m from the UK government and a further £174,414 from the WE&ME Foundation, and will focus on sequencing 6,000 ME/CFS samples previously collected through DecodeME using Oxford Nanopore's long-read sequencing technology, running alongside Phase 1.
You will play a pivotal role supporting the Sequence ME & Long Covid project in several different ways. Working closely with the project's management team and other team members, you will help ensure the smooth day-to-day running of this landmark study, providing administrative support to the various people and partners involved in delivering it.
As a self-starter, you will manage a range of tasks including meeting scheduling, taking meeting minutes, preparing governance documents, event administration, and broader project support - no two days will be the same.
You will need to maintain a high level of confidentiality at all times, particularly when supporting governance meetings and handling sensitive project documentation.
As a team player, you will provide comprehensive, confidential and organised administrative support, developing a deep understanding of the project and building strong, effective working relationships with colleagues, researchers and external partners.
Remote working at home can be challenging for some and works incredibly well for others. You will need to be able to work independently, use your own initiative, and remain proactive in maintaining good levels of communication with colleagues.
Key Duties
- Help monitor inboxes and respond to routine project enquiries in a timely and sensitive manner, escalating more complex matters as appropriate
- Assist the project's management team and other team members with meeting scheduling and diary coordination
- Take accurate minutes at project, management and other project-related meetings, and follow up and track resulting actions to completion
- Prepare, format and proof-read governance documents and papers
- Maintain and update project databases including the Teams channel, ensuring documents are saved correctly, other management information/recording systems to ensure accurate and timely record-keeping. Help with the tracking of expressions of interest from potential study participants.
- Provide administrative support for project events - from planning and logistics through to on-the-day support
- Help prepare presentations, slide decks and briefing materials for internal meetings, funders, partners and participant-facing communications
- Support the drafting, formatting and coordination of project communications, such as updates for partners, funders or the wider ME and Long Covid community
- Support coordination between internal teams and external partners, including research and funding partners
- Maintain project files and documentation in line with agreed communication operating procedures with internal and external partners ensuring information is well organised, up to date and easy for the team to access
- Maintain confidentiality at all times and in line with relevant policies and procedures, ensuring compliance with GDPR and that all data consent processes have been followed in relation to data protection
- Positively promote the work of the Sequence ME & Long Covid project and Action for ME at all times
- Undertake any other reasonable activity in line with the responsibilities of the post, as requested by the CEO, Business Development & Partnerships Manager, Senior Research Manager or the project's Management Team
Person Specification
Essential skills and experience
- Organisational skills - Highly organised with the ability to manage multiple tasks across a fast-moving research project, with attention to detail and accuracy maintained under pressure
- Communication - Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to interact effectively with diverse audiences including researchers, funders and people affected by ME and Long Covid
- IT literacy - Proficient with common office software, including Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook, Teams, PowerPoint), and able to quickly learn relevant project management, database or communications systems as needed
- Problem-solving - A creative and solution-focused mindset to address challenges and find innovative ways to improve processes
- Adaptability - Capable of managing changing priorities, working flexibly, and adapting to the needs of a fast-paced, ambitious research programme
- Initiative - A proactive approach, with the ability to work independently and take initiative, while also following clear instructions when given
- Teamwork - A collaborative team player with a proven ability to work effectively as part of a team, including a remote-working team spanning multiple partners and stakeholders
- Interest in the sector - A genuine interest in health research, the Third Sector, and a desire to take action to improve the lives of people with ME and Long Covid
- Experience - Demonstrable ability to be an effective administrator, ideally within a charity, research, or project environment. Experience supporting governance processes, events, or communications would be an advantage but is not essential
Desirable skills and experience
- Experience providing administrative support for scientific or research-related projects
- Experience writing and communicating with non-specialist or general audiences
Please note, the salary of £24,642.09 FTE per year pro rata is based on a 35-hour week.
Registered Charity
21 - 50
Our mission is to improve the lives of people affected by ME. Better meeting their needs today while taking action to secure change for tomorrow.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.