Support group volunteer volunteer roles in west midlands

Refugee Action Trustee x2 (Both roles are for people with lived experience of displacement)

Refugee Action

Birmingham, West Midlands (Hybrid)

Bradford, West Yorkshire

Greater Manchester

London, Greater London

Unpaid role, expenses paid

Voluntary

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Job description

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.

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Refugee Action View profile

Registered Charity

101 - 500

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Posted on: 11 September 2025

Closing date: 28 September 2025 at 18:19

Tags: Refugee / Immigration, Governance / Management

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Non-Executive Director (Trustee)

the3million

Remote

Unpaid role, expenses paid

Voluntary

Actively Interviewing

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Job description

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.

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