Asylum support coordinator volunteer roles
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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!
Treasurer Roles & Responsibilities
Refugee Biriyani & Bananas is seeking a Treasurer to join our Board of Trustees and provide strategic oversight of the organisation’s financial health. The Treasurer plays a key governance role, strengthening financial literacy at Board level and supporting sustainable growth. The Board is responsible for governance and strategy and does not manage day-to-day operations.
Refugee Biriyani & Bananas (RBB) is a growing charity registered with the Charity Commission (Charity No. 1189561). For the financial year ending 31 March 2025, RBB reported a total income of £423,041 and total expenditure of £373,007. As a charity with income above £250,000, we prepare annual accounts in accordance with the Charities SORP and undergo independent examination.
As our current treasurer prepares to step down, we are expanding our Board of Trustees to support the growth and future plans of our ambitious small charity. Board meetings take place every 12 weeks via video call, with opportunities for in-person gatherings throughout the year. Additional meetings may occasionally be required, either more frequently, in smaller groups, or one-to-one, depending on specific needs or exceptional circumstances.
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Responsible to: Chair, Refugee Biryani & Bananas
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Purpose: To oversee the management and reporting of charity finances.
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Hours: Approximately six to eight hours a month.
Remuneration: This is a voluntary, unpaid Trustee role. Reasonable travel and out-of-pocket expenses will be reimbursed in line with our volunteer policy.
Role Summary
The Treasurer will work closely with our team members including volunteers, other Trustees and with the CEO, advising on all financial matters including regulatory compliance. The Treasurer will be expected to attend Board meetings which last approximately an hour and a half every twelve weeks. The Treasurer will:
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Actively participate as a key member of the Board of Trustees.
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Act as an ambassador for Refugee Biryani & Bananas
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Oversee and analyse the development of the annual budget and cash flow forecasts, ensuring alignment with organisational strategy and sustainability.
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Support with fundraising and financial strategic planning
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Advise on all financial matters, including regulatory compliance.
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Oversee the development and observation of financial policies
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Advise the board on fund management and ensure an appropriate reserves policy
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Advise fellow Trustees on a regular basis of the financial status of the charity and where necessary recommend action.
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Oversee and administer financial processes including Gift Aid claims and payroll, ensuring appropriate financial controls, transparency and board oversight are maintained. (There is currently only one person on payroll.)
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Work collaboratively with the CEO and Chair to ensure appropriate financial segregation of duties within the constraints of a small charity.
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Support the Board in monitoring financial risk, reserves policy and international financial compliance.
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Ensure appropriate internal financial controls are in place and regularly reviewed.
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Work with professional advisors including any contracted accountants
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Review financial transactions on a monthly basis via digital accounting software, Xero
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Arrange the compilation and agreement of Refugee Biryani & Bananas’ annual report
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Lead Trustee liaison with the independent examiner and oversee the preparation and Board approval of the annual accounts and report.
The Treasurer will play a key role in strengthening financial sustainability as RBB continues to grow its international programmes and funding base.
Person Specification
The ideal candidate will have innovative ideas and sound financial knowledge. All Trustees are expected to assist Refugee Biryani & Bananas to secure a sustainable and diverse funding base for the organisation.
Essential
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Understanding and acceptance of the legal duties, responsibilities and liabilities of trusteeship
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Support for the values and mission of Refugee Biriyani & Bananas
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Familiarity with the Charities Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP), or willingness to develop this knowledge.
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Proven ability to communicate and explain financial information
Desirable
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A qualified accountant (formal qualification preferred) with financial and commercial awareness, experienced in managing finances, payroll, and the needs of smaller organisations.
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An understanding of the voluntary sector and previous experience as a Trustee or Treasurer.
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Good communication and competent IT skills
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Extensive experience in senior strategic management and leadership, combined with strong analytical and evaluation skills.
About Refugee Biryani & Bananas
Refugee Biriyani & Bananas (RBB) began as a grassroots movement in 2015, in response to the Syrian refugee crisis. What started as a group of friends distributing 2,500 portions of biriyani and bananas in the unofficial camp for displaced people in Dunkirk, Northern France, has grown into a community-driven humanitarian organisation. Initially working under the umbrella of another organisation, RBB became independent to better address gaps in aid and advocacy for displaced people worldwide.
What We Do
RBB supports people facing displacement, war, and inequality, tailoring actions to the needs of each situation. From food distributions to medical support and human rights advocacy, our work is versatile and responsive. We have provided aid in refugee and internally displaced persons (IDP) camps, squats, and other unstable settlements along migratory pathways, including:
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France: Calais, Dunkirk & Paris
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Greece: Idomeni, Thessaloniki, Athens, Lavrio, Samos & Chios (our main base)
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Northern Iraq: Duhok
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Serbia: Belgrade Barracks
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Bosnia & Herzegovina - Croatia Border: Vucjak Camp
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Turkey: Istanbul
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Poland, Belarus & Lithuania Border
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Ukraine Border (Poland and Ukraine sides)
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Palestine: Gaza
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Egypt: Cairo
Our Approach
RBB is a mobile grassroots organisation, designed to respond rapidly and flexibly to emerging crises. Our main base of operations is on Chios Island, Greece, where we provide ongoing support to people who are displaced.
Since October 2023, we have also established community-led initiatives to support people affected by the war in Gaza, Palestine, as well as Sudanese and other displaced communities in Cairo, Egypt.
Beyond emergency relief, we remain committed to ongoing support through volunteers, translation services, medical care, aid, and advocacy until either local capacity builds or the situation changes. In addition, our Community Humanitarian Leaders Programme (CHLP) plays a vital role in this approach by strengthening the leadership of people who are displaced by building on their existing skills, networks and lived experience in humanitarian efforts.
Our field team comprises 90% individuals from refugee and asylum-seeking communities, representing Sudan, Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, Somalia, Gambia, Ethiopia, Palestine, and Yemen. This diverse team is led by our founder and CEO, Ruhi Akhtar, alongside field coordinators / project managers.
We prioritise dignity and equity, involving displaced individuals in decision-making and collaboration. RBB's direct aid includes food, water, shelter, medical supplies, clothing, hygiene packs, and season-specific items like sunscreen or firewood. Needs assessments and communication with affected communities guide our actions, ensuring targeted, person-centered care.
Advocacy & Awareness
RBB amplifies the voices of displaced people by sharing their stories and raising awareness about often-overlooked realities. Through storytelling and advocacy, we aim to challenge injustice and inspire action.
We are a safe space for all people and welcome those who are new to and currently underrepresented on Charity Boards, in particular members who consider themselves to have a disability and those in the global majority. Lived experience of migration or asylum or a commitment to this work is welcomed.
Interested applicants should send a CV with full contact details and a brief covering letter to address your motivation for the role, what specific skills and expertise you would bring and how you meet the competencies listed in the role description.
Female-led grassroots organisation delivering humanitarian aid and advocacy with displaced communities through a community-led approach.
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 are looking to recruit a Youth Programme Coordinator, for a minimum commitment of 6 months, to manage our Youth Programme. The Youth Programme works with young refugees and asylum seekers in the Epirus region of Northern Greece, providing them with a sense of community and experiences that they wouldn’t otherwise receive!
In this role, you would be coordinating the daily planning and delivery of activities for young refugees in the sites in which we're operating in the Epirus region of Northern Greece.
The programme usually consists of English classes, thematic and social and emotional learning workshops and excursions. The programme engages children between the ages of 8 and 16.
For this role, you would initially work as a Youth Programme team member so that you could develop an understanding of the programme, the people involved, and the organisation as a whole.
Your role would include:
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Coordinating, delegating, and managing a team of 2-5 team members in the daily operations of the Youth Programme
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Directly supervising and supporting team members, providing feedback to ensure the quality of the programme remains high
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Delivering effective inductions to transfer key skills/knowledge to team members
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Developing the current programme in coordination with the Education Manager and Youth Programme team members
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Assessing the impact and effectiveness of the programme in line with its objectives
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Planning and delivering effective and dynamic educational and outdoor activities, within a theme-based curriculum
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Training new team members in appropriate behavioural management techniques
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Capturing data and compiling evaluation reports on the programme
You should be able to:
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Prioritise and delegate tasks effectively
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Manage a wide range of tasks and intense workload effectively and efficiently
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Manage individuals effectively to create a positive team environment in which shared problem solving is encouraged
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Oversee the delivery of programme activities and the completion of vital administrative and logistical tasks
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Be honest and transparent; be able to give and receive feedback in the most straightforward way
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Communicate in English, both written and orally
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Learn quickly, managing a wide-ranging and intense workload
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Understand what is required to work and effectively communicate in complex and volatile contexts
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Care for people: the interests of the people we work with should always be your first concern
The ideal candidate will have:
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Experience working with children specifically in the refugee context
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Experience in leadership roles and have knowledge in how to effectively manage a team
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Knowledge of pedagogical tools and programmes suitable to children in the refugee context
What do we offer?
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A nurturing and collaborative working environment. We work hard to help our team members grow; investing in personal and professional development.
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Accommodation in a shared house
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Transportation to/from work
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After completion of a three-month trial, if you commit long-term, a small monthly expenses refund
In certain periods of the year, demand is extremely high, and the shared houses might be full. If you have the means to pay for your own accommodation, please let us know. We would still be happy to host you if space is available. However, in a situation where the shared houses are full, this would allow us to offer an opportunity to someone that cannot afford to pay rent.
Looking for an internship?
If, because of your degree or for any other reason, you would like to have your period at Second Tree credited as an internship, just apply to the vacancy that you’re interested in and mention this. We have agreements with several universities across Europe, and in many other cases, these agreements can be developed on an ad hoc basis.
We challenge the biases that make us see refugees as “the other”. We change the way society perceives refugees, and refugees perceive society.
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!
The purpose of the role is to design and facilitate gardening activities at our community allotment with refugees and people seeking asylum, alongside our other gardening volunteers.
The role includes:
- planning and facilitating seasonal gardening activities with small groups
- supporting participants to bring their own ideas, work independently or lead their own activities where appropriate, providing support and guidance as needed
- fostering a positive culture of support and community
- raising any safeguarding or support concerns with our People Support Team
- setting up/packing down around sessions, generally contributing to the smooth running of sessions
- maintaining tools
- contributing to overall running of the charity (attending monthly online meetings, taking on organisational tasks)
- maintaining participant confidentiality
- attending training sessions as needed
At the garden we run gardening, art and craft activities. Through these sessions we maintain our beautiful community garden, grow and harvest vegetable/fruit crops and create wildlife and social areas. We always try to make sure there are a range of activities to choose from to fit with a range of energy/ability levels. All new ideas for activities to do at the garden are welcome!
Our sessions are on Tuesday mornings and afternoons and Friday mornings
Gardening expertise is not necessary for this role, although it is always very welcome.
As this is an on site role we will consider applicant who are based in Greater Manchester,UK.
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 are looking for a Communications Officer who can strategically identify and post engaging content for our social media feeds and other communication channels, which will inspire people to support our work with refugees and asylum seekers in Epirus. You are the person who thinks “this would make a good post”, while activities are taking place. More than that, your interest and belief in digital communications as a force for good should be backed with an interest in data and analytics, using them to influence our overall communication strategy.
Your role would include:
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Interacting with our digital communities to increase engagement, followers and the quality of user experience.
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Identifying key influencers and conversations that we should engage in to better showcase our work and expand our reach.
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Managing our other channels of communication, including newsletters, donor engagement, website and press service.
You should be able to:
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Manage communication channels in a professional capacity
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Create and deliver communication strategies for specific programmes and campaigns
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Produce regular data reports using Facebook Insights, LinkedIn Analytics, Google Analytics or similar tools, analysing data and adapt strategies accordingly
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Keep up-to-date with the latest trends/developments in digital communications
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Identify key influential external figures and agencies to further our reach and impact
The ideal candidate will have:
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Experience working in a refugee context or with a vulnerable population
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Experience working in an NGO, Charity or in the field of human rights
What do we offer?
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A nurturing and collaborative working environment. We work hard to help our team members grow; investing in personal and professional development.
-
Accommodation in a shared house
-
Transportation to/from work
-
After completion of a three-month trial, if you commit long-term, a small monthly expenses refund
In certain periods of the year, demand is extremely high, and the shared houses might be full. If you have the means to pay for your own accommodation, please let us know. We would still be happy to host you if space is available. However, in a situation where the shared houses are full, this would allow us to offer an opportunity to someone that cannot afford to pay rent.
Have experience leading a team of this type?
Consider applying to become a Communications Coordinator. Whether your experience lies in the humanitarian sector or elsewhere, we are looking for people with expertise that can drive us forward as an organisation.
Looking for an internship?
If, because of your degree or for any other reason, you would like to have your period at Second Tree credited as an internship, just apply to the vacancy that you’re interested in and mention this. We have agreements with several universities across Europe, and in many other cases, these agreements can be developed on an ad hoc basis.
NOTE: If you require a visa to stay in Greece for the minimum ten-week commitment, please know that as a Greek NGO, we are unable to sponsor your visa.
We challenge the biases that make us see refugees as “the other”. We change the way society perceives refugees, and refugees perceive society.
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!
You will welcome clients and visitors, and support the smooth running of our local office at our drop in sessions on Mondays or Thursdays (or both)
Commitment: 6 hours/week (flexible)
Receptionists are the first point of contact for clients, welcoming visitors. You’ll record client details on our computer system, explain waiting times, and help ensure the service runs smoothly. The role builds communication, IT, and teamwork skills while making a real difference in the community. Full training and expense reimbursement are provided.
What you gain: Communication skills, admin experience, confidence using IT, and full training.
You'll gain valuable transferable skills in communication, problem solving, teamwork.
Whether you are starting out, changing career, retired, or returning to work, volunteering strengthens your CV and provides practical experience.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.


