Refugee support volunteer roles

Migrateful is looking for new Trustees to help guide our next chapter! Migrateful runs cookery classes in London and Bristol led by refugees and migrants to support them on their journey to integration & employment.
 

Trustees play a vital role in setting strategic direction, strengthening governance and acting as critical friends to the executive team, ensuring Migrateful continues to deliver high quality, impactful work in line with its charitable purpose.

We are currently looking for a trustee with financial qualifications and experience, ideally including charity finance and fundraising, who will support the Finance and Risk Subcommittee. This includes overseeing budgets, monitoring financial performance, reviewing financial and operational risks, and providing assurance on internal control systems to support financial decision-making.

Trustees will play a pivotal role in ensuring Migrateful can continue to grow and deliver meaningful impact for migrant and refugee communities. They will help support the continued expansion of our cookery class programme, which provides vital training, employment and integration opportunities and a platform for migrant-led cultural exchange. 

For more information please see our trustee recruitment pack. 

Settled is recruiting new trustees to join its Board and support EU citizens and Ukrainian refugees to access their rights in the UK. This is a voluntary role, open to first-time trustees and those with board experience. We are particularly interested in skills relating to finance, fundraising, governance, or equity, diversity and inclusion, as well as lived experience. Meetings are mainly online, with one in-person away day per year. Closing date: 5pm, Monday 2 February 2026.

INDEPENDENT READING GROUP VOLUNTEER (FACE-TO-FACE) 

CARAS Youth ESOL Programme – Monday, Wednesday mornings  

About CARAS: 

Community Action for Refugees and Asylum Seekers (CARAS) is a registered charity that has been supporting refugees and asylum-seekers since 2002 empowering them to integrate and engage in the local community. 

Arriving as an asylum seeker/refugee can be a disempowering experience. Difficulties with language, accessing services and overcoming prejudice are ever-present. As an organisation we are committed to work alongside refugees to overcome those challenges, and to help them build their lives. 

We offer group support and targeted support work. We offer a range of activities including: ESOL classes; social and recreational activities such as youth club, drama, trips, and family activities; educational support for young people; and casework and advocacy support. 

Our values are at the centre of all our work: 

• Kindness: CARAS will nurture all who are part of our community, helping everyone to develop their skills, talents, and interests. 

• Justice: CARAS will strive for social justice following a rights-based approach in all our work and challenging instances when rights are not upheld in wider society. 

• Empowerment: CARAS works alongside people, recognising and respecting their skills and strengths and striving together for better outcomes. 

• ‘With’ not ‘for’: CARAS will put the voices, opinions, experiences and needs of its beneficiaries at the heart of all that we do. 

About Youth ESOL: 

Our award-winning ESOL project offers English language classes to young people at a wide range of levels. This provides vital skills, opportunities and social contact and is crucial for enabling young people to do well at school or college.

About the Role: 

CARAS is looking for Reading Group Volunteer to support our face-to-face study programme for young people.

The reading group is in Streatham and is an important element of a study programme for young people aged 14 to 18 who are out of formal education. The timings of the reading group sessions are as follows: 

• Monday afternoons 2pm to 3pm 

• Wednesday mornings 11am to 1pm. 

Volunteers are required to attend either one of both sessions. Volunteers are also welcome to stay and support the more traditional English language classes either before the reading session on Mondays or after the reading session on Wednesdays. 

Students will be supported to read at length and complete challenges that are adapted to their ability level.

The reading group aims to foster independence and a joy of reading among the young people and requires volunteers to learn about the young peoples' interests in order to help them select an appropriate text.

The ESOL teacher will provide volunteers with tips to support reading and understanding for emerging learners of English, such as phonics and elicitation strategies.

Volunteers will work with 1-5 students, mostly reading out loud with them or helping them to decode unfamiliar language.

Please note that ESOL classes do not run during school holidays, and we follow Wandsworth Council term dates.

Volunteer tasks and responsibilities: 

• Providing learners with one-to-one or small group support within the Reading Group sessions; 

• Helping to set up the classroom and provide learners with classroom resources; 

• Contributing to debriefs to inform the ESOL teacher how each student found the lesson/task and the students’ areas of greatest challenge and success;  

• Attending and contributing to volunteer debriefs after each session; 

• Making use of any community languages you may know to help students during the class; 

• Working collaboratively as a team and helping to shape the project; 

• Supporting people to develop their knowledge and skills, encouraging and inspiring participants to reach their full potential; 

• Assisting participants to recognise and celebrate their achievements; 

• Listening and supporting students to select, read and understand a text; Showing flexibility to the wide range of ability levels in the classroom; 

• Following CARAS’ confidentiality, safeguarding, health & safety, equal opportunities, data management and all other policies as relevant.  

Requirements: 

Essential

• To be 18 years or older; 

• An interest in education and English language teaching;

• Currently resident in the UK; has asylum-seeker or refugee status 

• * Able to provide five years’ worth of addresses, and willing to undergo a DBS check; *DBS and proof of residency is not necessary if you are a CARAS community member who is more recently arrived in the UK.  

• Able to attend volunteer induction training (online) prior to start of role 

• Able to travel to our community centre in Tooting (food and travel expenses can be reimbursed); 

• To be non-judgemental and able to engage with young people from diverse backgrounds; 

• To be reliable and punctual; 

• Good communication skills, especially with people who are new to English; 

• An interest in books and stories, writing and poetry 

• The ability to volunteer on Wednesday during Wandsworth term time for a minimum of four months; 

Desirable: 

• Knowledge of community languages, such as Arabic, Tigrinya, Amharic, Pashto, Dari, Farsi, Kurdish, Somali or Spanish; 

• Experience of reading with young people or learners of English, or teaching ESOL or phonics. 

Through volunteering with us you will: 

• Gain experience of English language teaching; 

• Meet new members of your local community; 

• Learn about different cultures; 

• Learn about issues relating to refugees and people seeking asylum; 

• Work as part of a friendly, welcoming team; 

• Develop your skills and competencies such as literacy and phonics strategies for emerging learners of English; 

• Be able to access relevant training, including safeguarding training. 

• Be able to obtain a reference from us relating to your placement after 3 months of regular volunteering. 

Migrateful is looking for new Trustees to help guide our next chapter! Migrateful runs cookery classes in London and Bristol led by refugees and migrants to support them on their journey to integration & employment.

Trustees play a vital role in setting strategic direction, strengthening governance and acting as critical friends to the executive team, ensuring Migrateful continues to deliver high quality, impactful work in line with its charitable purpose.

We are currently looking for a trustee with a strong local network in Bristol to support the organisation’s growth and profile in the city. This trustee will work closely with the CEO and the Business Development and Operations Manager in Bristol to help build strategic partnerships and opportunities. They will also contribute to the Business Development, Marketing and Sales Subcommittee, which meets twice a year.

Trustees play a pivotal role in ensuring Migrateful can continue to grow and deliver meaningful impact for migrant and refugee communities. They will help support the continued expansion of our cookery class programme, which provides vital training, employment and integration opportunities, and a platform for migrant-led cultural exchange.

For more information please see our trustee recruitment pack.

We are looking for team members who can commit for a minimum of 10 weeks, with adaptable profiles and who have the enthusiasm and energy we need to provide support in various areas across the organisation.

In this generalist role, you will find yourself responsible for a variety of tasks, helping to ensure that both our programme activities and day-to-day operations run smoothly. Second Tree works in a transparent way, in a challenging and changeable situation in the field; therefore, an ability to learn quickly and be open to feedback is vital. 

Your role would include:

The possible tasks included below are not exhaustive or rigidly defined; an exact role profile is dependent on the skill set of individual applicants. An average day might see you talking to students in a camp to tell them about a new class, or supporting the writing of a grant proposal. Tasks could loosely fall within 4 key areas:

Programmes

• Supporting programme coordinators in maintaining the day to day running of their activities with the Youth or Adult Education Programmes

• Supporting our children’s teachers or workshop facilitators in the planning or delivery of classes or excursions outside of camps

• Communicating key messages about our programmes to our students in camps

Admin, Finance & Logistics

• Supporting our management team in liaising with external partners

• Maintaining organisation-wide financial processes

• Coordinating the arrival and housing of incoming team members

Grants & Partnerships

• Supporting in the identification of relevant grants

• Supporting in grant writing activities

 Communications & Fundraising

• Contributing to the written/visual content of Second Tree’s social media output

• Developing social media strategies to expand our reach and impact

• Producing regular reports on performance

• Maintaining our website

• Supporting the planning and implementation of Second Tree’s fundraising initiatives, such as campaigns

• Organising and maintaining regular communications with Second Tree’s donors (newsletters, thank you letters)

You should be able to:

• Be accountable and efficient, making sure that tasks that you take up are completed on the agreed timeframe

• Be honest and transparent, being able to give and receive feedback in the most straightforward way possible

• Care for people; the interests of the people we work with should always be your first concern

• Instil the values above in the people that work with you

• Have keen problem-solving abilities, and a good understanding of what questions to ask, and when

• Communicate in English, both written and orally

• Learn quickly, managing a wide-ranging and intense workload

What do we offer?

• 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.

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.

Migrateful is looking for new Trustees to help guide our next chapter! Migrateful runs cookery classes in London and Bristol led by refugees and migrants to support them on their journey to integration & employment.

Trustees play a vital role in setting strategic direction, strengthening governance and acting as critical friends to the executive team, ensuring Migrateful continues to deliver high quality, impactful work in line with its charitable purpose.

We are currently looking for a trustee with experience in immigration, integration or social impact research, ideally with an academic background. They will help guide Migrateful’s approach to measuring and strengthening impact. This includes ensuring evidence is used to inform learning, organisational growth, fundraising and policy influence, and contributing to the Impact Development Working Group.

Trustees will play a pivotal role in ensuring Migrateful can continue to grow and deliver meaningful impact for migrant and refugee communities. They will help support the continued expansion of our cookery class programme, which provides vital training, employment and integration opportunities and a platform for migrant-led cultural exchange.

For more information please see our trustee recruitment pack. 

About CARAS: 

Community Action for Refugees and Asylum Seekers (CARAS) is a charity that supports refugees and asylum-seekers living in South West London, and helps them to play their full part in the community. Arriving as an asylum seeker in the UK can be a terrifying and disempowering experience. Difficulties with language, accessing services and overcoming prejudice are ever-present. We exist to help people seeking asylum overcome those challenges, and to help them rebuild their lives. 

We offer a range of individual and group support to improve the holistic wellbeing of people who have a forced displacement background, providing them the tools they need to build lives filled with value, meaning and purpose in the UK. Our activities for adults include currently include: ESOL classes; sports; women’s creative writing; women’s coffee morning, and casework. 

About the CARAS Adult Team: 

In the post-pandemic environment, CARAS is responding to the role of digital literacies in our programme delivery to learners of asylum-seeking and refugee background. In contrast to the UK essential Digital skills framework, we have built in language inclusion to create a participatory learning course for Essential Digital Literacies for learners who are new to reading and writing in English. The individuals joining CARAS are highly diverse, with different countries of origin, linguistic and educational backgrounds. We have observed over the last year that many CARAS community members have limited digital skills, particularly in regard to using computers. Community members have highlighted that computers are important for many individuals to achieve their educational and employment goals, whilst increasing confidence and independence. We have co-designed a digital skills program in partnership with CARAS community members to improve computer literacy and skills, focusing on basic computer literacy.

Our values are at the centre of all our work: 

• Kindness: CARAS will nurture all who are part of our community, helping everyone to develop their skills, talents, and interests. 

• Justice: CARAS will strive for social justice following a rights-based approach in all our work and challenging instances when rights are not upheld in wider society. 

• Empowerment: CARAS works alongside people, recognising and respecting their skills and strengths and striving together for better outcomes. 

• ‘With’ not ‘for’: CARAS will put the voices, opinions, experiences and needs of its beneficiaries at the heart of all that we do. 

About Youth ESOL: 

Our ESOL project offers English language classes to young people at a wide range of levels. This provides vital skills, opportunities and social contact and is crucial for enabling young people to do well at school or college.

About the Role: 

CARAS is looking for Digital Skills Volunteer to support our face-to-face study programme for young people.

The Digital Skills group is in Streatham and is an important element of a study programme for young people aged 14 to 18 who are out of formal education. The timings of the digital skills sessions is as follows: 

• Tuesday evenings 4pm to 6pm 

Volunteers are required to attend one session per week. They are also welcome to come early and support ESOL classes before the Digital Skills sessions, where appropriate. 

The Tuesday Digital skills sessions focus on practical, accessible digital skills, such as, but not limited to: 

• Using computers, tablets, or smartphones confidently 

• Keyboard and navigation skills 

• Using email and online communication tools 

• Accessing learning platforms and online resources 

• Online safety and digital wellbeing 

• Using digital tools to support English learning, homework and study skills 

The aim of the Digital Skills sessions is to build independence, confidence, and digital inclusion, supporting young people to engage more fully with formal education and everyday life in the UK. Enrolments to the programme are based on rolling admissions, requiring adaptability to the changing digital skills needs of the group through participatory enquiry led by the ESOL teacher. 

The ESOL teacher will provide guidance, session plans, and tips for supporting learners with emerging English, including how to explain digital concepts in clear, accessible ways. 

Volunteers will typically work with 1–5 students, offering one-to-one or small group support and adapting tasks to different ability levels. 

Please note that ESOL classes do not run during school holidays, and we follow Wandsworth Council term dates.

Volunteer tasks and responsibilities: 

• Providing one-to-one or small group support during Digital Skills sessions 

• Supporting young people to use digital devices and software confidently 

• Helping to set up the classroom and digital equipment 

• Attending and contributing to volunteer debriefs after each session 

• Sharing observations on learners’ progress, challenges, and successes 

• Making use of any community languages if any, to support learners’ understanding 

• Working collaboratively as part of a team and helping to shape the project 

• Supporting young people to recognise and celebrate their achievements 

• Showing flexibility to a wide range of ability levels and confidence with technology 

• Following CARAS’ confidentiality, safeguarding, health & safety, equal opportunities, data management, and all other relevant policies 

Requirements: 

Essential: 

• Aged 18 years or older 

• An interest in education, digital inclusion, and supporting young people 

• Confident using computers, smartphones, or tablets 

• Currently resident in the UK or has asylum-seeker or refugee status 

• Able to provide five years’ worth of addresses and willing to undergo a DBS check 

• DBS and proof of residency are not necessary if you are a CARAS community member who is more recently arrived in the UK 

• Able to attend volunteer induction training (online) prior to starting 

• Able to travel to our community centre in Tooting (food and travel expenses can be reimbursed) 

• Non-judgemental and able to engage with young people from diverse backgrounds 

• Reliable and punctual, with a commitment of at least one session per week for a minimum of 4 months 

• Good communication skills, especially with people who are new to English 

• Willingness to explain digital concepts patiently and clearly 

• Ability to volunteer during Wandsworth term time 

Desirable 

• Experience supporting young people with digital skills or IT (formal or informal) 

• Knowledge of community languages such as Arabic, Tigrinya, Amharic, Pashto, Dari, Farsi, Kurdish, Somali, or Spanish 

• Experience working with young people, refugees, or learners of English in a work or volunteer capacity 

• Interest in using digital tools to support language learning 

Through volunteering with us you will: 

• Gain experience of English language teaching; 

• Meet new members of your local community; 

• Learn about different cultures; 

• Learn about issues relating to refugees and people seeking asylum; 

• Work as part of a friendly, welcoming team; 

• Develop your skills and competencies such as literacy and phonics strategies for emerging learners of English; 

• Be able to access relevant training, including safeguarding training. 

• Be able to obtain a reference from us relating to your placement after 3 months of regular volunteering. 

To Apply: 

Successful applicants will be invited to a taster session at CARAS, following which they will have an informal interview with a staff member of the CARAS ESOL team and a community member. All volunteers must complete an enhanced DBS check for working with young people and attend training with us before starting. You will also receive training and support relevant to your specific role. These meetings and the induction training will be on a rolling basis, so apply ASAP!

Who are LRMN? 

We offer refugees, asylum seekers and other migrants a specialist and holistic service. We  advocate for people’s rights, campaign for wider change, meet their basic needs and help them improve their wellbeing. 

Why do we need you? 

Triage volunteers are an essential part of our team, making sure that clients are able to access the right service. You will deal with initial client enquiries (in person, over the phone or by email), assess what support clients need and help the access the right service for them.  This might be with us, a partner or another external service. 

Our triage team is integral to the smooth running of LRMN. Without them our advisors wouldn’t be able to provide life changing support to the people who access our services. 

Our triage team are the first people that clients will talk to so it is essential that we offer a safe, welcoming and non-judgemental space and give them the right information about the services we offer. Given the demand that we face, volunteers help us do that. 

What activities will you be involved in? 

As part of our triage team, you will volunteer alongside staff and fellow volunteers to: 

• Welcome clients to our office/Migrant Hub and speak to them about their needs

• Help clients and referrers understand the services we offer and how to access them

• Respond to new referrals and upload them onto our case management system

• Contact clients to book in appointments and follow up referrals 

• Take on other administrative tasks as identified from time to time 

As you become more experienced, you may be involved in giving basic advice, providing  support letters and other duties. 

Our triage volunteers are based at our Migrant Hub drop-in service (in Woolwich on Tuesdays)

You will be supervised by the Business and Operations Manager and/or Migrant Hub Coordinator but will liaise with staff across the organisation as appropriate. 

What can you gain from this opportunity? 

By volunteering with LRMN, you will: 

• Make a difference to the lives of migrants, asylum seekers and refugees living in south-east London 

• Be part of a diverse, knowledgeable and proactive team in an organisation that has been running for over 25 years 

• Gain experience of admin work in a business environment 

• Gain an understanding of the issues affecting refugees, asylum seekers and migrants

• Have regular support and supervision from the Business and Operations Officer

• Be provided out of pocket expenses to the value of £6 for lunch per day (4+ hours) &  up to £15 travel expenses (when volunteering in the office for 4+ hours) 

Is there induction and training? 

Yes, we provide a comprehensive induction to all new volunteers. This covers roles and  responsibilities, safeguarding, record keeping and use of our client management system  (Advice Pro).

You will be provided with the training needed to perform the role and will have the opportunity to join training with the whole LRMN team.

Who are LRMN looking for? 

We’re looking for someone who is: 

• Passionate about supporting migrants, refugees and asylum seekers 

• Friendly and approachable and can manage professional boundaries 

• Excellent communicatiuon skills

• Proactive and able to use own initiative 

• Organised and methodical 

• Respectful of client confidentiality 

• Experienced in working with multicultural communities 

• Able to use their digital skills to make referrals and manage online systems 

LRMN is committed to equality and diversity. We pride ourselves on having a diverse team  with a range of experiences. We encourage people with lived experience of the asylum and/or immigration system to apply. If you need additional support to apply or volunteer, please contact us. 

What commitment do you need to make? 

We ask volunteers to commit to volunteering one day a week during office hours (Mon-Fri)  for at least six months. 

At DAR we care passionately that everyone who seeks sanctuary in the UK deserves to be welcomed, treated with dignity and supported to rebuild their lives in the UK.  Our 65 volunteers provide that support through teaching English, helping them get to know Darlington, chatting, listening, fundraising and assisting with the running of our charity.  Our Board of Trustees are a dedicated group of people of diverse backgrounds who are now seeking a Leader to take DAR to the next step in its development.

This is a strategic leadership role, with responsibility for leading the Trustee Board in its role of supporting our Executive Team, ensuring effective governance and compliance.  We're looking for an engaging, inclusive leader with the energy and enthusiasm to encourage, inspire and enthuse our team.

West London Welcome (WLW) is a community centre and registered charity run for and with refugees, migrants and people seeking asylum, working together with local people to provide a safe, positive experience of community to reduce isolation, build inclusion and confidence, and challenge injustice.

Each week at WLW brings unique joys and challenges. We support hundreds of people from 70 different countries with a range of immigration statuses, providing English classes, advice, casework, hot food, a foodbank, clothing, childcare for those in classes, and social and creative activities. We take a holistic approach to support the needs of our members, from the practical and social to the emotional and playful.

We’re looking for someone with lived experience of seeking refuge or migration to join our Board of Trustees.

—

Our ongoing work with people with lived experience of seeking refuge and migration

At WLW we are striving to ensure our staff, volunteers and Board of Trustees are reflective of the communities we work with.

Our staff team includes five people with lived experience of refuge or migration, all of whom work in a wide variety of ways on a weekly basis with the refugees, migrants and asylum-seeking people who come to our centre. Our Board of Trustees includes one person who we supported through the asylum system, and five of our nine Trustees have lived experience of refuge or migration.

Amongst our 100+ volunteers, many are our beneficiaries whom we also support, who work collaboratively with us to run our centre. A fifth of our volunteers have lived experience of refuge or migration. From cooking and organising our foodbank to running our creative activities and translating for our advice team, this collaborative work ensures our community members have a stake in the way we practically run our organisation day-to-day and have a sense of ownership over the space.

We are now looking to recruit a new Trustee with lived experience of seeking refuge or migration.

The Role
 

We are looking to recruit a trustee with some or all of the following skills and/or experience:

• Lived experience of the challenges of seeking refuge or migrating to the UK from another country. We welcome applicants who have either moved to the UK recently, or decades ago.

• Refugee/migrant sector experience – experience of volunteering or working within the refugee and migrant NGO sector in the UK or another country. This could include either volunteering or working directly for an NGO, or in another related capacity such as with a campaign.

• Somebody who is passionate about the work of West London Welcome and supporting people in our community. 

It is not necessary for applicants to have previous experience of being a Trustee.

Trustee roles are unpaid voluntary positions, but we offer travel and other relevant expenses.

Trustee Duties
 

The general duties of a trustee are to:

• Ensure that WLW complies with its governing document (its constitution), charity law and any other relevant legislation or regulations.

• Ensure that WLW pursues its objects as defined in its governing document.

• Ensure WLW applies its resources exclusively in pursuance of its objects, i.e. it must not spend money on activities which are not included in the objects, however worthwhile they appear to be.

• Contribute actively to the Board’s role in giving firm strategic direction to WLW, setting overall policy, defining goals and setting targets and evaluating performance against agreed targets.

• Safeguard the good name and values of WLW.

• Ensure the financial stability of WLW.

• Protect and manage the property of WLW and to ensure that proper investment of WLW’s funds.

• Support WLW’s Directors and monitor their performance.

• In addition to the above general duties, a trustee should use any specific skills, knowledge or experience they have to help the Board reach sound decisions. This may involve leading discussions, focusing on key issues, providing advice and guidance on new initiatives, evaluation or other issues in which the trustee has special expertise.

Minimum Time Commitment

• The Board generally holds meetings at least four times per year. These normally take place in the early evening and last approximately two hours. There may also be additional occasional trainings.

• Trustees should also support WLW at informal fundraising and other events as part of their ambassadorial role as well as making make regular visits to the WLW centre.

• This is a voluntary position, but trustees can claim out of pocket expenses such as those incurred in travelling to meetings.

• Occasionally quick decisions on urgent matters need to be made. Trustees should be available via WhatsApp as well as at regular board meetings to provide needed input/advice.

Person Specification
 

Each trustee must have:

• A commitment to the mission of WLW;

• A willingness to devote the necessary time and effort;

• Integrity;

• Strategic vision;

• Good, independent judgement;

• An ability to think creatively;

• A willingness to speak their mind;

• An understanding and acceptance of the legal duties, responsibilities and liabilities of trusteeship;

• An ability to work effectively as a member of a team and to take decisions for the good of WLW;

• A satisfactory DBS disclosure;

• Satisfactory references.

Interested applicants should review the duties and person specification detailed here, and apply via CharityJob by 11.30pm on Monday 9 February 2026.

Migrateful is looking for new Trustees to help guide our next chapter! Migrateful runs cookery classes in London and Bristol led by refugees and migrants to support them on their journey to integration & employment.

Trustees play a vital role in setting strategic direction, strengthening governance and acting as critical friends to the executive team, ensuring Migrateful continues to deliver high quality, impactful work in line with its charitable purpose.

We are currently looking for a trustee with operational experience, ideally within a social enterprise and/or food industry context, who will join the Operations Subcommittee. They will support the development of Migrateful’s cookery class model, including oversight of operational processes and compliance with relevant health and safety requirements.

For more information please see our trustee recruitment pack. 

The Plateful Café works to relieve poverty and isolation amongst refugees, asylum seekers and ethnic minorities in Lewisham. Our commitment is to reach the most vulnerable people in our community and help them access the support they are entitled to. The refugees training or employed by the Plateful Cafe will benefit from workshops, training skills and knowledge relevant for the catering industry. 

As a small charity, it is important to share information and updates through our communications and social media content, to help us fundraise and grow. We are looking for someone to assist us on creating copy for our blog as well as help with creating content for our newsletters, social media, print media and other promotional material over time.

With the launch of the physical Plateful Cafe taking place soon, this summer is an exciting time to join us.

Requirements: 

• Excellent communication skills in fluent English

• Has 1+ years experience of social media, copywriting, journalism, blog content creation, interviewing or similar skills (this does not have to include published work)

• Able to create interesting and engaging content

• Good computer skills

• Good time management skills

• Engaging and friendly

• Good team player

Desirable:

• Basic digital photography and editing skills

• An interest in supporting refugees and contributing to the work of Plateful Cafe

• Experience of working with refugees, people seeking asylum, vulnerable groups or lived experience

• Lives in London with ability to attend events and markets

We are looking for an enthusiastic events assistant to join the team in our exciting new community space! Plateful Cafe is a recently established charity that seeks to help refugees in the surrounding area into employment within the food and hospitality sector. 

We have opened a community cafe selling delicious Middle Eastern food! Our cafe is staffed by people with refugee status and experiences of forced migration who are being trained to work the food industry, as well as dedicated volunteers like you. We will be running regular community events and fundraisers for which we need a team of events assistants to help plan and run. 

If you are passionate about being part of a community that celebrates a diversity of cultures and delicious food, this is your opportunity to make a difference and join us on our exciting journey with Plateful Cafe.

The role:

- Help organise monthly community dinners featuring three course meals from around the globe to enable the charity to engage with and attract donors.

- Help with running the dinner on the daywith tasks including welcoming the guests, serving food and drinks, take payments, setting up and clearing, etc.

- In a team plan and organise other events and fundraisers throughout the year, for example refugee week.

- Work with the marketing volunteers, providing details of upcoming events for promotion; take pictures and quotes at the event.

Skills & Requirements:

• Prior experience of events planning and organisation
• A passion and keenness to engage in community-based work to support refugees and serve the local community
• Good organisation skills including: effective time management, punctuality and delegation of tasks.
• A flexible and proactive attitude to working
• Good responsiveness to emails/ text/ whatsapp
• Practical skills to help prepare and set-up the café for events
• Able to work well in a team and communicate effectively with the rest of the staff and visitors of the cafe
•  A willingness to learn new skills

Desirable but not required:

• Prior experience working with refugees, people seeking asylum or other vulnerable groups
• Prior experience of involvement in charity fundraising events

Monthly community dinner times: 10-1pm (cooking); Afternoon: 1-5pm (preparing the hall); Evening: 6-10pm (running the dinner).

Travel costs reimbursed & free dinner.

As part of the Government led Gommunities for Afghans programme, we are looking to recruit individuals or groups to make up a team of 6 volunteers to support an Afghan family - you could be friends, neighbours, colleagues, faith groups, veterans, or community organisations are welcome. 

We are currently focussed on supporting families across Wales, West Midlands and Scotland but be keen to support elsewhere geographically where possible.  With this in mind, you may live in these areas, but we are also delighted to bring volunteers together remotely to support a family. 

You will be at the heart of this programme. It is a rewarding opportunity to make a real difference!

The Communities for Afghans programme is a community-led Government initiative supporting families as they rebuild their lives in the UK. It is a Government-approved scheme that enables local people to welcome Afghan refugee famiklies into their community. Volunteers will be supported by us to find housing for a family, provide practical and emotional support enabling them to settle into daily life and feel a genuine sense of belonging in the community.

How community sponsorship work

1. Form a Sponsor Group Create a team of six or more volunteers — friends, neighbours, colleagues, faith groups, veterans, or community organisations.
2. Training & Ongoing Support Our partners provide full training, so your group feels confident and well prepared. This simple, practical training is offered before you begin and continues throughout the sponsorship journey.
3. Identify Suitable Housing With our guidance, your group helps find long-term accommodation. We then match an Afghan family of the appropriate size and ensure the property is suitable and affordable. Government funding is available for rent deposits and related costs.
4. Welcome & Support the Family Volunteers help the family register with schools, healthcare, benefits, and local services, while introducing them to the community and supporting them as they adjust to life in the UK.
5. Be the Local Point of Contact You act as the family’s trusted guide, helping them navigate the area, understand local systems, and access opportunities that only residents truly know.
6. Commit for Three Years Sponsor groups support the family for three years, providing consistency as they grow in independence, confidence, and resilience.

Why Your Support Matters

Volunteering through Community Sponsorship is a powerful act of solidarity. You are not only helping one family — you are strengthening your entire community.

Your support helps families: 

• Rebuild their lives in safety and dignity
• Access education, healthcare, and employment
• Learn English and integrate into the community
• Become confident and independent

And your community benefits:

• Stronger local connections
• Celebrated diversity
• Practical meaningful humanitarian action