Refugee Action Lead Trustee for Movement Building & Lived Experience

Salary: N/A This is an unpaid volunteer role

Location: UK-based. Meetings are held in London, Manchester, Bradford  

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 for a trustee to join the Board of Refugee Action and take on the role of Lead Trustee for Movement Building & Lived Experience.

The Lead Trustee for Movement Building & Lived Experience will bring movement building approach expertise to the Board, and work with the Head of Movement Building & Lived Experience, within Refugee Action’s staff team, between meetings, and lead the Board’s scrutiny and support of movement building and lived experience work.

This is a governance role, distinct from the operational and strategic role of the Head of Movement Building & Lived Experience on the Senior Leadership Team. The role holder is expected to work with the Head of Movement Building & Lived Experience between meetings.

We are looking for a Trustee who understands how movements create change and can bring these skills, experience and knowledge to our Board. In a time of growing hostility towards refugees and migration in the UK, we need to think differently about how we build relationships, connect with others and strengthen our collective influence.

You will bring strategic insight, challenge our thinking and help us see new opportunities for change. This is a Board level role, focused on the bigger picture, our future direction and the relationships and connections that can help us achieve greater impact.

As a trustee of Refugee Action, you will be part of a small team of volunteers who are collectively responsible for developing and guiding the strategic direction of the organisation and steering the long-term stability of the charity.

Trustees are often chosen for their previous board experience and long professional careers. However, we are interested in talking to anyone who is committed to our cause and our strategy, can demonstrate the ability to think strategically, to provide challenge during discussions and the integrity to take on this important role with time to give us

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.

We benefit from being a majority ‘lived experience’ board where trustees also bring their perspectives from being a refugee or asylum seeker in addition to their professional skills.

Our diversity as a small trustee board is important to us. We are currently underrepresented from the disability, youth and LGBTIQ+ communities.

Lead Trustee for Movement Building & Lived Experience Responsibilities

• As Lead Trustee for Movement Building & Lived Experience, be a champion for change! Inspire and support fellow trustees to understand, connect with and get involved in our movement building work. Work closely with the Head of Movement Building & Lived Experience between trustee meetings to keep ideas moving, build connections to help make a real difference.
• To actively contribute to the Board of Trustees who are responsible for the strategic direction of Refugee Action, set overall policy, define key goals and priorities, set targets, and evaluate performance.
• To ensure that Refugee Action complies with its governing documents, charity law, company law and other relevant legislation, regulations, codes and guidance. (Refugee Action will provide training to help members of the Board to understand what is expected of them).
• To commit to Refugee Actions vision and values
• To safeguard the good name and reputation of the organisation.
• To ensure the financial stability of the organisation and its efficient administration.
• To act as a ‘critical friend’ to the Senior Leadership Team, offering guidance, support, and constructive challenge.
• Represent Refugee Action internally and externally, and be a positive ambassador for the charity and the sector.
• Keep up to date with Refugee Action’s work through reading and engaging with clients, staff and volunteers when the opportunity arises.
• Read and scrutinise board papers before meetings to be able to contribute fully.
• Occasional participation in relevant working groups, staff interviews, disciplinary or grievance panels etc

 Overall duties of Trustee

In addition to the duties above, the Lead Trustee for Movement Building & Lived Experience will:

• Actively contribute to the Board of Trustees who are responsible for the strategic direction of Refugee Action, set overall policy, define key goals and priorities, set targets, and evaluate performance.
• Ensure that Refugee Action complies with its governing documents, charity law, company law and other relevant legislation, regulations, codes and guidance. (Refugee Action will provide training to help members of the Board to understand what is expected of them).
• Commit to Refugee Actions vision and values
• Safeguard the good name and reputation of the organisation.
• Ensure the financial stability of the organisation and its efficient administration.
• To act as a ‘critical friend’ to the Senior Leadership Team, offering guidance, support, and constructive challenge.
• Represent Refugee Action internally and externally, and be a positive ambassador for the charity and the sector.
• Keep up to date with Refugee Action’s work through reading and engaging with clients, staff and volunteers when the opportunity arises.
• Read and scrutinise board papers before meetings to be able to contribute fully.
• Occasional participation in relevant working groups, staff interviews, disciplinary or grievance panels etc.

Skills, knowledge and experience  

Essential

• 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.
• A strong understanding and experience of connecting grassroots perspectives and organising with wider influencing, campaigning, policy or narrative change strategies
• Ability to connect bottom-up and top-down approaches to change, linking grassroots organising and lived experience with policy, institutional and systems level influencing
• Ability and willingness to positively represent the organisation.
• A willingness to learn and to enable us to learn from you.
• Commitment to prepare for, travel to and attend 5 Trustee meetings, per year including Board awaydays. (Whilst occasional board meetings can be joined remotely. We meet face to face whenever possible).
• Willingness to meet with lead staff online in between Board meetings (where relevant) and visit programmes 1/2 times per year in addition to Board meetings.

Desirable

• 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.

Closing date: 23:59 Sunday 15 November 2026

Interviews: Thursday 26 November 2026

Refugee Action only operates in the UK, so all roles are UK-based.