Refugee Action Lead Trustee for Safeguarding

Salary: N/A This is an unpaid volunteer role

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

The Lead Trustee for Safeguarding will bring safeguarding expertise to the Board, and work with the Senior Safeguarding Lead and the National Safeguarding manager, within Refugee Action’s staff team, between meetings, and lead the Board’s scrutiny of safeguarding.  Safeguarding remains the collective responsibility of the whole Board and the Lead Trustee’s role is to strengthen the Board’s oversight, rather to hold it on the Board’s behalf.

This is a governance role, distinct from the Senior Safeguarding lead on the Senior Leadership team or the National Safeguarding Manager role, who are members of staff who manage and oversee safeguarding concerns on an operational level. The Lead Trustee makes sure the Board has the information, assurance and challenge it needs to be confident that the people we work with, and our staff and volunteers, are kept safe, but does not manage cases or direct staff on individual concerns.

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. Because of the nature of this position, senior safeguarding experience is essential, but please don’t be discouraged if you haven’t been a trustee before, or if you don’t meet all of the desirable criteria. We are interested in talking to those who are 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; we will provide support to new Trustees to understand their role. Please do consider applying if you have the courage and enthusiasm to encourage, challenge, influence 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.

 Lead Trustee for Safeguarding Responsibilities

• Champion safeguarding at Board level and help trustees understand and fulfil their safeguarding responsibilities, including taking part in safeguarding training.
• Have governance oversight of the organisational risk register, in relation to safeguarding risks, and lead the Board’s scrutiny of how those risks are assessed and managed.
• Agree with the National Safeguarding Manager and Senior Safeguarding Lead the content and quality of safeguarding reports to the Board, so that trustees receive meaningful information on themes, trends, referrals and learning, not just numbers.
• Take a lead role in the Board’s review and sign-off of any new or updated safeguarding policies, making sure they reflect current legislation and guidance.
• Seek assurance that safer recruitment practice is followed, that DBS checks are carried out at the correct level and renewed where required, and that safeguarding training records for staff, volunteers and trustees are complete and up to date.
• Make sure the Board meets its duty to report serious incidents promptly to the Charity Commission.
• Act as the escalation route where a safeguarding concern involves the Chief Executive or a trustee, working with the Chair to make sure it is handled independently and appropriately.
• Make sure Refugee Action learns from internal case reviews, serious incidents or complaints and that this learning leads to changes in practice where appropriate
• Meet the National Safeguarding Manager between Board meetings to discuss emerging risks, themes and support needs.
• Keep up to date with changes in safeguarding legislation and guidance, and bring relevant developments to the Board’s attention.

Overall duties of Trustee

In addition to the duties above, the Lead Trustee for Safeguarding 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• Senior professional experience in safeguarding, for example in a charity, social care, clinical, education or public sector setting.
• Knowledge of safeguarding legislation and guidance for both children and adults at risk, and of the trustee duty to report serious incidents to the Charity Commission and to refer concerns to the police and statutory services.
• A clear understanding of the difference between the Board’s governance oversight of safeguarding and operational safeguarding practice.
• The confidence to challenge constructively on sensitive matters, including concerns involving senior staff or fellow trustees.
• Understanding of the unique circumstances and Safeguarding risks and challenges faced by refugees and asylum seekers in the UK, including those set out above, and how they affect disclosure, reporting and our response.

Desirable

• Experience and insights into leading or managing a lived experience-led charity or organisation in the migration sector / movement,
• 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)
• Direct experience of safeguarding work with refugees, people seeking asylum, survivors of trafficking or other migrant communities.
• Experience of leading or contributing to safeguarding case reviews or serious incident investigations.
• Experience as a trustee, non-executive director, or member of a safeguarding board or partnership.

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 8 November 2026

Interviews: week commencing 30 November 2026

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