Volunteer Trustee for a well respected charity supporting refugees | Refugee Support Group

Trustee committed to the support of refugees and asylum seekers. Strengths in financial management, income generation and lived experience are particularly sought. Youth is an asset!

What difference will you make?

Our interventions are life changing. People seek help from us after they have been through terrible experiences – persecution, warfare, torture and the destruction of their homes. We stand with them as they rebuild a new life. Being a trustee does not involve face to face work with clients but it is an essential role in providing the platform and stability that allows this direct support to happen.

What are we looking for?

• A commitment to meeting the needs of refugees and asylum seekers and to providing a welcoming and supportive environment for them in those areas where the charity works 2. A willingness to commit the time required to be a reliable member of the team (see Trustee Role Description). Attendance at and participation in board meetings is important in this respect. 3. The ability and confidence to work effectively in meetings. 4. The ability to understand financial statements and forecasts 5. Good listening skills and a willingness to learn and attend training where new skills and understanding are required. 6. A co-operative and friendly approach to collective decision making which understands that personal views will not always prevail. 7. A commitment to the development of an inclusive organisation which enables the participation of people from communities that typically experience discrimination or are under-represented. 8. The ability to think strategically about the development of the organisation.

What will you be doing?

In 2023 we conducted a skills audit of the board. We also received the resignation of a few long serving trustees. In consequence, we are particularly interested in people who, in addition to the general qualities required of a trustee, have one of the following attributes 1. Lived experience of being a refugee or asylum seeker. There are currently two trustees with such experience, in addition to which our Deputy CEO has a refugee background. We want to increase the influence that people with lived experience have on the organisation. 2. Youth. There is no-one on the board under the age of 30. We recognise that, nationwide, young people are at the forefront of support for refugees in the context of the hostile environment promoted by the government. We welcome the energy and fresh perspectives that young people bring to our work. 3. Experience and understanding of income generation for a charity. We raise income from public giving, fundraising events, trust fundraising and local government contracts. 4. Expertise in financial management and accountancy. This is crucial for the health of the charity and while we already have some skills in this area on the board of trustees, we would welcome more. In order to promote diverse perspectives amongst trustees we welcome interest from members of black and minority ethnic communities and the LGBT community who can help us tap into potential support in their particular networks and benefit from their perspectives.