Join the Refugee Council’s Board of Trustees and be part of a leading charity at the forefront of the refugee cause in the UK. Help us influence political and public debates while providing essential support and services to thousands of refugees and asylum seekers.

We would welcome applications from people with diverse background, skills, and expertise, particularly those with lived experience of the refugee protection system. We are also looking for candidates with experience of being a trustee.

From Rachael Orr, Chair of Trustees at the Refugee Council:

There hasn’t been a more important moment for the refugee cause. With the issue often at the top of the political agenda, how the UK meets the needs of those seeking safety on our shores is one of the key questions of our time.

The Refugee Council is at the forefront of both the political and public debate, and at the forefront of meeting the needs of refugees and people seeking asylum. Our services reach around 14,000 men, women and children across England.

As the oldest charity working with refugees in the UK—founded in 1951 when the UK was one of the founding signatories of the UN Convention—we have a proud history of being a leading provider of support and services, and the preeminent voice on refugee issues.

The charity is in a good financial position with a strong executive leadership team and board of trustees united in delivering against a clear mission, vision and strategy. Following the change in Government last year we have already achieved some important reforms and there are opportunities to achieve more.

We are also embarking on the development of a new five year strategy that will build on the organisational change already achieved in delivering our current strategy.

We are interested in receiving applications from candidates who have board level experience. We have previously recruited to the board those with authentic/lived experience of the refugee and asylum system within the UK, and we continue to welcome applications from those who have first-hand experience of the refugee protection process.

Additionally, we would welcome a range of diverse candidates from different socioeconomic, cultural and geographic backgrounds across the UK. We understand that sometimes these and other protected characteristics intersect and welcome those who are currently underrepresented across charity boards.

We will be holding an open question and answer session online on Thursday 11 February at 12:30pm, to give you the opportunity to find out more about the role and the application process.

The application deadline is 9 March 2025.

For more details about how to join the information sessions and to learn more about the role, please see the recruitment pack here [PDF].

To apply to become a trustee at the Refugee Council, please email your CV and a cover letter (no more than two pages) outlining how you meet the job description, to Lynne Gemba on lynne.gemba@refugeecouncil.org.uk

For more information, or to talk to a trustee about the role, please contact Lynne Gemba on lynne.gemba@refugeecouncil.org.uk 

We very much look forward to hearing from you and receiving your application.