Volunteer Role Description: Co-Ordinator of Leicester City of Sanctuary

Volunteer Role Description: Co-ordinator of Leicester City of Sanctuary

About this role

As the Chairperson of Leicester City of Sanctuary you would be leading and maintaining an overview of the organisation’s support to asylum-seekers and refugees to adjust to life in Leicester and access vital services, and developing services in line with the Objects of the Constitution agreed with the Charity Commissioners. You are likely to have been a volunteer for Leicester City of Sanctuary for at least one year.

Reporting to: Trustees of Leicester City of Sanctuary

Typical tasks include:

1)  Advancing the education of the public by:

·  Giving talks and presentations where presence of the Chair has been specifically requested

·  Actively engaging with local media to raise awareness of the needs of asylum-seekers and refugees and the profile of Leicester City of Sanctuary

·  Support local understanding of national issues by ensuring there is a conduit for communication between the national organisation of City of Sanctuary and Leicester City of Sanctuary

·  Arranging for volunteers to give talks and presentations in a range of venues in city and county

2)  Advance education and relieve poverty amongst refugees by:

·  Leading the development of new activities to respond to the changing economic and political climate of asylum-seekers

·  Writing letters of support for clients and references for people with LTR applying for jobs, courses, etc. Also writing references for volunteers.

3)  Provide facilities for training, recreation and leisure by:

·  Working closely with the other officers and project leaders to maintain an overview of the activities of Leicester City of Sanctuary and ensure their fitness for the purpose of supporting asylum-seekers and refugees to adjust to life in Leicester and access vital services.

·  Providing support and guidance to the co-ordinators of activities of Leicester City of Sanctuary

4) Promote equality and diversity by:

·  Networking and attending meetings, both formal and informal, occasional and regular, keeping in touch with other organisations like Red Cross and TREC and representing LCoS at various public events

5) Support the organisation by:

·  Ensuring that the internal communications of LCoS are effective and efficient and that meetings are organized appropriately

·  Ensuring that the organisation has sufficient funds to run by applying/delegating applying for grants and ensuring that there are fund-and-profile raising events

·  Working with the Trustees to ensure that LCoS is acting lawfully, reporting to them about LCoS activities and projects, applying to them for support for new projects and answering questions related to the progress and the everyday operation of the organization.

·  Ensuring that meetings have agendas, and are appropriately chaired with minutes taken that specify any actions to be taken.

·  Regularly attending the weekly drop-in

·  Writing reports, letters and articles/delegating such writing as necessary

·  Co-ordinating the work of volunteers

·  Monitoring the progress of the Action Plan

The Co-ordinator needs to:

·  Demonstrate excellent interpersonal, leadership, diplomacy, and teamwork skills

·  Be a good communicator and have empathy with the situation and needs of refugees

·  Have in-depth knowledge about conflict and migration issues and be sensitive to cultural issues, including those relating to gender and religion

·  Be able to use emotional support skills in a calm and responsible manner

·  Be personally resilient as you may need to deal with difficult or challenging situations

·  To be able to keep the service user at the heart of what you do, liaising with service users and supporting LCoS in understanding their needs and the difference our role makes.