Who are we looking for?

Rainbow Migration is looking for an asylum lawyer to join our board of trustees. You should be, or within the last 3 years have been, either a practicing solicitor, legal adviser or barrister and have a strong interest in advancing the rights and interests of LGBTQI+ people who are seeking protection in the UK.

Trustees are required to participate fully in the governance of the charity. It would therefore be beneficial if you also bring other skills, knowledge or experience. Our current trustees have skills and experience covering lived experience of the asylum system, law (public law, human rights and property law), academia, communications, fundraising and finance.

We particularly encourage applications from people who have been through the UK asylum or immigration system, people of colour, disabled people, and LGBTQI+ people.

What will you be doing?

Being a trustee is a rewarding role. Trustees bring their expertise to shape Rainbow Migration’s strategy and direction and help ensure Rainbow Migration remains the authoritative organisation on LGBTQI+ asylum and immigration. They have overall legal responsibility for the charity and make sure Rainbow Migration’s finances and resources are well used to implement our mission. They also play a role as ambassador for the organisation and its work. For more information, see here.

Rainbow Migration is developing its new multi-year strategy to meet the additional challenges presented to our service users by recent changes in law, policy and the economic environment. You will be joining the Board at an exciting time as we begin implementation of a new way forward to ensure LGBTQI+ fleeing persecution can rebuild their lives safely in the UK.

About Rainbow Migration

Rainbow Migration supports LGBTQI+ people through the asylum and immigration system and influences policy and practice. We provide emotional and practical support for LGBTQI+ people seeking asylum, offer legal information and advice, and carry out campaigning, policy work and strategic litigation. We also train lawyers and other organisations working with LGBTQI+ people seeking asylum. We have a team of 14 full- and part-time staff and volunteer lawyers delivering advice on partnership applications.

Our vision is a world where there is equality, dignity, respect and safety for all people in the expression of their sexual orientation or gender identity. Our values are:

• Safety: We believe everyone should be safe from persecution and safe to be themselves. We strive to create a safe workplace culture, and we place importance on the well-being of everyone involved with Rainbow Migration.
• Integrity: We are thorough and honest in everything we do, and we take responsibility for our actions. We want to be accountable to our communities and those who support us.
• Belonging: We welcome and include all LGBTQI+ people, and we celebrate and value their range of experience in terms of gender, religion, race, age, disability status and class. We try to remove obstacles to participation, champion equality and promote a sense of family or home through our services.
• Respect: We believe that every person is equal and deserves the same level of courtesy, care, and attention. We respect the rights, wishes and feelings of our service users and campaign for their rights to be respected as they go through the asylum and immigration system.

At Rainbow Migration, we don’t just accept difference – we celebrate it, we support it, and we thrive on it. We’re proud to be an equal opportunity employer, and we value diversity. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, colour, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, marital status, or disability status – simply put, we consider all qualified applicants consistent with any legal requirements.

Time and location

Trustees meet in the evening between 6 to 9 times per year according to need. Attendance at other ad-hoc meetings, events (such as the annual general meeting), or relevant committee meetings is also expected. Preparation for the meetings involves a time commitment of 2 to 4 hours for detailed reading of papers provided several days in advance.

Meetings are usually held via Zoom. Where face-to-face meetings take place in London, travel costs for trustees based outside London will be reimbursed.

A few more details

Being a trustee is a voluntary position. Expenses incurred in relation to fulfilling trustee duties can be reimbursed, e.g. travel. Training and ‘buddying up’ with an existing trustee can be provided to the successful candidate.

Rainbow Migration is a membership organisation. We require our trustees to become members (£20 a year, which can be waived for trustees in cases of financial hardship). Trustees can be co-opted by the Board but have to be confirmed by Rainbow Migration’s members at the next annual general meeting (AGM).

This position is open to people who have leave to remain in the UK or UK citizenship. We cannot accept applications from people who are currently seeking asylum or are under the age of 16.  Candidates must not have been previously disqualified as a trustee or company director, have an undischarged bankruptcy or have unspent criminal convictions for an offence involving dishonesty or deception (such as fraud).

The successful applicant will be required at the point of conditional offer to disclose all unspent criminal records and subsequently to undergo a basic DBS check.

To apply

Please send your CV with a covering email explaining why you are applying to recruitment@rainbowmigration.org.uk by Tuesday 13 December at 10 am.

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to an informal interview (date TBC). The preferred candidate will then be invited to observe a board meeting so that both they and the organisation can feel confident that the role and organisation is right for them.

Privacy Notice: Your privacy and data protection

In order to recruit trustees, Rainbow Migration needs to store personal information (data) about all applicants. Rainbow Migration is registered as a “controller of personal data” under the Data Protection Act 2018 with the Information Commissioner. By applying for this role, you agree that we will keep the information on your CV and covering statement. Rainbow Migration keeps all personal information safely and securely, and does not share your information with anyone outside Rainbow Migration or any other organisation without your consent. Information is kept for the minimum period necessary which for CVs and covering statements for unsuccessful applicants is 12 months after the conclusion of the recruitment campaign.