Community Development Worker – Information & Training
Donor Development Officer
Policy Advisor (Employment & Training)
Parliamentary & External Relations Officer
Community Development Worker (Information & Training)
"This is one of the first roles I’ve had where I really enjoy coming to work. From a work perspective I feel that I am doing a job that is helping and informing people and every aspect of my job is positive. The motivation for my job is the end result and seeing how people develop and progress.
When I first came to the Refugee Council, I didn’t know very much about the organisation, but gradually through my various roles, my knowledge of different countries and cultures has increased. My background was in media work but I wanted to move to a role where I could make a difference. I started off as an admin worker for the resettlement team, then took the role of Information Worker where I was writing cultural guides and getting to meet many different community groups. In my current role I strike a balance between developing information resources and coordinating training for refugee community organisations.
If I was asked now what attracted me to the Refugee Council, I would say it was the issue which I love as it covers international, political and social issues. I meet people from really diverse backgrounds and learn all about their lives which is so interesting. I think it’s a fantastic place to work and people are so committed here. It’s also a place to make some wonderful lifelong friends because I have!"
Donor Development Officer
"Every day here at the Refugee Council is varied. My main role is to research and build relationships with individuals who have the potential to donate large sums of money and also to manage a programme for medium level givers to increase their donations. I also have the opportunity to shadow people from different teams across the organisation. This enables me to gain an insight into different angles of the working environment, which is especially useful when I am speaking to potential donors about the work the Refugee Council does.
Having worked in fundraising roles in other charities, I wanted to work at the Refugee Council as I strongly believe in what we do. I like the fact that I am constantly surrounded by the issues that the Refugee Council stands up against. If I ever have a day when I’m feeling demotivated, then I can go and visit our front line services, which gives a constant and positive reminder of why I’m here doing this job."
Policy Advisor (Employment & Training)
"The Refugee Council has something for everybody. Initially I started off as a volunteer in our Leeds office then I became a Project Worker for our One Stop Service in Leeds. Three years later, I’m now working in the London office as a Policy Advisor.
I really enjoyed being a volunteer, it was a great way of getting involved with the Refugee Council and I found that it opened up many different opportunities for me. Although at first I didn’t know much about the wider work of the Refugee Council, that changed when I became a Project Worker as I became more engaged in the asylum process. In my current role my knowledge has expanded even further and I get more involved in European and international issues. I also get the opportunity to work on a range of initiatives like professional training for refugees and developing policy ideas around the right to work for asylum seekers.
What really motivates me is the difference that this organisation can make to other people’s lives. It’s not just about raising the issues and talking about them, it’s about actually doing something to help people and I think that is a great strength the Refugee Council has. When I was a Project Worker it was great to be able to fight the system and try to get support for those people who really needed it.
I'm really happy here and I try to get involved as much as I can in the wider work that we do. Last summer I helped out at the Glastonbury festival where we had a stall to promote our activities."
Parliamentary & External Relations Officer
"Most of my role here revolves around parliamentary liaison. I’m the point of contact for MPs and peers to come and find out about what the Refugee Council thinks of any bill that may be going through that affects refugees and asylum seekers. I also provide a voice for refugees and asylum seekers in the public sphere, making sure their voices are heard, and that political parties are listening to the concerns of refugees.
It was the refugee issue that really drove me to work for the Refugee Council. I get great satisfaction out of my role here especially when I do my best to speak out and make a difference for a group of people who sometimes cannot speak out for themselves or who are ignored. The ultimate satisfaction in my role is when a change to policy is made. This is partly a response to our hard work in the campaigns team, and through working with our client advisers who are meeting people on a day to day basis who are suffering because of a certain policy.
The Refugee Council is a very unique and rewarding place to work. It gives people great opportunities to get involved with different things across the organisation."
