Join our Board of Trustees!

South Yorkshire Refugee Law and Justice (SYRLJ) are looking for new trustees. Could you support and shape our vital work providing legal services to people seeking sanctuary in South Yorkshire?  

We particularly welcome applications from those with lived experience of the asylum system in the UK.  

We are also seeking to address identified skills gaps on the Board, especially HR experience, relevant policy and legislation knowledge, campaigning and media expertise. A full induction programme and follow up training will be offered to successful applicants.

The Board meets four times a year, sometimes online and sometimes in person, and Trustees will take lead responsibility for one or more aspects of governance. It is estimated that the time commitment will be between 0.5 and 2 days a month depending on capacity.

Click the purple button above for more info and to download the application pack. For an informal discussion about the role please contact Gary Bell (Chair) for an informal discussion – gary.bell@syrlj.org.uk.  

The closing date for applications is Monday 13^th October. Interviews will take place towards the end of October, with the aim for new Trustees to be in place in November.

Legal volunteering roles

Volunteers have always been central to SYRLJ's work. We wouldn't be here today without the dedication, skills and time that so many people have provided through volunteering with us over the years.

Volunteers help us to provide vital legal support to more of those to need it, whilst also bringing new skills and fresh perspectives which help us to reflect on and develop our service. In return we aim to provide a supportive and inclusive environment where our volunteers can gain skills and experience.

Our volunteers undertake a wide variety of tasks including legal research, assisting with casework, office and legal administration, and assisting at our busy drop-in advice sessions. We are looking for people with a good level of IT literacy, excellent written and spoken English and ideally some experience of working in an office environment. We do not expect volunteers to have legal knowledge or experience, but we value an interest in human rights law and a commitment to social and migrant justice.

We ask for the following from all our volunteers:

A minimum of 1 full day per week.

A minimum 6 month commitment to volunteering (we understand that circumstances might change but we ask that you don't apply if you already know you can't commit to volunteering with us for at least this length of time).

The ability to volunteer every week at our office in Sheffield City Centre - we cannot facilitate remote volunteering.

A commitment to the values and aims of our organisation (please read about these on our website).

In return we offer:

The opportunity to get hands on experience of legal casework.

The chance to contribute to securing positive outcomes for our clients, changing lives and preventing human rights abuses.

Access to a wide range of legal and migrant justice related professional training.

The opportunity to become a qualified IAA (formerly OISC) adviser.

Qualifying Work Experience under the SQE solicitor training route.

The chance to be part of a team that is committed to fighting for migrant justice.

Lunch and travel expenses (within Sheffield).

If you are interested in volunteering with us please send us an email at info@syrlj.org.uk and we'll let you know if we are taking on new volunteers.

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