Conversation Over Borders Request

Organisation Description

Conversation Over Borders is a nonprofit working to reduce isolation, build language skills and advocate for the rights of refugees and asylum seekers across the UK. We have four main programmes of work: a project refurbishing and redistributing tech to tackle digital exclusion; a project connecting displaced people and volunteers 1-1 for 8 months of weekly conversation classes and mentoring; a refugee-led mental health project; and campaigns which work with government and the wider public to advocate for the rights of forcibly displaced people.

Each of these projects works to reduce isolation and amplify the voices of refugees and asylum seekers by building their confidence in spoken English, connecting them to culturally sensitive peer support and facilitating friendships with the wider community. Through doing so, we also aim to educate the general public about the situation for refugees and asylum seekers in the UK and foster connection across communities.

What are they looking for?

After 4 years of rapid growth, we are at an exciting stage in our journey, as we convert to a CIO model. We have recently appointed a Chair, who shares our vision for an equitable and inclusive UK for forcibly displaced people, and are now seeking to build out a dynamic Board of Trustees to drive forward our development.

Trustees are volunteers who play a critical role in the overall governance of the charity and in setting and monitoring our strategy. You will be required to attend and contribute to quarterly board meetings, using your personal skills, experience and attributes to help us to support our staff, community and fellow Trustees in delivering the core purpose of the organisation.

At this stage in our journey, we particularly seek individuals with lived experience of displacement, or fundraising, finance, legal, monitoring and evaluation knowledge and expertise to help us develop and build a solid foundation and support our 3-5 year goals.

If you are interested in our work and have a strong alignment with our values, please read the full application pack here: https://www.conversationoverborders.org/join-our-team and contact [email protected] with any questions.