Citizens UK 

We are Citizens UK. We’re working together to make change on the issues that matter, from campaigning for zebra crossings on dangerous roads, to reforming the immigration system, to the Living Wage campaign.  

We bring together everyday people and local organisations to build a better, fairer society. Too often communities are left out of decisions that affect their lives, but we know everyday people have the ability to shape the world around them. We develop local leaders who find solutions to problems big and small and hold power-holders to account. 

We work with hundreds of civil society organisations, who we call our members - schools, universities, faith groups, charities, unions and more - to help them win change. Over the last 30 years, we’ve worked in alliance with 500+ members, trained 4,000+ community leaders, accredited 13,000 Living Wage employers, and won hundreds of campaigns. 

Our Migrants and Refugees Organising (MaRO) team is mainly made up of community organisers from diaspora, refugee, and formerly undocumented backgrounds. They collaborate with local civic organisations and migrant leaders, using community organising to achieve national change.   

Purpose 

Our immigration and system is too long, too expensive, and fundamentally unfair. The often multi-decade journey towards citizenship leaves people broken and less capable of flourishing as part of their communities. 

We firmly believe that migrants possess the capacity to build substantial power, enabling them to achieve social justice for themselves, their families, and their communities. 

Citizens UK’s Migrant and Refugee Organising (MaRO) team is looking for the right person to learn the craft of Community Organising under the guidance of an experienced Community Organiser. Community Organising focuses on the building of relational power, the identification and development of leaders to strengthen the local institutions that make up the fabric of society, support leads to take public actions in order to win systemic change. 

NB We particularly encourage those who have been through the immigration system themselves or their families

Main Responsibilities 

Working as an Associate Organiser at Migrant and Refugee Organising, Citizens UK your main responsibilities will include: 

Contribute towards the goals of the Migrant and Refugee Organising team 

• Build relationships with people who have experience of the immigration system or who may be important allies, speaking to at least 3 people per day through 121 conversations. 

• Work to build a team of 10-15 leaders, including those with lived experience of the immigration system, in West Yorkshire to create change  

• Work with colleagues in the Migrant and Refugee Organising (MaRO) team and to run local and national campaigns and leadership teams 

Build relational power to further the goals of CUK 

• Actively participate in the development of a comprehensive power analysis appropriate to the desired sphere of influence for each assignment 

• Establish working relationships with identified leaders and move them into action, incl. as part of the wider alliance; taking the initiative to establish new relationships as required 

• Conduct 121s to develop relationships with leaders and understand their concerns. 

• Tell a wide range of Community Organising stories effectively to influence others and achieve Citizens UK’s goals 

Identify and develop relational leaders prepared to act with others for the common good 

• Identify and discern actual and potential leaders with the passion and ability to drive change  

• Proactively create opportunities for leaders to develop, in particular tertiary or new leaders; nominate them for training on the core taster curriculum 

• Successfully deliver training workshops in local institutions and on the core taster curriculum at a local level 

Strengthen institutions and develop BBOs 

• Ensure good understanding of the basic interests and traditions of typical member institutions 

• Organise with leaders from different kinds of institution to work together for the achievement of common goals 

• Support pre-existing core teams and create/develop new core teams to provide leadership at institutional and cluster levels 

Support leaders through the Cycle of Action to create change 

• Support member institutions in running listening campaigns in West Yorkshire Citizens, especially to engage and develop migrant leaders 

• Organise neighbourhood actions, demonstrating increasing independence in working without the need for close supervision  

• Take the lead in supporting groups of leaders through the cycle of action on neighbourhood issues; aiming to achieve neighbourhood wins 

• Evaluate the effectiveness of actions; demonstrating ability to incorporate lessons learned into future actions 

Contribute to CUK’s financial viability through effective fundraising & financial management  

• Contribute to fundraising to the value of at least £20,000 per annum through one or some of the following:  

• Write regular updates on the work to be shared with the funders and maintain a healthy relationship with them 

• Work with a senior organiser on securing any additional funding for organising around migration and in West Yorkshire 

• Work with a senior organiser to recruit local institutions into membership of Citizens UK, especially those with migrant demographics and concerns 

Contribute to effective teamwork 

• Be proactive concerning personal professional development and wellbeing, i.e., by reading widely, developing a healthy work-life balance, and demonstrating ability to reflect on own organising craft and improve on self-identified weaknesses 

• Work effectively with colleagues and participate in a team 

• Produce all required reports and follow Citizen UK’s procedures on time and to the required standards 

Participate in the development of the craft of Community Organising and play a role in the Guild of COs 

• Schedule an average of at least three 121 relational meetings into your daily schedule as a core part of your professional practice 

• Commit 10 working days per annum (pro rata) to the preparation, delivery, and evaluation of Citizens UK National Community Leadership Training or other local or regional trainings or other activities organised by the Learning and Innovation team. 

• Recruit leaders onto regional and national Citizens UK training 

• Participate in a Guild Team and help it develop as a Community of Practice that enables Organisers across the UK to develop their skills and experience. 

Person Specification 

Requirements 

(E) Essential 

(D) Desirable 

QUALIFICATIONS 

• Bachelor’s degree in any subject (D) 

• Subject of relevance to community work or community organising is desirable (D) 

EXPERIENCE 

• Previous campaign experience (D) 

• Evidence of having acted in a leadership role with peers or in local community activities (e.g., organising clubs or societies) (E) 

• Experience of project management; evidence of having delivered work on time and to standard (E) 

• Able to demonstrate previous experience of ‘learning by doing’ in a work or project environment; evidence of being open to feedback and comfortably coachable (E) 

• Lived experience of the Immigration System (E) 

KEY SKILLS & KNOWLEDGE 

• Excellent interpersonal awareness – ability to listen well and appreciate a viewpoint or opinion that is different from one’s own (E)   

• Excellent concern for impact – ability to adapt own behaviour to address the needs or concerns of someone else (E) 

• Good communication skills – able to speak with conviction and passion; and to make a logical argument (E) 

PERSONAL QUALITIES AND VALUES 

• A self-starter with ability to take initiative and work independently (E) 

• A passion for justice (E) 

• A positive enthusiasm for working with faith congregations, trade unions, schools, and other community organisations (E) 

• An interest in and experience of politics and public life (E) 

• Able to work in a team (E) 

• Willingness to work within accountable relationships (E) 

• Self-motivated and adaptable (E) 

Please note this is a 24-month fix term contract. The successful applicant will be required to undertake a satisfactory Enhanced DBS check. DBS checks are renewed on a 3-year cycle. 

Applications will close on 26th April 10:00AM.