Student Network Organiser

Do you have what it takes to engage, inspire and enable thousands of students across the UK, to take action to welcome refugees to the UK?

STAR is looking for an enthusiastic and energetic individual with great communication skills and experience of running a student society or similar. You will work with the Student Network Manager to provide support to STAR group leaders based at universities and colleges across the country, helping them to set up and run their groups, organise engaging events, coordinate creative campaign actions and keep them up-to-date with what’s happening across the network and in UK asylum policy. You’ll also be involved in organising national events and training.

Do you want to make a real difference and gain a huge variety of experience, including campaigning, volunteer management, communications and events organising? Then this is perfect role for you.

STAR is committed to operating as an equal opportunities organisation.  We particularly welcome and encourage applications from people with refugee backgrounds. 

The closing date for applications is Friday 29th November at 9am 

NB: To apply, please head to our wesbite and complete the application form attached and return it to us. For more details, see the job description. 

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Background information about Student Action for Refugees:

Student Action for Refugees is the national network of students building a society where refugees and asylum seekers are welcomed and can thrive. Set up by students at the University of Nottingham in 1994, we are an inclusive network with UK students, students from refugee backgrounds and international students working together to make change. 

We are a membership charity and the members are STAR student union society groups. A small staff team train and support the network and lead on national projects, campaign and advocacy work.

People who arrive in the UK after fleeing war and persecution face many challenges in both claiming their right to asylum and in building new lives. Challenges that result from a hostile policy environment, negative public attitudes, unhelpful media narrative, a lack of access to services and barriers to higher education. 

Our network of STAR student societies and activists is creating a more understanding, just and welcoming society. We do this by: providing practical support and connecting communities through local and national volunteering activities; improving access to university; campaigning for policy change; learning and sharing information about asylum and the lived experience of refugees to shift the narrative. 

Impact: Last year, our network of STAR student groups spanned 39 universities and were run by 213 student leaders. We supported 741 refugees and people seeking asylum in 30 community projects and hosted 345 events to train & inform people about asylum and community projects and hosted 345 events to train & inform people about asylum and refugees

Together we:

● Campaigned for the right to work for asylum seekers, an end to immigration detention, improved refugee family reunion rights and improved access to university and more. 

● Volunteered in partnership with 21 local charities recruiting 323 STAR student volunteers for 30 projects supporting 741 refugees – providing academic support for volunteers for 30 projects supporting 741 refugees – providing academic support for children, English conversation clubs, sports clubs, fun community events and more.

● Organised events, providing a platform for experts by experience, academics, activists and organisations, to inform about asylum and the experiences of refugees.

● Supported universities with scholarship development, 289 activists to campaign for Equal Access at their institutions, and we provided information and advice to prospective students and university staff.