Community Organiser

the3million is looking for a new Community Organiser to help us build the power of EU citizens in the UK and of their non-EU family members, working alongside two other Organisers in our team and the members of our EU Citizens’ Campaigns Network

Since Brexit, EU citizens in the UK and their family members have been brought under the Hostile Environment. the3million has been providing information to EU citizens and has continuously advocated for a fairer immigration system, especially in making the EU Settlement Scheme more accessible to all.

We provide a platform for EU citizens to become politically active and use their voices to advocate for themselves. The Community Organiser will be part of a team to create opportunities for EU citizens to have increased capacity to engage in activism and lead the change they want to see in the UK, their home.

This role is at an officer level and suitable for people who are looking for their first paid role in Organising, but have had some grassroots experience, even if on an informal or voluntary basis. You can expect to be mentored by an experienced Community Organiser and thereby learn a lot while on the job. More experienced candidates are also welcome to apply.We are currently in the process of applying for funding to extend this role. If we are successful, the contract will be extended by 2 years and we will work with the successful Organiser on a progression route, reviewing the job holder’s salary level after they have been in the role for 6 months. 

Position type: Part time, between 3 to 4 days a week, depending on the successful candidate’s preference

Duration: 4 months (September - December 2024) with possibility of a 2 year extension from January 2025, subject to funding

Salary: £30,000-32,000, depending on experience, with possibility of salary increase subject to funding and successful probation period

Location: Remote, must be UK based. Regular travel across the country to meet local community groups. All travel expenses covered.

Benefits: 28-days holiday + bank holidays pro-rata, contributory pension scheme, flexible working patterns.

Reporting to Community Organiser - Campaigns

Application deadline: Monday 5th August 09:00. Please note that applications will be considered on a rolling basis, therefore we encourage you to apply early. If you have any questions about the role, please do not hesitate to contact us at info[at] the3million[dot]org[dot]uk 

**About the3million**

We are the leading organisation representing EU citizens and their non-EU family members in the UK. Our vision is a world where our communities can thrive, reach their potential and have an equal voice in UK society. 

Our work ranges from monitoring the implementation of the UK-EU Withdrawal Agreement, advocating for the integration of EU citizens throughout all sections of society, informing people of their rights, promoting access to justice, and giving EU citizens a voice in British society to change the narrative on migration as a whole. 

We are a grassroots and non-partisan organisation, working with a variety of stakeholders, from MPs to NGOs, legal advisors, the media and community leaders across civic society on specific issues affecting migrants’ rights. We regularly engage with the Home Office and its monitoring bodies to advocate for change. 

**Duties and responsibilities **

1. Co-lead the3million’s “EU Citizens’ Campaigns Network” 

• Working with the Community Organiser - Campaigns to recruit more members of the EU Citizens’ Campaigns Network by regularly reaching out to relevant communities and booking 1-1 meetings with key community leaders;

• Working with the Community Organiser - Campaigns to support and guide our existing Network members made up of over 40 community leaders who have a variety of backgrounds and levels of experience in campaigning, developing their confidence and ability to become effective change-makers and encouraging them to take coordinated, strategic actions to advance our campaigns;

• Co-facilitate monthly Network meetings: setting agendas, facilitating Breakout rooms, taking minutes and following up with Network members on their agreed actions;

• Support the3million’s campaigns by supporting our Head of Policy and Advocacy on our MP-facing work in Parliament and our Communications Manager to ensure that our campaigns are featured on our social media, newsletters and clearly communicated to key stakeholders such as partner organisations in the migration sector and to key community leaders on the ground

2. Relationship-building and in-person workshops

• Rolling out a series of “listening sessions” and “Know Your Rights” workshops with community groups across the country: liaising with relevant community leaders to visit them and their communities, this may include working on Saturdays (and taking time off in lieu during the week) and running in-person sessions. You will receive guidance on the format from the Community Organiser - Campaigns but will be the main person delivering such sessions on the ground.

3. Professional learning and development

• Taking a proactive approach to your learning and development towards becoming a confident and versatile Community Organiser and Campaigns specialist, you will have regular check-ins with your line manager (Community Organiser - Political Campaigns) and engage in an ongoing process of evaluation, thereby reflecting on the work you are carrying out to draw out learning and being willing to stretch yourself. Depending on your current level of experience as an Organiser, you may be set assignments such as reading recommended articles/books, listening to relevant podcasts, attending specific training sessions, etc.

**Person specification**

Essential

• A passion for people power, social justice and holding decision-makers to account

• A passion for supporting grassroots communities, such as small charities, faith groups, schools and other civic associations, to take action on the issues affecting them

• A positive, proactive and solutions-oriented attitude, able to take initiative

• Experience of organising people/communities to achieve change, whether in-person at a local level or online - this could be as part of a trade union, a student group, an activist group, a community-based civic institution, political party, etc. It does not need to have been as part of a formal, paid role, but could be experience that you gained in an informal setting and/or as a volunteer.

• Experience of leading or of working with others to deliver and/or facilitate events such as workshops or group meetings in an engaging manner, with attention to administrative detail

• Ability to actively listen to people and identify their motivations for campaigning, encouraging people to speak up for themselves and building relationships based on trust

• Motivational attitude to encourage people to take the first step in social activism

• Strong oral and written communications, including the ability to write clear emails with compelling calls to action and the confidence to speak in public settings

• Strong administrative skills, time management and attention to detail, including the ability to set meeting agendas, keep records of volunteers/partners and to follow up on agreed actions

• Interest in the issues affecting EU citizens in the UK, as well as wider migrant rights’ issues (e.g. citizenship, visas, hostile environment policies)

• Experience of working with people from different backgrounds, including different language skills, cultures/ethnicities, ages, etc. Comfortable interacting with people who hold different opinions with a view to build mutual understanding and solidarity.

• Full commitment to the values of a small organisation that works on social justice issues in support of EU citizens in the UK

Desirable

• Experience of leading or participating in campaigns that put people with direct experience of the issues at hand at the heart of the campaigning process

• Experience of engaging with decision makers, such as local Councillors or MPs

**Before you apply**

One of the3million’s core values is inclusion - we are people led, we value diversity and are enriched by differences. We strive to listen to, engage with and represent the broadest range of people. 

We recognise our team is not currently representative of communities that experience racism and that our own ways of working may replicate wider societal oppression and injustices. We are actively working towards becoming an anti-oppressive organisation, including taking steps to create a more inclusive recruitment process.

You may not have worked in the migration sector before, or in an organisation whose focus is campaigning for migrants’ rights. Or you may have experience in grassroots organising in a setting which is not formalised. Please still consider applying as many other sectors and settings offer transferable skills.

If you are from a background that is underrepresented in the migration sector - for example you are from a community that experiences racism, or you have lived experience of migration, or you are a disabled person, or you did not go to University or had free school meals as a child - we strongly encourage you to apply.  

We believe our work will be stronger with greater diversity. the3million welcomes the whole person to work, and we understand that each of us brings our experiences, our backgrounds and our own unique lens to what we do.