Volunteer Write to Life Mentors

Contract:  1 year minimum commitment (ideally at least 2 years)

Hours:​  Fortnightly on Wednesday from 16.00-20:00, every 6 weeks from 15.30 with a 6 week break in the summer

Location:  Finsbury Park, London

Starting salary:  Unpaid (reasonable travel expenses covered)

​Closing date: 31/07/2024

Expected date of interviews: TBC

Job ref: VA701

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About the role

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To mentor clients in creative writing sessions (one to one and group workshop) at Write to Life, the creative writing group at Freedom from Torture. Write to Life is a unique group working with survivors of torture. Over the past 25, years it has supported hundreds of survivors, all clients and former clients, many of whom have become published writers and assured performers at festivals, fundraisers and public events. Nurturing their talent in a third or fourth language, watching it blossom and with it, their confidence and self-belief, is a constant inspiration.

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Although primarily a writing group, that writing has taken many forms, from film to musical narrative to theatre and song. We have collaborated on creative projects with the Roundhouse, Kings Place, Tate Gallery, Victoria and Albert and British Museums, NWLive Arts, Ice & Fire and Tamasha Theatre, among others.

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Freedom from Torture aims to be a survivor-focused and led organisation, and we particularly encourage minoritized people and those with lived experience of the asylum system to apply.

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Main Responsibilities:

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- To participate in fortnightly workshops on Wednesday evenings at Freedom from Torture’s offices in Finsbury Park (17.30-20.00).

- To take on one or two clients for one-to-one writing sessions (fortnightly), ideally on the same day, before the workshop.

- To check FFT emails every Wednesday, including non workshop Wednesdays, and respond in a reasonably timely manner.

- To devise and run 2-3 writing workshops a year, both general creative writing and specific to the aims and programme of Freedom from Torture.

- To attend Write to Life mentors’ meetings (every 6 weeks before workshop).

- (Optional) in rotation with other mentors to co-edit with a group member the annual Write to Life Zine which is co-produced and designed with the whole group.

- (Optional) to participate in occasional events (fundraisers, festivals and parties).

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About you

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Applicants should be published writers in some form (novels, plays, poetry), and have experience with vulnerable populations, ideally as a writing teacher.

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Please note that all group members are supported by therapists, and no counselling experience or counselling is expected from the mentors.

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To view the Job Description and Person Specification for further information, please visit our website 

​Please note a CV and a cover letter addressing the job description and person specification of the role are mandatory to be considered for the position.

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Freedom from Torture is committed to its responsibilities under safeguarding, and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. This post is subject to a satisfactory DBS disclosure, as well as a need for full employment history and up to date employment references.

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About Freedom from Torture

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Freedom from Torture is dedicated to healing and protecting people who have survived torture. We provide therapies to improve physical and mental health, we medically document torture, and we provide legal and welfare help. We expose torture globally, we fight to hold torturing states to account and we campaign for fairer treatment of torture survivors in the UK.

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We campaign for national and global change, using evidence from our services and survivor voices to protect and promote survivors' rights and hold torturing states to account.

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We are proud to play a significant role in the global anti-torture movement. Survivors, active and empowered, are at the centre of all of our work.

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Freedom from Torture is an equal opportunity employer. People with lived experience of torture or asylum, from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, LGBTQIA+ individuals and people with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.

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We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if we receive a high volume of applications.

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