Baobab Centre for Young Survivors in Exile
Use your legal experience to support a therapeutic charity working with young refugees and asylum seekers.
The Baobab Centre, based in north London, supports young asylum seekers and refugees who have experienced severe human rights abuses and arrived in the UK as unaccompanied minors. Our work focuses on rehabilitation and justice, providing long-term, holistic support to help young people heal from trauma and rebuild their lives.
Our multidisciplinary team includes psychotherapists, caseworkers and volunteers who remain alongside young people throughout their journey. We also have an advocacy team, who produce high quality research and reports on migration, child refugees and asylum rights.
While non-residential, our work is inspired by the model of therapeutic communities. We are a member of The Consortium for Therapeutic Communities.
We are at an exciting time of change within the organisation and now seeking new Trustees to join our Board and help guide Baobab through its next phase of development.
We are particularly keen to hear from people with experience in
Legal
The ideal trustee would have experience in supporting charities, alongside an interest in or understanding of how to support refugees and people seeking asylum.
What difference you will make
Trustee Responsibilities
As a Trustee, you will:
Contribute to the strategic direction and governance of Baobab.
Offer insight, challenge and support to the leadership team and provide approval for key decisions.
Use your skills and experience to support Baobab’s development – developing our teams, programmes and policies.
Act as an ambassador for Baobab and its purposes and aims.
Help ensure the organisation is well-governed, financially sustainable and delivering high-quality support to young people.
Be legally responsible, alongside the Board of Trustees, for the organisation.
Trustees work collectively and are supported to understand Baobab’s specialist therapeutic model and the complex realities faced by young people seeking asylum in the UK.
What additional skills or experience you should have
We particularly welcome applicants with lived experience of the asylum and social care systems in the UK.
We actively welcome young professionals and first-time trustees who are motivated to learn, bring fresh perspectives, and contribute their skills to an impactful charity. As a human-rights informed organisation, we are equally interested to hear from people with lived experience of the asylum and social care systems in the UK as well as those with experience of working with young asylum seekers and refugees.
What training we will provide for you
Location: Hybrid - London, UK and online.
Standard terms of Office: 3-year rotation, subject to review.
What you will get out of volunteering for us
Why join us?
This is a meaningful opportunity to:
Make a tangible difference to the lives of young people rebuilding their lives after extreme adversity.
Gain or develop trustee and governance experience or contribute your specialist skills to an organisation that would value your expertise.
Be part of a thoughtful, values-led organisation working within the fields of mental health, human rights and social justice.
Share your experience to help design an effective and safe therapeutic environment for unaccompanied minors seeking asylum in the UK.
Not sure which role suits you or need a little friendly help? Please contact Angie at angie@jvn.org.uk for London or Rebecca at manchester@jvn.org.uk for Manchester.
Information
Location:Holloway
Hybrid
Age limit:
Volunteers aged 18 or over
Hours per session:
Between 3 and 5 hours
Availability:
Flexible OR On-going
Available days/times
| Morning | Afternoon | Evening |
| Monday |
| | |
| Tuesday |
| | |
| Wednesday |
| | |
| Thursday |
| | |
| Friday |
| | |
| Saturday |
| | |
| Sunday |
| | |
We are happy to be flexible on location and/or times if required.