We’re looking for a volunteer schools co-ordinator. No experience necessary!
One of the real strengths of the national City of Sanctuary network is our schools stream, where local groups work with schools to build awareness of refugee issues among pupils, staff and families. Schools can also choose to work towards becoming a nationally accredited ‘School of Sanctuary‘. We are extremely fortunate in Ripon to be working with all of the city’s schools plus a good handful of village schools. Together, we’re helping to raise a generation of young people who understand.
What will the post entail?
We need someone to take on the responsibility for liaising with just three local primary schools in Ripon and/or surrounding villages. These are schools that are already either a School of Sanctuary or are working towards it – so they’re already on board and very motivated. We just need someone to be the schools’ primary point of contact.
You’d provide encouragement, support and guidance to the schools, link them in to the many resources available to help them, and feed progress back to our schools lead. For schools wanting to work towards becoming a School of Sanctuary (currently all of them!), you will help them to understand what they need to do, and arrange for their assessment when the time comes.
You won’t be expected to do everything yourself. You’ll work closely with, and get support from, the rest of our schools team. There’s also the wider Ripon City of Sanctuary team as well as the national City of Sanctuary schools co-ordinator. For example, you can work with these colleagues to develop ideas for schools, to find speakers to come in and do assemblies and lessons, and to get any materials produced.
Who’s in our schools team already?
- Our schools lead is Yvonne Jefferies (shown in the photo on the left). She has worked for many years as a teacher and is now Ripon Cathedral’s education officer.
- In 2021, Jess Greensit joined us to co-ordinate the 3 schools offering secondary provision: Queen Mary’s School at Topcliffe, Outwood Academy Ripon, and Ripon Grammar School.
What are we looking for?
Don’t be put off by thinking you teaching experience, or a lot of knowledge about refugees! None of that’s needed. We’re looking for someone who:
- has a deep concern for, and interest in, refugees and their wellbeing
- is good at building motivation and enthusiasm in others
- works well as part of a team but also has their own ideas and initiative
- has good organisational skills, and will keep notes and share information
- lives in Ripon (or close by) and has their own transport
- already has a portable DBS certificate or is willing for us to obtain one.
Getting you up to speed
We’ll help you through the learning curve, providing you with lots information about all kinds of things – the issues refugees face, what works well in schools, how to help schools move towards becoming a School of Sanctuary, and much more. For your first few meetings (online or in person), one of us will go with you so you won’t be on your own. That way, you can see how discussions take shape. At all times, you’ll be able to reach a more experienced RCoS member at the end of a phone or email.
You’ll need to do our GDPR training, and read all of our policies.
Please get in touch in the first instance using the contact details below. There will be a very informal interview process and we will request 2 references.
Nicola David | Call 07966 44414 | Email [email protected]