Job Details:
Project Coordinator

Job Description

We are looking for a Project Coordinator to play a key role in developing and delivering WAST’s women-led programmes. You will work closely with the staff team, management group (elected by members to define WAST’s priorities and organise activities), and our wider membership to ensure that projects reflect the needs and aspirations of the women who use WAST. WAST’s current priorities include delivering wellbeing activities (with a focus on trauma-informed approaches), running asylum information workshops, and strengthening our campaigning group. As Project Coordinator, you will help develop and manage initiatives that support these priorities. This is an exciting opportunity for someone who is organised, collaborative, and passionate about supporting women seeking asylum to shape and lead the projects and initiatives they value. 

Women Asylum Seekers Together (WAST) is a grassroots Manchester-based charity led by and for women who are seeking asylum and currently has around 170 members. WAST was founded in 2005 by one of WAST’s current board members, whilst fighting her own anti-deportation campaign, and became a constituted charity in 2014. 

We provide a safe, supportive space where women can come together to build community, gain confidence, access peer support, and advocate for their rights. Women are at the sharp end of the ‘hostile environment’ with punitive government immigration policies and practice. WAST enables a process of empowerment through which women gain the confidence and strength to voice their experience and campaign for justice. 

WAST is a place of hope and belonging with its core values of compassion, respect, inclusion and empowerment and its continuous development of its trauma informed peer support approach. WAST is proud of its pioneering work giving a voice to women seeking asylum and inspiring other women around the country to set up similar groups. WAST has been at the forefront of national campaigning against detention, has published three books and created two plays, giving voice to women’s experiences. 

WAST runs weekly skill-building and wellbeing activities, a weekly drop-in session where women can access signposting and referrals to services, and a variety of external events throughout the year. Activities are identified and led by the WAST Management Group, elected by the membership and supported by WAST staff. WAST’s current priorities, as identified by the management group, include developing asylum information workshops, a range of wellbeing trauma informed activities, and advancing the campaign group.  

WAST offers a generous benefits package including 8% NEST employer pension contributions, 5 weeks’ annual leave and bank holidays pro rata, additional leave over Christmas, access to an Employee Assistance Programme and to regular external non-managerial supervision. Training relevant to role is available and flexible working is supported, where possible.