Activities Support Worker

Information about Rainbow Haven and the 11-month placement role

Our work 

Rainbow Haven is based in Gorton, Manchester. We are a community service for refugees, asylum seekers and other migrants needing support. We are open to the public on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, when we welcome people to our centre and offer activities and hot lunches. We also have a weekly advice drop-in on Thursdays where we offer advice and information, as well as advice appointments throughout the week. 

On each drop-in day 60 or more people visit our centre so we can get very busy. People come from many different countries and speak many languages. We aim to provide a friendly space where they can relax while they wait for information and support, and enjoy social and educational activities. 

Our team 

Our friendly staff team currently has 7 permanent members: one Interim CEO, two Casework Coordinators who provide advice and information, Activities and Volunteer Coordinator, Drop-in Support Worker, Chef, and Cleaner. We also have 3 temporary placement workers: 2 Advice Apprentices; and this role, the Activities Support Worker. We have a team of over 35 volunteers who help us to deliver our services and activities. Rainbow Haven was developed by The East Manchester Community Association. We have a Board of Trustees who are volunteers giving their time to support and oversee our work. 

Our values 

We want to provide a welcoming, inclusive workplace and to maintain a diverse staff and volunteer team. Many of our staff and volunteers are from refugee and migrant backgrounds and speak community languages as well as English. We promote opportunities to people who might feel excluded from other workplaces due to their experiences of migration and the immigration system and their lack of work experience in the U.K. 

Our activities 

We have a weekly timetable of regular activities during term-times that includes: 

• English classes 
• Computer Club 
• Mama and Baby Group 

We have other activities too that run for shorter periods of time, for example: 

• Women’s activity group 
• Men’s mental health group 
• Crafts 
• Choir 
• Employability courses 
• Gardening club 

Our Activities and Volunteer Coordinator plans and arranges these activities as well as overseeing our volunteer team. 

The placement role - Activities Support Worker 

Rainbow Haven is excited to advertise this placement role, and we look forward to welcoming the successful applicant to our team. The person we appoint will work closely with the Activities and Volunteer Coordinator, who will provide a really good welcome, support and supervision. Over time, the job will involve taking on greater levels of responsibility for the activities and all the tasks involved in making things run smoothly.   

We are especially hoping to receive applications from people who have lived experience of migration and the immigration system, who haven’t worked in the UK before, and who want an opportunity to gain useful skills and experience that will support them to apply for other paid work in future. 

There will be opportunities during the 11 months to help plan new activities and events such as parties and celebrations! 

Essential information for applicants 

Please read this information carefully before you complete the application form. 

• This is a paid placement role based at Rainbow Haven’s Centre in Gorton, East Manchester. 

• This role is designed to provide useful work experience and the chance to learn new skills in a friendly and supportive workplace. We are strongly encouraging applications from people with lived experience of migration and the immigration system and who are unemployed or underemployed at the moment. 

• We will provide a good introduction to the role, with support to learn how to do all the tasks well, and access to training. 

• It is a fixed term post lasting 11 months. 

• It is for 14 hours a week over 3 days midweek – ideally 9.30-2.30 on Tuesdays and 9.30-2 on Wednesdays and Thursdays, though some flexibility on hours is possible, please let us know your availability. 

• The pay is the Real Living Wage, £13.45 an hour.   

• We are hoping that if you are successful you can start the role as soon as possible. 

• Please return the form to: kati@rainbowhaven.org.uk before 9am on Monday 23rd March 2026. 

• We will let you know if you have been selected to come for an interview by 25th March 2026. 

• If you are invited to come for an interview, we will offer you the chance to visit our centre on 26th March. We can reimburse travel costs for the visit and the interview. 
• Interviews will be on 30th and 31st March. 

• If you have any questions about the role or how to apply, please email kati@rainbowhaven.org.uk. 

The next section explains what skills and qualities we are looking for.  

When you have read everything then please complete the  application form provided and send it to kati@rainbowhaven.org.uk before 9am on Monday 23rd March.  

Please read all the information below carefully before you apply. We need you to tell us about what experience and skills and qualities you have that will help you to do this role, and what you hope to learn.  

Job Description  

The Job Description describes the main tasks that this role includes. 

Purpose of the role: 

Support Rainbow Haven to plan, deliver and monitor our weekly timetable of activities. 

Reporting to: Activities and Volunteer Coordinator 

Tasks: 

• Keep our timetable of activities up to date and share it with people who come to Rainbow Haven 
• Welcome the people who run the activities and make sure they have everything they need for each session 
• Work with our volunteers to get rooms ready for each activity and make sure everything is put away safely 
• Provide information to people and encourage them to attend activities 
• Distribute and collect signing in sheets for each activity 
• Collect feedback from participants to find out what they think about the activities 
• Enter monitoring and feedback information onto spreadsheets 
• Distribute and make records of bus fares when these are given to people attending an activity 
• Support the Activities and Volunteer Coordinator with other relevant tasks as required 

During the placement we expect that there will be an opportunity to plan a new activity to add to the timetable. 

Person Specification  

The Person Specification describes the skills and qualities needed for this role.  These can be skills and qualities gained at any time, from work and volunteering and at home. 

When you complete the application form, please cover all the points in the Person Specification. 

Skills: 

• Competent level of spoken and written English – Level 2 or equivalent 
• Confident and familiar with using email, Word and Excel 
• Good smartphone skills: texts and Whatsapp 
• Good at communicating with people 
• Good at organising activities and making plans 
• Good time keeping 
• Good at following instructions 

Qualities 

• Friendly and welcoming to people of many backgrounds and cultures 
• Reliable and able to commit to regular work tasks 
• Good understanding of why confidentiality is important 
• Able to work on your own initiative 
• A good member of a team 
• Keen to learn new skills 

We are proud to be a member of the Experts by Experience Employment Network (www.ebeemployment.org.uk), which aims to create a charitable sector that is led by people with lived experience of the asylum and immigration system. 

As part of this network, we challenge the one-size-fits-all approach in our employment practices, and respect personal circumstances and needs of people with lived experience. 

Please feel free to use information and resources at https://www.ebeemployment.org.uk/ebe which may help in preparing your job application.

Finance Officer Job Description

Post Title: Finance Officer

Contract type: Fixed term 6 months, starting immediately. There is the possibility of an extension beyond this period.

Hours: 35 hours a week

Working pattern: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday

Managed by: Chief Officer

Salary range: 28K to 31K depending on experience

Summary

The postholder will be responsible for the day-to-day finance of Rainbow Haven. Tasks include

managing the day-to-day finance system and records; producing regular and accurate financial

reports.

The postholder will work closely with, and report to, the Chief Officer.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

Financial support

1. Production of monthly management accounts.

2. Prepare rolling monthly cash flow reports.

3. Manage the organisations different funding streams.

4. Work with the CO to create finance reports for funders and donors.

5. Work with the CO to create reports and present financial records to external auditors, the finance committee and TEMCA Board as required.

6. Manage and reconcile bank accounts.

7. Raise and pursue payments of invoices related to income as required.

8. Balance Sheet reconciliation work.

9. Maintaining accurate petty cash, supplier invoices and online payments via the QuickBooks online system.

10. Any other ad hoc duties as required.

General

1. Be an effective member of the team, helping to ensure the smooth running of the centre

and its services.

2. Promote the welcoming and friendly ethos of Rainbow Haven at the drop-in sessions and

with partner agencies.

3. Maintain confidentiality regarding finance and client’s information at all times.

4. Recognise, respect and promote the different roles and diversity of the individuals within

the team.

5. Support the volunteering roles at Rainbow Haven.

6. Attend team meetings, supervision and training as required.

7. Adhere to the health and safety policy, equal opportunities policy and all other policies.

8. Assist in ensuring the security of the building during working hours and at the end of the

day.

About the candidate

1. Experience using QuickBooks online accounting system is desirable.

2. Experience in non-profit finance is preferable.

3. Confident IT skills, including advanced Excel and working knowledge of Word and

PowerPoint.

4. Flexible and adaptable, with an ability to work to deadlines.

5. Highly analytical with excellent attention to detail.

6. A collaborative team player, able to work effectively across functions.

7. Excellent English, strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain financial information clearly.

8. Kind, honest and transparent.

You will be required to have a DBS check and be able to demonstrate that you are permitted to work

in the UK.

About Rainbow Haven

Rainbow Haven is based in Gorton, Manchester. We are a community service for refugees, asylum

seekers and other migrants needing support. We have a weekly open-access advice drop-in session,

with follow-on appointments. At our drop-in sessions we welcome people to our centre and offer

advice and information, hot lunches and social/well-being activities. We offer a range of other wellbeing,

educational and social activities, including classes in digital skills and ESOL and other targeted

support to help people into further education or employment; and opportunities for particularly

isolated groups such as new mothers, to connect with each other and with relevant professional

services.

Our service users come from many different countries and speak many languages.

We receive funding from a wide range of charitable foundations, from local authorities and through

partnerships with other local charities in the sector.

Rainbow Haven is a project of The East Manchester Community Association (registered charity

1131060).

Our team

Our friendly staff team has 10 permanent members. We also offer short-term ‘Apprentice’

placements so that people new to the country can have a first experience of working in the UK. We

have over 35 volunteers who play a vital role in delivering our services; many volunteers move on to

further training and employment. We host social work students on placements who work with our

advice team.

Our values

We provide a welcoming, inclusive workplace and have diverse teams of staff and volunteers. Many

of our staff, volunteers and Trustees are from refugee and migrant backgrounds themselves and speak

different community languages as well as English. We promote opportunities to people who might

feel excluded from other workplaces due to their experiences of migration and the immigration

system and their lack of work experience in the UK.

How to apply

Please send us your CV plus a covering letter setting out how your qualifications and experience are

ideal for this job. Please also give us the names and contact details of two referees who can comment

on your suitability for this post.

Please send this to Hala Al Jbawi, CO, Rainbow Haven hala@rainbowhaven.org.uk

Closing date: [31.03.2026]

We will interview shortlisted candidates on: [06.04.2026]