Refugee Legal Support (‘RLS’) are delighted to announce that we are inviting applications for our Lived Experience Advisory Panel (‘LEAP’).

About RLS

RLS is a charity that works in solidarity with people who migrate. We advocate for the promotion and protection of people’s rights throughout the migration process.
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We provide legal support, casework, strategic litigation, outreach, training and partnerships. Our approach is inclusive, sustainable, and participatory. Our work is directly informed by those with lived migration experience and in establishing the LEAP, we seek to further deepen this collaborative approach.  

Advisory Panel Description

The Lived Experience Panel shall begin as a time-limited consultation initiative designed to gather people with direct experience of resettlement to the UK or of the UK asylum process. 

The purpose of the Panel is to enable RLS to:

1. Gain deeper insight into the legal information needs of affected communities.

2. Better understand the barriers they face when accessing legal advice and information.  

3. Review and feedback on existing legal support/services provided by RLS as well as potential areas for improvement and development. This includes feedback on:
   • the clarity, and accessibility of existing and proposed information materials ,
   • other issues affecting access to legal support for the communities.

This will take place through structured discussions and collaborative reviews of materials. Participants will contribute their expertise, experience, and perspectives on how legal information and legal support services can be made more accessible, relevant, and useful for community members. 

The Panel will act as a ‘critical friend’ of RLS. Members will engage in group discussions, review draft materials, and provide feedback based on their personal experiences and the broader experiences of the communities they represent.

Group Structure

The group will consist of up to 9 members who have lived experience of navigating the UK immigration system including individuals who have:

• sought  asylum  in the UK and are waiting for a decision  

• received refugee status or other forms of protection status   

• been resettled through the UK resettlement schemes (particularly people from Afghanistan), or  

• been criminalised for their method of arrival in the UK as an asylum seeker

We recognise that diversity within the Panel will help ensure that the consultation captures a broad range of perspectives on needs and barriers to accessing legal information and support. Efforts will therefore be made to ensure where possible that the group composition reflects a diverse range of experiences and backgrounds including across gender, age, nationality, ethnicity, and immigration status. 

Applicants should be confident communicating in English both orally and in writing, as the Panel includes participants from a range of communities and sessions will be conducted in English.  

RLS is committed to expanding inclusivity and, in the future, aims to establish advisory groups in multiple languages to enable broader participation from people with lived experience.

 Participant Recognition and Expenses

Participation in the Panel is on a voluntary basis, and participants will receive a £30 store voucher per 2-hour session in recognition of their time, lived experience expertise, and contributions to the process. For in-person meetings, the participants’ travel costs will be covered by RLS and refreshments will be provided.  

The group will meet for approximately 7 sessions between May and December 2026.

How to Apply

To apply for this voluntary role, please complete and submit this application form and email your CV to Sadaf at [Sadaf.Framarz@refugeelegalsupport.org].  

Both the application form and a brief CV (no more than 2 A4 pages) are required. The deadline for applications is 22nd April 2026. Please note that we cannot accept applications without a CV, or CVs submitted without the application form—both are required. Please title the subject of your email “LEAP Application”.  

Those shortlisted will be invited to interview.  

The purpose of the interview is to learn more about applicants, their experiences, and perspectives, and to explore how participation in the panel can be meaningful for them while contributing to the aims of RLS.

We propose tentatively to hold interviews virtually during the first two weeks of May 2026.