RightsInfo is looking expand its team of volunteer writers to support our coverage of all things human rights in the UK.
We’re a small team at RightsInfo, but we have big ambitions. We were founded in 2015 as a mostly volunteer-run operation and have since developed into a team of paid staff and freelancers – with our editorial led by journalists.
In the last year, we’ve run several in-depth series focussing on everything from the government’s hostile environment immigration policies to sex worker’s rights. From the issues at stake in the Gender Recognition Act to special educational needs funding cuts.
While our model has shifted, our appreciation for volunteers who devote their time to supporting RightsInfo in all different ways remains.
One area of volunteering we’re currently looking to expand is our Comment Team – who contribute regular Op-Eds, explainers and a weekly newsletter.
Who Can Apply?
There’s no hard and fast criteria on who can join this team other than that you will need a good knowledge of UK human rights law and a flair for writing about complex issues for a layperson. You might be a student, an activist or an early career lawyer among other things.
In fact, we’re keen to hear from as diverse voices as possible – such as those living outside of London and from groups marginalised in society.
You would be based remotely, although you’re welcome to visit us in our Holloway Road office.
Ideally, you would contribute a piece every two to three months. It could be an underreported issue which you feel is important or a fresh angle on a prominent topic in the week’s news cycle.
How Do I Apply?
If you’re interested in this opportunity, please email a brief statement of no more than 100 words on why you would be a good volunteer info@rightsinfo.org and any previous examples of your writing, if you have some by midnight 11 September.
This scheme is not aimed at professional journalist or writers. If you fall in to this category and have a story you think we should be covering, please pitch it to using our online form. Find out more about what sort of stories we are looking for on our contact page.
We have a budget for commissioning stories but as a small start-up, its not as big as we would like it right now. Please do not be offended if we don’t take your idea on this time – we’re hoping our pot of funding will grow in future.
