30-Day Project Role: HAVEN Arts Coordinator (Freelance or Fixed-Term Employment Option)
Portsmouth City of Sanctuary (PCoS) is an award-winning grassroots humanitarian charity supporting asylum seekers, refugees and displaced people in Portsmouth and the surrounding areas.
PCoS aims to build a culture of welcome, inclusion and support for anyone seeking sanctuary. We are committed to championing the welfare of vulnerable adults and children and we provide our essential service delivery to 1500+ refugees, asylum seekers, displaced people and dependents, annually. We receive referrals from across the Portsmouth area and help support sanctuary seekers within our Refugee Hub and at other community locations.
We are looking for a specialist for a 30-day project (Wednesdays from September 2026 – July 2027). You can choose to take this assignment either as a freelance/self-employed contractor (via invoice) or as a fixed-term employee on our payroll, depending on your preference.
We are recruiting a part-time HAVEN Arts Coordinator to join our busy service. This role supports the charity’s delivery of empowering clients who attend our female-only drop-in service ‘HAVEN’.
HAVEN is for women living in Portsmouth who have experienced any form of gender violence – FGM, forced marriage, domestic violence, trafficking, sexual exploitation and women engaged in sex work.
We are seeking someone who is self-sufficient and can project manage the PCoS HAVEN arts activities, one of two strands of the Colour Me Safe Arts programme, supported using public funding by Arts Council England. The post holder will liaise with five selected artists who will each deliver four arts workshops to enable women attending the HAVEN drop-in to develop their artistic and creative talents.
The aim of the HAVEN Arts programme is to improve wellbeing, increase confidence and promote peer connections, subsequently building skills and empowering women who take part. The Arts programme will culminate in a curated exhibition of artistic works created by the HAVEN women during Refugee Week 2027.
The post holder will have responsibility for the administration of the HAVEN Arts programme including budget controls and liaison with partner organisations, in addition to tracking and reporting project outcomes to the funder on a regular basis. The HAVEN Arts Coordinator must work closely with the PCoS HAVEN Tackling Violence against Women and Girls (VAWG) Coordinator who leads the HAVEN weekly drop-in.
Why work with us?
Make a real difference to people’s lives by joining our enthusiastic and dedicated PCoS team. We are committed to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in all our practices including recruitment. If you have specific accessibility requirements to support you in applying or attending an interview, please let us know.
We encourage applications from candidates who may be underrepresented, including people from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, those with disabilities, and the LGBTQI+ community. PCoS particularly welcome applications from people with lived experience of seeking asylum, refugee status or migration.
PCoS is a trauma informed charity, supporting women affected by sexual and honour-based abuse, and all other forms of harm, which may be triggering for those with past trauma. Please only apply if you are living free from abuse yourself.
This post requires a DBS check and references.
This post is open to female applicants only (under Schedule 9 paragraph 1 of the Equality Act 2010).
| Fee | £3,360 |
| Hours of work | 30 days (7 hours = 1 day) from September 2026 – July 2027. To include attendance at the Wednesday HAVEN drop-in (1000-1220). |
| Contract | Choice to take this assignment either as a freelance/self-employed contractor (via invoice) or as a fixed-term employee on our payroll. |
| Location | This role is primarily HAVEN drop-in, Host Office and home based. The postholder will be expected to attend the HAVEN drop in supporting the commissioned artists. The remaining hours can be worked flexibly in the PCoS Host office and at home. The post holder may need to attend appointments at partner locations. |
If you’d like to apply, please email a CV and cover letter to denise@portsmouth.cityofsanctuary.org.uk, Subject: Job application – HAVEN Arts Coordinator – FAO the Board of Trustees.
Closing date for applications: Friday 21 August 2026
Interviews: Wednesday 26 August 2026
Photo by ANYA RICHTER on Unsplash
