Immigration detention is the practice of detaining foreign nationals who are subject to immigration control for the purpose of resolving their immigration status. This can then result in individuals receiving permission to enter the country, or being deported.
Individuals can be detained in Immigration Removal Centres (IRCs), Short-Term Holding Facilities (STHFs) or Residential Short-Term Holding Facilities (RSTHFs).
See current opportunities to volunteer in:
What you need to be an IMB volunteer
Be over 18 years of age.
Live within 30 miles of the immigration detention facility or a reasonable distance for travel.
Commit to around 2 – 3 visits a month (sometimes more during the induction period) and regular attendance at monthly board meetings.
You do not need any special qualifications or experience. We provide all necessary training and support.
Immigration Removal Centres
Derwentside IRC
Type: female, immigration removal centre (IRC)
Location: County Durham, DH8 6QY
Accessibility: visitor car park
Derwentside IRC is a fully contained residential immigration removal centre for women, based in Consett, County Durham. The establishment has approximately 80 bed spaces. Applications are particularly encouraged from women due to Derwentside’s all-female population.
Board members are expected to undertake around 2-3 visits a month and attend Board meetings, flexibility will be considered where possible to accommodate work and care commitments. Candidates need to be enthusiastic, open-minded, possess effective communication skills and have the ability to exercise sound, objective judgement. Applications are invited from candidates who live within 40 miles, or a reasonable travel time, of Derwentside IRC.
We currently don’t have any open campaigns in this immigration detention facility. Register your interest and we will let you know as soon as the next campaign opens.
Dungavel IRC
Type: male and female, immigration removal centre (IRC)
Location: South Lanarkshire, ML10 6RF
Accessibility: visitor car park
Dungavel House IRC accommodates 249 men and women. It usually holds those being detained under immigration powers on arrival into, or pending departure from, the UK.
Board members are expected to undertake around 2-3 visits a month and attend Board meetings, flexibility will be considered where possible to accommodate work and care commitments. Candidates need to be enthusiastic, open-minded, possess effective communication skills and have the ability to exercise sound, objective judgement. Applications are invited from candidates who live within 40 miles, or a reasonable travel time, of Dungavel IRC.
We currently don’t have any open campaigns in this immigration detention facility. Register your interest and we will let you know as soon as the next campaign opens.
Gatwick IRC
Type: male, immigration removal centre (IRC) and short term holding facility (STHF)
Location: Gatwick, RH6 0PQ
Accessibility: local parking and free shuttle bus from Gatwick train station available
This role consists of the monitoring of two immigration facilities, Brook House IRC, and Tinsley House IRC – currently operating as a residential STHF.
Board members are expected to undertake around 2-3 visits a month and attend Board meetings, flexibility will be considered where possible to accommodate work and care commitments. Candidates need to be enthusiastic, open-minded, possess effective communication skills and have the ability to exercise sound, objective judgement. Applications are invited from candidates who live within 40 miles, or a reasonable travel time, of Gatwick IRC.
We currently don’t have any open campaigns in this immigration detention facility. Register your interest and we will let you know as soon as the next campaign opens.
Heathrow IRC
Type: male and female, immigration removal centre (IRC)
Location: Harmondsworth, UB7 0FX
Accessibility: visitor car park and public transport options available
Heathrow IRC is the largest immigration removal centre in Europe, holding around 1,000 men and 18 women in a secure environment. The centre is comprised of two adjacent sites: Harmondsworth and Colnbrook.
Board members are expected to undertake around 2-3 visits a month and attend Board meetings, flexibility will be considered where possible to accommodate work and care commitments. Candidates need to be enthusiastic, open-minded, possess effective communication skills and have the ability to exercise sound, objective judgement. Applications are invited from candidates who live within 40 miles, or a reasonable travel time, of Heathrow IRC.
We currently don’t have any open campaigns in this immigration detention facility. Register your interest and we will let you know as soon as the next campaign opens.
Yarls Wood
Type: male, Immigration Removal Centre (IRC) and Short Term Holding Facility (STHF)
Location: Bedford, MK44 1FD
Accessibility: visitor car park and public transport options available.
Yarl’s Wood IRC is a fully contained residential centre. Although previously used to house adult women and adult family groups awaiting immigration clearance, Yarl’s Wood currently operates predominantly as a male IRC and STHF.
Board members are expected to undertake around 2-3 visits a month and attend Board meetings, flexibility will be considered where possible to accommodate work and care commitments. Candidates need to be enthusiastic, open-minded, possess effective communication skills and have the ability to exercise sound, objective judgement. Applications are invited from candidates who live within 40 miles, or a reasonable travel time, of Yarls Wood.
We currently don’t have any open campaigns in this immigration detention facility. Register your interest and we will let you know as soon as the next campaign opens.
Short-Term Holding Facilities
Kent Coast STHF
Type: Short Term Holding Facility (STHF)
Location: Kent Intake Unit (KIU) and Western Jet Foil, Dover CT16 1JA, Manston STHF CT12 5BS
Accessibility: public transport available in Dover but not for Manston STHF, parking available at all sites
Kent Coast STHF is a regional Independent Monitoring Board covering three short term immigration detention settings – two in Dover, and one in Manston.
Board members are expected to undertake around 2-3 visits a month and attend Board meetings, flexibility will be considered where possible to accommodate work and care commitments. Candidates need to be enthusiastic, open-minded, possess effective communication skills and have the ability to exercise sound, objective judgement. Applications are invited from candidates who live within 40 miles, or a reasonable travel time, of any locations monitored by the Kent Coast STHF IMB.
We currently don’t have any open campaigns in these immigration detention facilities. Register your interest and we will let you know as soon as the next campaign opens.
London STHF
Type: Short Term Holding Facility (STHF)
Location: London City Airport E16 2PX, London Heathrow Airport UB3 5EY, Eaton House TW4 5DL, Cayley House TW6 1QG
Accessibility: visitor car parks and public transport options available
London STHF is a regional Independent Monitoring Board covering a variety of short term immigration detention settings.
Board members are expected to undertake around 2-3 visits a month and attend Board meetings, flexibility will be considered where possible to accommodate work and care commitments. Candidates need to be enthusiastic, open-minded, possess effective communication skills and have the ability to exercise sound, objective judgement. Applications are invited from candidates who live within 40 miles, or a reasonable travel time, of any locations monitored by the London STHF IMB.
We currently don’t have any open campaigns in these immigration detention facilities. Register your interest and we will let you know as soon as the next campaign opens.
North East Midlands, Yorkshire & Humberside STHF
Type: short term holding facility (STHF)
Locations: Immingham Sea Port DN40 2LZ, Teesport TS6 6UF, Killingholme Sea Port DN40 3JP, Hull HU9 5PW, Swinderby LN6 9HU, Leeds Bradford Airport LS19 7TU, Leeds Waterside House LS4 2QB, Doncaster Sheffield Airport DN9 3XA, Vulcan House Sheffield S3 8NU
Accessibility: parking available and public transport links to all sites
North East Midlands, Yorkshire & Humberside STHF are a regional board covering a variety of short term immigration detention settings including ports, airports and Home Office reporting centres These are located in the Immingham Sea Port, Teesport, Killingholme Sea Port, Hull, Swinderby, Leeds Bradford Airport, Leeds Waterside House, Doncaster Sheffield Airport and Vulcan House Sheffield.
Board members are expected to undertake around 2-3 visits a month and attend Board meetings, flexibility will be considered where possible to accommodate work and care commitments. Candidates need to be enthusiastic, open-minded, possess effective communication skills and have the ability to exercise sound, objective judgement. Applications are invited from candidates who live within 40 miles, or a reasonable travel time, of any locations monitored by the North East Midlands, Yorkshire & Humberside STHF IMB.
We currently don’t have any open campaigns in these immigration detention facilities. Register your interest and we will let you know as soon as the next campaign opens.
North West and Midlands STHF
Type: Short Term Holding Facility (STHF)
Locations: Manchester airport M90 1QX, Birmingham airport B26 3QJ, East Midlands airport DE74 2SA, Liverpool reporting centre L3 9PP, Sandford House reporting centre B91 3QJ, Loughborough reporting centre LE11 3EY and Holyhead port LL65 2BU
Accessibility: parking available and public transport links to all sites
North West and Midlands STHF is a regional Independent Monitoring Board covering a variety of short-term detention settings including a port, airports and Home Office reporting centres. They are currently looking for members to monitor STHF’s at Birmingham airport, East Midlands airport, Manchester airport, Holyhead port, and Liverpool, Sandford House, and Loughborough reporting centres.
Board members are expected to undertake around 2-3 visits a month and attend Board meetings, flexibility will be considered where possible to accommodate work and care commitments. Candidates need to be enthusiastic, open-minded, possess effective communication skills and have the ability to exercise sound, objective judgement. Applications are invited from candidates who live within 40 miles, or a reasonable travel time, of any locations monitored by the North West and Midlands STHF IMB.
We currently don’t have any open campaigns in these immigration detention facilities. Register your interest and we will let you know as soon as the next campaign opens.
Cyfleuster Cadw Tymor Byr Gogledd Orllewin Lloegr a Chanolbarth Lloegr
Math: cyfleuster cadw tymor byr (STHF)
Lleoliad: Porthladd Caergybi LL65 1DQ
Hygyrchedd: parcio ar gael a chysylltiadau trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus i bob safle
Mae STHF Gogledd Orllewin Lloegr a Chanolbarth Lloegr yn Fwrdd Monitro Annibynnol rhanbarthol sy’n cynnwys amrywiaeth o leoliadau cadw mewnfudwyr yn y tymor byr. Rydym yn chwilio am aelodau i fonitro ym Mhorthladd Caergybi.
Disgwylir i aelodau’r Bwrdd wneud tua 2-3 ymweliad y mis a mynd i gyfarfodydd y Bwrdd. Bydd hyblygrwydd yn cael ei ystyried lle bo hynny’n bosibl er mwyn darparu ar gyfer ymrwymiadau gwaith a gofal. Mae angen i ymgeiswyr fod yn frwdfrydig, gyda meddwl agored, yn meddu ar sgiliau cyfathrebu effeithiol ac yn meddu ar y gallu i ddefnyddio barn gadarn a gwrthrychol. Gwahoddir ceisiadau gan ymgeiswyr sy’n byw o fewn 40 milltir, neu amser teithio rhesymol, o unrhyw un o’r lleoliadau a restrir sy’n cael eu monitro gan IMB STHF Gogledd-orllewin Lloegr a Chanolbarth Lloegr.
Scotland and Northern Ireland STHF
Type: Short Term Holding Facilities (STHF)
Locations: Glasgow Airport PA3 2TD, Glasgow festival court G51 1DH, Glasgow Prestwick Airport KA9 2PL, Edinburgh Airport EH12 9DN, Aberdeen Airport AB21 7DU, Larne House (NI) BT40 1UR, Drumkeen House (NI) BT8 6TB
Accessibility: parking available and public transport links to all sites
Scotland and Northern Ireland STHF’s monitor four Scottish Airports, IRCs at Glasgow and Belfast and the holding rooms within the Larne Residential STHF. They are currently looking for members to monitor at Aberdeen Airport, Larne House and Drumkeen House.
Board members are expected to undertake around 2-3 visits a month and attend Board meetings, flexibility will be considered where possible to accommodate work and care commitments. Candidates need to be enthusiastic, open-minded, possess effective communication skills and have the ability to exercise sound, objective judgement. Applications are invited from candidates who live within 40 miles, or a reasonable travel time, of any locations monitored by the Scotland and Northern Ireland STHF IMB.
We currently don’t have any open campaigns in these immigration detention facilities. Register your interest and we will let you know as soon as the next campaign opens.
South and East STHF
Type: short term holding facility (STHF)
Locations: Luton Airport LU2 9LY, Stansted Airport CM24 1QW, Felixstowe Port IP11 3SY, Harwich Port CO12 4SX, Southend Airport SS2 6YF, Purfleet Port RM19 1RP, Tilbury Port RM18 7LA, Lunar House CR9 2BY and Gatwick Airport RH6 0NP
Accessibility: parking available and public transport links to all sites
South and East STHF are a regional board covering a variety of short term immigration detention settings including ports, airports and a Home Office reporting centre. these are located at Gatwick Airport, Luton Airport, Stansted Airport, Felixstowe Port, Harwich Port, Southend Airport, Purfleet Port, Tilbury port, and Lunar House.
Board members are expected to undertake around 2-3 visits a month and attend Board meetings, flexibility will be considered where possible to accommodate work and care commitments. Candidates need to be enthusiastic, open-minded, possess effective communication skills and have the ability to exercise sound, objective judgement. Applications are invited from candidates who live within 40 miles, or a reasonable travel time, of any locations monitored by the South and East STHF IMB.
We currently don’t have any open campaigns in these immigration detention facilities. Register your interest and we will let you know as soon as the next campaign opens.
South and West STHF
Type: Short-Term Holding Facility (STHF)
Location: Portsmouth International Port, PO2 8SP, Bristol Airport BS48 3DY, Newhaven Port BN9 0DF, Poole Port BH15 4AJ and Cardiff Airport CF62 3BD
Accessibility: visitor car parks available
South and West STHF, monitor the welfare of those people who are detained in Holding Rooms managed by UK Border Force at various sea and airports across the South and West of England and Cardiff airport in Wales.
Board members are expected to undertake around 2-3 visits a month and attend Board meetings, flexibility will be considered where possible to accommodate work and care commitments. Candidates need to be enthusiastic, open-minded, possess effective communication skills and have the ability to exercise sound, objective judgement. Applications are invited from candidates who live within 40 miles, or a reasonable travel time, of any locations monitored by the South and West STHF IMB
We currently don’t have any open campaigns in these immigration detention facilities. Register your interest and we will let you know as soon as the next campaign opens.
If there are no opportunities in a prison or immigration detention facility near you, register your interest. We will let you know as soon as the next campaign opens.