eLearning Designer - Volunteer

Can you help us build online training for the refugee and migration sector? We are looking for a volunteer eLearning designer to develop courses on our new Learning Management Platform. LMS and instructional design experience essential.

Public attitudes towards migrants and refugees are shaped largely by how migration is covered in the media — and that coverage is too often inaccurate, hostile or one-dimensional. Sensationalised headlines, dehumanising language and a persistent focus on crisis and conflict dominate the news cycle. The human stories, the complexity, and the contribution of people who have made the UK their home are routinely lost. IMIX exists to close that gap. We support journalists to cover migration with greater accuracy and depth. We train and equip the organisations working closest to the people most affected. We amplify the voices of people with lived experience of migration, helping them share their stories safely and on their own terms. And we build the communications capacity of the sector as a whole — so that the people working on migration can engage the public, the media and policymakers more powerfully and more effectively. Training and capacity building sits at the heart of this work.

Over the years we have developed a body of expertise — in media engagement, storytelling, audience insight, messaging strategy and digital communications — that makes a real difference to the organisations we work with. But our reach has always been constrained by what a small team can deliver through live sessions and one-to-one support. Our Learning Management Platform changes that. By making our training available on demand, we can reach organisations we have never been able to support before — anywhere in the country, at a time that works for them, without the barriers of cost, travel or scheduling. Done well, the platform becomes a resource for the entire sector, not just those who can get to one of our sessions. By helping us build it, you will extend the impact of everything IMIX does. Your work will directly expand our reach — making IMIX's training accessible to far more organisations across the refugee and migration sector than we could ever support in person.

What are we looking for? The most important thing we are looking for is someone who can take a body of expertise that lives in people's heads and translate it into online learning that actually works — that is engaging, accessible and leaves learners with skills they can use. That means the non-negotiables are instructional design experience and a strong grasp of adult learning principles. We are not just looking for someone who can upload content to a platform. We need someone who thinks carefully about how people learn, how to structure a course so that it builds understanding rather than just delivering information, and how to design for an audience that is time-poor and comes with varying levels of prior knowledge.

Hands-on experience with a learning management system is essential, as is confidence with eLearning authoring tools. We are still confirming which tools we will be using, so adaptability and a willingness to learn new platforms matters as much as experience with any specific one. Equally important is the ability to work collaboratively with subject matter experts. Our team knows their field deeply — media engagement, storytelling, communications strategy — but they are not instructional designers. The ideal volunteer is someone who can ask the right questions, draw out what matters, and turn that knowledge into well-structured learning without needing everything handed to them on a plate. Strong listening skills, patience and the ability to give and receive feedback constructively are all important here. We are a small, remote team, so the ability to manage your own time, work independently and communicate proactively about progress and blockers is essential. We will support you, but we cannot micromanage a volunteer project. Remote.

About The Opportunity: IMIX has recently launched a Learning Management Platform (LMP) and we are looking for a skilled volunteer to help us make it a genuinely powerful resource for the sector. This is a rare opportunity to take real creative and technical ownership of a project that matters. You will work directly with our team to design and build online learning content — translating IMIX's training programmes and expertise into engaging, accessible courses that communications professionals and grassroots organisations can access on demand. This role is ideal for an instructional designer or eLearning specialist who wants to apply their skills for social good, build their portfolio with mission-driven content, or gain experience working within a small, dynamic charity. You will have real autonomy over design and execution, with close support from the team on content and context.

What You Will Do:

• Platform development: Work with the IMIX team to understand the current state of the platform and define priorities for development.
• Design and build online learning modules and courses, translating existing IMIX training materials into interactive, accessible digital formats.
• Structure course content within the LMP to ensure intuitive navigation and a positive learner experience.
• Apply adult learning principles throughout, ensuring content is engaging, practical and appropriate for the audience.
• Advise on best practice for eLearning design, course structure, assessment and learner engagement.

Content design and collaboration:

• Work closely with IMIX staff — particularly the Media and Messaging Manager and Operations Director — who are the subject matter experts on communications, storytelling and media.
• Translate complex communications concepts into clear, engaging learning experiences for non-specialist audiences.
• Ensure all content is consistent with IMIX's brand, values and accessibility standards.
• Review and incorporate learner feedback to improve courses over time.

Project management and handover:

• Keep the team updated on progress and flag any blockers or decisions needed.
• Document your approach and platform decisions clearly so that IMIX staff can maintain and expand the platform after your involvement ends.
• Support a handover to IMIX's incoming Training Coordinator at the end of your volunteer period.

What We Are Looking For:

• Essential: Demonstrable experience in instructional design or eLearning content development.
• Hands-on experience working with a learning management system (LMS) — familiarity with e.g. Moodle, Canvas, LearnDash or other is particularly welcome.
• Experience using eLearning authoring tools (such as Articulate Storyline, Rise, Adobe Captivate or similar).
• Strong understanding of adult learning principles and how to design for engagement and retention.
• Ability to work collaboratively with non-technical subject matter experts and translate their knowledge into structured learning content.
• Excellent communication skills and ability to manage your own time and workload in a remote, flexible setting.
• Commitment to IMIX's mission and values.

Desirable:

• Experience working with charities, NGOs or social impact organisations.
• An interest in migration, refugee rights, media or communications.
• Experience designing for accessibility (WCAG standards).
• Graphic design or video editing skills to support content production.
• Experience building or configuring LMS platforms from an administrative perspective.