Apply to join the MPS Migrant Lived Experience Panel

Duration: October 2026 – March 2028

Migration Policy Scotland is a home for informed responses to migration and the challenges and opportunities it offers. We are looking for migrants in Scotland who would like to join our Migrant Lived Experience panel.

The Panel is at the heart of our migrant community of practice which supports migrants in Scotland to improve migrants’ lives in Scotland. Together we seek new ways to build up our sector, to connect across different approaches and different migrant groups to move beyond division, isolation and frustration to bring change.

Our pioneering approach has been independently assessed as leading edge. We integrate migrant lived experience into work that influences policy and improves practice.

You will join a group that reflects the diversity of migrant experiences and includes people who have migrated for different reasons, from different countries and who live in different parts of Scotland. As well as having their own lived experience of migration, panel members work or volunteer in organisations supporting other migrants. This can be community-based work or more formal roles.

Over the past five years our Lived Experience Panel members have undertaken peer research which shaped the design of Scotland’s Migration Service, informed the Scottish Government’s Tackling Child Poverty Development Plan 2026-31, contributed to peer research and policy laboratories and co-produced a migrant-led practical training offer on Intercultural Communication. Our LEx Panel members contribute to the development and delivery of research projects at Migration Policy Scotland which aim to improve policy and practice.

Looking ahead, MPS is keen to co-design future work on international workers in the care sector, impacts of poverty on young people, integration and community cohesion, and on building resilience to extremism in Scotland. During the on-boarding process we will agree how we plan to work together and discuss the areas our work can focus on.

Requirements:

• Candidates must be based in Scotland and have personal experience of migrating to the UK.
• Candidates should have experience of working or volunteering in organisations supporting other migrants.
• Knowledge of and/or experience of migration policy or practice or of issues directly affected by migration is desirable.
• Interest in or experience of working in public policy is desirable.

Members of the Migrants Lived Experience Panel Development group will:

• Learn about migration policy work and its potential in Scotland
• Get an inside look at how Migration Policy Scotland works to influence policy
• Learn about migration data including attitudinal data, peer research and qualitative research methods.
• Contribute to co-designing MPS projects– current plans include potential projects on international workers in the care sector, impacts of poverty on young people, integration and community cohesion, and on building resilience to extremism in Scotland.

Structure of LEx Panel activities:

The LEX panel meets in person twice a year. Between meetings LEx panel members receive updates on MPS work and opportunities to engage with peer research, policy inputs or other activities as appropriate.

The panel elects a representative who attends the MPS board of trustees and strategy days and acts as a key point of contact with MPS staff.

Remuneration:

LEX panel members are paid for their work with MPS as follows:

• All panel members receive £500 a year, to be paid in two instalments.
• The elected LEX panel representative receives an additional £200 per year paid as £50 for attending each quarterly Trustee meeting (February, May, August, November).

Please apply to join our LEx panel by sending a completed Application Form and a covering letter (1 side) to: Info@migrationpolicyscotland.org.uk by 17^th August 2026

The first LEx Panel Onboarding Session will take place on the afternoon of Friday 2^nd October 2026, in person in Edinburgh.