Charity Number 1127300 Company Number 6638750

TEMPORARY JOB VACANCY

Part-time Youth Volunteering Co-ordinator

NJC point 33 (£30,749 pro rata)

Volunteer Centre Tower Hamlets is urgently seeking a temporary, part-time Youth Volunteering Co-ordinator to provide a volunteering brokerage service for 16-25 year olds. The postholder will develop and promote volunteering in Tower Hamlets for young people, offering them quality volunteering opportunities.

We are keen to hear from excellent communicators who have substantial previous experience of working with young people, and who have delivered one-to-one advice services and/or managed volunteers. Our clients are predominantly from BAME and disadvantaged communities, so you must value diversity and be committed to implementing equality of opportunity in practical ways. This role is administratively self-supporting, so you must be confident using MS Office software, and be able to keep clear, accurate records.

We are seeking an experienced professional who is available for an immediate start (week beginning 9 February) and who can work between 14 and 21 hours per week for the next 2 months. You should be available to work between Tuesday and Friday. The post is temporary, but may be extended, subject to confirmation of further funding.

To apply, please send your CV, along with a personal statement, stating how you meet each point on the person specification. Your statement should not exceed 2 sides of A4, typed in font size 11. Applications should be emailed to by 1pm on Friday 30 January 2009. Interviews will take place on the morning of Tuesday 3 February. If you have any queries about the position, please call Catherine Bavage, Chief Executive, on 020 7377 0956. To find out more about VCTH, please visit our website at www.vcth.org.uk.

Job Description

Post: Temporary Youth Volunteering Co-ordinator

Hours: 2 or 3 days per week (negotiable) to be worked between Tuesday and Friday

Salary: NJC point 33 (currently £30,749 pro rata)

Responsible to: Volunteering Development Manager or, in her absence, the Chief Executive

Overview of role:

The Youth Volunteering Co-ordinator will provide a youth volunteering brokerage service for 16-25 year olds. S/he will develop and promote volunteering in Tower Hamlets for young people, offering them inspiring volunteering opportunities.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

1. Youth volunteer brokerage

a.  Provide regular volunteering brokerage sessions for potential young volunteers (16-25 year olds) via one-to-one appointments, offering a choice of vetted and appropriate volunteer placements.

b.  Respond to e-mail enquiries about volunteering, including dealing with people applying for volunteering opportunities through the do-it website.

c.  Ensure that the brokerage service provided is sensitive and tailored to the needs of the diverse youth population in Tower Hamlets, in particular young women, young people from BAME communities, those not in education, employment or training (NEETs), and young people with additional support needs.

d.  Maintain contact with service users, tracking their progress and providing them with ongoing support (including additional brokerage) to ensure successful take-up of and sustained volunteering.

2. Training, support and advice

a.  Signpost Volunteer Involving Organisations (VIOs) to the Volunteer Centre’s

Organisational Development Team, and encourage them to access best practice

advice and training on all aspects of volunteer management.

b.  Be involved in the support of office-based volunteers.

3. Promoting Volunteering

a.  Develop and maintain relationships with a wide range of referral agencies that work with young people, ensuring that a wide range of young people are aware of opportunities to volunteer.

b.  Promote volunteering at public events through presentations, talks and stalls.

c.  Organise and participate in Volunteer Centre activities that promote and recognise volunteering in the community (eg Volunteers’ Week, Award Ceremonies).

d.  In conjunction with the Information and Communications Co-ordinator, develop and write promotional and publicity materials for and about young volunteers.

4. General

a.  Respect and work within all Volunteer Centre Tower Hamlets policies and

procedures.

b.  Develop and maintain strong administrative systems and keep clear records for

monitoring and evaluation purposes. This will involve maintaining accurate databases and manual records (including case files and attendance records), in order to provide regular monitoring reports to managers and funders.

c.  Work constructively with all members of the Volunteer Centre team, including

participation in team meetings, away days and other team activities, and providing

cover for colleagues.

d.  Receive regular supervision from the Volunteering Development Manager and attend

training courses as required.

e.  Work occasional evenings or weekends as required, in particular to help deliver

events, or to provide support for brokerage sessions.

f.  Undertake any other duties appropriate to the post, as requested by the Volunteering Development Manager or the Chief Executive that are consistent with the above.


Person Specification

Post: Temporary Part-time Youth Volunteering Co-ordinator

Essential Criteria

1.  Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate effectively with a wide range of people

2.  Strong commitment to implementing equality of opportunity in service delivery, to valuing diversity, and of working with people from BAME communities

3.  Substantial professional experience of working with young people

4.  An excellent understanding of the benefits of volunteering

5.  Previous experience of managing volunteers and/or delivering one-to-one advice services to people from disadvantaged communities

6.  Strong written and spoken English

7.  Confidence using Microsoft software including Word, Outlook, Access, Excel and Powerpoint

8.  Ability to maintain accurate records and statistics, and to monitor progress against targets

9.  Ability to build and maintain good working relationships with partner organisations/other professionals, using discretion and judgement

10.  Strong ability to work proactively, to take decisions, to organise own workload, to manage time effectively, and to work within recognised procedures

11.  Willingness and ability to travel extensively within Tower Hamlets

12.  Available for 2 months commencing the week of 9 February 2009 to work between 14 and 21 hours per week during the daytime Tuesday to Friday

Desirable Criteria

1.  Ability to speak a Tower Hamlets community language (Bengali, Sylheti, Somali, Vietnamese)

2.  Local knowledge of Tower Hamlets

3.  Personal experience of volunteering