Events Volunteer – Role description
Role Title: Events Volunteer
Location: Baobab Centre in Holloway, London and/or working from home
Time: 1-2 days per week, for 2 months with possible further opportunities
Expenses: The role is unpaid. We will reimburse daily travel expenses up to the value of £8 per day and lunch expenses up to £5 per day.
Start date: As soon as possible.
Purpose of Role: To support the Baobab team in coordinating Under the Baobab: A concert Celebrating Survival and Resilience on Sunday November 11th 2012 at St Ethelburga’s Centre for Reconciliation and Peace.
Context:The Baobab Centre is a charitable organisation founded in 2008, which assists some of the thousands of unaccompanied children and young people that arrive in the UK each year to seek refuge. Many of these young people have survived trauma, organised violence, war and trafficking; and continue to experience difficulties in the UK. The Baobab Centre is a unique community-led organisation that offers holistic support to young asylum seekers through long-term therapeutic care and practical guidance. Staffed mainly by very experienced volunteer clinicians, the centre is accessible six days a week and provides individual and group psychotherapy; arts based groups, community activities and holidays, as well as general support and care. The Baobab services are open-ended and designed to continually support each individual for as long as they need. The centre currently works with seventy young people from 25 different countries and five different continents.
Over the past few months, three London-based musicians: Israeli composer and pianist TsiviSharett, Spanish flamenco singer and percussionist Ulises Diaz Ropero, and Zambian-Scottish singer and songwriter Namvula Rennie; have been collaborating with a group from the Baobab Centre.
For this event, they have drawn together an eclectic range of musicians from across the globe to create a unique and inspirational concert in support of the work of the Centre, which will also include a special performance by some of the young people from the Baobab community. All proceeds will go towards the vital work and core funding of the Baobab Centre.
What you’ll gain: You’ll get to develop your event organising skills and experience, learn loads about the experiences of young refugees, meet lots of interesting people and find out what it is like to be part of a small busy charity where your role really makes a difference.
Main responsibilities
- Liaising with performers, community members and venue staff
- Reporting to the Clinical Director, Fundraiser and Office Manager
- Promoting and marketing the event
- Developing and controlling the event budget and managing the finances
- Coordinating with performers and Baobab staff to producing an information pack and programmes with set timings
- Identifying volunteer roles for the night (including technical volunteers as the venue’s technical staff will not be available on the night)
- Recruiting and supporting a team of (existing and extra) volunteers to help on the night
- Organising refreshments; canapés and a bar
- Coordinating with the venue and performers to ensure all technical issues are addressed well in advance of the event (a PA system will need to be organised, as well as technical support for its use)
- Maximising the fundraising opportunities of the event(through promotion beforehand, collection during, creating openings for future giving)
- Controlling the production and sale of tickets for the event both in advance and on the night
- Managing bookings and responding to enquiries
- Managing logistics during the event
- Evaluating the event
Other
To assist in planning for futureBaobab Centre activities and projects
Person Specification
Relevant skills, experience and personal characteristics:
Essential
- Commitment to the Baobab Centre’s aims and values
- Excellent planning and organisational skills with an ability to meet deadlines
- Experience of organising events in a paid or voluntary capacity
- Experience of recruiting/managing/supporting volunteers
- Excellent people skills and an ability to work well with a wide variety of people
- Experience of managing a small budget/financial management
- Strong verbal communication skills
- Strong written communication skills with ability to tailor writing to different audiences
- Excellent computer skills, including experience with Microsoft Office
- Ability to use own initiative to complete tasks independently
- Flexible approach to role and able to work well in a small team
- Willingness to work some evenings or weekends if required
- You must be available to volunteer during the event (11th November 2012)
Desirable
Understanding and experience of events for fundraising
Knowledge and understanding of the issues affecting refugees and asylum seekers in the UK
- Experience of working with young people in an arts context
Application Procedure
Please download and complete the application form from:
Applications will be accepted by e-mail or post. If you do not have access to the internet please contact the Baobab Centre office for an application form. Only application forms will be considered, CVs will not be accepted.
Email:
Post: Baobab Centre, 6-9 Manor Gardens, London N7 6LA
Closing date for applications: 21st September
Interviews will be held on 27th September. Candidates selected for interview will be notified on 26th September by telephone. We apologise in advance for the short notice.
If you have any questions, or would like to find out more about the role, then please contact Amy on 020 7263 1301 or . Only application forms will be considered, CVs will not be accepted.
Email:
Post: Baobab Centre, 6-9 Manor Gardens, London N7 6LA
Closing date for applications: 21st September
Interviews will be held on 27th September. Candidates selected for interview will be notified on 26th September by telephone. We apologise in advance for the short notice.
If you have any questions, or would like to find out more about the role, then please contact Amy on 0207 263 1301 or