Volunteer Role Description
Open Doors Receptionist
This is an exciting voluntary opportunity in the heart of London’s West End. Bloomsbury Central Baptist Church is a long-established community based in a historic grade II listed building in a prestigious location on Shaftesbury Avenue. It is community-focussed, and is open during the day every day, staffed by volunteers. In addition to the regular worshipping community, the church engages in a wide range of social projects in support of the homeless and vulnerable of central London.
The building is equipped with conference facilities and meeting rooms which are available to be booked by a variety of businesses, community groups, and charities. The proceeds from the lettings go towards offsetting the costs of our homeless work and other community projects.
The volunteer we are seeking will be part of a team of volunteers who act as receptionists. This will involve welcoming and monitoring all visitors to the building, dealing with inquiries on the phone and face to face in a welcoming, friendly and helpful manner. Reception duties also include receiving and sorting snail mail, serving tea and coffee in the coffee area and taking messages. You will possibly meet people from worlds of theatre, film, and television, as well as businesses and education, from ‘Anonymous’ groups, passers-by, people who need help, to organisers of prestigious events. As the church has ‘open doors’ we also have a small number of homeless and/or vulnerable people who join us for a tea and a chat and it’s good to have someone to listen to them.This role will appeal to someone who enjoys meeting people from all walks of life, who is prepared to rise to the challenge of meeting the needs of people, and who is administratively well organised.
When?
We ask you to commit to volunteering at least one day/session per week, but we are ideally looking for someone who is able to offer in excess of this. There is flexibility as to which days are offered.
The role is divided into two sessions (9am – 1pm and 1pm-4pm), Monday to Friday, and will be based in foyer of the church.
All volunteers are initially taken on for a trial period of one month. We would appreciate an initial commitment of three months in the first instance, whilst recognising that personal circumstances may change. Please note that we will take up references as part of the appointment process.
Support:
You will be working within a supportive team office environment. There will be an initial induction, and you will be trained, supported and supervised on a day to day basis by the Volunteer Co-ordinator.
Reimbursement of agreed out of pocket expenses will be met, such as travel costs up to an agreed amount.
Main tasks and activities:
§ be responsible for the security of the building.
§ answer telephone, screen and direct calls
§ take and relay messages
§ provide information to callers as appropriate
§ greet people and offer refreshments and conversation or assist with other personal needs
§ direct people to the appropriate room (or to wait) if they've come for a specific function.
§ deal with queries and those seeking directions in the local area
§ maintain awareness of staff movements in and out of the building
§ receive and sort mail and deliveries
§ tidy and maintain the foyer including tidying up and replenishing stocks.
§ Sell fair trade goods and postcards
§ Record incidents that may be of importance to other volunteers in the incident book
Skills and experience and qualities needed:
· Good standard of English.
· Confidence on the telephone.
· Good communication skills.
· Friendly, and able to use your own initiative.
· Receptionist experience would be helpful but not essential.
· You will need to be in sympathy with the aims and objectives of Bloomsbury Central Baptist Church, and able to commit to the organisation’s expectations around values and behaviour.
What you could get out of it:
· Experience of working in the charity sector.
· Experience in reception work.
· You will be contributing to the outworking of the ultimate objectives of the church.
· You will be based in the cultural heart of the West End of Central London, within easy reach of theatres, museums, and Covent Garden.
· An enjoyable working environment; Bloomsbury is a fun place to be.
· Meeting a variety of people, from all walks of life, from the famous to the homeless.
· A positive experience to put on your CV, and if appropriate we will be willing to provide references.
For more information please contact:
Libby Brown Volunteer Coordinator
235 Shaftesbury Avenue London, WC2H 8EP
020 7240 0544
Bloomsbury Central Baptist Church. Registered charity no 1127448
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