Role overview
Are you interested in gaining job experience, a sense of community, learning or developing new skills, with a passion for supporting young people achieve their potential?
Our friendly team are seeking someone with an interest in events coordination and community engagement, to support our events and community fundraising activities. As a non-profit, we rely on fundraising support for vital funds to continue with our work supporting vulnerable children and young people in the community. Attending and organising events not only helps raise money but it also raises much needed awareness for the charity. An additional £100 could buy a new tablet for a child who is too anxious to go outside so they can access crucial mental health support remotely. While £1,000 could buy tablets for 10 vulnerable children. All fundraising support, no matter how big or small will make a massive difference.
The events and fundraising volunteer would support us in raising vital funds and awareness in the local and national community. This might include organising community-driven events such as a virtual dance-a-thon, fun runs or film nights. We have previously held popular events, including a gig with local musicians and a street fair with food and clothes stalls, as well as arts and craft activities. Got a great idea? We want to hear about it! The more creative the better. Other activities might include contacting local newspapers and radio stations about our new projects and events to help raise our profile and generate support and interest from the wider community. This role has the potential to make a real, tangible difference to the work we do and the young people we work with.
A bit about us
We work with children and young people at both primary and secondary school age who are disadvantaged because of social, emotional, and mental health (SEMH) difficulties. They often have a diagnosed mental health condition or are waiting for a diagnosis, and it is often correlated with a history of trauma or psychological distress, or another disability, learning need, or physical illness. Many of the children we work with are also affected by issues such as domestic violence, abuse, identity issues, bullying and many are young carers.
Whilst each child is affected differently, common issues that we see are: Problems accessing school either through non-attendance, or difficulty focusing and thriving at school, difficulties making friends leading to significant social isolation, issues with confidence and self-esteem which can lead to difficulties leaving the house or even their rooms for days at a time, suicidal attempts or ideation, self-harm, difficulties accessing support and help from statutory services, and panic attacks. Such disadvantage has long term impact on outcomes in education, mental health, health and employment.
We want to make three key differences:
- Improved mental health.
- Reduced social isolation
- Increased ability to thrive at school.
Main responsibilities
- Planning an annual programme of awareness raising and fundraising events
- Organising a local event/s to raise funds and awareness of the charity
- Establish contacts and generate networking opportunities within the community
- Liaise with our social media volunteer to promote events on our social media channels
- Contact local newspapers, community centres, and radio stations to promote events in local community
- Research events that are happening in the local area that the charity could attend
- Assist with events and third party enquiries
Ideally, you will have:
- An interest in education, mental health, families and young people.
- A belief in and commitment to our values.
- Ability to use initiative and be able to work without supervision.
- A positive attitude and flexible approach to tasks.
- Good communication and organisation skills.
- Ability to commit to at least 6 months with us.
- Experience of events coordination, corporate fundraising or experience working in the charity sector is desirable but not essential.
Role details
All we ask is that you commit to a minimum of 3 hrs a week/15 hrs a month.
What you will gain:
- Valuable experience for your CV.
- First-hand experience of working in the charity sector.
- A detailed reference.
- Opportunity to develop into a decision-making role.
- Chance to be part of a lovely warm and supportive team.
- Opportunity to turn your passion for supporting young people into real positive change for a small not for profit, where every person is capable of having profound impact.
- We want our volunteers to get the most out of their experience with us both personally and professionally. Let us know what you are after and we’ll see if we can support you.
How to apply:
Please email team@leadinglightseducationandwellbeing.org.uk with a short paragaph on why you are interested in the role, your experience and availability and we'll go from there.
We welcome applicants from diverse members of the community and those who do not always get their voices heard.