Lead Volunteer

Canal & River Trust; Greater London; On-site; GBP 40,000 - GBP 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading volunteering organization in Greater London is seeking enthusiastic Lead Volunteers to manage community events and support fellow volunteers. This role involves welcoming new volunteers, organizing teams for activities, and communicating with key stakeholders. Ideal candidates will possess strong people skills, a commitment to the organization's values, and experience in volunteer management. This opportunity allows you to work outdoors, build new skills, and make lasting friendships.

Benefits

Time outdoors

Build new skills and friendships

Qualifications

• Excellent people skills, including patience and empathy.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Enthusiasm for the waterways and the Trust's values.
• Good understanding of health & safety principles.
• Experience of volunteering, especially in volunteer management.
• Good IT skills and responsiveness.

Responsibilities

• Welcome and support new volunteers in their team.
• Lead a team of volunteers at various events and locations.
• Organize and communicate key messages within the team.
• Plan and manage volunteer training and logistics.
• Represent the Trust in local community groups.

Skills

Excellent people skills

Strong written and verbal communication skills

Commitment to waterways and Trust's values

Understanding of health & safety principles

Experience of volunteering

Good IT skills

Job description

Overview

The Canal and River Trust is excited to share this exciting opportunity to join our team and work with our wide range of volunteers. We are looking for enthusiastic and passionate individuals to help facilitate community events. This involves managing the activities for the day, ensuring the safety of the group, and fostering a fun and positive attitude so that our volunteers want to come back year after year. This is a genuine hands-on opportunity where you will learn more about our canal network and reservoirs, how to deliver safe and impactful volunteer days, and get great enjoyment from seeing these activities come to life. If you are interested and would like to learn more about what it means to be a Lead Volunteer, please sign up below.

Volunteer role

Lead Volunteer

Volunteer manager

Task Manager

Where you will be based

Community

Why we want you

Lead Volunteers play an important role in local teams across the Trust and provide a great opportunity for you to have a big impact and facilitate more volunteering on the waterways.

What you will be doing

• Welcoming new volunteers into their team, buddying them up with other volunteers as appropriate
• Leading a team of volunteers be that on site, at a museum or visitor attraction, at events, on a school visit or other activity area
• Organising and supporting volunteer teams and individuals and communicating key messages. E.g. running a rota and/or letting team members know of specific needs within their team
• Working with their task manager in planning, inducting, training, logistics, data gathering, Welcome Sessions and celebrations
• Listening to their volunteers’ needs and aspirations and working with their task manager to address these as far as possible
• Taking part and representing their team within internal networks
• In discussion with your manager: Representing the Trust externally for example talking about their team and the Trust in a local community group
• In discussion with your manager: Carrying out training assessments of volunteers
• In discussion with your manager: Project managing specific projects within the team to complete a timebound activity
• Our Lead Volunteers may lead our volunteers or oversee the activities of a partner organisation on our behalf
• When you register as a volunteer, we will ask you about any unspent convictions which you need to declare and risk assess these as needs be.

The skills you need

• Excellent people skills, including patience, empathy, and the ability to respond to needs & spot potential
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including listening and providing feedback
• Enthusiasm & commitment for the waterways and the Trust’s values
• Good understanding of health & safety principles
• Experience of volunteering, and an understanding of the dynamics of volunteer management
• Good IT skills and availability to respond to needs of volunteers and colleagues within the Trust

What's in it for you

• Time outdoors
• Build new skills and new friendships

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