Shannon Trust Community Reading Coach- Hertfordshire

Role summary

Shannon Trust’s vision is of a future where everyone can experience the positive impact of learning. As a community reading coach your role will be at the heart of our organisation as you support our learners in the community. This will include providing one-to-one support to learners to help them to improve their reading and numeracy through the delivery of Turning Pages Digital sessions. You may be volunteering one-to-one with learners, or as part of a small team with other volunteers/ staff.

Volunteer role description

Key tasks and activities

·      Meeting learners 1:1 in the community to support them to learn to read using our Turning Pages Digital resource

·      Using your skills to build positive relationships with learners and key stakeholders

·      Encouraging learner progression and celebrating success through progress certificates and positive feedback

·      Supporting learners to input into the ongoing design and development of our programmes

·      Collecting and submitting relevant monitoring data to Shannon Trust

·      Helping to promote the work of Shannon Trust in the community

·      Collecting and sharing good news stories and feedback

·      Attending volunteer meetings and sharing good practice with other volunteers

·      Engaging with quarterly reviews to receive support and discuss progress

·      Acting as an ambassador for Shannon Trust in all that you do, sharing the vision and values of the charity throughout your volunteering

Additional tasks and activities may include:

·     Raising awareness of Shannon Trust in the community and building relationships with other agencies in partnership with Shannon Trust staff and volunteers

·      Attending local events promote our work, develop relationships and encourage referrals

·     Attending additional Shannon Trust training and or information events

·     Other administrative tasks as required

Location and volunteering hours

Coaching sessions will take place in Probation offices across Hertfordshire.

The community reading coach volunteer role is available Monday to Friday during working hours, and in line with the needs of the organisations we are working in partnership with. 

We ask volunteers to commit approximately 7 to 14 hours a month to the community reading coach role, spread over 2 to 4 days.

Given the different needs of our learners and the times they may be available to undertake Shannon Trust sessions, it is likely this won’t be a role in which activities are always able take place on a set day or time each week. A degree of flexibility would subsequently be extremely advantageous.

Who we are looking for

Key skills/ attributes

We don’t need you to have any formal qualifications to become a Shannon Trust volunteer.

We’re looking for people who

·     Can offer non-judgmental approach to those accessing support through Shannon Trust to improve their reading and numeracy

·     Can give a regular, reliable commitment to volunteering and are able to offer some flexibility when/where needed.

·     Have strong communication skills and are able to use these to inspire/motivate others.

·     Are able to effectively plan, manage their own time and prioritise key tasks.

·     Are able to keep up to date with Shannon Trust news and communications and share relevant information.

·     Are able to use and regularly monitor Shannon Trust outlook emails, use Microsoft Teams and other computer packages as required

·     Are able to give a regular, reliable commitment for ideally two years and have flexibility to meet learners at times required

Training, Induction and Support

Shannon Trust provides a wide range of training for volunteers. You will be expected to attend all mandatory training for new volunteers, some will be group training and some will be online. The training will provide you with the knowledge and understanding of the values and visions of the charity and practical support for your volunteer role.

You will receive a thorough induction into your volunteering role and quarterly review meetings to review and discuss your volunteering experience.

We want to ensure that volunteers’ out of pocket expenses are not a barrier to their involvement with Shannon Trust. As such, reasonable expenses, including expenses for travel and meals, will be reimbursed.