Using Anonymous Recruitment
This organisation is using Anonymous Recruitment to reduce bias in the first stages of the hiring process. Submit your application as normal and our system will anonymise it for you. Your personal information will be hidden until the recruiter contacts you.
About us
We are an independent charity that supports, promotes and represents public libraries. Our work is driven and led by our membership, which includes almost every library service in England, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Crown Dependencies (Guernsey, Jersey and the Isle of Man).
Across the areas we serve there are 176 individual library services with around 3,000 library branches serving over 61 million people.
Our unique approach is to bring these services together to share experience, expertise and evidence – driving innovation and impact across the public library sector.
While senior library leaders sit on our board and committees, we work with library staff at all levels.
As well as providing practical support, training and advice to libraries, we represent them to government and raise their profile in the media. We also develop and lead national library projects with cultural, academic and corporate partners.
We work to a strategic plan that runs until 2027, organised around four themes: drive, grow, connect and engage.
We generate income from membership subscriptions, commissioned services, events and grants. As an Arts Council Investment Principle Support Organisation, part of our core funding in England comes from the Arts Council to help embed their Investment Principles across the library network.
Our values
- We are supportive. We respond to the varied, emerging needs of our members and their communities to enable libraries to learn from each other, and other sector leaders, so that they can safeguard and improve their services.
- We are inclusive. We work with our members and partners to design and deliver our work and to determine our strategic priorities because we are committed to representing the diverse communities and libraries which we serve.
- We are open. We are in constant communication with our members and partners on all levels to learn from their experiences, reflect on our practice and develop our services. We welcome challenge and new directions for our work.
- We are ambitious. We believe that libraries are an essential part of the solution to a range of society’s needs. We promote innovation and collaboration to ensure that libraries are recognised locally and nationally.
Working at Libraries Connected
We are a friendly, collaborative team of around 20 staff based all around England and Wales.
We value diversity and are committed to promoting an inclusive working environment. We strongly believe that inclusive and diverse organisations are not only better places to work, they are more innovative, make better decisions and are more successful. We value people who bring unique perspectives and knowledge to our team.
We want to make our recruitment process as fair as possible. To reduce bias, we shortlist candidates based on their responses to up to six application questions. These are designed to tell us about your values, experience, attitudes to work, and transferable skills. We do not ask for a separate cover letter or supporting statement.
We offer flexible working as standard, helping work fit around family and caring responsibilities. Many of our staff work their hours in different ways, including flexi time and compressed hours. We are open to discussing what would work for you and be possible for the role.
All roles are remote and are open to applicants who live anywhere in the UK. We provide staff with a home office set-up including laptop, monitor and phone. There is the option to work from our central London office or use a co-working space if it is not possible to work from home.
We welcome requests for adjustments to our standard recruitment processes for anyone who needs them.
Our Commercial Team
We have a small commercial team with big ambitions for the sector.
Currently, we hold a single commercial contract worth around £3m per year delivered through 12 libraries. Our aim is to reach a point where we have a menu of commercial contracts that all of our 176 member library services can choose to benefit from according to the skills and assets of their service, their focus and strategy and of course the needs of their communities.
In the current funding climate for local authorities and local government services, these contracts are not just about the income and the services they can provide but about demonstrating nationally the power of the library sector, and how national services can be delivered locally through library services and the communities they serve.
Our approach is to identify and secure contracts procured by national government – either directly or with partners to extend the libraries’ capabilities – with an eye to local delivery through the library services. This allows us to centrally hold and manage the risk of the national contract, leaving the library services to deliver themselves.
We see libraries as a solution to many of society’s challenges and this is one route we use to bring the libraries into that solution.
This area is part of our long term strategy – we are seeking to build the commercial team with this role and while it is initially a 12-month contract, our hope is that with the role in place we can generate the income to sustain and build on it.
Registered Charity
11 - 20
Our vision is an inclusive, modern, sustainable and high-quality public library service at the heart of every community in the UK.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
Using Anonymous Recruitment
This organisation is using Anonymous Recruitment to reduce bias in the first stages of the hiring process. Submit your application as normal and our system will anonymise it for you. Your personal information will be hidden until the recruiter contacts you.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
Reference Number: V550
Job Title: Communications Officer
Location: Remote with travel around the UK required
Contract Type: Permanent
Hours: Full-time (35 hours per week)
Salary: £30,000
DBS/PVG: Basic
Job Family: 4
Line Manager: Head of Brand and Communications
Closing Date: 12 August 2025
Start Date: As soon as possible subject to notice periods
Interview Dates: Week commencing 25 August 2025
We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications
Volunteering Matters
Who we are
At Volunteering Matters, we believe people have the power to create change. Whether through volunteering by helping others and giving time, or through social action such as speaking up, campaigning, or leading change, everyone can make a difference. We bring people together to build stronger communities across England, Scotland and Wales, making sure everyone has the chance to get involved and create real change.
What we do
We help people of all ages and backgrounds get involved in volunteering and social action. We focus on making sure that everyone, no matter their situation, has the chance to take part. We work with local people.
How we do this
We support people to share their time and skills to help others and tackle big challenges in their communities.
· We remove barriers to volunteering and social action, making it easier for people who don’t always get the chance to take part.
· We listen to and amplify voices that aren’t always heard, helping volunteers and communities influence change.
· We help volunteers beyond their first experience, offering training, support, and pathways to new opportunities.
· We connect businesses with communities, creating meaningful employee volunteering projects.
· We show the impact of volunteering and social action, proving how it changes lives for the better.
Our promise to volunteers
We are always looking for new ways for volunteers to make a difference. We bring people together across generations and backgrounds to learn from each other and create change. At the same time, we make sure that all our volunteers are trained, supported, and valued, so they feel confident in what they do.
It’s a brilliant time to join us. We’re evolving, growing our impact, and shaping a future where everyone can take part and feel they belong. We’re looking for a creative and people-centred Communications Officer.
About the role
We are looking for a creative and proactive Communications Officer to join our small but dynamic Brand and Communications Team. This role requires a basic DBS/PGV check. Our team plays a key role in supporting the work of Volunteering Matters across the UK, ensuring that the impact of our projects, staff, and volunteers is shared widely with both internal and external audiences. This role is an exciting opportunity for someone who enjoys storytelling, engaging with diverse audiences, and amplifying the voices of communities and volunteers.
A core focus of this role will be getting to know the incredible work happening across the UK, collecting updates from our projects, and sharing these stories with key stakeholders. As part of our friendly team, you will also have a specific focus on supporting internal communications and content creation to ensure our messaging is clear, inspiring, and reflective of our mission. Our volunteers and the people we support are at the heart of everything we do, and we are looking for someone who shares our strong commitment to these values. A belief in the power of communities and a desire to champion volunteers of all ages and backgrounds is essential for this role.
Key tasks include:
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Support the development and execution of a comprehensive internal communications strategy that drives colleague engagement and strengthens a unified organisational culture aligned with strategic objectives.
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Develop and disseminate impactful, timely, and relevant internal communications content that resonates with colleagues across the organisation.
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Provide operational and administrative support to the Brand and Communications Team to enhance our efficiency and reach.
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Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of internal communications efforts through rigorous analysis of feedback, metrics, and data insights, leveraging findings to refine and optimise strategies at a national level.
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Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure all internal communications initiatives reflect and reinforce the organisation’s core values, mission, and strategic vision.
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Provide guidance, training and support to various departments in crafting effective internal communications materials, ensuring consistency in tone, style and branding.
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Create inspiring and straightforward stories with a focus on powerful imagery and video content.
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Work closely with communications colleagues in the #iWill Movement to champion youth social action.
About you
You’ll be a creative and thoughtful communicator who enjoys working collaboratively and is passionate about people’s stories. You’ll bring a strong visual eye, great interpersonal skills, and a commitment to ethical storytelling.
Our Values & Way of Working
In all that we are guided by our values: Empowering, Inclusive, Compassionate, Positive & Straightforward.
Diversity & Inclusion
Volunteering Matters welcomes all applicants and are keen to ensure our team reflects the diversity of the UK and the communities we serve. We encourage applications from disabled, LGBT and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic backgrounds, along with candidates with any protected characteristics and from disadvantaged groups.
Disability Confident & Reasonable Adjustments
We guarantee to interview anyone with a disability whose application meets the minimum criteria for the role. Please provide evidence in your application, which demonstrates that you meet the level of competence required in the Job Description under skill and experience. To be considered for a guaranteed interview or to discuss any reasonable adjustments during the process, please state this in your cover letter.
Benefits
Our employee benefits reflect our culture which is built on an approach of full flexibility with accountability, and designed to let you make your most positive contribution; we offer:· Flexible Working by Default (re hours & place of work)
· Unlimited Annual Leave
· Employee Pension scheme
· Life Assurance
· Cycle to Work Scheme
· Season Ticket Loan
· Employee Assistance Programme
· Enhanced sick and family leave.
· Lifestyle Discount Scheme
We are also open to discussing job share applications.
GDPR Statement
If you apply for a role with us, we will retain your contact details including your name, address, email address and phone number to help us manage your application for up to six months. We will not use your personal data for any other purpose or share it with any third party. You can contact us at any point to update your personal information or ask us to delete it from our records.
Policy on AI-Generated Applications
Applications are accepted on trust, and we expect all submissions to reflect the applicant’s own words, experiences, and motivations. While tools such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) may support the application process, applications should not be generated wholly by AI.
To Apply
Please send an updated, complete CV and cover letter via the Charity Job Apply button above. In your application clearly state which role you are applying for. In the cover letter please demonstrate how you would fulfil the role requirements, what previous relevant achievements you have (both in life and at work), what skills & experience you can offer, and what you believe you can contribute to Volunteering Matters.
Please note that all applicants must have the right to work in the UK. Unfortunately, we’re unable to progress applications that don’t meet this requirement.
Registered Charity
101 - 500
We turn local knowledge into action by working with volunteers and partners across the UK to build stronger communities for all.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.