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!
About UK Reads
UK Reads is the UK-based charity of the global non-profit World Literacy Foundation, which works to eradicate illiteracy and promote equitable access to education worldwide. In the UK, we focus on closing the literacy gap for children from underserved communities, ensuring that every child has access to the literacy support they need to thrive academically and personally.
We deliver high-impact literacy programmes, distribute free books, and partner with schools, libraries, and community organisations to foster a lifelong love of reading.
About the Pen Pal Project
The Pen Pal Project empowers children aged 7–16 to become confident communicators by engaging them in creative, meaningful letter writing. UK pupils are matched with peers in Nigeria and other Sub-Saharan African countries to exchange letters over six structured sessions throughout the academic year.
The project supports pupils in:
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Developing core literacy skills (reading, writing, sentence structure, vocabulary)
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Strengthening confidence, empathy, and communication through storytelling
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Learning about different cultures, family structures, traditions, and daily life in another part of the world
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Practising both written and spoken English in an encouraging, low-pressure environment
Each school cohort follows a themed session plan exploring topics such as identity, youth culture, food, heritage, health, and hobbies.
Sessions are delivered by trained volunteers, with support from teachers and UK Reads staff.
Role Overview
As a Writing Session Coordinator, you’ll play a key role in supporting literacy, creativity, and inclusion in schools. You’ll work directly with students to help them explore personal expression, read incoming pen pal letters, and craft thoughtful responses.
This role is ideal for someone passionate about education, communication, cultural exchange, and making a difference at a grassroots level.
Responsibilities
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Facilitate six themed writing sessions at a primary or secondary school in London (sessions take place during school hours)
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Create an inclusive and welcoming atmosphere where all students feel safe to write and express themselves
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Support pupils with varied literacy levels, including those with special educational needs (SEND), English as an additional language (EAL), or lower confidence in reading/writing
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Guide pupils in reading and responding to letters received from international pen pals
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Encourage vocabulary development, sentence structure, and narrative skills using the provided facilitator resources
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Use creativity and cultural awareness to promote engagement and curiosity
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Complete light administrative tasks (~1 hour per session), including:
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Reviewing students’ letters for safeguarding
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Submitting short post-session reflections or feedback forms
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Attend a short online training session and stay in communication with the UK Reads team
Time Commitment
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Approx. 6-8 hours/month over the academic year
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Each session includes:
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~1 hour in-school delivery time
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~1 hour admin/reflection time
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Plus training, planning, and communication time as needed
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Sessions are typically spaced two per academic term (six total)
Volunteers are matched with one school and are expected to complete the full six-session cycle to ensure continuity and build rapport with pupils.
Who We're Looking For
We welcome volunteers from a wide range of backgrounds. You don’t need formal teaching experience — just commitment, empathy, and a passion for helping young people thrive.
Essential:
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Strong spoken and written English
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Comfortable working with children and young people in a school setting
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Reliable, organised, and able to follow session plans
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Open-minded, culturally sensitive, and adaptable to different learning styles
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Able to commit to a minimum of 6 sessions over the academic year (during school hours)
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Based in London or able to travel to schools across the city
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Willing to complete a DBS check and safeguarding training
Desirable (but not required):
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Experience in education, youth work, creative writing, literacy support, or mentoring
What You’ll Gain
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A highly rewarding volunteer experience with visible impact on young learners
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Full training and a ready-to-use facilitation guide
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Support from a dedicated project coordinator throughout your placement
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Reimbursement of reasonable travel costs
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A reference upon successful completion
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The opportunity to be part of a meaningful international exchange project
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Connection to a network of volunteers and educators working toward literacy equity
Safeguarding & Inclusion
We are committed to child protection, safeguarding, and inclusive learning environments. All letters are reviewed by facilitators before being exchanged. Volunteers must complete a DBS check and basic safeguarding training before beginning their placement.
We value lived experience and encourage applications from those who reflect the communities we serve, including volunteers from Black, African, Caribbean, and diaspora backgrounds.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
Join the board of the national charity dedicated to supporting disabled children, young people and their families.
Trustee
Employer – Kids
Location – London (Meetings in Person)
Salary - Voluntary (Reasonable expenses reimbursed)
Hours - Approx. 1 day per month
Trustees also take part in at least one committee—such as the Finance and Audit Committee, Services and Safeguarding Committee, or People, Culture and Governance Committee—which typically meet online up to four times a year
Who we are:
Kids is on a mission to create a world where all kinds of kids have all kinds of opportunities.
Founded in 1970, we have grown into a national organisation supporting over 22,000 children, young people and families each year across England.
We are on an ambitious journey to reach at least 120,000 disabled children, young people and their families each year by 2027. Our vision is bold yet achievable: a society where disabled children, young people and their families enjoy equal rights and opportunities.
Now in the fourth year of an ambitious five-year strategy, we’re pursuing four bold goals:
- Support – Delivering impactful, sustainable services
- Innovate – Designing new models to transform lives
- Speak Up – Empowering young people to be agents of change
- Sustain – Building the financial and structural strength to grow
The Role
As our next Trustee, you’ll play a vital leadership role in bringing our vision to life. Working closely with our Chair, CEO, and Executive Leadership Team, you will provide strategic oversight, guide our governance, and help scale our impact.
Time Commitment
This role is about more than simply being available—it’s about being genuinely engaged. We're hoping to find someone who feels inspired to make this a meaningful part of their journey. It may be your primary board or leadership role, given the depth of involvement, but it also offers the opportunity to contribute in a truly rewarding way.
Who You Are
We’re looking for four passionate individuals who bring compassion, curiosity, and credibility. People who value respectful dialogue, champion inclusion, and lead with integrity.
You’ll bring your unique perspective to enhance our culture—not just fit into it. You’ll contribute to a dynamic board that balances strategic scrutiny, inclusive leadership, and good governance with genuine care and collaboration.
You don’t need to have all the answers, but you should bring:
- Experience in governance or senior leadership
- A passion for disability rights, equity, and inclusion
- A commitment to empowering diverse voices
- A collaborative spirit and systems-thinking mindset
We particularly welcome applications from people with lived experience of disability, those from underrepresented communities, and individuals who reflect the diversity of the families and children we serve.
Our Culture
At Kids, we celebrate what makes each of us unique. Our culture is rooted in care, collaboration, creativity, and professionalism. We actively listen and strive to ensure everyone we work with feels heard, respected, and included.
We are committed to breaking down systemic barriers, including racism, ableism, sexism, and other forms of injustice. This is an ongoing journey, and we’re dedicated to learning and growing together.
We are committed to making our recruitment process accessible. If you need information in an alternative format or adjustments at any stage, please contact us —we’d love to hear how we can support you.
In Closing
You’ll be joining a brilliant team of Trustees, a passionate leadership team, and an organisation ready for change. Together, we’ll help build a world where disabled children and young people are celebrated for who they are and supported to reach their full potential.
This isn’t just a role. It’s a chance to reimagine what’s possible.
Join us. Lead with us. Grow with us.
For more information about this role, please visit our careers page
Application & Recruitment Process
- Closing date: 30th September 2025
- Online Interview and Face-to-Face meeting: October 2025
- If you’re inspired to join our Board, please complete our online application and upload an up-to-date CV, with a 2-page limit on an A4 document. Shortlisted candidates will have the chance to showcase their strengths and discuss important topics alongside our leadership team.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank 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!
InStudents
A global social enterprise that empowers students to lead local projects, dismantling educational barriers to ensure equitable access to opportunities for all.
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Lack of Access: Students in rural and underserved regions lack quality career guidance and opportunities equivalent to their privileged peers.
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Employability Gap: Students from less prestigious universities often struggle to gain the real-world work experience and confidence needed for employment.
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Ineffective Aid: Many top-down educational solutions fail because they lack crucial local context, cultural understanding, and input from the communities they aim to serve.
We are building a global, student-led movement for educational equity, empowering local leaders to solve local challenges.
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Equal Opportunities Project (EQOP): We deliver free, career-focused courses to students in underserved regions using accessible technology like WhatsApp. The content is co-created with UK university and corporate partners.
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Impact Champions Project: We are establishing a global network of student-led societies on university campuses. Each society identifies and tackles local education issues with our support, creating a sustainable, "locally led, globally connected" model for change.
Hello! We believe that a student's potential should be determined by their ambition, not their background. Right now, millions of students in underserved communities are being left behind, lacking the guidance and opportunities they need to thrive.
InStudents is changing that. We empower students to become leaders who solve educational challenges within their own communities, from running career courses via WhatsApp in rural India to building a global network of on-campus "Impact Champions".
We're looking for passionate people to help us scale this student-led movement. Whether you have skills in marketing, content creation, project management, or mentoring, your time and expertise can directly help a student discover a new career path or gain the confidence to lead. Join us and help build a world where every student has the chance to succeed.
Education Equity Content Strategist (EQOP)
Volunteer Role Description (remote, unpaid)
Imagine creating a course that a student in a remote village can access on a simple smartphone, a course that opens their eyes to a future they never thought possible. Our Equal Opportunities Project (EQOP) has already reached over 10,000 students in rural India, and that’s where you come in.
In this role, you will:
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Research and design new, career-focused mini-courses on topics from financial literacy to social entrepreneurship.
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Write clear, engaging, and inspiring content specifically tailored for a youth audience and delivery via accessible tech like WhatsApp.
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Collaborate with our university partners to transform their expert knowledge into powerful, bite-sized learning experiences.
Your words will directly bridge the opportunity gap for thousands of students, providing them with the knowledge and confidence to pursue their dreams.
Weekly Time Commitment
2-3 hours per week
Duration of Volunteer Role (remote)
3-5 months
Non Charity Employer
6 - 10
We connect professionals with impact startups matching their causes, skills & schedule.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.