Volunteer centre coordinator jobs in Manchester

One in 20 adults in the UK has never learnt to read at all. This can have a serious impact on their confidence and wellbeing, limiting access to training, employment, and everyday opportunities that many take for granted. Being unable to read as an adult can be isolating and dangerous, reinforces social inequality, restricts economic growth, and worsens intergenerational disadvantage - but it is never too late to learn.

Read Easy helps adults transform their lives by learning to read. It does this by supporting its growing network of locally run, volunteer-led affiliated groups that offer free, confidential, one-to-one reading coaching—both in person and online to adults - aged from 18-88. 

With its free, flexible, confidential approach, Read Easy encourages people who are too embarrassed to join a class to come forward for one-to-one support. Each new reader is provided with their own personal Reading Coach, so that they can learn in private and at their own pace. Learning to read transforms their lives in many other ways as well, including enabling them to support their children’s and grandchildren’s reading, and so transfers the benefits to the next generation.

There are currently 80 affiliated Read Easy groups across England, together involving more than a thousand volunteers. Read Easy UK is the registered charity and umbrella organisation which supports this network of affiliated volunteer groups and provides the structure, training and support to enable volunteers to establish groups in new areas.

As our Central Regional Adviser, your role would be to provide strategic leadership, guidance, and oversight to ensure that all volunteer groups consistently deliver high-quality services aligned with Read Easy UK’s strategy.

You will support local volunteer leaders to strengthen group performance, and foster collaboration across affiliated groups, so that that they deliver coaching to Readers with consistent quality, and a positive and worthwhile experience is had by all.

You will also find volunteers to ‘pioneer’ three new groups in the counties where there is no Read Easy presence in the East and West Midlands and East of England and provide them and our 29 existing groups and pioneers in the region, with high-quality support. Your quality support will ensure that they provide the same for their volunteers and new Readers. From meeting (mostly online) with Team Leaders to provide one to one support, and hosting online and annual in-person volunteer forums, to delivering presentations and occasional training for small groups of volunteers, this is a dynamic and rewarding role.

This is a home-based post requiring flexibility, some early evening working and occasional travel to visit groups. The role is available on either a full or part time basis (min 32 hours p/w, 85% of 37.5 hours p/w FTE).

The successful candidate will be expected to:

• Live within one of the following areas: West Midlands (Defined as the 7 metropolitan boroughs of Birmingham, Coventry, Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull, Walsall, and Wolverhampton), Warwickshire, Oxfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Northamptonshire, Leicestershire or Rutland;
• have been employed to work with volunteers for at least two years;
• have strong people management and interpersonal skills; excellent communication skills; and the confidence to run meetings and deliver presentations.

Salary & Benefits 

• Annual Salary £25,973 (85% FTE) - £30,385 (100% FTE)
• 25 days holiday plus bank holidays and Christmas closing and 2 days volunteering leave – pro-rata for part time roles
• Company sick pay to financially support you when you are unwell (above statutory upon completion of probationary period) 
• Support when extending your family – company parental and adoption pay (above statutory after 12 months service) 
• Access to RewardHub – which gives retail discounts and has a ‘Wellbeing Centre’ with tools, tips, recipes, workout videos and guides which will help you to reach your own wellbeing goals 
• Training and Development opportunities and resources – we are developing personal plans in this area to enhance employee experience and opportunity 
• A collaborative, creative and inspiring working environment full of committed and passionate employees and inspirational volunteers 

We strive to ensure our recruitment practices are fair, open, easy to access and as inclusive as possible. We aim to recruit a team which broadly reflect the local communities which we serve; to work with and learn from each other to continually improve the service we deliver to our Readers. Our Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Group is actively promoting and advancing diversity and inclusion, ensuring a culture where everyone can be themselves and thrive. We welcome you to apply and be your authentic self.

When applying for a job with us, if an applicant has a disability covered by the definition outlined within the Equality Act 2010 and can show that they meet the ‘essential criteria’ described in the person specification for the role being applied for, they are guaranteed an interview for the job for which they are applying through our Disability Confident scheme.

If you need any support with your application, please contact us,

The closing date for this post is 10:00 Tuesday 3rd March 2026. Should you be shortlisted, the first round of interviews will take place online on Tuesday 10th March, with in-person interviews, being held in Birmingham, on Tuesday 17th March 2026. 

The successful candidate will be invited to meet the team on 15th April in Birmingham, should they be able to do so.

Looking for a practical role that really makes a difference?

As Foodbank Services Lead, you’ll play a key part in ensuring Oldham Foodbank runs smoothly and consistently, supporting people in crisis with dignity and care.

This is a hands-on, people-focused role, working alongside the Foodbank Manager to coordinate day-to-day service delivery. You’ll support and organise our volunteers, oversee the smooth running of our warehouse and deliveries, and help ensure our systems, standards and processes are followed well.

You’ll be based mainly at our warehouse, working closely with volunteer teams including drivers, pickers, admin and warehouse volunteers. While you won’t be doing everything yourself, you’ll be ready to step in when needed and lead by example.

We’re looking for someone who is calm, organised and practical, with experience of working in the voluntary or charity sector and supporting vulnerable adults. You’ll understand the importance of safeguarding, consistency and teamwork, and you’ll care about doing things properly.

In return, you’ll be part of a supportive organisation, doing meaningful work that has a real impact across Oldham every day.

As Community Coordinator, you will be welcoming everyone who walks through our doors, running fun and inclusive activities, and helping people access the support that they need. 

This role is a demanding, people-focussed position and the successful applicant will have an outstanding ability to relate to and draw the best out of our community at The Oasis Centre.

What you will be doing:

· Giving a warm, genuine welcome to everyone who visits the Centre

· Planning, preparing, and running fun, engaging, and inclusive community activities in our free café

· Helping people find the right support by signposting them to services within the Centre

· Responding calmly and wisely to issues that present themselves, offering reassurance and support

· Welcoming visiting organisations and ensuring they feel part of the Oasis culture

· Living out and actively modelling the values of Oasis every day

· Setting the tone of a safe, respectful, and uplifting environment by challenging negative behaviours appropriately

· Supporting the wider Oasis team with other tasks when needed

What we’re looking for:

· An Occupational Requirement exists for the post-holder to be a practicing Christian in accordance with Section 2 of the Equality Act 2010

· A natural “people person” warm, approachable, and welcoming

· A great communicator who can connect with people from all walks of life

· Patient, kind, and trustworthy, someone who can be relied on

· Organised and self-motivated, able to take initiative

· Calm under pressure and confident in handling conflict well

Person Specification:

E = Essential D = Desirable

1. Education/ Training

GCSE Maths and English minimum 5 or above (High C and above) (E)

2. Experience

A minimum of 2 years relevant experience (this can be from a wide variety of backgrounds) (D)

Experience of working with disadvantaged people (D)

Experience of communicating effectively and persuasively using a variety of media (D)

Experience of working within a small-medium charity (D)

Experience of working in a community setting (E)

3.       Essential Skills

Excellent organisational skills: including goal setting, prioritising competing demands and meeting deadlines (D)

A clear communicator at all levels, with excellent written and oral communication skills, including the ability to write clear and comprehensive reports. (E)

Ability to work independently and to identify and prioritise own workload (E)

Ability to work as a supportive and productive member of a team (E)

Flexibility to deal with constantly changing circumstances and a cool head under pressure (E)

Excellent conflict resolution skills (E)

Good interpersonal skills (E)

Confident at networking and building up productive relationships (D)

4. Relevant Aptitudes

Compassionate with a heart for the disadvantaged (E)

Flexible and occasionally willing to work outside of usual working hours (E)

5. Personal

Willingness to uphold the vision, mission and values of The Oasis Centre (E)

Approachability: a friendly, welcoming and caring nature (E)

An ability to relate to, include, and bring the best out of The Oasis Centre’s community (E)

An ability to positively interact with all of our community, volunteers and staff (E)

6. Beliefs

It is an Occupational Requirement for the post-holder to be a practicing Christian in accordance Section 2 with the Equality Act 2010 (E)

TRC Sexual Abuse & Rape Support Greater Manchester is seeking an experienced and committed professional to join our team as our Services & Operations Manager.

Based across our sites in Trafford, you will provide clinical and operational oversight of TRC’s service areas (counselling, ISVA, helpline & digital, and Pathfinder) and provide direct day-to-day service management. You will lead on safeguarding, act as a line of support between the client-facing services and the CEO, line-manage our service coordinators, lead on triage meetings and coordinate TRC's centre.

This job would be ideal for someone who is passionate about supporting survivors of sexual violence, has line-management experience and has case management experience in a specialist support service.

A rare chance to join an incredibly supportive and inclusive employer that values hard work, flexiblity and employee well-being, and recognised by the GM Good Employment Charter! We are a small but vastly experienced team of family support/volunteer Coordinators, delivering highly respected volunteer-led home visiting support to families in the early years. 

We are looking for someone to provide direct support to families and also recruit, train and support a team of local parent/carer volunteers who will provide weekly home visiting and community support to families.

You will work  with other professionals from universal and specialist services to provide a coordinated response to families’ needs. You will assess need and risk prior to carefully matching volunteers with families or offering direct support, working as part of multi agency support, ensuring information sharing and safeguarding is at the forefront of your work. This will include instigating Early Help assessments, preparing for and attending Child in Need and Child Protection meetings.

You will have an understanding of recruiting, carefully selecting and managing volunteers to ensure they feel supported and fully trained to offer effective support to families in order to get the best outcomes for the family and in particular the children. 

You will be experienced in working with families in their own home - skilled in recognising and responding to safeguarding concerns, be apt in completing strengths-based assessments and conversations and have a deep understanding of the issues families can face and the link with childhood development and difficulties they may experience later in life.

Learning Disability Community Leader, L'Arche Manchester

ABOUT THE ROLE

Hours of work: 37.5 hours per week (including some evening and weekend working, and regular on-call)

Salary: £47,946 per annum

Reports to: L’Arche UK Regional Leader

Place of work: L’Arche Manchester Community, Manchester M20 4AW. Some travel and overnight stays will be required within the UK

Contract type: Temporary 12-month appointment to cover maternity leave

Closing date: Monday, 2nd March at 12 pm.

Main purpose of the role

The Community Leader is responsible for ensuring that the Community is living the mission of L’Arche, by providing excellent and sustainable care and support services, support for  spirituality, and engaging with our neighbours and the wider community around us.

The Community Leader will:

• Lead the Community by responding to the needs, choices and context of our members while being faithful to the L'Arche UK Vision and Values, the L'Arche International Identity and Mission Statement, and to a co-created Community Mandate and plan;
• Maintain and enhance high-quality, person-centred care, support, and housing for people with learning disabilities, both at home and in our day services in partnership with the Registered Manager, the local and national teams, individual circles of support, and external partners. 
• Ensure the Community’s financial sustainability through robust financial planning and management. This includes setting budgets and controlling spending, maximising housing occupancy, supporting the negotiation of care contracts, growing our day services and spotting fundraising opportunities. 
• Foster a culture that maximises the voice and power for people with learning disabilities, and builds listening and collaboration between Community members. This will include working with an active Community Support Group, Community Gatherings, listening groups, and other forums. 
• Lead and manage a committed and engaged leadership team to achieve objectives, set a positive culture, and support the personal and professional growth of our teams. 
• Cultivate an open, creative, and inclusive spiritual life, inviting everyone in the Community to deepen their connections. 
• Model, advocate for, and embrace the L’Arche ethos of deep, long-term, and mutually transforming relationships between people with and without learning disabilities. Plan and lead a regular calendar of events that build community belonging and help keep people connected. 
• Contribute to the national work programmes of L’Arche UK, as part of the National Council, collaborating with Community Leaders of other L’Arche Communities, to share skills, best practice and resources. 
• Be a visible representative of L’Arche locally in the wider community, with stakeholders like local authorities, professional organisations, schools, faith communities, and L’Arche world wide.

Key essential criteria

• Senior leadership experience in support to adults with learning disabilities (or transferable skills and experience in a closely-related field). 
• Experience leading and managing an organisation or large teams to deliver results, maintain compliance and quality, and to respond to risks and opportunities. 
• Experience leading and developing diverse teams to flourish, individually and together. 
• Good financial planning skills and experience successfully managing a substantial budget. 
• Evidence of the ability to think strategically, and work collaboratively to develop and implement community plans. 
• Experience of living or working alongside people with learning disabilities and/or autistic individuals

This role is subject to an enhanced DBS criminal record check. 

You may have held these job titles in the past: Registered Manager, Service Manager, Head of Care, Senior Operations Lead, Community Director, Head of Community Services, Country or Regional Lead, Learning Disability Services Manager, Head of Mission and Community Life, Health & Social Care Manager, Local Authority Commissioning Lead;

You can find more details about L'Arche and the Manchester community on our website. 

Why join L'Arche?

As well as joining a friendly Community, where you will be well supervised and supported, and benefit from L’Arche’s mentorship programme, these are some other benefits you get by working for us:

• Joining shared meals since cooking and having a meal together is what we are all about
• Enhanced Maternity, Adoption/Surrogacy, Paternity Pay (depending on length of service, details available on request) 
• Enhanced sick pay
• Interest free loans and salary advances available
• Free DBS / PVG checks
• Free Employee Assistance Programme available to everyone
• Up to 5 days paid compassionate leave
• Up to 6 days paid (pro rata) for time off for emergency dependents leave
• Specialist bereavement counselling for employees and their family members
• Life Assurance
• Access to the Bike to Work scheme

Discover what makes L’Arche a rewarding place to work—explore  more of our employee benefits on our website.

A full job description and person specification can be found in the Recruitment Pack.

To apply, please submit your CV and answer the questions from our online application form. 

The closing date is: Monday, 2nd of March at 12 pm.

First interviews (online via Microsoft Teams) are expected to take place during the week beginning the 9th March 2026.

Second round interviews will take on the place week beginning 16th March 2026 and will take place within the Community.

We encourage you not to wait until the closing date to submit your application, as we may begin interviewing strong candidates before then.
We also reserve the right to close the advert early if we receive enough suitable applications.

Please also read our privacy notice for job applicants.

We’re looking for a Community Development Co-Ordinator to join the team. You will support the direct delivery of our community services that supports male survivors to access connection and peer support activities.

You’ll play a key role in supporting clients, either through facilitating our core groups like builders’ yard, drop ins etc. Community development team also provide check ins for clients to keep them engaged and connected with the organisation. The team also supports one off project where required.

Why Join Us?

· A competitive salary.

· Annual leave package with incremental rises plus bank holidays.

· Company sick pay.

· Birthday annual leave.

· Monthly clinical supervision.

· Pension contribution.

· A range of discount and benefit programmes.