Volunteer coordinator jobs in essex, east of england

Join Us in Making a Real Difference

About YMCA St Paul’s Group

YMCA St Paul’s Group is one of London’s longest-standing charities, dedicated to empowering young people and strengthening communities for over 150 years. Through transformative youth programmes, inclusive health and wellbeing centres, and vital supported accommodation, we work to ensure that people—especially young people—have the opportunity to belong, contribute, and thrive.

Our mission is rooted in long-term transformation of mind, body, and spirit, and we remain committed to building vibrant, supportive, and resilient communities across London.

About the Role

As a Housing and Support Assistant (Nights), you’ll play a pivotal frontline role in ensuring our accommodation remains a safe, welcoming, and supportive environment. You’ll be a steady presence throughout the night—providing guidance, reassurance, and practical assistance for residents and visitors alike.

Whether you’re responding to queries, managing reception tasks, ensuring safety protocols are upheld, or offering a compassionate ear during challenging moments, you will be a vital part of creating a positive and secure atmosphere for those who call YMCA home.

This is a role with real variety and real impact—perfect for someone who thrives in a dynamic environment and is passionate about helping others.

Working 4 nights on and 4 nights off (8pm-8am).

Key Responsibilities

Deliver Exceptional Customer Service

You will be the warm, reassuring presence residents and visitors meet first. Your confidence and professionalism will create a positive experience and set the standard for the quality of service YMCA is known for.

A Varied, Engaging Role

No two nights will be the same. Alongside reception duties—such as answering calls, processing payments, handling repairs, and managing post—you’ll take on a broad range of responsibilities that keep the building running smoothly.

Champion Safety and Security

As the on-site first aider and fire marshal, you’ll protect the wellbeing of our residents and staff. From conducting regular patrols to responding swiftly in emergencies, you’ll help maintain a safe and calm environment throughout the night.

A Welcoming and Compassionate Presence

You’ll often be the first to welcome new residents, address concerns, support those facing challenges, and record or escalate any issues such as anti-social behaviour or safeguarding concerns. Your empathy and professionalism will help residents feel heard, valued, and supported.

Be Part of a Supportive Team

You’ll join a dedicated and knowledgeable team of housing professionals who share your commitment to improving lives. Your role will be meaningful, varied, and rewarding—offering plenty of opportunities to develop your skills and make a real difference.

What You’ll Gain

At YMCA St Paul’s Group, we celebrate diversity, individuality, and community. Your voice matters here—and you’ll have opportunities to help shape positive change through our Employee Resource Groups and inclusive culture.

We’re committed to your growth. With access to robust training, qualifications, and hands-on experience, you’ll be supported in developing your career, expanding your expertise, and achieving your goals.

Benefits for Mind, Body, and Spirit include:

• Free gym access across all YMCA SPG sites

• Discounts at major retailers and supermarkets

• Free wellbeing and counselling services

• The flexibility to work across various outer London locations

• Career development programmes to support your journey

• Family-friendly policies, including enhanced maternity pay

• Life Assurance

We are excited to be re-launching our Give it a Go programme, which offers one-off events and activities designed to help our diverse student body build connections and feel settled. Give It A Go (GIAG) is a programme of events open to all students at the University of Kent with the aim to provide a variety of activities for a broad range of students to try out. These could be craft sessions, sports, trips off campus and much more, we want to help students make connections, encouraging belonging, try something new, meet new people and develop their skills.

We also want to enhance the events we deliver for university open days and offer holder days to showcase why students should choose Kent. As a result, we are seeking someone who is innovative, creative, and experienced in delivering events—someone who is proactive, able to work independently, and confident collaborating across departments.

The postholder will be part of a flexible and dynamic team and will be required to work weekends and evenings as necessary to support open days and other events. They must therefore be adaptable and flexible in their approach to working hours.

We are a vibrant, student-led organisation with an exciting future ahead. After a challenging few years, we are growing from strength to strength with renewed focus and energy, working to amplify the voice of our members and ensure they have a fantastic student experience. Our new strategy outlines our priorities for the next two years and drives everything we do.

Students are the reason Kent Students’ Union exists. We support them throughout their university journey, and our dedicated staff and volunteers work to enhance every aspect of their experience—whether that’s helping with their studies, supporting the practicalities of life, or providing opportunities for fun and connection.

Kent Students’ Union operates a range of services for students at the Canterbury Campus of the University of Kent, including retail shops, a bar, a café, a nightclub, and a children’s nursery.

What you will be doing:

• To oversee and co-ordinate our Give it a Go Programme, ensuring a variety of safe, inclusive and engaging events, trips and opportunities are delivered across the year. Day to day activities might include planning, setting up and delivering events through a small student staff team, liaising with our marketing department to promote the programme, monitoring attendance, seeking student feedback and completing risk assessments and ensuring the safety of attendees.
• To co-ordinate our presence at Arrivals Weekend and deliver a series of events as part of Welcome Week including supporting the delivery of Welcome Fair.
• To co-ordinate Kent Student Union’s presence at University Open Days and Offer Holder Days held on Saturdays, ensuring they are staffed, interactive and showcase Kent Students’ Union’s impact on the student experience to prospective students.
• To support the delivery of wider KSU events as and when required such as Summerball.
• This role involves regular manual handling tasks, including lifting, carrying, and moving items. Training, guidance, and appropriate equipment will be provided. Candidates must be able to perform these duties safely, with reasonable adjustments considered where applicable.

What we’re looking for:

• Experience of managing people (paid staff or volunteers) to deliver outstanding results.
• Experience of financial management
• A track record of working with a variety of internal and external stakeholders and building effective relationships
• Experience of promoting and delivering a wide range of events

Knowledge

• A good knowledge of health and safety legislation and best practice in the management of health and safety including the completion of risk assessments.
• An understanding of the current issues affecting higher education institutions and students

Skills and Abilities

• Sound judgement and ability to handle competing priorities and a challenging workload in a pressurised environment
• Skilled and committed user of IT, enabling efficiencies and improved service using technology.
• Good verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to relate and communicate effectively with people at all levels.

Values & Behaviours

• An effective and highly capable individual who is punctual, friendly and has a positive attitude and takes pride in their own work.
• Evidence of commitment to continuing personal and professional development
• A firm commitment to equality of opportunity; an individual who values diversity, shows respect for all people and works well with people who have different ideas, perspectives, and backgrounds
• A team player, who helps others to build a successful team, celebrates others’ successes and supports others to achieve individual and team goals

Applications

To apply please submit your application on our recruitment portal on our careers page, to include a copy of your CV.

Please ensure that you pay particular attention in your application to detailing how your experience meets the requirements of the person specification and why you are interested in the position. A full copy of the job spec and person spec is available on our website. 

Website

Kent Students’ Union’s website contains further background information about Kent Students’ Union to help potential applicants. Potential applicants are encouraged to look at the website prior to applying.

Further Information and Questions

If you require further information, please contact:

Name - Max Weston

Job Title -Commercial Events Manager

How would you like to work with nursery age children and help inspire the next group of Coin Street champions?

Do you have a level 2 or 3 qualification in working with children?

How would you like to be part of a friendly team doing a job that makes a difference to children’s lives in an organisation that puts people before profit?

If the answer is YES then we would like to hear from you

Coin Street Nursery have a fantastic opportunities for experienced, energetic, and enthusiastic early years educators to join our team. 

We are looking for people who have: 

• a recognised qualification in childcare, ideally NVQ Level 3 or above or NVQ Level 2
• appreciate the importance of parent partnership
• knowledge of how to support children’s learning and development 
• a can-do and enthusiastic attitude
• an understanding of how to safeguard and protect children

What can we offer you?

• Competitive salary (based on your qualification and experience)
• Flexible working days for better work-life balance
• Access to high quality training
• Coaching and mentoring support
• Generous pension at 8% - 5% from the employer if you contribute 3%
• 20% discount of childcare fees
• 35 days off a year, including 8 bank holidays, 3 days off between Christmas and New Year (additional days awarded for long service)
• Personal development grant of up to £1,000 per year

There's more… 

• Six inset days per year (three for nursery staff only and three with the wider Coin Street team)
• Refer a friend bonus of £500 for existing employees
• Health and wellbeing package including a confidential employee assistance programme and online therapy sessions plus free gym and daily fresh fruit
• Season ticket loan and cycle to work scheme (on completion of probation)
• Staff social events (summer BBQ and Christmas party)
• Opportunities to join Coin Street committees (for example the Black lives Matter Race & Equality Steering Committee, Inset planning, staff social committee)
• Local retail (star card) and online discounts

Contract
Permanent, 35 hours per week (shift rotas). We are open to part-time options.

Salary
£29,172 per annum at Level 3 qualified

£28,110.18 per annum at Level 2 qualified 

Successful candidates will be required to undertake an Enhanced DBS check. 

Our mission is simple but ambitious: to create thriving places for young people and flourishing, resilient communities—supporting transformation in mind, body, and spirit.

YMCA St Paul’s Group (SPG) is a long-standing charity dedicated to empowering young people and strengthening communities across London. For over 150 years, we’ve been providing life-changing youth work, essential community services, inclusive health and wellbeing centres, and supported accommodation for those at risk of homelessness. 

About the Role

As a Housing and Support Officer, you’ll play a central role within our Housing and Support team, helping us deliver exceptional care, stability, and guidance to our residents. You’ll often be the first friendly face they see—answering queries, providing clear guidance, and ensuring a welcoming, safe, and supportive environment for everyone who walks through our doors. 

This is a dynamic, people-focused role with a broad range of responsibilities. From reception and administrative duties to first aid, safety checks, and supporting new residents, your work directly contributes to a positive and meaningful experience for our community. No two days will be the same—and every day, your impact will be felt.

Key Responsibilities

First-Class Customer Service
You’ll be at the heart of our community, offering consistently warm, professional, and helpful support. Your interactions create a real and lasting difference for residents, visitors, and their support networks.

A Varied and Engaging Role
From managing calls and handling payments to coordinating repairs and mail, your everyday tasks keep our sites running smoothly. You’ll also support essential safety and security processes that protect our community.

Safety & Security Leadership
As a trained first aider and fire marshal, you’ll be trusted to respond effectively during emergencies. Regular wellbeing and facilities patrols will help ensure that residents feel secure, supported, and at ease.

Welcoming & Supportive Engagement
You’ll warmly welcome new residents, listen to concerns, respond to incidents of anti-social behaviour, and offer compassionate assistance to those who need it. Your attentiveness helps us maintain a safe and inclusive space.

Teamwork & Collaboration
Work alongside experienced housing advisors who share your commitment to making a difference. Your enthusiasm, empathy, and professionalism will be valued and celebrated as part of a supportive and dedicated team.

What We Offer

At YMCA St Paul’s Group, diversity, inclusion, and authenticity are core values. We want you to bring your full self to work—and we’ll support your voice, perspective, and growth through our Employee Resource Groups and inclusive culture.

We’re committed to your professional development, offering a broad learning and development programme that includes formal training, qualifications, and hands-on experience. You’ll have ongoing opportunities to progress and grow your career with us.

You’ll also enjoy a range of benefits designed to support your wellbeing in mind, body, and spirit, including:

• Free access to our gyms across all sites

• Discounts at major retailers and supermarkets

• Free wellbeing and counselling services

• Flexibility to work from multiple outer-London locations

• Career development programmes to help you thrive

• Family-friendly policies, including enhanced maternity pay

• Life Assurance (for permanent contracts)

(For a full list of staff benefits, please refer to our benefits guide.)

Job Profile

Reporting to the Managing Director, you will lead on the recruitment, retention, and value growth of Afghanaid’s supporter base by directing and implementing communications, fundraising and engagement strategies, aligned with broader organisation goals. Designing and managing a tight budget, you will direct the Communication and Giving unit to maximise their success.

You will provide strategic and supervisory oversight of fundraising income from individual giving, regular giving, major donors, trusts and foundations, corporates, community and student fundraising and events, managing annual fundraising appeals and driving organisational unrestricted income growth. 

You will lead on communications for Afghanaid, overseeing print, digital, and paid marketing activities and the growth of communications channels. You will execute Afghanaid’s organisational brand strategy which ensures the integrity of the brand and maximises awareness. You will manage all public relations including crisis communications, as well as the growth of strategic media placements and high profile relationships. You will drive the success of organisational impact storytelling and communications for both internal and external stakeholders. As a member of the executive department, you will collaborate and synergise with other departments to promote organisational success.

Key Responsibilities:

• Drive organisational strategy, culture and cross-department collaboration to advance Afghanaid’s mission and objectives.

• Lead development and delivery of Communications, Engagement and Fundraising strategies and work plans.

• Line manage and develop a high-performing team, including staff, volunteers and interns.

• Build and maintain relationships with consultants, agencies and pro bono partners.

• Oversee budgets, reporting and data-driven performance management to ensure efficiency and impact.

• Promote a positive and cohesive London team environment, coordinating hybrid working, inductions and HR support.

• Oversee public fundraising strategy across multiple income streams.

• Lead design and delivery of internal and external appeals, campaigns and donor stewardship.

• Identify new funding opportunities, partnerships and innovation in engagement.

• Oversee the full range of Afghanaid’s event portfolio, and attend relevant events to represent Afghanaid;

• Ensure effective CRM management, data integrity and financial reconciliation.

• Serve as brand guardian, ensuring consistency and evolution of Afghanaid’s identity.

• Oversee creation and execution of integrated communications and marketing plans.

• Direct production of engaging digital and print content, including newsletters, social media, and fundraising collateral.

• Manage website optimisation, SEO and analytics to drive engagement and conversions.

• Lead innovation in digital marketing, email campaigns and supporter journeys.

• Advise leadership on reputation management and crisis communications.

• Develop media policies and act as spokesperson when required.

• Manage proactive and reactive media relations, building relationships with journalists, influencers and advocates.

• Promote Afghanaid’s thought leadership through strategic storytelling and public commentary.

• Commission and direct multimedia content to strengthen organisational storytelling.

• Lead content planning, production and performance analysis.

• Champion participatory storytelling approaches and creative innovation.

Undertake any other duties as and when required by the line director.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

You will be an experienced and dynamic communicator with significant demonstrable experience in fundraising and/or communications at a senior level, coupled with an awareness and up to date knowledge and experience of the tools that would maximise the success of our communications and fundraising activities. In addition, you will have excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to confidently build and maintain strong relationships with a diverse group of stakeholders. Possessing strong management skills, you will have experience of managing small multi-disciplinary teams, providing direction and leadership to enable development and high performance, and the ability to role-model a culture of equality, diversity and inclusion.

Education/ Training

Master’s Degree in communications, marketing, public fundraising or another relevant field (or at least 5-years’ experience).

Work Experience

• At least 5 years of progressively responsible experience in fundraising, supporter engagement or communications, with at least 2 years’ experience directly managing staff.

• Experience developing and leading integrated multi-channel and multi-stakeholder communications, engagement and/or fundraising strategies.

• Experience in growing audiences, engagement and/or income streams.

• Experience communicating about and/or fundraising for and/or maintaining engagement with Afghanistan or a similar context.

• Experience using KPIs and data to make data-driven decisions to improve efficacy and efficiency.

• Experience managing and monitoring a tight budget.

• Experience conceptualising, producing and commissioning multimedia content, from marketing and fundraising collateral to audiovisual content.

• Experience running full-funnel, multi-channel marketing strategies including paid advertising.

• Understanding of risks associated with communications, public fundraising, and NGO operating contexts, and experience in mitigating those risks.

• Experience supervising, organising, motivating and developing staff.

• In depth knowledge of trends in storytelling, brand, PR, marketing and fundraising.

Professional Skills, Competencies, Values and Attitudes

Afghanaid’s core values are creativity, fairness and honesty. Our staff is passionate about and proud of Afghanaid. Teamwork is fundamental to our standards and demonstrated by taking initiative, assisting others and taking on additional responsibilities and tasks if necessary. We are results driven, committed and motivated to achieve targets and take accountability for our own actions.

Specifically, the holder of this position should also demonstrate the following:

Essential

• Fluent in spoken and written English. 

• Track record of increasing audiences, fundraising totals and engagement metrics from multiple different sources, with a strong business development mindset.

• Experience securing five or six figure gifts from funders;

• Solutions and results orientated; energised by thinking outside the box, and by finding and pursuing novel or innovative approaches and solutions.

• Experience using Salesforce CRM and Marketing Cloud

• Skilled at spotting and prioritising opportunities and synergies, and effective in securing wide-ranging forms of engagement and partnership.

• Excellent listening, speaking and writing skills; strong capabilities of persuasion and a proven track record of uniting people around a common goal.

• Multimedia skills, with knowledge, experience and enthusiasm in driving digital innovation.

• Highly organised with strong leadership and project management skills, able to collaboratively manage competing priorities with senior and junior colleagues.

• Demonstrably skilled brand custodian, able to mitigate risks, anticipate and capitalise upon opportunities, and strengthen reputation.

• Capable of working independently as well as collaboratively, both in leading a team and as part of the team.

• Passionate about driving change, and inspiring individuals and groups to support a cause to deliver that change.

Desirable

• Experience working within an international development or humanitarian context, particularly with causes related to Afghanistan

• Strategic understanding of UK and global fundraising landscapes and emerging giving trends.

• Proven ability to represent an organisation publicly with confidence, professionalism and credibility.

• Experience guiding senior leaders or trustees on media, communications and reputational matters.

• Skilled in crisis communications and reputation management.

• Understanding of inclusive and ethical storytelling practices, with sensitivity to safeguarding considerations.

• Experience developing high-value corporate or media partnerships.

• Comfortable working in a fast-moving, resource-limited environment and adapting to changing external circumstances.

The Organisation

Afghanaid is a British humanitarian and development organisation. For over forty years, our dedicated personnel have worked with millions of families in some of the poorest and most remote communities in Afghanistan. We build basic services, improve livelihoods, strengthen the rights of women and children, help communities protect against natural disasters and adapt to climate change, and respond to humanitarian emergencies. We are headquartered in Kabul, and operate provincial and district offices across Afghanistan, as well as a Marketing and Fundraising office in London. We employ around 500 personnel, 97% of whom are Afghans.

Other Information

Afghanaid’s core values are creativity, fairness and honesty. Our staff are passionate about and proud to work at Afghanaid. Teamwork is fundamental to our standards and demonstrated by taking initiative, assisting others and taking on additional responsibilities and tasks if necessary. We are results driven, committed and motivated to achieve targets and take accountability for our own actions.

Our remuneration and benefits package is competitive with other similar organisations. 

This position presents an excellent opportunity for someone who has the ambition and determination to move up in their career.

In Spring 2028, the National Gallery will launch a new, public-facing Research Centre to facilitate and showcase our world-leading research in the history and science of painting. This will be a complex space sitting at the intersection of multiple valued research stakeholders both within and beyond the Gallery, including the Gallery’s own wide array of research-active staff, our Artists-in-Residence, specialist users of our extensive Library & Archive collections, and a research-engaged general public attending events and consulting materials.

We are now recruiting for a new role, a Research Centre Manager, to support in the creative planning and daily delivery of an exceptional experience at the Research Centre. The role-holder will provide vital clarity and consistency in the day-to-day running of this multifaceted space to ensure a smoothly functioning whole. This includes coordinating all aspects of the Research Centre operations, managing staff, ensuring compliance with regulations, and maintaining the Research Centre facilities and administration. They will also think creatively about the Centre’s different spaces and, alongside Gallery colleagues, will help produce exciting research programming.

An ideal candidate will have experience in a comparable multifaceted role, and will bring to the Gallery strong leadership, excellent communication, creative programming, innovative problem-solving, and strong organisational skills to manage both day-to-day operations and strategic planning for the Centre.

This is a full time, permanent position and requires on-site working 5 days per week.

Applications closing date is 2nd January at 23:30hrs.