Volunteering coordinator jobs

Volunteer Coordinator

Location: Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire (minimum 3 days in office per week)

Salary: £29,000 - £32,000 per annum

Vacancy Type: 12 month contract, Full time 37.5 hours per week 

Medical Detection Dogs trains dogs to save lives.

We train specialist dogs to detect the odour of human disease, providing life-saving Medical Alert Assistance Dogs to people with complex health problems across the UK and collaborating with NHS Trusts and other researchers and Universities both in the UK and internationally to advance the early diagnosis of disease.  We have an exciting new opportunity to join this small, but ambitious charity that is a world leader in its specialist, innovative field.

Main Purpose & Scope of the Role:

The Volunteer Coordinator is responsible for the coordination, delivery and ongoing support of volunteer activity across the charity, ensuring volunteers have a positive, meaningful and well‑supported experience.

This role combines hands‑on volunteer coordination with people engagement activity, supporting engagement, communication and safeguarding processes across both volunteers and staff. The postholder works closely with colleagues across the organisation to ensure volunteer involvement is well‑planned, compliant and aligned with operational needs.

What You’ll Do:

You will coordinate the end to end volunteer journey, from recruitment and onboarding through to ongoing support, engagement and departure. You will act as a key point of contact for volunteers, support teams to work effectively with volunteers, and ensure accurate records, communication and safeguarding processes are maintained.

Reports to: People Engagement Manager 

About the Role

This is an operational, people‑focused role suited to someone who enjoys building relationships, organising activity and supporting others. You will work closely with staff, volunteers and external partners, ensuring volunteering activity runs smoothly and consistently across the charity.

The role requires excellent organisation, strong communication skills and confidence.

Responsibilities of the Role

Volunteer Recruitment & Engagement

• Coordinate volunteer recruitment activity to meet charity needs
• Support the delivery of volunteer marketing campaigns across social media, recruitment platforms and community networks
• Build and maintain relationships with community groups, schools, businesses and partner organisations
• Represent the charity at volunteer recruitment events and community activities
• Support interviews and suitability assessments for prospective volunteers
• Ensure references and checks are completed in line with policy

Volunteer Onboarding, Training & Support

• Coordinate induction processes for new volunteers
• Ensure volunteers receive appropriate role specific training, working with internal teams
• Maintain regular communication with volunteers to support engagement and retention
• Act as a key point of contact for volunteer queries or concerns
• Support volunteers leaving the organisation and gather feedback

Volunteer Engagement & Communication

• Support clear and consistent communication with volunteers across the charity
• Maintain and update volunteer communications via Assemble and other platforms
• Support the Volunteer Forum and other engagement initiatives
• Develop and maintain guidance and resources for staff working with volunteers

Compliance & Administration

• Ensure volunteer activity complies with safeguarding, GDPR, health & safety and volunteer management standards
• Maintain accurate and up to date volunteer records on Assemble
• Monitor volunteer data and prepare basic reports on recruitment, engagement and retention
• Escalate safeguarding or compliance concerns to the appropriate manager

Fundraising & Cross Departmental Support

• Coordinate volunteer involvement in fundraising events and campaigns
• Work closely with fundraising, operations and HR colleagues to ensure volunteer support is effective and well planned
• Promote good practice in volunteering across teams

Person Specification

Experience & Qualifications

Essential

• Experience in volunteer coordination, people engagement or a related role
• Strong organisational skills with excellent attention to detail
• Confident communicator with the ability to build positive relationships quickly
• Experience working with databases or volunteer management systems
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively across teams
• Understanding of safeguarding and confidentiality principles
• Good IT skills including Microsoft 365

Desirable

• Experience working in the charity sector
• Knowledge of volunteer management systems (e.g. Assemble)
• Experience supporting training or group facilitation
• Interest in animal welfare, assistance dogs or medical research

Other Requirements

• Willingness to travel occasionally to attend recruitment events or meetings

Diversity, Equality & Inclusion

We are a welcoming, diverse and inclusive charity. Medical Detection Dogs thrives when everyone feels comfortable bringing their best self to work. We celebrate difference, whilst striving to create an environment where colleagues feel respected and valued for their unique potential. We are committed to our values on equity, diversity, and inclusion.

To Apply

If you feel you are a suitable candidate and would like to work for Medical Detection Dogs, please do not hesitate to apply.

Grow is a youth development charity working with 16-24 year olds facing significant challenges in Sheffield. Many young people we work with experience mental health difficulties that have resulted in social isolation and a lack of engagement in work or training prospects. Our programmes combine coaching with gardening and nature-based activities to help our trainees combat social isolation, boost their wellbeing and develop employability skills.

For our full candidate pack which introduces you to Grow, our strategy and how we work, as well as a full role description please visit our website.

Role Description

As our Programme Assistant and Volunteer Coordinator, you will be the driving force behind Grow’s Training and Employability Programmes. You will guide trainees from their first referral through to their next steps beyond Grow whilst also developing a strong, purposeful volunteering programme to support the work that we do. If you are passionate about working with young people and are interested in supporting volunteers in their role, then please read on.

Programme Design & Delivery

Manage the referral pathway, acting as the primary point of contact for Sheffield-based partners and arranging pre-visits for prospective trainees.

Lead the welcoming process, introducing young people to Grow’s nature-based programmes, coaching culture and mission.

Handle all enrolment paperwork, trainee assessments, and the establishment of coaching contracts.

Programme Delivery & Support

Provide coaching and practical support during training sessions, ensuring young people are engaged and safely transported onto our green space.

Assist Training Managers in delivering core coaching modules and contribute to the evolution of programme resources.

Lead 'Next Steps' support, providing external signposting and organising events for our alumni community.

Volunteer Management

Develop and execute a volunteering strategy that aligns with Grow’s goals.

Coordinate the recruitment, induction, and scheduling of volunteers. You will oversee the quality of their 1-to-1 coaching by reviewing logs and providing constructive feedback.

Ensure all volunteers are fully briefed on safeguarding and health and safety policies and have completed all core training.

Oversee the DBS administration process, ensuring timely checks and accurate record‐keeping

Operations & Impact

Track impact data and trainee progress to support the Head of Programmes & Impact in assessing overall success.

Maintain rigorous health and safety standards by completing and updating risk assessments.

Participate in trainee interviews and assist with disciplinary procedures when necessary. 

We are seeking a proactive, organised and relationship-focused Community & Volunteer Events Coordinator to lead the coordination and delivery of community projects, family activities and volunteer engagement opportunities across Camden and Islington.

This is a hands-on operational role focused on strengthening community connections, increasing family engagement and supporting inclusive, welcoming activities for families accessing our services.

The postholder will coordinate a varied programme of projects, groups and events while building positive relationships with community partners, venues and local stakeholders. They will play an important role in identifying opportunities for collaboration, reducing barriers to participation and supporting innovative approaches to community engagement.

Barnardo's have a great opportunity for a friendly, organised, and enthusiastic Volunteer Co-ordinator to join the team at Rugby Children and Family Centres and help make a real difference in the community.

• This is a permanent, part-time position (18.5 hours per week), typically worked across three days between 8.30am and 4.30pm, Monday to Friday. There may also be occasional opportunities to work additional hours on an ‘as and when' basis.

As Volunteer Co‑ordinator, you'll also have the opportunity to get out into the community—attending local events, promoting our services, and encouraging others to get involved. You'll work closely with the Early Years and Children's Lead, supporting the Family Voice forum and helping ensure families' voices are heard. As this role involves travelling across the local area, access to your own transport will be important.

• You'll be based at either Boughton Leigh or Claremont Children and Family Centre, with some flexibility to work from home when appropriate.

This post requires:

• Knowledge and understanding of good practice when working with volunteers
• good organisational skills
• experience of leading a team and line-management responsibilities for volunteers
• Working knowledge/ experience of word processing, spreadsheets, data bases and other commonly used software. Experience of using virtual platforms to facilitate virtual meetings/training is also desirable.
• an excellent understanding of child protection and safeguarding-  particularly with a view to vetting new volunteers.
• excellent communication skills especially with external agencies – delivering talks and presentations to promote volunteering opportunities.

Barnardo's is proud to deliver Children and Family Centre services across Warwickshire, working in partnership with a wide range of local organisations. Together, we offer a variety of activities and support for children, young people, and their families. Our aim is simple but powerful: to help families thrive, grow in confidence, and build the resilience they need for life.

If you're passionate about supporting families and enjoy working with people, this is a fantastic opportunity to be part of a service that truly makes a difference in the community.

 Please note due to the high volume of applications for some posts, this advert might close before the displayed closing date.  We recommend that you apply for this role as soon as possible