Volunteer Coordinator

This is an exciting time to join Union Chapel as we have just launched the capital works to refurbish our Sunday School Hall into as a state-of-the-art arts and heritage centre, hosting first-class creative engagement programmes co-created with local communities around Union Chapel's unique heritage and archive, due to reopen to the public in September 2025. Supported by a range of funders including the National Lottery Heritage Fund, this new space will further position Union Chapel as a unique organisation, bringing culture, community, social justice and heritage together in union; and the work is starting now!

If you can dedicate at least 4 hours per week for 3 months, volunteer with us to help shape and deliver this exciting programme.

The Volunteering Coordinator (Voluntary role) is a key point of contact for our Sunday School Stories Project, supporting our Participation Manager on recruiting and coordinating volunteers across our heritage-led, community arts programme.
The Volunteer Coordinator will promote a 'culture of volunteering' ensuring our volunteers and participants are looked after and feel welcomed, as well as being an important part of an active, vibrant and inclusive community which reflects the rich diversity of Islington and Union Chapel's legacy.

About You:

• Excellent communication skills and willingness to liaise with a wide range of people from different walks of life
• Ability to multitask
• Good attention to detail
• Excellent time management skills
• Flexible and creative approach to problem solving
• Passionate about heritage: arts, culture, social justice and community
• Highly empathetic and a team player individual

Benefits:

• Professional Reference to support future employment opportunities
• A wide range of experience and an opportunity to make your mark
• Mentoring, support and feedback
• An opportunity to make a difference
• Access to Union Chapel Guest list to attend shows and events (subject to availability)
• Refreshments
• Networking

Frequency & Time Involved:

• To be able to commit to a 4h weekly shift: it can be 1 afternoon/1 morning; open to extra shifts (availability to be discussed)
• 3 months minimum commitment with the possibility to extend

Job Responsibilities
Main Responsibilities:

• To provide administrative support to our Participation Manager on:
• Recruiting, scheduling and planning volunteering and participation opportunities across the Sunday School Stories Project programme
• Providing support on Project Evaluation: surveys and data collection, data input on master system, field work
• Printing and filing materials across the programme
• Events assistance
• Liaising with a wide range of participants from our target communities in Islington: Refugees & Asylum Seekers, people experiencing homelessness, LGBTQ+, vulnerable families, youth, elderly
• Liaising with: Union Chapel team and Sunday School Stories Project external partners

How to Apply:

Please email your CV & Covering letter by Monday 4 November.
In your letter, please describe: 
• your availability to start and commitment to volunteer regularly 
• your main reasons and motivations to volunteer with us, including any 
relevant experience if you have any.

More Context:

Union Chapel is home to a unique multi award-winning arts venue, with a reputation for international 
cultural events engaging diverse audiences. For over 30 years, events have been our lifeblood, annually 
engaging 123,000+ visitors through 175 events.
Union Chapel is more than a venue. A Grade I listed Gothic architectural jewel and key heritage space with 
a rich history and archive, it is home to secular projects tackling homelessness and social justice, including 
empowering local communities with support, creative activities, and training and employability 
programmes. It is also the home to a working, progressive and inclusive church. Profits from events directly 
support our vital charitable work with local communities and we are a model of good practice for 
community engagement – epitomised by our Margins Café, run by hospitality trainees with lived 
experience of homelessness, serving meals both for the community drop-in service, and for audience 
members prior to events