Special Events Volunteer

Special Events volunteer

Location: London, UK Hybrid working(Canary Wharf office work and event locations - expenses covered)

Weekly hours: 7-14 hours

Length: Minimum 6 months with potential to be ongoing

About the Team:

The Community, Events and Education team sit within the Mass Engagement department.

The team manage and deliver a diverse portfolio of fundraising and engagement activity ranging from challenge events, our partnership with Glastonbury festival to community fundraising, our volunteer Speaker Network and an education engagement programme. The team delivers far more than income by deepening the engagement of new and existing supporters, raising awareness of WaterAid’s work.

The Special Events team are responsible for the management and delivery of unique festivals partnerships, and special events. 

The role will report to Volunteering and Events Administrator.

Purpose of Role:

The Special Events volunteer will play a key role in supporting the Special Events team.  You’ll help to maximise WaterAid’s income and raise awareness of our mission to ensure that everyone, everywhere has access to clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene.  You will primarily work on our festivals programme - including our long-standing partnership with Glastonbury Festival, with opportunity to assist with wider community events and team activities.

Across our portfolio we work with several major festivals to provide water and sanitation services, powered by volunteers. These events require a lot of preparation, from volunteer stewardship to expert logistical planning. This role will support the special events team prepare for our events though a variety of tasks, all to provide the best service possible and excellent experience for our volunteers.

This role will suit someone who wants to gain experience working in festivals and events, volunteer management and logistics, has strong administrative skills, is detail orientated and has an interest in overseas development.

The role is a hybrid role, with our office based in Canary Wharf.  You will also have the opportunity to be part of the festival team on site at Glastonbury Festival (Monday 23 – Monday 30 June 2025), as part of our volunteer support team.

Role accountabilities (these are a guide to the types of tasks you can support with, but tasks will be agreed between the volunteer and line manager on appointment).

• Assist in the stewardship of event volunteers, helping them prepare for upcoming events and thanking them for their support post event.
• Provide administrative support to ensure volunteers are fully prepared for their volunteer roles.
• Respond to participant enquiries and manage event inboxes.
• Help pack and unpacking event equipment before and after events.
• Work with the team to manage equipment at our storage unit in East London.
• Create and develop engaging content for our social media platforms including our volunteer Facebook groups.
• Maintain and update our volunteer database to ensure accurate records.
• Conduct research to source event materials and resources.
• Create and develop resources to support volunteer stewardship.
• Use your knowledge and skills to support at events.

Personal Specification:

Required Skills:

• Enthusiasm, energy and a positive approach to your work.
• Good team working skills.
• An interest in event management and festivals.
• Ability to work on your own, as well as part of a team.
• Good verbal and written communication skills, with good telephone manner.
• Good administration skills, with a close attention to detail.
• Good interpersonal skills, with the ability to inspire volunteers and communicate the difference their support makes.

Desirable Skills:

• Experience in community and events fundraising through working or volunteering in the charity sector in a previous role
• Experience working at events
• Experience in using a databa
• Understanding of and interest in overseas development
• Experience working in an office environment, using Microsoft Office packages

Role start date and end date:

• Mid-March
• Initial period of 6 months desired (until end of September 2025), with the potential for extension.
• We are happy to consider flexible volunteering options

References and checks:

• In order to apply for this post, you must be able to demonstrate your eligibility to volunteer in the UK. All our vacancies require two references and a basic Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check to comply with our Safer Recruitment policy, as well as an occupational health check.

Expenses

Expenses will be reimbursed on a monthly basis in accordance with our volunteering policy. As a guideline this may include:

• A meal allowance of up to £7 for lunch will be provided on office working days or when attending events.  (Food provided on site at Glastonbury Festival).
• Return travel costs to and from the office and for events.

Access

• WaterAid is an equal opportunity, disability-confident employer and committed to achieving the highest standards of diversity, fairness and equality. If you require any of this information in another format or would like any support or adjustments to apply, please get in contact.

We will also discuss reasonable adjustments once you have accepted the role.  

Application deadline:

• 3rd February 2025

Interview dates:

• week commencing 17th February

How to apply:

• Please email your CV with a cover letter (maximum 1 page)  or video (max 4 minutes) explaining your interest in applying for this role and why you are suitable for the role, with the subject line:  Special Events Volunteer Application to the email mentioned in the Job description. 
• ·kindly click apply to download the full job description    
• In your email, please indicate how many hours you can volunteer per week and how long you’re looking to volunteer for.

Our People Promise

We will work with passion and focus to ensure safe and sustainable water, toilets and hygiene are available to everyone, everywhere. WaterAid is a place of purpose – where people have a real commitment and shared responsibility for the impact we have.  We are a global community with diverse backgrounds and perspectives, motivated by inspiring, stimulating work. We are determined to put the wellbeing of our people first, to be a place where people feel safe and able to contribute their voice and truly live our values.    

Equal opportunities

We are an equal opportunity, disability-confident employer and are dedicated to achieving the highest standards of diversity, equity and inclusion. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, beliefs, customs, traditions and ways of life. This includes, but is not limited to, race, gender, disability, age, sexual orientation, religion, national or social origin, health status, and economic or social situation.

Safeguarding

We are also committed to protecting everyone we come into contact with. We have a zero tolerance approach to abuse of power, privilege or trust across our global work, and any form of inappropriate behaviour, discrimination, abuse, bullying, harassment, or exploitation. Safeguarding the people and communities we work with, our staff, volunteers and anyone working on our behalf is our top priority, and we take our responsibilities extremely seriously. All offers of employment are subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks (which can include counterterrorism, safeguarding and criminal records checks).