Events Coordinator

Why we need you  

When a child is diagnosed with cancer it threatens everything, for them and their family. At a time when they should be busy being children, enjoying their rollercoaster teenage years or finding their feet at university, life becomes full of fear. Fear of treatment, but also of families being torn apart, of overwhelming money worries, mental health stretched to breaking point, of having nowhere to turn, no one to talk to.  

At Young Lives vs Cancer, we get that. We are the charity that helps children and young people (0-25) and their families find the strength to face whatever cancer throws at them.  

The Young Lives vs Cancer team work in the Royal Marsden Hospital supporting children and young people with cancer and their families including post bereavement support. We carry out events through the year to provide opportunities for support and to meet their peers. These events are really valuable to our families, however they take a lot of organising. That’s where you come in. Could you give up to 4 hours a week, with some flexibility, to coordinate our events, this would include, researching locations, inviting families, attending events to set up space and welcome attendees and supporting to ensure events run smoothly.   

What you’ll be doing  

You’ll be working directly with our families who are known to the Young Lives vs Cancer Service at the Royal Marsden Hospital along with partner organisations to organize and ensure smooth running of events.   

Your role will be both coordinating and organizing in advance of the event and attending on the day to provide support.  

About you   

• You’ll need to be well organised in managing information and communicating with different audiences. You’ll be computer literate – basic Excel, Word and MS Teams knowledge (not expert!).   

• You’ll need to be confident in approaching conversations with new people, good listening and confident communication skills – you’ll be empathic and compassionate and able to hold challenging and sometimes emotionally-charged conversations.   

• You’ll have strong relationship management skills, the ability to make people you are talking to feel at ease and supported, with the intuition to capture relevant and/or important information that may need passing onto Social Workers/Volunteer Manager  

• You’ll understand and be able to manage your own boundaries and be able to adhere to confidentiality requirements  

• You’ll have the ability to look after your wellbeing and seek support when needed.  

Any or all of the following would be desirable but not essential  

• Experience of working with children and young adults (0-24).   

• Experience of working in psycho-social environment or holistic support service.   

• Experience organising and/or facilitating small scale events.  

• Some understanding of the experience of children and families affected by cancer.  

Your availability  

This is a new role so we are looking at how we can make it work for everyone, we estimate up to 4 hours a week, but please do keep in mind:  

• Events can be held during evenings and weekends.  

• Dates need to flexible, and you would likely be busier in the run up to an event but with weeks off between events.  

We ask for a minimum 12-month commitment (with understanding that circumstances change) with the hope you want to stay longer.