Volunteer Telford

Read Easy Telford and Shropshire East is affiliated to Read Easy UK, a national charity that helps adults learn to read and which has nearly 60 groups across England.

Read Easy Telford & Wrekin was established in 2019 and continues to grow to be a highly impactful local group with an increasing number of Reading Pairs (Reading Coach and Reader).

It is run by a hard-working, dedicated group of team members, all of whom are also volunteers.
The group is now seeking a new Literacy Specialist.

Our Literacy Specialists provide support with literacy issues to the Coordinator and Reading Coaches and assist in running the Reading Coach meetings.

Our volunteer Literacy Specialists feel a real sense of pride in giving practical solutions to their Coordinators and Reading Coaches.

Bounce and Rhyme volunteer.

Do you enjoy working with children?

Do you enjoy singing? Are you interested in introducing under 5s and their parents and carers to the pleasure of books and rhymes?

This could be the role for you.

The aim of the role is to lead a 30-minute singing and rhyme session for babies and children under 5 with their parents/carers. The sessions help children develop speech and language skills in a fun way and also has positive benefits for maternal mental health. This is an opportunity to make a difference to somebody’s day and have fun while you’re doing it.

As a volunteer you will be involved in leading a group of children, parents and carers in singing rhymes and songs. You will also set up the space for the activity.

You do not need to be musical or a singing expert, just have a willingness and enthusiasm to sing in public.

Due to the nature of this work, volunteers must be over 18 years of age.

Locations:

We have opportunities for this role in the following libraries:

- Newport Library

- Southwater Library

- Wellington Library

- Stirchley Community Library

- Donnington and Muxton Community Library

- Hadley Community Library.

Duties

To lead parents/carers and their children in singing and actions with a variety of nursery rhymes and songs.

Promote the library service.

Prepare for a session by putting out chairs, moving tables and rug etc.

Tidy and clear the area, putting furniture back at the end of a session.

The role of Gallery Assistant provides an opportunity to engage our visitors with one of the most important subjects for human history – the story of iron – from multiple perspectives including astrophysics, geology, biology and archaeology.  In addition to the main tasks outlined below, the role will include encouraging visitors to make a donation to support our charitable aims and supporting the exhibition evaluation process by gathering visitor feedback via feedback Forms

Main Tasks

To act as a meet and greet point for visitors to our 2024 temporary exhibition From Stars to Cells: The LiFe₂₆ of Iron, to monitor the gallery space and to assist visitors with interactives when required. 

To open the exhibition each morning and to lock up at the end of each day.

To welcome visitors to the exhibition gallery and keep an accurate log of visitor numbers.

To answer any questions the visitors may have about the exhibition or visitor facilities, or to signpost them towards someone who can answer it.

To gather visitor feedback via supplied forms.

To assist visitors with interactives in the gallery when required.

To monitor visitor activity in the gallery and contact security if required.

Location

The Coalbrookdale Gallery, located within our main offices at Coalbrookdale.

Coach Road
Telford
Shropshire
TF8 7DQ

We are looking for people who can ideally commit to one day per week.

Training

You will be provided with a brief that details the themes and subjects of the exhibition so that you can discuss it with our visitors. You will also be shown how to fulfil the main tasks of the role

Ironbridge Coracle Trust is a small, registered CIO (Charity No. 1161685) focused on telling the story of the Ironbridge Coracle and its relevance to the wonderful World Heritage Site of the Ironbridge Gorge.  The Trust was established in 2015 and now has a strong core of 8 Trustees with varying skills that they bring to the board.

In 2019 the Trust was successful in securing National Lottery Heritage Funding and the project will be completed by the end of October 2022. The project has enabled the Trust to restore the Old Coracle Shed, create a Coracle Man Sculpture, and a New Shed which is now a visitor attraction telling the story of Coracles in Ironbridge, and run a varied programme of community focused events.

As the project comes to an end, we need to look at sustainability of the Trust without the financial support of the Heritage Fund. This can only be achieved by growing our fundraising. Therefore, we are looking a new Trustee with Charity or Heritage Sector Fundraising experience to ensure our resilience post project.

The Role of the Trustee

Ironbridge Coracle Trustees share ultimate responsibility for governing the charity and directing how it is managed and run.

As a Trustee you will help develop and set the strategic aims, objectives, and direction of the charity. The skills and knowledge you bring will enhance the Board and support the Trust.

There is a core of Trustees who are very active in the delivery of events and organisational tasks, whilst others play a more strategic and guiding role.  All have something to offer the Trust.

Summary of Role: Ironbridge Coracle Trust (the Trust) is looking to appoint a new trustee with a professional background in charity fundraising to join Ironbridge Coracle’s Board of Trustees

Commitment: Flexible, initially we envisage more hours to help set up a fundraising strategy, but after this it may only take a few hours a month.

Fundraising Strategy

Once the project finishes at the end of October 22 the Trust will have no paid staff.  The Trust is currently clarifying its liabilities and developing a business plan for post project. The annual running costs are in the region of £7.5k- £10K with additional funding needing to be secured for discrete projects.

The Trust currently fundraises through a ‘mixed economy’ approach

- Sales of merchandise- (currently very limited)

- Sponsorship/ support from a local business

- Donations

- Events and activities including the annual Ironbridge Coracle Regatta

- Grants: four of the Trustees have experience in writing funding bids and as a small charity the Trust has been successful in raising funds this way.