Purpose of the Post
The Llangollen and Corwen Railway is one of the UK's leading heritage railways and visitor attractions, set in the spectacular Dee Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in North Wales.
The Railway has ambitious plans for growth, development and long-term sustainability. Strengthening and diversifying our volunteer workforce is central to achieving these ambitions. As one of the largest providers of volunteering opportunities in North Wales, our volunteers are at the heart of everything we do, operating trains, maintaining infrastructure, welcoming visitors, restoring historic rolling stock and supporting our charitable objectives.
The Volunteer Coordinator will play a pivotal role in delivering this vision by leading the recruitment, development, support and retention of our volunteers, ensuring they enjoy a rewarding experience whilst helping to secure the future of the Railway. The post will also oversee the delivery of the externally funded Train for Change programme, helping to broaden participation, remove barriers to volunteering and create opportunities for people from all backgrounds to engage with the Railway.
Key Responsibilities
The Volunteer Coordinator will:
- Lead the recruitment, induction and onboarding of new volunteers across a wide range of operational, engineering, heritage, visitor services and support roles.
- Develop clear volunteer pathways, coordinating mentoring arrangements and supporting volunteers to progress within the organisation.
- Foster a positive volunteer experience through effective communication, engagement, supervision, recognition and wellbeing initiatives.
- Support volunteer safeguarding through the coordination of DBS checks, risk assessments and safe systems of work.
- Work with colleagues to develop and enhance volunteer accommodation to improve recruitment, engagement and long-term retention.
- Manage the Heritage Operations Processing System (HOPS), including volunteer recruitment records, competence management, volunteer hours, rostering and operational administration.
- Work collaboratively with operational departments to ensure volunteering supports the Railway's strategic objectives and operational resilience.
- Manage programme budgets, including training costs, volunteer support payments and delivery resources.
- Prepare reports, monitoring information and evaluation evidence for funders, Trustees and senior management.
- Contribute to funding claims, grant monitoring returns and programme evaluation.
- Support the ongoing development of the Railway's volunteering policies, procedures and long-term volunteering strategy.
- Undertake any other duties appropriate to the level and purpose of the post.
Train for Change Programme Responsibilities
This role is part-funded through external grant funding. The successful postholder will be responsible for delivering the Railway's commitments under the Train for Change programme by:
- Delivering the programme in accordance with the approved funding agreement, timetable, outputs and outcomes.
- Recruiting, inducting, supporting and retaining volunteers, with particular emphasis on engaging under-represented groups and those facing barriers to volunteering.
- Promoting and supporting Welsh language engagement throughout programme delivery.
- Developing and maintaining effective partnerships with referral agencies, education providers, community organisations and voluntary sector partners.
- Delivering outreach activities that increase participation from priority communities.
- Ensuring volunteering opportunities are accessible and inclusive through the implementation of reasonable adjustments and barrier reduction measures.
- Coordinating accredited learning opportunities, including liaison with awarding organisations, tutors and delivery partners.
- Working with volunteers and stakeholders to co-design and continuously improve volunteering opportunities and programme delivery.
- Monitoring progress against agreed outputs and outcomes and providing timely information to support grant reporting and evaluation.
Essential Requirements
The successful applicant must:
- Hold a full, valid UK driving licence and be willing to travel as required to support outreach activities, partnership working, volunteer engagement and other Railway business.
- Be willing to work flexibly, including occasional evenings, weekends and Bank Holidays, to meet the operational needs of the Railway and support volunteer activities.
Salary and Conditions of Service
- Salary: £28,000 - £30,000 per annum, dependent upon experience.
- The contractual working week is 37.5 hours. Due to the operational nature of the Railway, employees are required to attend work for 40 hours per week, which includes a daily unpaid lunch break.
- Annual leave entitlement is 28 days per year, inclusive of all statutory Bank and Public Holidays. The leave year runs from 1 April to 31 March.
- The Trust operates a Company Sick Pay Scheme, available following successful completion of the probationary period.
- The appointment is subject to a three-month probationary period, during which employment may be terminated by one month's notice on either side.
How to Apply
To request an application pack, please email [email protected].
Recruitment Timetable
- Application Deadline: Friday 31 July
- Interviews: Wednesday 5 August
- Proposed Start Date: Monday 17 August
The Llangollen Railway Trust is committed to equality of opportunity and welcomes applications from all suitably qualified candidates. We particularly encourage applications from groups currently under-represented within the heritage railway sector.
The Llangollen Railway Trust is committed to equality of opportunity and welcomes applications from all suitably qualified candidates. We particularly encourage applications from groups currently under-represented within the heritage railway sector.
Pay: £28,000.00-£30,000.00 per year
Benefits:
Work Location: In person
