Regional Adviser - London

Employer: Read Easy UK

Location: London (Greater), home-based

Salary: £14,160 + London weighting £1,911 (if applicable), (FTE salary £29,500 + London weighting)

Closing date: 6 Apr 2025

Sector: Charity and Not for Profit, Education and Childcare

Contract Type: Permanent, Flexible, Home

Working Hours: Part Time

One in 20 adults in the UK has never learnt to read at all, but it is never too late to learn. Read Easy UK is a volunteer organisation that delivers one-to-one reading coaching to adults aged from 18-88 through a network of affiliated, locally run volunteer groups.

As our London Regional Adviser, your aim would be to find volunteers to ‘pioneer’ four new groups in London, and then provide them and our 15 existing groups in the city with high-quality support. Your support will ensure that they provide the same for their volunteers and new Readers. This is a dynamic and rewarding role.

This is a part-time (18 hours per week) home-based post requiring flexibility, some early evening working, and occasional travel to visit groups.

Roles and Responsibilities

With established groups:

• Maintain regular contact with local Management Team Leaders to provide support and advice on an ongoing basis.
• Use this involvement to help solve problems and develop strategies to ensure a high-quality experience for both readers and volunteers in all groups.
• Facilitate an in-person annual Regional Forum for your volunteers.
• Host online video forums to encourage collaboration and provide induction for your volunteers.
• Participate in interviews for new Team Leaders.
• Work with groups to encourage expansion into neighbouring boroughs.
• Deliver occasional Management Team & Coordinator refresher training.

Support for new groups:

• Attend each group’s online Affiliation Meeting and advise groups on the appointment of Coordinators.
• Participate in interview panels for appointing new Coordinators.
• Organise and deliver Management Team and Coordinator Training.
• Provide continuing support and guidance as the Management Team sets up the new group.
• Network with other organisations and publicise Read Easy’s work in targeted areas.
• Be the first point of contact for people interested in taking up the Pioneer role and manage the application process.
• Conduct interviews and presentations with the potential Pioneers.
• Provide ongoing support and advice to Pioneers throughout the pioneering process.
• Help the Pioneer to run an information meeting, using an illustrated presentation about the work of the organisation.

In relation to Read Easy UK:

• Work closely with your line manager to ensure that all advice and support provided is in line with Read Easy guidelines and ethos.
• Work to help deliver REUK’s Strategic Plan, and report on progress against this on a monthly basis.
• Keep records of expenses, with receipts, and submit these to Read Easy UK on a monthly basis.
• Attend in-person full team meetings, often held in Central London, two-three times per year.
• Attend online Regional Adviser Team meetings (usually monthly).
• Contribute to the development of resources required to meet current local group needs.

Person Specification

• At least two years’ experience of supporting volunteers in an employed capacity.
• Excellent verbal communications skills.
• Competence in operating Microsoft Office programmes efficiently.
• Experience of running meetings and delivering presentations.
• Capacity to work flexibly during the week.
• Excellent attention to detail.
• Commitment to work collaboratively with Read Easy staff and volunteers.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to empathise.
• Ability to work on own initiative and as part of a team.
• Willingness to travel by public transport as necessary.
• Respect for our commitment to continually develop our EDI&B plans.
• Resilience, patience, and an ability to work cheerfully under pressure.
• Applicants must live within Greater London.
• Experience of running training.
• Experience of working in the field of adult literacy.
• Experience of working remotely as part of a national organisation.