Widening Participation Officer - Volunteer

Overview

The Widening Participation Officer oversees the recruitment and support of volunteers aged 16 to 18.

• The recruitment and support of volunteers aged 16 to 18 provides them with valuable volunteering experience and the charity with additional volunteers, especially available during holidays.

• The Widening Participation Officer needs to have experience in recruitment and volunteer management.

• Try to recruit, engage and support as many 16-18 year old volunteers as possible across all chapters, with particular focus on those that would benefit the most from additional WP volunteers, often chapters doing the most events.
• Work with the WP Subcommittee to provide admin support and ensure a suitable number of keen volunteers within the subcommittee to delegate tasks to, ensuring they are well informed, supported and any tasks followed up. This may involve messaging and occasional meetings.
• Conceptualise and write the policy for managing 16-18 year old volunteers, focusing on safeguarding. Gather input from the subcommittee and other Trustees/Officers as appropriate. Include sections on recruitment methods, required paperwork, risk assessments, and event management. Communicate these policies effectively to committee members and volunteers.
• Develop recruitment channels, including proactive outreach to schools/6th forms and establishing long-term connections with a named contact (e.g., head of year, head of medicine applications, or career progression advisor). Facilitate information flow to students through methods such as email, video, or in-person assemblies or training sessions.
• Build relationships with national bodies that provide volunteering or work experience to 16-18 year olds (e.g., In2
  
  Med School, Medic Mentor) to advertise volunteering opportunities to their students.
• Coordinate volunteer registration and Introduction Training sessions, with a WP-specific focus on benefits and support (e.g., Duke of Edinburgh hours).
• Provide ongoing support for volunteers through email updates, check-ins, social media posts, and training around key times such as university applications.
• Collaborate with the Conference Officer to ensure WP volunteers are supported in attending the Annual National Conference in a safe way and with talks of interest to them.