Community Library Volunteer — Connect & Inspire

Background

This role provides a fantastic opportunity to get involved with a truly groundbreaking project and the people who make use of it to help transport them from the reality of their circumstances through stories and connection.

After having to vacate our previous venue, excitedly, we're back with a new space, ready to grow and evolve this lifeline service.

Through Street reads, many people have rebuilt their confidence, reconnected with learning, and found hope for the future. Many people who access Street reads go on to support others, share their stories, and contribute to the community. Street reads is more than a library—it is an anchor in the community. We need your help to continue to run and grow this lifeline service, and to provide hope, healing, and human connection.

Street reads is a hub for connection, learning, and a place of hope for some of the most marginalised people in Edinburgh's community. Stories connect us all.

Our Library Assistant Volunteers will have the opportunity to lead in running our drop in sessions, help to facilitate different psycho-social groups, book cataloguing, book deliveries to accommodation services, and help with facilitating our drop‑in sessions at various free food spaces. There are many exciting ways to get involved as a Street reads volunteer. Volunteers have an opportunity to build connections with Street reads visitors – this could be having a chat about books and reading, playing board games, doing a jigsaw, allowing readers to relax in one of our reading nooks, collecting book requests, and notifying people of any upcoming events or workshops.

• Open and close the Library in line with the guidance document.
• Ensure the Library space is set up in the ‘Library’ formation and stocked with tea/coffee/milk and biscuits.
• Catalogue any new books that have been brought in.
• Organise new books on the bookshelves in line with the Street reads system.
• Put together any book requests for outreach venues or readers.
• Welcome people we support into the space, and feel comfortable.
• Provide information to people we support regarding upcoming events or workshops.
• Assist on an ad‑hoc basis with events and/or groups that Street reads is running.
• Act as an ambassador for the Street reads project and Simon Community Scotland as a whole.

Successful Street reads Library Assistant Volunteers will:

• Have the ability to work with people in a way that takes into consideration their individual and cultural beliefs without expressing personal opinion.
• Be able to approach your volunteering role and tasks with a flexible and non‑judgemental attitude.
• Be empathetic towards people we support.
• Have good communication and people skills.
• Enjoy meeting and interacting with people from diverse backgrounds.
• Some of our readers do not have English as their first language and therefore applications are sought from a culturally diverse audience.

We welcome volunteers to stay with us and continue to help us make a difference in people’s lives. 12 months would be the ideal minimum but we respect your time and commitment elsewhere. For this role we ask for a minimum commitment of 4 hours every fortnight.

Our recruitment follows the Safer Recruitment process, which means giving consideration to safeguarding arrangements at every step. We will ask you to attend an informal interview, provide us with two references and attend our Mini IMPACT training – a shortened version of our dynamic 5‑day staff programme.

• A full and comprehensive induction is provided for this role.
• In‑role training is available – we value our volunteers and want to ensure you are equipped with the skills you need to fulfil your role.
• Out of pocket expenses will be reimbursed in accordance with our Policy.
• Simon Community Scotland together with Volunteer Scotland and Disclosure Scotland will support you with the required PVG process.

For as little as four hours a week you have the chance to meet new people and be part of an amazing team who are passionate about what they do. Everything we do is about and for people: the people we support, our staff, our partners and everyone affected by homelessness. Each person involved brings their individual skills and creativity to the work we do.

This is a chance for you to make a real difference to the most vulnerable people within your community and pick up essential skills that are valuable to employers.

We would like people who care about people who receive our support and who are enthusiastic and able to respond flexibly to a role that can sometimes be challenging, but brings great rewards and satisfaction. We need you to be fully committed to Simon Community Scotland’s Mission and Core Values and adhere to our policies/procedures and Code of Practice.

If you need any help completing this form please contact us:
volunteering@simonscotland.