Project Officer, Literacy Champions (Doncaster / Yorkshire and Humber)
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£26,000 per year. Full‑time, 35 hours per week. Maternity cover until end of December 2026. Based in Doncaster as a home‑working role.
What you’ll be doing
2026 will be a National Year of Reading, a once‑in‑a‑generation UK‑wide campaign to engage new audiences in reading and change the national reading culture for good. The National Literacy Trust will lead, develop and coordinate the Year, ensuring a powerful and engaging national campaign that redefines reading for a new generation.
A core part of our plans is to mobilise thousands of volunteers across the country through our own Literacy Champions project, identifying, training and supporting volunteers to promote literacy in their local area. This may be in person or online and includes everything from community book‑swaps and reading corners, to setting up homework clubs and creating videos.
In this maternity cover role you will coordinate this work across the Yorkshire and Humber region, identifying and engaging organisations and volunteer groups, and providing training and support so they can become Literacy Champions. You will also work with first‑time volunteers who sign up to support the National Year of Reading.
This is an opportunity to build a new network of volunteers from the ground up. You will work alongside our existing local teams based in your region with the support of our central volunteering team, and be part of a network of colleagues doing a similar role in each of the nine English regions.
Alongside this regional activation you will also oversee the delivery of our Literacy Champions project as part of the development and delivery of our Literacy Hub in Doncaster. A Hub is a place‑based response to the challenges of intergenerational low literacy, working with a range of partners to shape and deliver activity as part of a local strategy. Our Doncaster Hub was launched in 2020 and focuses on Key Stage 2 primary school children and early years, supporting children and families in priority wards in the town and working closely with schools and community settings. You will be responsible for working within target communities across the town, and will develop new strategies for recruiting, developing and supporting volunteers, and mobilising key local partnerships to support these.
You will be based in Doncaster, working from home with regular local travel across the Yorkshire and Humber region, and national travel when necessary. This will include coming to London three times per year for our regular staff days, as well as induction, and three team days per year that take place in other locations. All travel expenses will be covered.
What we’re looking for
You will be experienced in recruiting, training and supporting volunteers, and providing project support in a charity or educational context. You will also have experience of working with early years settings, schools or community organisations, and good knowledge of safeguarding practice in this context.
Experience of community mobilisation, and developing resources and training materials, would be an advantage, as would excellent knowledge of literacy issues.
You will need to live in Doncaster and have an excellent understanding of its communities and families. Due to the nature of delivery, you will need a full clean driving licence and access to your own vehicle. The role will also involve managing book stocks and other resources.
Why our work is so vital
Literacy changes everything. It gives you the tools to get the most out of life, and the power to shape your future. It’s the key to knowledge, confidence and inspiration. It’s better results at school, and better jobs. If children grow up without the tools to communicate, without books to read or opportunities to write, it’s harder to get where you want to go.
The National Literacy Trust is an independent charity helping people overcome these challenges and change their life chances through the power of words – reading, writing, speaking and listening. From first words, through school days to training, jobs and beyond.
We work collaboratively in local communities, focusing our work in 20 areas of the UK that are facing the biggest challenges.
We support schools, developing the most effective tools and techniques and providing resources and programmes to engage and inspire children.
We campaign to make literacy a priority for politicians and decision‑makers.
We support vulnerable adults, people in the criminal justice system and young offenders’ institutions to build their literacy skills.
What we offer you
Our team are passionate about our mission and we have a strong and positive working culture, based on shared values and respect. We offer a range of flexible working options and promote a workplace where you can be yourself and contribute to our success, whoever you are.
As well as a competitive salary, we offer benefits including a generous leave allowance totalling 39 days (including bank holidays and office closure between Christmas and New Year), pension contributions of 8% of annual salary, a cycle to work scheme, employee assistance programme and other health and wellbeing benefits.
We support flexible working and promote a workplace where you can be yourself and contribute to our success, whoever you are.
Our people are our most important asset and we value and respect diversity in all its forms (seen and unseen). We particularly welcome applications from those from Black and Asian backgrounds, as well as candidates with disabilities and from the communities in which we work. We would like to increase representation of these groups among our staff as we know greater diversity will lead to an even greater impact for our work.
To apply, please select the apply button shown.
Please note we do not accept CVs. No agencies or recruitment sites. Registered charity no. 1116260 (England and Wales) and SC042944 (Scotland).
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