Volunteer Opportunities

Interview and Onboard Adult Literacy Students

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Any new students are usually quite anxious. It’s a huge step for them to seek help for something they are ashamed of and have been shamed about. For this reason, this is a critically important role.

Because they have built up courage to call the Rural Youth and Adult Literacy Trust in the first place, we need kind and patient interviewers who are able to quickly put them at ease.

Interviewing students is a two-step process. The first call is to fill out the student interview form and chat, to build rapport, get information and make them feel relaxed about the whole process. The second call is to conduct a running record once the student has received the reading material in the mail.

Join our small dedicated team of student interviewers, and help us to give the students a warm welcome and provide information which helps us personalise their learning and match them to a volunteer literacy coach.

The process:

  1. New students’ details are posted on a noticeboard.
  2. If you are available to do that student, you put your hand up.
  3. It is really important we get the students interviewed as quickly as possible, so we have a small team of interviewers (3-4) working together. This helps to ensure that there is no pressure on our volunteer interviewers and keeps the time commitments flexible.
  4. You post the progress on the noticeboard (eg. If you have got hold of them, when the first interview is, etc.)
    We provide a phone app that you can put on your mobile phone so that the interview calls won’t cost you anything. Messaging with the team is mainly done via Slack, which is similar to whatsapp/facebook messenger.
    This is a profoundly fulfilling role. One of our interviewers said, ‘I quickly became interested in the back stories of new learners and how they had slipped through the education system for many different reasons, and realised that I enjoyed the interactions and conversations that I had with them along the way.
Requirements:

Teaching experience required.
Experience with running records would be helpful. Would suit someone with primary teaching or adult literacy training.
Basic skills with technology – able to use Zoom and our messaging service, Slack. (If you can use facebook messenger or whatsapp, you will have no trouble with Slack.)
Warm and friendly approach.
Excellent interpersonal skills and communication manners.
Reliable and committed.
Quick to respond to the task.
Good confident telephone manner.
Good understanding and pronunciation of English.

A Police background check is required for this role.

Time commitment:

Flexible hours. Each call takes around an hour.
This role is long-term and not suitable for people seeking employment. We have other short-term roles available.

Getting started:
The first step is to express your interest by filling out the form below. We will then put you in touch directly with the organisation for more information on the role and how to proceed.

Ref: 1116

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In applying for this position I confirm that I have read the requirements of the position and believe I have the skills and attributes required to carry out this role safely and effectively.

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