Schools Liaison Volunteer Required
A central aim of the Cobham Conservation & Heritage Trust is to ensure dissemination of knowledge about the local area and its history to residents and visitors of all ages. Our youngest residents can particularly benefit from links made between local history and their subject curriculum at school. Since 2011 there has been a continuous programme of contact with schools via visits, talks, workshops, partnership with Elmbridge Museum’s Schools Scheme, fundraising and conservation projects and the development of a quarterly Junior newsletter delivered free to three local primary schools.
The role of Schools Liaison officer is carried out by one of our Trustees, Lynne Randell, supported by a Trust member, Maggie Brine. However, we would like to be able to offer more time and energy to forge links with a broader range of local schools, and to offer a more regular and reliable programme of events as well as access to heritage knowledge and resources for teachers. The role of Schools Liaison volunteer would offer an opportunity for someone to actively engage with school children to raise their awareness of and pride in their local history and to educate them about conservation issues. It would be ideal for an undergraduate History student or Gold DofE candidate, or someone looking for some volunteering experience towards teaching/history/conservation career plans during a gap year. There is scope to mould the role and be innovative in your approach in order to achieve our agreed goals.
Job description:
- Communication with the Trustees and delivery of agreed liaison tasks
- Use of photographic and documented historical information for the purposes of education and enjoyment
- Generation of workshops that fit with curriculum needs
- Liaison with school staff
- Speaking at educational or other settings where young people attend
- Liaising with other organisations such as Elmbridge Museum and Leisure Services as appropriate
- Reporting to Schools Liaison Trustee
- Being available for visits and activities both indoors and outdoors during school hours (no set hours per week but availability on at least two days preferable)
- Commitment to a year in the first instance
Qualities & skills necessary:
- Enthusiasm, energy and skill in engaging children
- Love of history and conservation
- Ability to creatively communicate with others
- Good verbal and written presentation skills
- Word processing and power-point skills
- Time and interest to develop talks and workshops using local heritage resources and broader historical information
- Ability to work independently on a project and see it through
- Up to date DBS check
Interested applicants to contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
