Location: London (with some remote/online working) Hours: 1 day per week (flexible – to be agreed) initially funded to December 2027 Reporting to: Team Leader Salary: £33,000 pro rata Closing date: 15th May 2026 Interview date: 6th June 2026 (London)
Rainbow Communities is a small, ambitious, and community-led LGBT+ charity supporting vulnerable LGBT+ people across London and the UK. Our work focuses particularly on older LGBT+ individuals, including those living with dementia, carers, and those needing befriending who are experiencing loneliness or exclusion as well as community activities and projects.
We deliver a range of services through our trained volunteers, including:
Befriending and Peer support groups (online and face-to-face)
Community activities, befriending through social connection (e.g. Coffee & Chat, Sunday lunch)
1:1 befriending and support as required
Outreach and partnership work, including in person.
Our volunteers and Ambassadors are at the heart of everything we do.
Purpose of the Role
As directed by the Team leader, the Volunteer Coordinator will play a key role in increasing diversity, screening, recruiting, supporting, organising, and developing our volunteer team to ensure high-quality, safe, and inclusive services for LGBT+ people.
This role is central to maintaining and growing our volunteer-led model, ensuring volunteers feel valued, supported, and equipped to deliver impactful services.
Key Responsibilities
Volunteer Coordination & Support
Coordinate day-to-day deployment of volunteers across services, including 1:1 support, groups, and events
Act as a first point of contact for volunteers, providing guidance, support, and regular communication
Support senior volunteers, known as Ambassadors, in leading activities and projects
Ensure volunteers feel valued, included, and connected to the organisation
Recruitment & Onboarding
Lead volunteer recruitment campaigns to attract a wide range of volunteers and interests, reflective of the diverse nature of the LGBT+ community
Coordinate onboarding processes, including interviews, references, volunteer DBS checks and volunteer induction
Maintain a positive and inclusive recruitment experience
Training & Development
Organise and coordinate volunteer training (including safeguarding, dementia awareness, health and safety, data protection and LGBT+ inclusion) and develop training linked to the Open College network
Identify development opportunities for volunteers and Ambassadors
Support progression pathways within volunteering roles
Systems & Administration
Maintain accurate volunteer records using BeaconCRM and DBS records
Track volunteer activity, availability, and engagement
Ensure compliance with safeguarding, data protection, and organisational policies
Service & Programme Support
The Post Holder will require an enhanced DBS check
Work closely with staff and partners to match volunteers with service users
Support the delivery of community activities and outreach programmes
Help coordinate logistics for events such as Coffee & Chat sessions and Sunday lunches
Partnership & Community Engagement
Build positive relationships with partner organisations
Support outreach to increase awareness of services and volunteering opportunities
Represent Rainbow Communities as appropriate, including in person.
General Responsibilities
Uphold the values of equity, inclusion, respect, and empowerment
Work flexibly, including occasional evenings or weekends (by agreement)
Contribute to a small team environment, supporting wider organisational needs where required
Person Specification – Essential Criteria
Experience
Experience of coordinating or managing volunteers, staff, or community groups
Experience working with LGBT+ communities or other marginalised groups
Experience of delivering or supporting community-based services
Skills & Knowledge
Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build relationships with a wide range of people, in person as appropriate.
Excellent organisational and coordination skills
Ability to manage multiple priorities in a small, fast-paced organisation
Understanding of safeguarding and working with vulnerable adults
Confident using digital systems (e.g. CRM systems such as BeaconCRM, or willingness to learn)
Personal Attributes
Passionate about supporting LGBT+ communities, particularly older people
Empathetic, inclusive, and non-judgemental approach
Proactive and able to work independently
Flexible and adaptable in a developing organisation
Strong commitment to equality, equity, diversity, and inclusion
Desirable Criteria
Experience working with older people or those living with dementia
Knowledge of issues affecting LGBT+ carers
Experience in a small charity or start-up environment
Experience supporting peer support or befriending services
Understanding of volunteer best practice and retention strategies
Other Requirements
Willingness to undergo an enhanced DBS check
Commitment to the values and mission of Rainbow Communities
Location: London Responsible to: Named Trustee of Rainbow Communities Salary: £35,000 pro rata Contract: Initial 2 year fixed term contract TBC Closing date: 15th May 2026 Interview date: 6th June 2026 (London)
Working with our community partner Sustainable Communities. The role will support the Trustees to achieve the charity’s aims and performance objectives, provide community and care member services and events, including:
volunteer recruitment, development, training and support,
fundraising,
staff support and supervision,
public relations and partnerships,
safeguarding, data protection, EEDI and health
& safety in line with the charity’s policies and values
Background
Rainbow Communities is a small, new but energetic and ambitious ‘by-and-for’ LGBT+ charity which supports and empowers vulnerable LGBT+ people living across London and the UK. Most of their services are provided by our trained volunteers who support our members or enable peer to peer support as well as by signposting to partner’s services. We empower individuals and local community groups by understanding and working on what is important to them. We want to be there for people when they need us most. We do this through our volunteer support to provide our peer support groups, our online community, our community engagement and outreach programmes, 1:1 support services as required and our partnerships. Our services are mainly London based and include;
supporting LGBT+ persons living with dementia,
the LGBT+ Carers of those living with dementia,
lonely and isolated or excluded LGBT+ people needing befriending,
We offer on line and face to face peer support, some 1:1 services and community projects, e.g. a weekly Coffee and Chat for health meetings and a monthly Sunday lunch in central London.
As well as our experienced Board of Trustees, we have an energetic small part time staff team including self-employed sessional staff, specialist associates and a committed group of over 30 trained volunteers and Ambassadors. Ambassadors are senior volunteers who lead or organise projects or activities. The charity is currently implementing Beacon crm as its case management system.
We are looking for someone with strong people and communication skills (working with staff, volunteers, service users and partners) and excellent organisational skills. You will be required to coordinate a variety of volunteers, groups and outreach work and proactively form relationships by numerous methods including in person.
This is a unique opportunity for a passionate and flexible community-minded person with knowledge and experience of management and of supporting the LGBT+ community to deploy their skills within our operation. Currently based in Covent Garden London, and working on a hybrid basis, the role will involve supporting and managing our small staff and volunteer team as well as increasing numbers of members and volunteers, assisting with implementing systems, fundraising and developing new services and partnerships that enhance our offer to members and develop our peer to peer approach to involve more members.
Key areas of responsibility
The Team Leader will be responsible for increasing diversity, consolidating and developing our existing work involving dementia, befriending through social connection and community projects across London, and developing other areas of work agreed with The Board of Trustees to operate either in or outside of London.
This will include developing and expanding both our volunteer scheme and membership , supervising staff and sessional workers, implementing and developing systems and processes, community projects and partnerships with a focus on volunteer development and a pro-active approach to Service User engagement. They will also play a key role in fundraising.
Key Responsibilities
Be a strong advocate for Rainbow Communities delivery, increasing diversity, representing the charity in person and strengthening its strategic direction at key stakeholder events.
Provide day-to-day leadership and manage the day-to-day operation of the charity’s services, ensuring they meet organisational objectives, funder’s KPI’s and the needs of service users.
Promote and ensure that the service is managed in accordance with its governing document, policies, procedures, Code of Conduct and values.
Demonstrate a proactive approach to resolving barriers to achieving the charity’s objectives with other professionals and services.
Develop and share ideas for service innovation, exploring options for implementation locally.
Ensuring services provide practical and emotional support to all service users, including those presenting with multiple and complex challenges.
Monitor service quality and outcomes, identifying opportunities for improvement and development.
Line manage staff providing, regular performance reviews, annual appraisal reviews, and ongoing guidance, support and development.
Provide each staff member and sessional workers with monthly performance and case management supervision to ensure that great performance is recognised; and that poor performance, and welfare issues affecting performance, are addressed.
Identify training needs and ensure staff access appropriate development opportunities.
Promote a positive, inclusive, and supportive working environment for all.
Provide routine performance and delivery reports to the Trustees, funders and stakeholders as appropriate so that they can assess the overall performance of the service.
Deliver training and presentations as appropriate in partnership with staff and Trustees
Maintain up-to-date knowledge of legislation, national and local policies and procedures in relation to the scope of the service
Keep abreast of issues, challenges and developments that may affect the LGBT+ community
Attend and partake in partnership meetings, attending strategic and operational working groups as appropriate.
Engage in community engagement activities, including in person.
Demonstrate a proactive approach to resolving barriers to achieving the charity’s objectives with other professionals and services.
Develop and share ideas for service innovation, exploring options for implementation locally.
Rainbow Communities is committed to keeping children and vulnerable adults safe. The Post holder is responsible for promoting and safeguarding the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and will require an enhanced DBS check.
Act as a safeguarding lead, ensuring robust safer recruitment processes are followed and policies, procedures, and training are in place and followed by staff and volunteers.
Ensure accurate records are maintained.
Respond appropriately to safeguarding concerns and liaise with external agencies where required.
Ensure compliance with health and safety legislation and organisational policies including risk assessments and incident reporting.
Carry out and review risk assessments and ensure incidents are reported and managed appropriately.
Lead on agreed smaller scale fundraising activities and assisting with larger funding applications.
Contribute to positive relationship-building with funders, donors, and supporters.
Monitoring and reporting as required.
Develop and maintain effective links and partnerships with statutory bodies, other agencies, voluntary organisations, and community groups, both as an individual and as a service; developing protocols, referral procedures, skills sharing and joint working with external partners as appropriate.
Work collaboratively on projects aiming to tackle discrimination and remove barriers to LGBT+ people thriving in London.
Represent and promote the charity professionally in person at meetings, events, and within the community, as appropriate.
Contribute to raising the profile and reputation of the charity.
Ensure services operate in line with organisational policies, legal requirements, and best practice.
Provide reports and updates to Trustees as required.
Maintain accurate records and ensure services operate in line with organisational policies and legal requirements.
Support staff and volunteers in the accurate use of the Beacon electronic case management system and ensure it is used consistently for all their work.
Ensure that the required data is recorded on the Beacon case management system, so that the evaluation, performance management and service learning is maximised.
Supervision sessions will be recorded on the case management supervision pro- forma, and form part of the quality assurance and staff support and supervision processes.
Ensure that case files and records are accurate and complete, submitted at the appropriate data collection milestones and that both are kept and are in compliance with General Data Protection Regulations 2018 (GDPR), the UK Data Protection Act 2018
Maintain an accurate and secure audit trail of all relevant communication in compliance with GDPR 2018.
Adhere to the Data Protection and Freedom of Information Acts and comply with the terms of our IT and Data protection policies, and that of our partners where relevant.
Comply with security measures in accordance with our policies and our E- mail and Internet use.
Maintain the highest standards of record keeping including electronic data entry and recording, report writing and responsible exercise of professional self- governance.
Promote Rainbow Communities’ Equality, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Policy (EEDI) and Code of Conduct and carry out duties and responsibilities with due regard to these polices at all times.
Engage with LGBT+ communities to discuss their concerns and needs and develop ways to address them.
Promote anti-discriminatory practice in ways that are consistent with professional legislative frameworks and our policies.
Embed considerations around diversity and inclusion into our engagement with customers and stakeholders.
Ongoing review of Marketing and Communications strategies aimed at staff, customers and stakeholders in order to ensure they reflect the needs and interests of different groups in society.
In common with all staff, you have a responsibility for your own personal and professional development and training, and for drawing attention to your own training needs as well as those of colleagues that you work with.
Attend management meetings as directed by line manager.
Undertake other duties as may be required which are commensurate with the grade and nature of the post.
Cover for other posts as appropriate.
All staff are expected to maintain a flexible approach to their roles and respond to Rainbow Communities ’s changing needs. The responsibilities of this post may be changed subject to review, over a period of time. This will be done in consultation with the post holder.
This role, in common with other staff at Rainbow Communities, will be expected to display a range of competencies specific to their grade and area of work. These will be measured during annual performance appraisals, and there will be an expectation that staff will be able to evidence the ways in which they have met these competencies over the course of the year.
This position will require the staff member to be flexible including working outside of standard office hours – including evenings and the occasional weekend.
