Mayoral Volunteers

Pen to Print is a creative writing project run in Barking and Dagenham libraries and organises creative writing classes, workshop and themed events.  It aims to create a writing community in Barking and Dagenham and hopes to widen the networks to other London Boroughs in the future.  Pen to Print have received funding from Arts Council, England as a National Portfolio Organisation, this is an organisation that exemplifies what The Arts Council, England is delivering through money raised by the National Lottery.

Volunteer roles will include:             

• Event Publicity, distributing publicity materials to the public and local organisations and businesses, putting internal marketing posters up in libraries and talking to people about the events.
• Steward events by registering attendance, collecting contact information in line with LBBD Data protection regulations, collecting audience information such as numbers attending the event and other relevant performance monitoring information.
• Steward events by welcoming audiences and making sure they can find a place to sit. At larger events this may include managing queues making sure everyone is happy and safe.
• Support in setting up rooms for the event including setting out furniture, displaying books, setting up pull-up banners, dressing the room etc
• Assisting the event facilitator/host by circulating around the audience with Mic’s to allow audiences to ask questions.
• Support by managing refreshments, laying out food and drinks, making sure that supplies are replenished, helping to serve food and drinks, clearing small spills.
• Support by assisting with breaking or closing down the event once it is finished by tidying away furniture and collecting litter, packing away materials etc to leave rooms/venues in good order.

These roles can allow you to progress to:

Overseeing the running of an event by hosting/facilitating/interviewing:

• Welcoming and Introducing artists to audiences at events and acting as a host.
• Interviewing artists at events, managing questions from the audience.
• Directing other volunteers in the running of an event.

Event Production:

• Assisting the Delivery Officer in sourcing artists and inviting them to take part in events, creating internal marketing, organising refreshments, sourcing books for sale, assisting with publicity for the evening. 
• Supporting the Social Media Apprentice by filming and taking photographs at events for use on Pen to Print Social Media interviewing audiences and artists on film or voice for social media use in Podcasts and promotion.

Volunteers will be given full training for their roles. Pen to Print are looking for people who are friendly and approachable, are willing to try something different, who like to get involved and are interested in helping others. You should be prepared to volunteer in evenings and at weekends, but you may be asked to occasionally volunteer in office working hours.