Zoe talks about her experience as a Volunteer and an Intern with JSCN
Read about Zoe's experience
When 2020 began, I had so much to look forward to. Graduation, balls and holidays to name a few. However, in March 2020, my time at the University of Nottingham abruptly ended due to COVID-19 which left me feeling incredibly lost. Getting a job (especially in Digital Marketing) seemed so out of reach. So I decided to do some volunteering. I came across a Volunteer Virtual Events Co-ordinator role from JSCN online. Not long after applying, I heard back and was invited to a Zoom interview with Ed, the director. The interview went great and Ed invited me to their Coffee Morning the next day to lead the conversation. I was thrown in at the deep end and was responsible for leading a conversation for 20 strangers I had never met. Ed was so impressed with how it went that I got the role!
Whilst this was a great opportunity for me, I was still dreaming of a role within Digital Marketing. For several months I was juggling 2 unpaid roles whilst still actively applying for Marketing roles. I felt very fortunate to be in this position but I did begin to lose hope that I would ever get past this stage and start earning. But my luck changed in mid September when Ed informed me that they had received funding from the National Lottery to hire an Events and Programme Manager and he offered ME the role! This was only ever supposed to be a volunteering role so I could not believe it! Ed believed in me and I was so happy to be in a paid role.
My role as the Events and Programme Manager provided me with the essential, transferable skills I needed to get into Digital Marketing. I was creating and scheduling content for social media, writing blog posts, managing the website and sending out email marketing campaigns. Having these skills on my CV significantly increased my chances of finding a full time, permanent role.
Fast forward to now, I am in my dream role – I am working as the Digital Fundraising Officer for the charity Missing People. Without the skills I gained from my time at JSCN and the incredible support from Ed, I would never have been in this position.
I cannot thank Ed and the organisation enough for helping me and strongly recommend to all young people to volunteer with JSCN.
Take a chance… and who knows what might happen!
JSCN VOLUNTEER AGREEMENT
[1] Please read through this agreement in full.
[2] If you are happy with it, complete your details and tick the agreement box.
About this agreement
I'm volunteering with the Jewish Small Communities Network (JSCN). This is a voluntary arrangement, not a contract of employment. I've been briefed on my role and I'm happy to take it on.
Support from JSCN
JSCN will give me the training and support I need, reimburse any expenses agreed in advance, and provide appropriate insurance cover.
Policies
JSCN follows current health & safety and equal opportunities law, along with its other policies, and I'll comply with these too.
Confidentiality
I may come across confidential information — about individuals, organisations, or JSCN's own data and operations — while I volunteer. I won't share this outside JSCN without the relevant permission: from the person or organisation concerned, in consultation with the Head of Volunteer Services, or, for JSCN's own operational information, from the Chief Executive.
Copyright and use of my work
Anything I create as a volunteer (e.g. photos, articles, code), for JSCN's general work or specific projects, is for JSCN's ongoing use.
I keep copyright, but JSCN can copy, distribute, perform, broadcast and adapt the work indefinitely, including after I stop volunteering, at no charge.
I can also use my work commercially myself, and use samples to promote my own services. JSCN won't unreasonably refuse this, unless it conflicts with JSCN's aims.
If I do any work for JSCN outside my volunteer role, that needs its own written agreement first, otherwise this agreement covers it.
Ending my volunteering
I'm free to stop volunteering whenever I need to, and I'll try to give as much notice as I can.