Volunteering for the Green Party

Support from volunteers is key to Green Party activity.

Voluntary help is needed at all levels of the party and in all regions. An important principal of the Green Party is that everyone has a role to play and can make a difference.

The national office has opportunities for admin, finance, fundraising, press, communications, research and political volunteers. Current opportunities are detailed below.

If you would like to know more about volunteering in your region or local party please contact your regional Green Party for details. To find out who your regional coordinator is please telephone Party Office, Monday-Friday, 10am-5pm on 020 7549 0310.

National media team volunteers (unpaid, though local public transport and lunch allowance covered)

Exciting opportunities for Winter 2011/12!

The Green Party’s national media team require winter press office volunteers.

These positions are voluntary, so there are no specific requirements. Patterns of volunteering can be negotiated at the interview stage.

However, as a guideline, those who are able to contribute at least 3 days a week for a period of two-three months are likely to get the most out of the experience.

Our spring conference will be in Liverpool from 24th to 27th February, so you may wish to think about scheduling your volunteer work so that you can help out at this event.

Volunteers will work for the national press office, based in London, in support of Green Party leader Caroline Lucas MP, fighting for extra media exposure for the Green Party.

In past, successful volunteers have been dynamic, intelligent, flexible and hard-working, with excellent verbal and written communications skills.

Previous experience of media/communications work is ideal but not essential. Some training will be given in news monitoring, writing for the media and in handling incoming requests from national, regional and local media outlets, including print, broadcast and online.

You will need to fill out a questionnaire/skills sheet from our website.

Reply, with a completed questionnaire, a CV, and a writing sample of 500 words (a blog post; an essay from coursework; if you have neither, give us a call - 020 7549 0315, and we can suggest a topic for a 500-word piece). Email your application to: press@greenparty.org.uk

Research Volunteers (unpaid, though local public transport and lunch allowance covered)

Volunteers are needed to work full- or part-time supporting the work of the national media team with dedicated research projects covering a wide variety of issues. Our research volunteers work flexible daytime hours, sometimes based in our office in Shoreditch, East London (reasonable travel expenses paid, plus lunch allowance for volunteers working a full day) but in many cases working from home.

Green Party research volunteers usually work in one of two ways:

You may agree to be available on certain specific days (eg Mondays and Tuesdays each week), and will undertake research/writing tasks which may have arisen that day, in response to an urgent media team requirement. Research projects of a less urgent nature may be undertaken between more immediate tasks.
You may agree to be available for some hours during a specified period (eg committing to 8 hours a week), in which case you will undertake research/writing tasks to be completed by agreed deadlines.

If you wish to apply, please complete this questionnaire, and fill out this Volunteer Agreement, and email them, together with your CV, to press@greenparty.org.uk

Photo and video volunteers (unpaid, though appropriate transport costs covered)

From time to time, we need volunteers with skills in video and photography to support the work of the national media team.

Projects for photo volunteers might include attending events to take photographs for use on our websites or in leaflets and/or other publications, and/or editing photos for our use as above. Projects for video volunteers might include filming, editing and uploading short films and video news releases for use by the Green Party.

If you wish to apply to be part of our photo and video volunteers pool, please complete the following document, and email it, along with your CV, to press@greenparty.org.uk

National Office Support Volunteers

People volunteer for all types of reasons. You may want to update your skills, be active, or improve your job prospects. There is no typical volunteer but it helps if you have a passion for Green politics, share our core values and can work effectively as part of a team.

Volunteers at Green Party National Office carry out a variety of administrative support work - from helping with mail outs, answering telephone calls, email enquiries, data entry, data analysis, research projects, assisting our Fundraiser and Finance Officer and much more.

"As a volunteer, you can make new friends and meet like minded people. You will develop new skills and gain valuable work experience." - Sophie, London

"It's interesting to see the internal clock-work of a political/campaigning organisation and to have satisfaction that I'm part of that machine furthering the Green cause." - David, Kent

Wherever possible we aim to identify specific roles for people according to their skills, experience, interest and availability. The more information you provide on the application form, the greater the likelihood of us being able to find an appropriate way to use your skills. We are very fortunate to receive a high level of interest for volunteering in our office, but with only limited opportunities available, this unfortunately means it is not always possible to place everyone that applies.

The office is based in Shoreditch (nearest tube Old Street) and the office hours are between 10am-5pm Monday to Friday. We will cover reasonable travel expenses within London and a lunch allowance will be payable (on production of receipts).

To apply, click and download the attached forms and return to volunteer@greenparty.org.uk or to Kate Barnett Development House, 56-64 Leonard St, LONDON EC2A 4LT.

Volunteer Agreement

Volunteer Form

For an informal chat about the role or to ask any questions about the application process please call Kate on 020 7549 0203 between 10am -5pm Monday Friday (after office hours leave a message)

London Mayoral and London Assembly Elections 2012 Volunteers

Would you like to help the Greens grow on the London Assembly? If so, join our 2012 campaign team. We need help with all aspects of the campaign, from communications and social media, to canvassing and campaign planning.

If you are interested in this specific volunteer role then please send your CV or an email/letter detailing your relevant experience and hours that you would like to volunteer. volunteer@greenparty.org.uk or post to The Green Party, Development House, 56-64 Leonard Street, London EC2A 4LT.

Receptionist/Administration Assistant(s) (Volunteer)

A receptionist is required at Green Party National Office in London. Responsibilities would include answering calls/emails/letters from members regarding their membership, dealing with enquiries from the general public, forwarding on messages as well as assisting the Membership Officer.

The core hours that we require extra support are between the hours of 9.30am-2pm or at least a minimum of 4 hours commitment per day. Ideally the person will have relevant experience i.e. Receptionist and/or Administration Assistant.

The office is based in Shoreditch (nearest tube Old Street) and the office hours are between 10.00am-5pm Monday to Friday. We will cover reasonable travel expenses within London and a lunch allowance will be payable (on production of receipts).

If you are interested in this specific volunteer role then please send your CV or an email/letter detailing your relevant experience and hours that you would like to volunteer.

For an informal chat about the role or to ask any questions about the application process please call Kate on 020 7549 0203 between 10am -5pm Monday Friday (after office hours leave a message)

Conference Coordinator Assistant (Volunteer)

An assistant to our Conference Coordinator is required for the organisation of Green Party Spring Conference to be held in Liverpool, from Friday 24th - Monday 27th February 2012.

The role would involve roughly one day a week between now and February (and 4 days during the conference). I would expect this to increase to two days a week or two before Conference week.

The remit could be tailored to suit the skills and strengths of the volunteer and could include, for example:

Assistance with the admin of online bookings and payments
Procure advertisers for the conference brochure
The setting up and administration of a lift-share scheme and south-east conference bus
Co-ordinating a crash space and B&B accommodation with local members
Putting together information for delegates such as a list of local accommodation and events
Being contact point for people with disabilities and mobility issues who need extra assistance
Setting up a ‘first timers’ information point
Supporting the local party in provision of entertainment/fundraisers
Carbon footprinting of conference
Admin prior to conference such as production of name badges and folder labels, registration lists, etc.
Researching and setting up text-messaging during conference (to get information about ballots etc. out to delegates)
Any other technical innovation you can think of!

Ideally, the volunteer should be located in Brighton or Hove so that we could meet sometimes (but not absolutely necessary), and would be able to work from home.

You will need to be extremely well organised, reliable and able to work independently.

For more information, contact Louisa Greenbaum, Conferences Co-ordinator, Louisa.Greenbaum@greenparty.org.uk, Tel. 01273 888 360

Volunteer Assistants to Caroline Lucas MP

Caroline has limited opportunities to take on volunteers at her Westminster office and if you are interested please contact Cath Miller by email to caroline.lucas.mp@parliament.uk If there are any vacancies you will be asked to spend a ½ day with the team in the first instance to assess your suitability and for you to get a clearer idea of what volunteering for a Green MP entails.

Caroline is also working with universities and other organisations to make internship opportunities available. If your course requirements are such that you need to make individual arrangements please contact Cath Miller, as above, for further information.

Press Office Volunteers, Research Volunteers and photo/video volunteers

Please click here for full details on how to apply for volunteering in our national media team, for posts based in London, Brighton and Norwich.