Northern Lights Aid provides material support, informal education, and recreational activities to displaced people and others in need, and promotes social inclusion and solidarity within the community. We offer dignified access to essential NFI’s through a free clothing store and run a community centre. The community centre is the creative and social heart of Northern Lights Aid, hosting a breadth of activities including social spaces, arts and crafts, language classes, and skill development workshops.
The role of the Community Centre Coordinator is to facilitate activities and create social spaces in the centre, as well as managing the center’s materials and facilities. The Community Centre Coordinator is dedicated to creating a welcoming, inclusive and safe environment for all ages, genders and backgrounds. They build and maintain strong community connections by promoting skill sharing and engaging participants in a variety of activities.
Responsibilities:
Coordination of the Community Centre
- Promote and maintain a welcoming, inclusive and safe environment for all participants
- Implement the weekly activity schedule while staying responsive and adaptable to day-to-day developments in the centre
- Design new activities that reflect emerging interests and needs of service users and encourage broad participation and engagement
- Actively encourage service users to suggest and shape activities, and provide appropriate support, including time, space, or materials, to help bring their ideas to life
- Manage the center in accordance with the documenting systems, policies and values of the organisation
- Keep track of participant attendance and help draft quarterly reports
- Ensure all actions respect and align with the organisation’s safeguarding policy
- Collaborate with the Distribution Coordinator to align efforts and respond to community needs comprehensively
Management and organisation of the space and materials
- Maintain updated stock levels of the materials used for activities
- Pass on potential needs for specific materials to the Field Manager
- Regularly sort and organise materials (in use and in stock)
- Ensure the cleanliness and tidiness of the space and storage area
- Enforce hygiene measures (disinfection of materials, daily cleaning etc.)
Planning of schedules and opening times
- Discuss needs and changes regarding the daily/weekly activity schedule and volunteer involvement with the Field Manager
- Make sure information regarding opening hours and activity schedule is available, accessible to people of all backgrounds, and shared with service users and volunteers through appropriate channels
- Monitor and enforce adherence to schedules and project timelines
Support of volunteer management
- Communicate assigned daily tasks with volunteers and ensure tasks are completed
- Welcome new volunteers, conduct project inductions, and follow-up to ensure clear understanding of the space, their role, and their responsibilities
- Lead daily volunteer debriefs to gather input, address concerns, and encourage suggestions
- Pass on needed information regarding volunteer management and potential conflicts/tensions within the team to the Field Manager
Report to Field Manager
- Engage in weekly meetings with the Field Manager to keep them informed about developments in the center
- Keep track of and share specific requests and feedback from service users
- Participate in project development by collaborating with the Field Manager and Director of Operations to evaluate the relevance of requests made by service users, as well as assessing NLA’s capacity to respond to these requests
- React to and/or alert the Field Manager about potential inappropriate or problematic behaviour from volunteers or service users in the space
Requirements:
Skills
- Excellent communication skills and the ability to facilitate and engage diverse groups
- Politically and culturally sensitive with the ability to act with patience, tact, and diplomacy
- Ability to follow procedures and work both independently and cooperatively within a team
- Ability to demonstrate clear professional boundaries with service users
- Good management abilities and capacity to take on responsibilities
- Experience and/or interest in handy-work or creative activities
- Strong commitment to the values of NLA and dedication to supporting displaced people
Languages
- Fluency in English is mandatory
- Greek, Farsi, French or Arabic is an asset
Relevant Experiences (at least one is required)
- Previous experience working with displaced people
- Volunteer or professional experience in project coordination
- Education, strong interest in, or professional experience related to implementing creative activities, organizing workshops/classes, or creating safe spaces
Other
- Minimum time commitment: 4 months
- Minimum age: 23 years old
- Ability to reside legally in the EU for the full duration of the commitment
- Starting date: 12th of January, handover period to commence in December (online or in person)
This is a volunteering position. NLA will provide free accommodation in a shared flat and a small monthly stipend.
How to apply
If you are interested, please send your CV and cover letter to field@northernlightsaid.org.
Please note that as a small grassroots organization, we are unable to assist with visa applications. To help us process your application efficiently, please confirm your eligibility to reside in the EU for the full duration of the commitment within your application.
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.