Reading Force – Book Club Coordinator

Key role: To be part of a team delivering a Reading Force project, ‘Book Clubs for Military Partners/Spouses’: Coordinate and deliver book club sessions in selected locations and lead informal networking, provide information and answer inquiries about the local area.

This is a part-time post for 9 hours per month, on a three-year fixed contract, starting in March 2025. Based in one of these selected areas: Aldershot, Tidworth, RAF Leeming. Reporting into our Reading Force Book Club Ambassador (RF Book Club Ambassador).

Background

Reading Force book clubs were launched in 2021. These have proved to be a popular and effective way to engage small groups of differing ages – children (juniors and seniors), spouses, serving personnel, veterans, and others – in the Forces community wanting to connect through sharing books.

To date we have helped organise clubs across the UK and overseas with over 1100 members between them, by supporting volunteer coordinators to set up and run their own book clubs.

This new project, ‘Book Clubs for Military Partners/Spouses’, funded by the AFCFT, will connect military partners and spouses through shared-reading activities, offering a supportive community and fun social interaction. Participants will enjoy curated book selections and discussions, which foster connections, support, provide local information, and a sense of belonging among those navigating the unique challenges of military life.

Competencies

• Understanding of the charity’s principles, values and strategic direction; focussed on achieving its goals, objectives and plans
• Understanding of Armed Forces communities, both serving and veteran beneficial
• Understanding of, and support for, the role and value of reading and literacy for all, with a particular emphasis on sharing books as a mechanism to foster improved communication
• Work from home (UK-based), with access to a computer and mobile phone. Have the capacity to store stock of books and associated Reading Force materials

Skills/Personal attributes:

• Excellent organiser with strong planning and time management skills, successfully balancing multiple tasks, priorities and deadlines
• Ability to use MS Office packages
• Well-developed communication skills, both verbal and written
• Effective builder and manager of relationships
• Financially aware, excellent record keeping with strong attention to detail
• Accumulate quantitative and qualitative evidence of impact throughout the project’s duration
• Applicant to be living in one of the areas: Aldershot, Tidworth, Leeming

Role specific requirements:

This role would ideally suit a reader/book lover, a local resident of either Aldershot, Tidworth, or RAF Leeming, with a military connection, ideally veterans or military spouses/partners who are well-acquainted with the area.

Deliver monthly book club sessions in selected location. Each session will be two hours long: one hour dedicated to book discussions, and half-hour slots before and after for informal networking, information sharing, and inquiries about the local area. There will be both day and evening sessions to ensure beneficiaries are able to attend. (There will be two co-ordinators in each area: one consistently managing the day book clubs sessions, and one managing the evening book club sessions.)

• Two book club groups per month (one day time/one evening time), each with a maximum of 13 members per book club
• Each book club group to have one session per month. By the end of the project (3 years), a total of 33 sessions will have been recorded by each coordinator
• Set daytime book clubs / Set evening book clubs – applicants will specify their preference in their application

To further support participants, you will establish WhatsApp and Facebook groups for ongoing communication. These platforms will facilitate discussion and the sharing of information, sustaining connections beyond the monthly meetings. This digital aspect will also help new arrivals quickly integrate into the community by providing a resource for local tips and social connections.

To measure the impact of the project, Book Club Coordinators will give regular feedback to monitor progress and identify any necessary adjustments. Collation of feedback at various stages of the book club must be completed and provided to the Book Club Ambassador by set deadlines.

Full training and support will be provided throughout the project. DBS checks are required for this role, at no cost to the successful candidates.

Relationships and liaison:

External:

• Effective builder and manager of relationships, as the initial and ongoing point of contact for providing information
• Provide information and logistical support to enable the establishment of book clubs and ongoing support, delineating what is expected and permitted
• Facilitate their group to get to know each other and to instigate talk about the book
• Read and become familiar with the titles offered
• Stickering and packaging books with accompanying information for book club participants and organising despatch within timeline of each club
• Encouraging feedback through completion of relevant surveys and monitoring procedures

Internal:

• Working alongside the Reading Force team to maintain awareness of the book club activities
• Presenting updates to the Book Club Ambassador and Director team in meetings (usually on Teams or Zoom). For the initial three months these meetings will be held monthly, then after this period every two months or quarterly
• Contributing to the development and sustainability of the project, and working with the Reading Force team on evaluating the activity
• Ensuring best practices are adopted and adhered to

Financial and governance:

• Understanding project budgets; secure approvals for expenditure, keep accurate and timely records of time and expenses incurred, using associated systems and liaising with the RF Office & Finance Manager
• Supporting the funding process: Contribution to reports to funders on project delivery, outcomes and beneficiary impact
• Adhere to the Reading Force policies
• Reading Force is fully committed to equality, diversity and inclusion

Administration

• Timely response to enquiries
• Using processes and systems as required
• Assist with feedback systems to measure outcomes

Communications/Marketing

With the support of other members of the RF team:

• Appreciation of relevant styles of communication and branding – coordinators will be the face of Reading Force in their area
• Social media

Working hours & pay:

• Funding for the Book Club Coordinator role is for a 3-year contract, starting in March 2025
• 9 hours a month, to include 2-hour book cub per month during daytime/evenings
• Probationary/review period is three months from starting date
• Reporting to the Book Club Ambassador
• Salary is £11.50 per hour, paid monthly
• Annual leave entitlement based on 28 days (including bank holidays), calculated on pro rata basis

In brief:

Informed, proactive, collaborative, responsive, focussed, empathic.

The person taking up this position will be joining a well-established team and the role is fully supported, with access to our informal, proactive and committed team.

To apply: please send a single page letter explaining why you would like the role, and what you would bring to it, along with a copy of your CV to camille@readingforce.org.uk by Friday 14 February 2025. Please specify preference for day or evening coordinator position. Interviews will be held on Teams on Wednesday 26 February 2025.