Application Guide
How to Apply for Volunteer & Schools Engagement Co-ordinator
at Project Trust
🏢 About Project Trust
Project Trust is unique as a UK charity with over 50 years of specialized experience in long-term international volunteering for young people aged 17-25. Unlike typical short-term volunteer programs, they focus on sustainable, immersive placements (often 8-12 months) in teaching and youth development across Africa, Asia, and the Americas. Someone would want to work here to help shape the next generation of global citizens while being part of a respected organization with deep expertise in transformative youth development.
About This Role
This role involves recruiting and supporting 200+ young volunteers annually by building relationships with schools across England through presentations and outreach, then guiding selected candidates through pre-departure preparation. It's impactful because you directly enable young people from diverse backgrounds to achieve life-changing international experiences while ensuring Project Trust maintains its high-quality, sustainable volunteer pipeline.
💡 A Day in the Life
A typical day might start with virtual meetings to coordinate with the volunteer support team, followed by preparing tailored presentations for upcoming school visits. The afternoon could involve traveling to a school in another region, delivering an assembly to 200+ students about global citizenship opportunities, then meeting individually with interested candidates and career advisors. Evenings might include follow-up emails to new contacts and updating volunteer tracking systems from your accommodation.
🚀 Application Tools
🎯 Who Project Trust Is Looking For
- An inspiring public speaker comfortable presenting to school assemblies and youth groups, able to tailor messaging to motivate 17-25-year-olds
- A relationship-builder who can independently cultivate partnerships with school career advisors and teachers across England (requiring travel with overnight stays)
- Highly organized self-starter who can manage volunteer recruitment cycles remotely while coordinating pre-departure training and support
- Someone passionate about global citizenship education who understands the unique challenges/opportunities of long-term youth volunteering
📝 Tips for Applying to Project Trust
Highlight specific experience presenting to youth audiences (e.g., school workshops, youth group talks) with metrics if possible (audience sizes, engagement results)
Demonstrate understanding of Project Trust's distinctive long-term volunteer model by referencing their 8-12 month placements (not confusing them with gap year companies or short-term voluntourism)
Show remote work discipline by describing how you've built relationships or managed projects virtually while traveling for in-person engagements
Connect your values to their 'global citizen' philosophy - explain why sustained cultural immersion matters more than brief volunteer trips
Mention willingness and experience with England-wide travel including overnight stays (this is explicitly required in the job description)
✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter
['Your ability to engage and inspire 17-25-year-olds specifically - provide concrete examples of motivating young people toward ambitious goals', 'Experience building educational partnerships, particularly with schools or youth organizations, emphasizing relationship maintenance not just initial contact', "Understanding of Project Trust's unique position in the volunteer sector (50+ years, long-term placements, focus on sustainable impact rather than voluntourism)", "How you've successfully worked remotely while managing travel commitments and maintaining organizational systems"]
Generate Cover Letter →🔍 Research Before Applying
To stand out, make sure you've researched:
- → Study Project Trust's current volunteer projects by country/region on their website - understand their specific partnerships in Africa, Asia, and the Americas
- → Review their volunteer training and support structure (hinted at in 'before, during and after' support) to understand the full volunteer journey
- → Explore their recent social media/content to see how they currently engage with young people and schools
- → Research the UK youth volunteering landscape to understand how Project Trust differs from other organizations like Raleigh International or Think Pacific
💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics
Based on this role, you may be asked about:
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Focusing only on your passion for travel rather than your ability to facilitate others' development through structured volunteering
- Treating this as a generic 'recruitment role' without emphasizing the specific youth engagement and schools partnership aspects
- Demonstrating discomfort with the travel requirements (England-wide with overnights) or treating the remote aspect as purely home-based without travel expectations
📅 Application Timeline
This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.
Typical hiring timeline:
Application Review
1-2 weeks
Initial Screening
Phone call or written assessment
Interviews
1-2 rounds, usually virtual
Offer
Congratulations!