Project Officer, Literacy Champions – North East Scotland

The National Literacy Trust is looking for a Project Officer, Literacy Champions – North East Scotland to help mobilise thousands of local volunteers in support of the 2026 National Year of Reading.

Base Pay £26,000 per year pro rata (0.6 FTE)

Part‑time, 21 hours per week

Fixed‑term contract to end of February 2027

Based in Aberdeenshire as a home‑working role

What you’ll be doing:

2026 will be a National Year of Reading, a once‑in‑a‑generation, UK‑wide campaign to engage new audiences in reading and change the national reading culture for good. The National Literacy Trust will lead, develop and coordinate the National Year of Reading, ensuring a powerful and engaging national campaign that redefines reading for a new generation. A core part of our plans is to mobilise thousands of volunteers across the UK, including through our own Literacy Champions project, which identifies, trains and supports volunteers to promote literacy in their local area. This may be in person or online and includes everything from community book‑swaps and reading corners, to setting up homework clubs and creating videos. Some of those volunteers are Lead Literacy Champions – volunteers who take on a planning and coordination role, working with others. Through the National Year of Reading, we want to expand the number of Lead Literacy Champions who, in turn, will engage other volunteers through their networks and connections. You will coordinate this work across North East Scotland, with a focus on the Aberdeenshire area. You will identify and engage existing groups of volunteers and suitable organisations, providing training so they can become Lead Literacy Champions. This is an opportunity to build a new network of volunteers promoting reading and enhancing the many offers and opportunities in Scotland. This is a home‑working role based in Aberdeenshire and will involve regular travel around the area. There will also be some national travel for our organisational away days, which take place in London three times per year, as well as approximately three team days per year. All travel expenses will be covered.

What we’re looking for:

• You will be experienced in recruiting, training and supporting volunteers, and providing project support in a charity or educational context.
• You will also have experience of working with early years settings, schools or community organisations, and good knowledge of safeguarding practice in this context.
• Experience of community mobilisation, and developing resources and training materials, would be an advantage, as would excellent knowledge of literacy issues.
• You will need to live in or around Aberdeenshire and have an excellent understanding of the communities and families in the area.
• Due to the nature of delivery, you will need a full clean driving licence and access to your own vehicle.
• This role will involve managing book stocks and other resources.

Why our work is so vital:

Literacy changes everything. It gives you the tools to get the most out of life, and the power to shape your future. It’s the key to knowledge, confidence and inspiration. It’s better results at school, and better jobs. If children grow up without the tools to communicate, without books to read or opportunities to write, it’s harder to get where you want to go. The National Literacy Trust is an independent charity helping people overcome these challenges and change their life chances through the power of words – reading, writing, speaking and listening. From first words, through school days to training, jobs and beyond. We work collaboratively in local communities, focusing our work in 20 areas of the UK that are facing the biggest challenges. We support schools, developing the most effective tools and techniques and providing resources and programmes to engage and inspire children. We campaign to make literacy a priority for politicians and decision‑makers. We support vulnerable adults, people in the criminal justice system and young offenders’ institutions to build their literacy skills.

What we offer you:

• Our team are passionate about our mission, and we have a strong and positive working culture, based on shared values and respect.
• We offer a range of flexible working options and promote a workplace where you can be yourself and contribute to our success, whoever you are.
• Competitive salary, generous leave allowance totalling 39 days (including bank holidays and office closure between Christmas and New Year)
• Pension contributions of 8% of annual salary
• Cycle to work scheme
• Employee assistance programme
• Other health and wellbeing benefits

Our people are our most important asset, and we value and respect diversity in all its forms (seen and unseen). We particularly welcome applications from those from Black and Asian backgrounds, as well as candidates with disabilities and from the communities in which we work. We would like to increase representation of these groups among our staff as we know greater diversity will lead to an even greater impact for our work.

Closing date: 10am, Thursday 15 January 2026

Please note we do not accept CVs. No agencies or recruitment sites.