Events volunteer

Continuing to keep our customers safe

Kent Fire and Rescue Service (KFRS) volunteers give their time, skills and knowledge to help create a safer future for Kent and Medway. Together we are all one team and, with our volunteers acting as our ambassadors, we’re helping to make a difference to people’s lives – whoever they are. If you enjoy contributing, being there for other people and want to be part of something that matters, consider volunteering with KFRS.  

Purpose of Role

This volunteer role provides valuable support for our events, education and Community partnerships team in a variety of ways, from attendance at internal events like our annual awards ceremony or fire station open days and external events like community fairs to delivering safety campaign messages at pop-up events/roadshows across the county in places like shopping centres or school fetes, where necessary. Full training and instructions will always be provided for all activities.

Context of Role

Our events officers organise large scale internal events such as our popular spring, summer and autumn fire station open days. They also organise our attendance at external events, fetes and festivals, such as the Kent Police Open Day and a number of the LGBTQ+ Pride events that take place across the county in places like Canterbury, Margate and Dover, where we can actively engage with the public, providing information to help everyone stay safe.
 

Key Activities

  • Supporting busy open day events in a variety of roles including setting up allocated areas, welcoming customers, support on stands, providing safety advice, and helping to make sure customers have an informative, fun and memorable day.
  • Supporting events with our Community insight partnerships team (CIP’S) which are organised or targeted to key local groups who would not always attend other engagement events.
  • Delivering bespoke volunteer-led engagement such as local community events and fetes.
  • Setting up event displays and transporting materials to allocated events, which may require moving of heavy items, such as gazebos and display banners. Access to service vehicles and trolleys will be available to help assist.
  • Promoting our safety campaigns and home fire safety visits in various locations throughout Kent and Medway to help generate referrals and provide safety information.
  • Volunteering alongside the KFRS education team to deliver information and education relating to behaviour change and keeping people safe.

Skills and Qualities Sought 

  • You should be reliable, trustworthy and able to behave in a professional way
  • Enjoy working as part of a team and follow our Volunteer Code of Ethical Conduct
  • Have the ability and willingness to volunteer within set processes and expectations
  • You will need to be a good communicator and enjoy engaging with members of the public, KFRS and other partner organisations
  • Have good verbal, numeracy and computer skills
  • Be passionate about promoting customer safety
  • Be flexible and able to adapt to busy and changing environments
  • Possess energy and confidence when interacting with members of the public
  • Hold a driving licence to be able to drive KFRS vehicles (desirable)
  • Have experience of working or volunteering with young people (desirable)

Other opportunities

Other non-specialist opportunities to volunteer may be offered alongside this role for example:

  • Supporting KFRS and partner events including welcoming attendees
  • Performing in a mascot role – The Byrnes Show is an educational theatre style production used to teach young children about home fire safety
  • Casualty role playing at Service exercises
  • Assisting education officers with setting up safety sessions, welcoming participants and encouraging student interaction through discussion
  • One-to-one support of students during education sessions where needed
  • Helping staff and partner agencies deliver road safety messages at various events locations throughout Kent and Medway

You are not however under any obligation to accept these additional roles.
 

Support and Training

We welcome and encourage our volunteers, so everyone feels part of the wider team. We will provide: 

  • A full induction and introduction to KFRS
  • Training to enable you to undertake this role
  • Regular feedback and support
  • A volunteer handbook to explain all of our volunteer 
     

Trial Period

A trial period of three months in this role will begin on completion of training and induction.  
A review meeting will take place at the end of this time to discuss suitability of the role and volunteering at KFRS or to determine an alternative option. 
 

Locations

KFRS and partner premises throughout Kent and Medway. Volunteers are able to undertake this role within an area near to where you live, work or study. 
 

Time Commitment

We ask our volunteers to commit to supporting us for a minimum of 8 – 10 hours per month. During the summer months our event schedule will be busier and therefore there may be opportunities to do more if you wish.  
 

Expenses

You will be reimbursed for agreed travel and out of pocket expenses.
 

How to apply

Click here to apply today!