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Berkshire Lowland Search & Rescue (BLSAR)
Volunteer | Home-based | Approx. 2 hours per week | Flexible

Use your social media skills to support Search & Rescue

Berkshire Lowland Search & Rescue (BLSAR) is looking for a creative and organised Volunteer Social Media Manager to take responsibility for our day-to-day social media presence and coordinate our small team of Content Creators.

BLSAR is a volunteer-run charity supporting the police and other emergency services in searches for vulnerable missing people across Berkshire and surrounding areas.

Our Search Technicians are at the heart of our operational response, but there is a huge amount that happens behind the scenes to keep BLSAR running.

We’re developing our specialist support teams so that people with professional skills in areas such as marketing, communications, finance, fundraising and events can support the charity – allowing our operational volunteers to focus more of their time on Search & Rescue.

What will you be doing?

Working with our Marketing & Communications Lead, you’ll take ownership of BLSAR’s social media activity and help us tell the stories behind our charity.

You’ll:

• Manage BLSAR’s social media channels and oversee the scheduling and publication of content
• Develop and maintain a forward social media content calendar
• Coordinate and support our volunteer Content Creators
• Identify stories and content opportunities from training, fundraising, recruitment, volunteering and wider BLSAR activity
• Create social media content where required, including written posts, graphics, photographs and short-form video
• Review content created by others to ensure it is accurate, engaging and consistent with our brand
• Work with our Marketing Coordinator on campaigns, graphics and content ideas
• Work with teams across BLSAR to gather stories, photographs and information
• Support social media campaigns for fundraising and volunteer recruitment
• Monitor comments, messages and engagement, responding or escalating where appropriate
• Ensure sensitive or operational content receives the appropriate approval before publication

What are we looking for?

We’d love to hear from someone who understands what makes good social media content and can help us build a consistent and engaging presence online.

You may already manage social media professionally, look after digital channels as part of a wider marketing role, or have relevant experience from your own projects.

Ideally, you’ll have:

• Experience managing social media accounts for a business, organisation or charity
• Strong written communication skills
• A good understanding of social media trends and audience engagement
• The ability to plan content rather than simply post reactively
• Good organisation and attention to detail
• Confidence coordinating and supporting other volunteers
• A creative approach to finding and developing stories
• The ability to work independently while collaborating with a wider team

Experience using social media scheduling tools, Canva, photography or video editing would be an advantage, but we don't expect you to be an expert in everything.

You do not need previous Search & Rescue or charity experience.

The commitment

This is a flexible volunteer opportunity requiring approximately 2 hours per week.

The role is predominantly home-based, and much of the activity can be fitted around your existing work and personal commitments.

As social media is ongoing, we’re looking for someone who can provide reasonably regular input across the week rather than completing all activity in one block. There may occasionally be additional activity around major campaigns, recruitment or significant BLSAR events.

Why volunteer with BLSAR?

This is an opportunity to use your existing skills for a very different purpose.

The content you help us share can raise awareness of our work, attract new volunteers, generate support for fundraising and show our community what happens behind the scenes of a volunteer Search & Rescue organisation.

You’ll be joining a team of around 80 volunteers, all contributing different skills towards the same goal: helping BLSAR remain ready to respond when we’re needed.

Pay: Up to £0.01 per year

Application question(s):

• Are you able, on occasion to attend training sessions or meetings in the Wokingham area, to colaborate with the rest of the team?
• This is an unpaid volunteer role, this role involves approximately 2 hours per week and requires reasonably regular input across the week to help manage content, comments and messages. Would you be comfortable making this ongoing commitment?
• Please briefly tell us about the social media accounts you have managed and the type of content you were responsible for.

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Wokingham RG40 5QP