Supporter Communications Volunteer

What will you be doing?

Free UK Genealogy is a UK charity providing free online access to hundreds of millions of family history records, powered by volunteers. Our projects include FreeBMD, FreeREG, FreeCEN, and newer initiatives such as FreePRO and FreeBMD2.

We are looking for a volunteer to support our email communications using Mailchimp. We already have a mailing list, but it has been under-used and we want to move to a healthier rhythm of regular, value-led communications, not just “asks”.

In this role you will help us plan, draft, build and send email newsletters and campaign emails. Typical activities include:

• Working with our COO and Comms Team to agree a simple email plan (for example monthly or bi-monthly newsletters, plus occasional fundraising messages).
• Drafting emails from supplied material (blog posts, volunteer interviews, project updates, and short “tips” or “did you know?” snippets).
• Building emails in Mailchimp (layout, links, images, formatting, accessibility-friendly structure).
• Setting up and maintaining a newsletter sign-up landing page in Mailchimp (collecting only the data we need, such as name and email address).
• Running sensible checks before sends: test emails, proofing, link checks, and helping ensure the right version goes to the right audience.
• Tracking basic performance (opens, clicks) and feeding back what seems to work, so we can keep improving over time.

You will not be working alone: we expect copy to be reviewed before it goes out, and we are open to a job-share or having two volunteers working together, including proof-reading each other’s work to reduce risk.

This is a remote, flexible volunteer role.

What are we looking for?

We are looking for someone who enjoys clear communication and can work to a light plan and deadlines. You do not need to be a family historian, but you should be curious and comfortable learning enough to write accurately.

Ideal qualities and experience include:

• Mailchimp confidence: you have used Mailchimp (or similar tools) to build and send newsletters, or you feel confident learning quickly.
• Strong writing and editing: you can write in a warm, plain-English style, and you have a good eye for structure, tone, and typos.
• Good judgement and care: you understand the importance of getting details right, especially when emails relate to donations, pledges, or supporter relationships.
• Process-minded: you like checklists and simple “send-safe” routines (tests, proofing, link checks, version control, and having a second pair of eyes).
• Collaboration: you are happy to work with a small team, take feedback, and incorporate it without fuss.
• Reliability: you can commit to a consistent cadence (for example a few hours per month, with occasional extra time around campaigns).

Helpful (but not essential):

• Experience with charities, membership organisations, or supporter communications.
• Basic understanding of email metrics (open and click rates) and what they can and cannot tell you.
• A design-sensitive eye for clean, readable layouts.

We especially welcome recent retirees or people who want to keep their skills active in a meaningful cause, but we are open to anyone who can bring steadiness, care, and good communication.

What difference will you make?

Email is one of the most effective ways for charities to build long-term relationships with supporters, but only when it is done with care. At Free UK Genealogy, we want to shift from sporadic contact (often tied to fundraising) to a steadier pattern of communications that gives value first and keeps our community informed and connected.

Your work will:

• Help us steward our existing community better, so supporters hear from us regularly and positively, not only when we need donations.
• Reduce organisational risk by improving our process for Mailchimp sends (testing, peer review, and version control), which matters when messages are high-stakes, personalised, or time-sensitive.
• Support income resilience over time by strengthening trust and engagement, which makes fundraising more sustainable and less dependent on intrusive on-site pop-ups.
• Enable growth by helping us create and share a Mailchimp sign-up landing page that can be promoted via social media campaigns and other channels.
• Amplify volunteer voices by turning interviews and project knowledge into clear, readable newsletters that show the human impact behind our work.

In short: better email comms means better relationships, better understanding of our work, and a healthier foundation for the charity’s future.

Before you apply

After applying through Reach, you will be asked to complete a short application form. Once submitted, a member of our team will review your application and respond with next steps.

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to a 30 minute informal online interview with one of our team members. All applicants will be informed of the outcome. We are committed to a fair, transparent and inclusive recruitment process.