Join us!

Pen to Print is developing many new opportunities for people to volunteer and gain valuable transferable experience working for an arts organisation, meeting new people and improving job skills.

If you are interested in volunteering for us please email us at: pentoprint@lbbd.gov.uk

For paid roles and details of any funding that becomes available please visit our Opportunities page.

New Volunteer Opportunity

Pen to Print working with UKON Careers are looking for volunteers to help record The Barking Carnival preparation and collect participants reflections and stories with various groups taking part in the project.

Volunteers will be writing for the Pen to Print Write On! publications Write On! Magazine, online blog Write On! Extra and podcast Write On! Audio. This content will also contribute to the evaluation of the project.

Volunteers will be expected to join participants or already be participating at Barking Carnival events and be willing to visit multiple locations in Barking & Dagenham preparing for the Carnival and be at the Carnival Day itself on 18 July 2025 being held in Barking Town Square. They will be expected to meet tight publication deadlines.

You will be:

• Organised and can meet deadlines
• Friendly and can communicate well with people of all ages / You like talk to people and listen to their stories.
• Be able to write clearly in English. We are not worried about spelling and grammar we can fix this with editing.
• If you are not confident in writing, you should be willing to record video and/ or audio when collecting stories. We can help provide a good quality microphone for audio recording  but recording on a phone is perfectly acceptable. We can give advice and guidance on how to do this and create clear content.
• Have access to a computer and/ or can email.
• If you are not confident in using IT or interviewing people you must have a willingness to learn these new skills. We are happy to offer training if required.

If you are interested in applying or would like more information please email use at Pen to Print with a reason why you want to volunteer. Email this to pentoprint@lbbd.gov.uk with the subject line Volunteering for Barking Carnival.

Free training is available for the following volunteer roles:

• Event Producer Volunteer – sourcing and booking authors and speakers, artists and arts organisations for Pen to Print and ReadFest events.
• Event Host Volunteer – booking in participants using tablets. Assisting with refreshments. Collecting event evaluation forms. Selling books at events.
• Artist Host Volunteer – meeting and greeting authors and speakers. Introducing authors and speakers to audiences. Interviewing authors and speakers. Comparing events.
• Fundraising Volunteer – researching potential donor and sponsors and contacting them with proposals for potential sponsorship or donations.
• Magazine Production Volunteer – working as part of the Pen to Print editorial working group for Write On! magazine. Roles include agreeing content and layout, writing articles, conducting interviews and writing up the results this can be for the print or digital Write On! content. You could also get involved in sourcing and contacting potential sponsor and advertisers.
• Marketing Volunteer – Assisting with developing marketing campaigns for events.
• Marketing Distribution Volunteer – delivering Pen to Print and ReadFest literature and posters and magazines to local venues.
• Advisory Board Members – Volunteer members of the Pen to Print Advisory Board which meet quarterly to oversee the work of Pen to Print and advise on the strategic direction of the programme.

If you are interested in joining with us on working on this varied and exciting project, please contact the Pen to Print team.

Volunteers will be registered on the Barking and Dagenham Better Impact volunteer site and may be asked to undertake some online training. You will be asked to log the hours you donate, and this will create a record that can be used to create a Reference if you are looking for employment.