Volunteer Tutor (Online)

Job Description

Volunteer Tutor (Online)

About us

VTO provides free one to one tuition to children and young people (aged 8-18) to help tackle the attainment gap in Scotland. We work with young people from diverse backgrounds including those from low-income families, care experience, EAL, or those faced with perceived barriers to learning. Our volunteers are responsible for developing a person-centred tutoring experience online. A key part of this role is relationship building, mentoring, instilling confidence, and empowering young people through education. Volunteers from a range of diverse backgrounds and experiences are welcome.

What will I be doing?

• Working one-to-one with a young person who requires tutoring support online. Tutoring in English, Maths and potentially other subjects, dependant on experience.
• Sourcing and creating engaging ways to support pupils’ skills and learning.
• Relationship building and mentoring. Instilling a growth mind set towards learning.
• Monitoring and recording progress of learning and keeping in contact with your assigned Learning Communities Coordinator.
• Taking part in relevant training.
• Usually, 1 hour per week time commitment for tutoring with some additional time for learning material preparation.

What skills do I need?

You don’t need any formal teaching or mentoring qualifications to become a tutor. The main requisite is good literacy and numeracy skills, and you must be fluent in English. All our tutors must be able to provide 2 references and be members of the PVG scheme managed by Disclosure Scotland. VTO will assist with the processing of this and there is no cost to you.

• Capability, creativity, and enthusiasm to communicate and work with children and young people.
• Good relationship building skills
• Ability to support young people with a lack of confidence / motivation.
• Ability to be non-judgemental, empathetic and supportive.

What skills and experience will I develop through this role?

• Satisfaction of giving something back and reducing the attainment gap.
• Gain teaching, tutoring and youth work experience useful in careers working with young people.
• Developing new enhanced communication skills.
• Enhanced personal statement/ CV.
• Fulfil volunteering requirement of Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme / Saltire award scheme if eligible.
• Reference after 6 months.

What support is available for volunteers?

All volunteers are allocated a Learning Communities Coordinator (LCC) who acts as their main contact after training. The LCC works with the volunteer to match them with a young person to tutor. They also work with volunteers to support them in their journey as a VTO tutor.

What training is available?

Induction training for all volunteers that consists of 3 hours of materials that a volunteer goes through in their own time and a 3-hour training session on Zoom with a group of volunteers.

There is optional training to develop skills and knowledge for tutors to help pupils overcome potential barriers to education. Our additional training sessions cover topics such as dyslexia, Autism, Care Experience and EAL.

Where will I be volunteering?

You can take part in this volunteering opportunity from anywhere and the opportunity is entirely online. To tutor online, you will need access to a PC, Laptop, iPad or tablet with a microphone and camera, and access to Google Chrome. A stable internet connection is also needed.

When will I be volunteering?

We work with tutors to find a time each week that works for you and the young person who is being tutored. Tutoring and relevant preparation usually takes at least 1 hour a week and is dependent on the education needs of the young person receiving tuition. We ask that tutors are reliable with their timekeeping and let us know in advance if they are unable to attend a tutoring session.

How do I apply?

Email us at admin@vtoscotland.org or call 0141 946 6498

Click here: https://www.vtoscotland.org/register to become a VTO volunteer.

You will be asked to fill out an application form, be invited for an interview and as part of the selection process we require a check to be carried out through the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Scheme for working with children.  This involves a criminal record check which includes spent and pending convictions. This is the fullest form of criminal check available to us.