women in london

Role Title: WILPF Internship
Reports to: Campaigns Coordinator
Management Responsibility:Part-time volunteers as required
Location: Central London

The Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF) is the oldest international women’s peace organisation, founded in 1915. It has members in advance of forty countries in all continents. In the UK there are around 280 members about half of whom are in six branches and the rest scattered across the country. Most work is carried out on a voluntary basis, with one part-time salaried post of Campaigns Coordinator An executive committee meets in London on a Saturday five or six times a year to plan activities and organise the UK Section. A newsletter: Peace and Freedom Update is produced by an editorial board and circulated to members about five times a year. There is an active e-list (ukwilpf) where background information and news of activities and events can be circulated.

WILPF campaigns against militarism and war and to establish world peace based on economic justice, human rights and cooperation. WILPF works in networks of women’s organisations and others working for peace and global economic justice, bringing a gender perspective to this work.

At national level and individually, WILPF women lobby government writing letters, visiting MPs, organising postcard and petition campaigns, taking part in vigils, taking stalls at public events, joining in demonstrations.

WILPF applies for funding from trusts and fund-raises at local level to be able to organise campaigns and send a Section subscription to the WILPF international office in Geneva to further our work at international level.

WILPF is an equal opportunities employer. WILPF will not discriminate on the basis of factors such as race, colour, class, sexual orientation, religious affiliation, national origin, age, or physical disability.

Purpose of the post

This post is crucial to supporting and enhancing the work of the UK section of WILPF. Half of the intern’s time will be supporting the administrative needs of the organisations. The other half will be spent on campaigning projects or building the capacity of WILPF to campaign effectively.

Duties and Responsibilities
* Deal with correspondence: post and e-mail, respond and forward messages, file post and keep records
* Organise printing and mailings of Newsletter, and other communications to members, branches, organisations etc.
* For the Executive, send out notifications, papers, take minutes, and circulate when approved.
* Deal with membership enquiries, and renewals. Organise new members’ material for mailing. Update database of members and send out subscription reminders.
* Maintain a computer address book of members and organisations.
* Circulate groups of organisations with WILPF activities
* Maintain WILPF records
* Make regular contact with branches and programme working groups, note activities, supply materials, provide support.
* Make regular contact with WILPF international office.
* Update and maintain the UK WILPF website
* Help to administer WILPF events (AGM, Seminar, Connect Day etc).
* Network with like-minded organisations
* Opportunity to join and work within a WILPF programme working group
* Establish and supervise work of volunteers, e.g. carrying out checks of leaflets, publications, merchandise, stationery, filing, taking out post etc
* Feed back stock information for decisions on re-ordering.
* Project coordination on campaigns or capacity building activities. This could include outreach work, fundraising, media, developing procedures for consultation. Projects will be determined in consultation with the intern, reflecting the needs and priorities of the organisation, but also the skills and interests of the intern.

Criteria For Selection

Requirements
* Membership of WILPF or willingness to join.
* Understanding of WILPF’s policies and commitment to its programme

Experience and Skills
* Good experience of office routines and ability to set up and maintain them where necessary
* Excellent communication, networking and inter-personal skills.
* Strong computer skills (e.g. MS Word, Excel, Access, Publisher internet/email etc).
* Good written and oral communication skills in English.
* Ability to delegate, plan and organise work for others.
* Basic Knowledge of policy-making institutions, such as UN, EU, UK Government.
* Experience of working collaboratively.
* Experience of working in and with women’s organisations.
* Understanding of gender issues in relation to WILPF’s programme.
* Ability to work independently and in a team and manage a diverse workload.

Summary terms and conditions

Salary: Voluntary.
Leave : Statutory holidays with other time to be agreed
Expenses: Up to £5 travel expenses a day
Notice period: One month on either side.
Working hours: Minimum 10 hours per week, worked over 2 days
Probationary period: 90 days with continuing monthly reviews

Application form from: office@ukwilpf.org.uk or 52-54 Featherstone Street, London EC1Y 8RT

Closing date for application 5pm Wednesday 3 June 2009