OVERVIEW OF THE ORGANISATION
The Iona Community is an international, ecumenical Christian movement working for justice and peace, the rebuilding
of community and the renewal of worship.
Our Community was founded in Glasgow, Scotland in 1938 by Rev George MacLeod, a visionary and social reformer.
MISSION OF THE IONA COMMUNITY
Inspired by our faith, we pursue justice and peace in and through community.
JOB PURPOSE
Iona Abbey is a place of welcome, hospitality and challenge, through our daily rhythm of worship, meals, shared tasks
and guest programme. The work and presence of volunteers is essential as we build community week by week. Our
volunteers come from all over the world and from all walks of life, representing a wide range of experiences,
age groups, cultural backgrounds and faith traditions.
At Iona Abbey, we typically have around 15 volunteers at any one time. Most volunteers are here for between 6 and 12
weeks, so there are many welcomes and farewells throughout the season, from early March to mid-November. Over
the season we welcome up to around 80 volunteers in total.
The primary purpose of the job is to ensure that all volunteers receive an appropriate level of support and
supervision, from before they arrive until they leave. The postholder will also co-ordinate the recruitment
process in close liaison with the Operations Manager and be responsible for encouraging and organising social
events that help build the team.
During the season, a large proportion of the time will be spent on welcoming, inducting, and carrying out 1-to-1
supervision with volunteers. The bulk of recruitment for the following year’s volunteer programme is done during
the winter, working closely with the Operations Manager and Heads of Departments.