Volunteering and Internships

Volunteering:
There are many ways in which volunteers who are interested in getting involved with PEN's work are able to help. We rely greatly on the dedication and enthusiasm of those who kindly give their time and energy to helping our programmes and activities continue to expand and develop. We regularly take on interns for periods of between 3 and 6 months and try to maintain a pool of casual volunteers who we can call upon at monthly intervals to assist with the running of events.

Outlined below are the main voluntary opportunities that PEN offers. We tend to take on new interns in January, April and September but do please contact us at any time with your CV and a covering letter stating your availability and in what capacity you would like to be involved with PEN. Do please also get in touch if you have a particular skill or area of expertise you feel could be put to good use in PEN's work. We look forward to hearing from you.

If you have any questions about our internships and volunteering for PEN or would like to apply for any of the following positions please contact the Office & Events Manager on 020 7713 0023 or sarah@englishpen.org   

 
"My internship at PEN has been an exceptionally valuable and interesting experience. Working with English PEN's staff on the Writers in Prison programme gave me the opportunity to gain a very important insight on the human rights field, combining research with action, and it will be of inestimable help in my future career." Benedetta La Corte, Writers in Prison programme intern 2006

"My internship with PEN has been fantastic, from researching for future events, helping to organise current ones to reporting on previous ones. Everyday was different and I am proud to have worked for such a worthy organisation. I learnt a lot and overall had a great experience." Lizzie Montgomery, Membership intern 2006

"The PEN internship proved to be an immensely valuable and enjoyable experience for me. Not only did it provide an opportunity to learn about and contribute to such a vitally important organisation, but it also undoubtedly helped to get my CV noticed by employers. After completing the internship I moved directly into a job assisting a literary agent." Sarah Flax, Quiz intern 2005

 

Membership and Events Internship
Interns usually work in our offices for 1-2 days a week, with some occasional out of hours work, assisting the Office and Events manager for a period of between 3 and 6 months. The Internship is unpaid but travel expenses within London will be reimbursed. The most important qualifications include an interest in and knowledge of literature, excellent written English skills, enthusiasm, strong IT skills, good people skills and administrative experience. Duties may vary but you will be expected to undertake a variety of tasks from among the following:

• Updating and developing the news, events and members' only section of the website
• Carrying out research on upcoming events of interest and relevant news items for the website
• Helping to compile and circulate the monthly members' newsletter
• Supporting our ongoing membership drive
• Providing events support
• Taking ticket bookings and processing new memberships
• Helping to keep our membership informed of events and campaigns
• Providing administrative support to the Membership Secretary, Office Manager and Director
• Assisting with PR and marketing wherever necessary to ensure maximum coverage of campaigns and events
• Assisting with other programmes as and when required
  

 

Readers and Writers Programme Internship

Interns are required to work for one day a week at our offices, with some occasional out of hours work, for a period of approximately 3 months. The internship is unpaid but travel expenses within London will be reimbursed. The Readers & Writers Programme is PEN's educational arm. We arrange for writers to visit challenging schools, prisons, Young Offenders' Institutions and similar centres all over the country. The most important qualifications include an interest in and knowledge of literature, education and outreach work in the more vulnerable areas of society, a 'can do' attitude, and strong IT and communication skills. We are particularly interested to hear from people with website editing experience. Duties may vary but interns are expected to undertake a variety of tasks from among the following:

• Liaising with sites and co-ordinators about the practical details of a site visit
• Updating and developing our website
• Providing events support
• Keeping our membership informed of our work
• Providing administrative support to Programme Director
• Preparing agendas, taking minutes, and any necessary follow up to R&W meetings.
  

 

Writers in Prison Programme Internship

Interns usually work for 2 days a week, with some occasional out of hours work, assisting the Writers in Prison Programme for a period of approximately 6 months. The internship is unpaid but daily travel expenses within London will be reimbursed. The most important qualifications are: strong IT skills including, ideally, web-editing experience, excellent written English, an interest in and knowledge of freedom of expression and/or international human rights issues, general efficiency and a 'can do' attitude. Language skills are also useful. The internship is designed primarily for postgraduate students whose studies are directly related to the issues arising in our Writers in Prison Programme work, and whose placement is approved by their academic institution, but others who are interested may also apply.
The duties interns are expected to undertake may vary but will include:

• Providing administrative and other more substantive (research and advocacy) support to the Programme staff
• Drafting and sending out appeal letters on behalf of persecuted writers
• Updating our website
• Tracking developments in individual cases and countries
• Providing events support  
• Helping keep our membership informed of our work for persecuted writers (this may involve photocopying and mailings)
• If appropriate, some translation work
• Preparing materials for, and helping take minutes at, meetings of the Writers in Prison Committee and other relevant meetings
• Helping ensure maximum coverage of campaigns/events/petitions/demonstrations etc
  

 

Casual Volunteers

We are extremely proud of our first-class events programme, which ranges from large scale public discussions and debates to monthly literary events and talks for our members. These monthly talks take place at the Guardian Newsroom in Farringdon, usually on the 3rd Tuesday of every month, and include a short drinks reception after talks. We are always looking for enthusiastic volunteers to attend our regular events and help with ticket sales and admission, helping to clear up at the end of events and making notes during talks from which to write a review for our website.
 

We also look for volunteers to help out at our annual fundraising Quiz. We need energetic, enthusiastic people who can help out on the evening stewarding, selling raffle tickets and generally providing a spare pair of hands. If you think you will be free to help out at our Quiz on Monday 24 November and are interested in getting involved, please call Sarah Hesketh 020 7713 0023.