Meet our new volunteer coordinator Beth

As the job title suggests, Beth is responsible for co-ordinating all of our volunteers from across the North of England and the Isle of Man, and is their main point of contact.

We had a chat with Beth to find out more about what her new role entails, as well as what she did before joining GNAAS in May.

Could you please explain what jobs you had prior to GNAAS?

My degree was in Tourism/Aviation and I have previously worked in operational roles at both Birmingham Airport and Teesside International Airport. I have also worked in a couple of project and events orientated roles as well as working in an administrative role at North Yorkshire Police. All my previous roles have been highly people orientated and based around developing relationships which I am passionate about and I’m excited to bring this to my new role as volunteer coordinator.

Why did you apply for a job at GNAAS?

I previously supported Emergency Planning at Teesside International Airport and had been interested in the involvement of GNAAS from both an aviation perspective as well as really admiring the vital, life-saving work that the team carries out. During one of the harsh winters we had, the air ambulance landed in the field at the back of my house to help an old gentleman, after the emergency services couldn’t get down the snow-covered farm track. It is examples like this of the charity’s commitment to deliver critical care in some of the most challenging environments that drew me to join the service. I really wanted to be part of a team that makes a real difference in people’s lives, especially being able to work with the volunteers who are at the heart of the charity’s success and are equally as passionate about making a difference.

How did it feel when you were told you got the job at GNAAS?

When I got the phone call to say I had been offered the volunteer coordinator role, I was in Belfast with my best friend on a city break. I was in a busy Irish pub so had to stop myself from cheering too loudly down the phone, but I was over the moon and excited to accept the role and begin my next challenge. A few drinks were had following the phone call to celebrate and what better place to do it!

What is your role and responsibilities?

As volunteer coordinator, I am the main point of contact for all volunteers across the North East, Cumbria and the Isle of Man. It is my responsibility to develop and implement the volunteer recruitment strategy from application and interview through to onboarding and retention. I work very closely with all the teams from marketing, fundraising and events to promote volunteer opportunities, ensure the volunteer programs are engaging and that we are supporting our volunteers and letting them know how appreciative we are of their support and efforts.

What are your first impressions of GNAAS?

From my first day everyone made me feel so welcome and I felt as though I had been part of the team for a long time. Nothing is too much trouble for anyone, and everyone has been very supportive of me coming into a new role. I love how flexible GNAAS is for employees and in my first week I got to sit in the cockpit seat of the helicopter and met the GNAAS office dogs – it doesn’t get much better than that!

What do you like to do outside of work?

I am an outdoorsy girl at heart, I love hiking in the Yorkshire Dales and Lake District with my Sprocker Spaniel, Fred – always followed by a pub of course. I also do CrossFit most evenings which is a fitness programme that combines weightlifting, cardio, gymnastics and bodyweight movements. In addition to this I really enjoy cooking and trying out new places to eat on weekends.