From humble beginnings in 1972, our volunteers have returned heritage trains to the Avon Valley, with operations currently focussed on Bitton Station. We have achieved a lot so far, but we’re not finished. The Avon Valley Railway is now a major tourist attraction receiving up to 80,000 visitors a year, and showing the potential to become the catalyst that brings together a whole range of attractions in the area.

We are currently looking for a social media savvy volunteer to generate creative, engaging content and to help take us forward in an exciting new digital direction. This would be using the Avon Valley Railway’s existing social media platforms, such as Facebook, X/Twitter, and Instagram, with a look to push other platforms going forward. If you think you can contribute to what has become a fun and creative team, we would love to hear from you.

We also welcome any content creation skills you can bring to the table! So, if you’re a dab hand at photo or video editing, useful with a camera or even have a drone you’ve used for videography, we’d welcome new content you could produce for the Avon Valley Railway!

The railway is a great way to meet new people, be environmentally conscious and engage with your local community whilst developing key digital and communication skills.

Persons who might be interested could be young professionals in digital professions and those coming up for retirement from a marketing/advertising background. This is an opportunity to support your local community, take the Avon Valley Railway brand further afield and meet new friends. It is also a chance to further develop personal and professional skills.

We welcome any amount of time you can give us. Some volunteers will work a couple of hours a week, others might come in for 2 or 3 days. We can be flexible around your existing commitments.

Key responsibilities:

Work alongside our existing volunteers to deliver social media content across Avon Valley Railway platforms, advertising events, offers, membership and similar.

Quick to learn and adapt to new software platforms, using our existing social media management systems to deliver content, such as Meta Business Suite.

Excellent time management skills to meet deadlines effectively.

Proficient in use of social media platforms to engage with our audience.

Comfortable using Zoom/Microsoft Teams for team meetings and collaboration.

Any content creation skills welcome to producing video and photographic media for the railway.

Requirements

An interest in heritage activities.

Able to bring your own ideas to the table regarding how we can push our social media and content creation to boost the railway.

Ability to quickly grasp and utilise new software tools.

Strong time management skills to juggle multiple tasks efficiently.

Familiarity with various social media platforms for effective engagement.

Proficient in using Zoom/Microsoft Teams for attending meeting and collaborating with the team.

Your own photo and video editing software at home if able to undertake content creation jobs as well.

Activities

Art & Design, IT, Technology & Websites, Business, Management & Research, Marketing, PR & Media, Trusteeships & Committees

Skills & Attributes

• Experience in a Digital Media Background or proven use of social media

• Good IT skills
•  Web design
• Communications  
• Organising & Planning

• Additional content creation and design skills welcomed

• High level of Written English

• Confident to work as part of a team

• An interest in heritage and associated activities

What is in it for you

In return for your time as an Avon Valley Railway volunteer, we offer regular social events for our volunteers, as well as free travel on our trains, discounts in the Buffet etc. This is an opportunity to develop personal and professional skills. We are committed to helping and supporting the career development of our volunteers where we can and are always happy to help with references.