Volunteer Tutors Organisation

Charity registered in Scotland SC000403

VTO provide children who need it the most with free educational support, helping to build confidence and bridge the attainment gap. We do this through several initiatives including one-to-one tuition and homework groups.


Current opportunities

VTO provides free one to one tuition to children and young people (aged 8-18) to help tackle the attainment gap in Scotland. We work with young people from diverse backgrounds including those from low income families, care experience, EAL, or those faced with perceived barriers to learning. Our volunteers are responsible for developing a person-centred tutoring experience online. A key part of this role is relationship building, mentoring, instilling confidence, and empowering young people through education. Volunteers from a range of diverse backgrounds and experiences are welcome. What will I be doing? Working one to one with a young person who requires tutoring support online. Relationship building and mentoring Instilling a growth mind set towards learning Monitoring and recording progress of learning and keeping in contact with your assigned Learning Communities Coordinator. Tutoring in English, Maths and potentially other subjects, dependant on experience. Sourcing and creating engaging ways to support pupils’ skills and learning. What skills and experience will I develop through this role? We want to support our volunteers through their time with us. Satisfaction of giving something back and reducing the attainment gap. Gain teaching, tutoring and youth work experience useful in careers working with young people. Developing new enhanced communication skills. Enhanced personal statement/ CV. Fulfil volunteering requirement of Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme/ Saltire award scheme if eligible. Reference after 6 months. You will be asked to fill out an application form, be invited for an interview and as part of the selection process we require a check to be carried out through the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Scheme for working with children. This involves a criminal record check which includes spent and pending convictions. This is the fullest form of criminal check available to us. VTO will assist with the processing of this and there is no cost to you.

About us VTO provides free one to one tuition to children and young people in Scotland who face significant social and economic barriers to their education. We inspire achievement and build confidence by using trained volunteer tutors to work with children on a one-to-one basis so that they can get the most out of the education system. What will I be doing? • Working one to one with a young person who requires tutoring support. • Monitoring and recording progress of learning and keeping in contact with assigned Learning Communities Coordinator. • Take part in relevant training. • Support a young person to achieve qualifications usually National 3 or 4 level. • Tutoring in English, Maths and potentially other subjects, dependant on experience. • Sourcing and creating engaging ways to support pupils’ skills and learning. • Minimum 2 hours a week time commitment for tutoring and relevant preparation. What skills and experience will I develop through this role? We want to support our volunteers through their time with us. • Satisfaction of giving something back and reducing the attainment gap. • Gain teaching, tutoring and youth work experience useful in careers working with young people. • Developing new, enhanced communication skills. • Enhanced personal statement/ CV. • Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme/ Saltire award scheme if eligible. • Reference after 6 months. • Training can be used as CPD. What support is available for volunteers? We match volunteers with a Learning Communities Coordinator (LCC) who acts as their main contact after training. The LCC works with the volunteer to match them with a young person to tutor. They also work with volunteers to ensure they can find the best tutoring materials for the young person they are tutoring. Additionally, we have a tutor forum with a specific section for QuESTS volunteers where volunteers can share strategies as a community. When will I be volunteering? We work with tutors to find a time each week that works for you and the young person who is being tutored. Tutoring and relevant preparation takes at least 2 hours a week and is dependent on the education needs of the young person receiving tuition. We ask that tutors are reliable with their timekeeping and let us know in advance if they are unable to attend a tutoring session. We also ask volunteers to commit to one year of tuition where possible. How do I apply? Email us at admin@vtoscotland.org or call 0141 946 6498 You will be asked to fill out an application form, invited for an interview and as part of the selection process, we require a check to be carried out through the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Scheme for working with children. This involves a criminal record check which includes spent and pending convictions. This is the fullest form of criminal check available to us. Following the PVG check, completion of Induction training and receipt of two suitable references, you will be paired with a pupil.

We are looking for volunteers to work one to one online with a young person who requires support with their learning. You can choose to take part in our QuEST programme which is a form of tutoring aimed at helping a young person achieve a qualification (a member of our team will discuss the different opportunities available upon application) Volunteering with VTO involves relationship building, monitoring and recording progress of learning, supporting learning in English and/or Maths (potentially other subjects) and sourcing engaging ways to support pupils’ skills and learning. Our volunteers focus on developing a person-centred tutoring experience through relationship building to instil confidence and increase motivation and educational attainment. Volunteers from a range of diverse backgrounds and experiences are welcome. We ask for a minimum commitment of 6 months from being matched with a young person and ideally until the end of the academic year.

VTO provides free one to one tuition to children and young people (aged 8-18) to help tackle the attainment gap in Scotland. We work with young people from diverse backgrounds including those from low income families, care experience, EAL, or those faced with perceived barriers to learning. Our volunteers are responsible for developing a person-centred tutoring experience online. A key part of this role is relationship building, mentoring, instilling confidence, and empowering young people through education. Volunteers from a range of diverse backgrounds and experiences are welcome. What will I be doing? Working one to one with a young person who requires tutoring support online. Relationship building and mentoring Instilling a growth mind set towards learning Monitoring and recording progress of learning and keeping in contact with your assigned Learning Communities Coordinator. Tutoring in English, Maths and potentially other subjects, dependant on experience. Sourcing and creating engaging ways to support pupils’ skills and learning. What skills and experience will I develop through this role? We want to support our volunteers through their time with us. Satisfaction of giving something back and reducing the attainment gap. Gain teaching, tutoring and youth work experience useful in careers working with young people. Developing new enhanced communication skills. Enhanced personal statement/ CV. Fulfil volunteering requirement of Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme/ Saltire award scheme if eligible. Reference after 6 months. You will be asked to fill out an application form, be invited for an interview and as part of the selection process we require a check to be carried out through the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Scheme for working with children. This involves a criminal record check which includes spent and pending convictions. This is the fullest form of criminal check available to us. VTO will assist with the processing of this and there is no cost to you.