Research Volunteer (WIR)

Introduction

Wikimedia UK is the UK charity that promotes and supports Wikipedia, its sister projects, and other open educational resources in the UK. Following the principles of Wikipedia, we are a volunteer-led organisation, and volunteers have a central role in all our activities.

Over the last two years, Wikimedia UK has worked towards creating a firmer structure supporting our Wikimedian in Residence project. ‪This started with, in November 2012, running a call for applications to attract institutions wanting to engage with such a project (background for that is http://blog.wikimedia.org.uk/2012/11/were-looking-for-wikipedians-in-residence/ and https://wikimedia.org.uk/wiki/2012-13_Wikipedians_in_Residence). ‬

Some of the organisations we have worked with since can be found here.

Towards the end of 2013, we have agreed to reflect on the programme’s successes and challenges through a review. This will have been run over March - May 2014, looking at the opinions of the residents, host institutions, and contribution from the community in general. With significant learning for any organisation or institution wanting to be involved with the Wikimedian in Residence project, it's important that Wikimedia UK gathers the results of the surveys and creates a clear report summarising the results and producing recommendations for the future. We are now looking for a volunteer to deliver this report.

Role Description and Objective

The role will be to support the Wikimedian in Residence survey project. and work particularly with the Programme Manager in delivering it. We would particularly welcome applicants with an understanding of, and experience of collating data and summarising it in reports.

• Role title - Researcher Volunteer
• Hours - c. 25 hours in total which can be undertaken flexibly
• Attendance to one Saturday event (est. 24 May 2014) is requested to present the report results. Attendance would be supported with expenses and/or a per diem according to the charity's Finance Policy
• Timescale - The report needs to be ready by 14 May. Ideally the volunteer time could be delivered over the first 1-2 weeks of May
• Location - The office of Wikimedia UK near Old Street in London, or working remotely

Benefit to you

• Chance to help the charity evaluate a key outreach programme
• Opportunity to offer insight into improvements and recommended changes
• Research and analysis offering a continuing personal development opportunity to develop or enhance skills
• Experience of having input into supporting project evaluation and reference that can be obtained for work undertaken

Person specification

• You will have experience of data collection and producing reports.
• You will be highly IT literate.
• You will be an enthusiastic and highly competent individual able to work as part of a team and bring a mature, empathetic attitude to supporting our volunteer community
• You will be a believer in open access to information and the mission of the Wikimedia movement.
• You will be highly literate and numerate.
• You will be able to work unsupervised and able to meet the time commitments.
• You may have contributed already to Wikipedia and its sister sites as an editor.

How to apply

Expressions of interest are welcome. We would like to hear from you by 10 April 2014 outlining briefly how your skills match the requirements - please email daria.cybulskawikimedia.org.uk.