Education and Outreach Coordinator

JOB SUMMARY

Are you passionate about inspiring the next generation to protect our oceans? The Final Straw Foundation (Registered Charity 1191500) is looking for a creative, energetic, and organised Education & Outreach Coordinator to join our small but mighty team.

You will be the face of our charity in schools and along the coast, turning complex issues like plastic pollution and water quality into hands-on, hopeful, and engaging learning experiences. We need someone who doesn’t just deliver a session but knows how important it is to prove our impact. You don’t need to be an environmental scientist—you just need a passion for The Solent and a gift for storytelling to inspire young people.

The Final Straw Foundation is committed to creating an inclusive environment. We welcome applications from all backgrounds, regardless of age, disability, gender, or race.

SAFEGUARDING

Safeguarding is at the heart of this role. You will work directly with young people daily.

• An enhanced DBS check will be required.
• Adherence to safeguarding policies and risk assessment protocols is mandatory.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

Key area	Tasks
Educational Delivery	Lead our Beach School sessions, taking the classroom to the coastline to teach pupils about local biodiversity, pollution and inspire our next generation.
	Deliver high-energy assemblies, workshops and beach cleans for both Primary and Secondary aged pupils.
	Represent the charity at STEAM events and wider community events.
Content Creation & Innovation	Develop new and engaging educational resources that link directly to our restoration and protection projects and evalaute their impact.
	Ensure all learning is hands-on and hopeful, moving away from “doom and gloom” to focus on practical solutions.
	Develop learning plans and resources that focus on engineering, and citizen science.
Administration & Management	Manage the educational booking system and respond to school inquiries via email or phone.
	Coordinate the logistics for school visits, and beach schools ensuring all transport, kit and resources are ready to go.
	Manage a budget for resources linked to our educational projects.
Impact Tracking & Reporting	Accurately log the number of schools, students, and community members engaged on our charity data tracker and annually report our educational impact to stakeholders.
	Audit all Wild Beach and classroom sessions to ensure they are neuro-inclusive and physically accessible, ensuring that students of all backgrounds and abilities see themselves as valid contributors to the restoration movement.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education and Experience Essential Criteria Experience with Young People: Proven track record of leading groups of children (ages 5–16) in educational or recreational settings. Outdoor Leadership: Experience managing groups in outdoor environments with a strong understanding of safety and risk assessments. Safeguarding & Welfare: Up-to-date knowledge of Child Protection and Safeguarding best practices, with experience in maintaining a safe environment and following reporting procedures. Full UK Driving License: Necessary for transporting kit and equipment to various Solent locations, within a 25-mile radius of Emsworth (mileage provided). Desirable Criteria Formal Teaching Background: Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) or significant experience working within the National Curriculum framework. Alternative Education Training: Forest School Level 3, Beach School Practitioner Level 3, or Outdoor First Aid certification. Inclusivity Expertise: Experience adapting sessions for SEND. Marine Knowledge: A degree or strong interest in Marine Biology, Environmental Science or local conservation

Skills & Competencies:   A Natural Communicator: You can hold the attention of a room full of Year 6s or spark a debate with Year 10s and inspire hope not anxiety. Creative Thinker: You love finding “hands-on” ways to teach and bring our restoration projects to life.  Willing to Learn: You don’t need an environmental degree! We provide training on ecology, pollution and water quality. As well as Beach School Leader Level 3.  Organised: You can stay on top of an inbox and manage a busy booking calendar. Team Player: You must be someone who values working within a team

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

• Must be available to work flexible hours, including weekends, occasionally. 
• Must have a positive attitude, strong work ethic and willingness to learn.

WHAT WE OFFER

• Term-Time Only: Perfect for work-life balance or those with school-age children.
• Comprehensive Training: We will teach you everything you need to know about plastic pollution and the Solent.
• Impact: A chance to directly influence the health of our local waters and the mindsets of thousands of young people.
• Work Life Balance: We offer a flexible, trust-based environment where we focus on the impact you make, not just the hours you clock, ensuring you have the time you need to recharge and enjoy the very environment we’re working so hard to protect.

HOW TO APPLY

We are a small, friendly team and we want to find the right “fit” for our ocean loving family.

• Want an Informal Chat?
  • If you have questions about the role or want to see if we’re the right match for you, we’d love to hear from you.
  • Please contact Georgie Maw at Georgie@finalstrawfoundation.org to schedule a 10 minute call before applying.
• Ready to Apply?
  • Please send your CV and a short covering letter (or a 2-minute video if that’s more your style!) to hello@finalstrawfoundation.org

Reports to	Head of Operations	Salary (FTE)	£15,075 (FTE £29,250)
Application Deadline	Midnight, Thursday 2nd April 2026	Hours	25 hours  (term time only + 6 days)
Interviews	14th & 15th April 2026	Start Date	May 2026

Volunteering

Fundraising & Grants Lead – Volunteer Role 

Location: Remote / flexible
Time commitment: Approximately 4–8 hours per month

Role Overview

We are looking for a volunteer to support our environmental charity by helping identify and apply for small-scale funding opportunities, such as supermarket community grants and local funding schemes. These small grants help us continue our work protecting the environment and engaging the community in activities such as beach cleans, education, and conservation initiatives.

Key Responsibilities

• Research small funding opportunities (e.g. supermarket community funds and local community grants)
• Assist with drafting short funding applications
• Help gather information needed for applications (project descriptions, simple budgets, outcomes)
• Maintain a basic list of funding opportunities and deadlines

Skills and Qualities

• Good written communication skills
• Basic research skills
• Good organisation and attention to detail
• Interest in environmental or community projects

Previous fundraising experience is welcome but not essential.

Time Commitment

Approximately 4–8 hours per month, depending on available opportunities and application deadlines. The role is flexible and can be done remotely.

Support Provided

You will receive information about the charity and our projects, examples of previous funding applications, and support from the team when preparing submissions.

Why This Role Matters

Small grants make a real difference to our work. They help fund equipment, volunteer activities, and community environmental projects, allowing us to continue making a positive impact locally.

Contact: volunteer@finalstrawfoundation.org

Volunteer Leaders

We’re looking for passionate people to join our charity and be part of a core team of Volunteer Leaders to help run our community beach cleans and talk at community events.

If you care about our coastline, want to make a positive difference, and enjoy working with people, this could be for you.

What’s involved?

• Leading beach cleans or talking to community groups and events

• Supporting volunteers on the day

• Being part of a purpose-driven charity

• Approx. 3 hours per event

Full training will be provided

Real impact for our environment and community

Perfect for students, early-career professionals, or anyone wanting to give back.

Please note that this is an unpaid volunteer role.

Email us at : volunteer@finalstrawfoundation.org

Citizen Science Volunteers

We are building a team of volunteers to help test water quality at Emsworth Harbour.

By committing just 1 hour or more, you’ll collect water samples alongside local sailing clubs, community groups, and university researchers, helping uncover what’s really in our waters, from microplastics and pharmaceutical pollution to E. coli.

If you’re able to volunteer regularly or offer a few slots each month, that support would be hugely welcomed too.

This data matters. It supports independent research, protects human health, and helps safeguard our globally important coastal environment before further damage is done.

No previous experience needed, full training provided.

Ready to take action and become a citizen scientist?

Email us at : volunteer@finalstrawfoundation.org