Sessional Van Driver

The Children's Society; Washington; On-site; GBP 14,000 - 21,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension up to 8%

Free counselling

Free parking

Job summary

The Children’s Society is seeking a reliable van driver for a fixed term contract based in Washington to service 11 shops across the North East. The role involves driving a van, lifting and carrying bags, and coordinating with volunteers in a charity retail setting.

The position offers flexible hours as a zero hours contract, with a brand new van provided and safeguarding checks as part of our safer recruitment process. Interviews are to be confirmed.

Qualifications

• Good knowledge of local areas and ability to route plan efficient delivery and collection.
• Able to work on own and plan routes.
• Ability to complete paperwork as required.
• Punctual & Reliable
• Able to communicate well and work as part of a team.
• Experience working in a charity retail environment.
• Experience of working with volunteers
• Manual handling understanding and experience
• Vehicle checks and maintenance awareness

Responsibilities

• Drive a van to deliver and collect across 11 shops in the North East.
• Lift and carry donated bags safely between van and shops.
• Plan efficient routes and complete accompanying paperwork.
• Work with volunteers and support safeguarding policies.

Skills

Local knowledge

Route planning

Punctual & Reliable

Communication

Volunteer coordination

Team player

Manual handling

Vehicle checks

Job description

Fixed Term Contract - Additional Funding

21 September 2026

Fixed Term Contract until October 2027, with possible extension

Zero hours contract which can vary weekly dependent on business need. Flexible hours. Also to cover holidays of other van driver

£12.71 per hour

Location: Based at Washington but to service 11 shops in a cluster in the North East. Brand new van provided.

Benefits include but not limited to:

• We match up to 8% pension
• Free counselling service
• Free parking if applicable

About us:

The Children’s Society has been helping children and young people in this country for over 140 years. We deliver essential local services that provide safe, trusted support to children and young people during times of significant need.

We run over 100 retail shops covering the whole of the UK – every one of these shops play a vital role in our mission to providing support to children and young adults. Every day we’re changing the lives of children in this country for the better – and with your help, tomorrow we can be there for even more.

About the role:

This role sits within our Retail Domain, which transforms donated goods into vital income to support young people across the UK.

We’re looking for a driver that has experience of driving a van and who is able to lift and carry bags from the van into a shop and vice versa.

Key Skills and Competencies:

The required skills and competencies for this role are:

• Good knowledge of local areas and ability to route plan efficient delivery and collection
• Able to work on own and plan routes.
• Ability to complete paperwork as required.
• Punctual & Reliable
• Able to communicate well and work as part of a team.
• Experience working in a charity retail environment.
• Experience of working with volunteers
• Manual handling understanding and experience
• Vehicle checks and maintenance awareness

Interviews: Interview date yet to be confirmed

The Children’s Society is committed to safeguarding and protection of the children and young people we work with. As such, our safer recruitment process includes a Basic or Enhanced DBS check, 2 years of references, and additional vetting checks relevant to the role. We have a comprehensive range of policies and procedures in place to promote safeguarding and safer working practices across all areas of our organisation.

In support of our commitment to diversity and inclusion, shortlisting is carried out on an anonymised basis. Personal details are hidden from the shortlisting panel, and candidates are referenced by a candidate number only. As part of this process, we ask that your CV is anonymised before submission - this means removing personal information such as your name, contact details, age, and any other identifying details.

AI tools can support your application but only when used appropriately. You’re welcome to use them to improve clarity, structure, and research. However, overuse or misuse (e.g. inventing experience or using AI during assessments) may lead to rejection at any stage. We want to hear the real you - authenticity matters.