Community Support Jobs

Community Drug and Alcohol Recovery Services (CDARS) is a charity organisation that provides psychological and social support to drug users and their family members.

As part of this work, it has built a track record of working with service user representatives, service user Councils and networks and service user involvement teams. This includes creating a strong Volunteer, Peer Mentor and Recovery Champion network and supporting them through training, supervision and access to additional personal and professional development areas.

The WCDAS and RCDAS Treatment services, led by South London and Maudsley (SLAM), are a community substance misuse ‘partnership’ service that offers a broad and inclusive range of support and treatment options for those seeking recovery from Substance use. This includes access to medical, psychological, and sustained recovery sessions within the Boroughs of Wandsworth and Richmond.

The Community Involvement Worker (CIW) will assist in delivering positive and improved outcomes for service users across both Boroughs and will work closely with the Community Involvement Co-Ordinator (CIC) to manage recruit, train and nurture peer mentors and service user representatives. This support will aim to build capacity and visible recovery across the boroughs. Both post-holders will help develop, train and nurture meaningful service user involvement through the Service User Council network and its representatives throughout the treatment system.

The post holder will need to work under the directives of the CDARS Wandsworth Management Team, with the objective of facilitating engagement in all aspects of service user involvement. The post holder will be expected to foster and develop good working relationships with staff at all levels within the partnership and establish good working relationships with other agencies, both voluntary and state, within the two Boroughs.

Community Drug and Alcohol Recovery Services (CDARS) is a charity organisation that provides psychological and social support to drug users and their family members.

As part of this work, it has built a track record of working with service user representatives, service user Councils and networks and service user involvement teams. This includes creating a strong Volunteer, Peer Mentor and Recovery Champion network and supporting them through training, supervision and access to additional personal and professional development areas.

The WCDAS and RCDAS Treatment services, led by South London and Maudsley (SLAM), are a community substance misuse ‘partnership’ service that offers a broad and inclusive range of support and treatment options for those seeking recovery from Substance use. This includes access to medical, psychological, and sustained recovery sessions within the Boroughs of Wandsworth and Richmond.

The Community Involvement Co-Ordinator (CIC) will deliver positive and improved outcomes for service users across both Boroughs. This will include creating solid relationships with other partners within the voluntary and community sector (VSC), including Job Centres, Work programmes, local businesses, and employers, to improve outcomes for service users through enhanced re-integration opportunities within the local Community. Another focus of the post will be to manage the Community Involvement Worker (CIW) ,  who will work closely with the Manager to recruit, train and nurture peer mentors and service user representatives. This support will aim to build capacity and visible recovery across the boroughs. Both post-holders will help develop, train and nurture meaningful service user involvement through the Service User Council network and its representatives throughout the treatment system.

The post holder will need to work under the directives of the CDARS Wandsworth Management Team, with the objective of facilitating engagement in all aspects of service user involvement. The post holder will be expected to foster and develop good working relationships with staff at all levels within the partnership and establish good working relationships with other agencies, both voluntary and state, within the two Boroughs.

Location: Hybrid working part London Office (Islington, London) part home working or flexible location home working. Travel across the United Kingdom will be required.

Salary: £35,575 per annum for London based or £33,150 for home based 
Hours: 35 hours per week 

Closing date: Tuesday, 3 December 2024 at 10.00am 

Interview date: Wednesday, 11 December 2024 

This is a full-time permanent position. 

Who we are looking for 

As Community Content and Information Lead you will be joining Breakthrough T1D, as part of our Community Engagement team. This role will work at the heart of a passionate team who deliver information and support to people affected by type 1 diabetes (T1D) to live well with the knowledge, skills and confidence to manage T1D at all ages and stages, championing community voice at every stage. 

You will be an enthusiastic person with an eye for detail with the ability to plan, manage and deliver our community-based content and information, using expertise and knowledge of new developments. This is an exciting time to join the team with ambitious plans to refresh, review and update many of our resources. 

You will be an experienced information content professional, you may have worked for charities before in similar roles. You will be driven by insight, community feedback and unmet needs with the ability to be agile to adopt new approaches. 

Experience required 

Producing content and copy for multiple communications channels 

• Championing and ensuring lived experience insights drive new/updates to information and content which are rooted in community needs representing the diversity of the community 

• Immersing yourself within a beneficiary community 

• Building, managing and cultivating relationships with healthcare professionals, support groups and or other relevant organisations 

• Offering insightful guidance on developments and wider contextual work guided by external audiences and unmet needs 

• Representing an organisation through networking or exhibiting at conferences, community events and other similar functions 

• Experience of working with budgets 

• Working within a community and building relationships with volunteers, new and existing supporters and stakeholders 

• Demonstrating excellent communication and interpersonal skill 

About Breakthrough T1D 

Breakthrough T1D is the world’s leading charitable research funder into type 1 diabetes, improving lives until we find the cure. We are dedicated to our 400,000 strong type 1 community in the UK and work closely with our international affiliates across the world, including the US, Canada and Australia. 

You will find a vibrant atmosphere and spirited team at Breakthrough T1D, always striving to make a difference to people living with type 1. 

Employee benefits 

As an employer we offer: 

• Hybrid working arrangements

• Flexible working and will consider compressed hours

• Generous annual leave entitlement – 25 days per year plus bank holidays for full-time staff with leave increasing after three and five years’ service

• Health cash plan that allows you to claim for some treatments such as dental, optical and physiotherapy treatment

• Season ticket and cycle loan

• Pension scheme

• Family-friendly policies – maternity, paternity, adoption and shared parental leave at enhanced rates

• Personalised training to suit your career aspirations and professional development 

Breakthrough T1D is an equal opportunity employer, we welcome applications from all individuals regardless of race, gender, disability, religious belief, sexual orientation or age. 

Barnet Mencap has been helping people with learning disabilities and/or autistic adults in the London Borough of Barnet for over 50 years. We provide supported accommodation, leisure and learning activities, information, advice, and guidance, and so much more. All while being committed to equal opportunities and the safeguarding of children and adults.

We know job satisfaction, flexibility, work/life balance, and a great team are incredibly important. So, at Barnet Mencap, in addition to offering 30 days of annual leave per year (including Bank Holidays), we have a TOIL system to allow flexible working. There will need to be some face-to-face work, but there will also be opportunities to work from home and/or have different working patterns as agreed by your manager. Travel expenses can be claimed, at the agreed rate, for journeys that are necessary in the course of your work; and claims for additional expenses will be reimbursed in accordance with our expenses policy. We also have auto-enrolment into a pension scheme with employer contributions in place, and all staff qualify for schemes like the Blue Light card.

We are looking for a focused individual to join our caring, passionate, and diverse team in supporting adults with moderate learning disabilities and autistic adults to live independently in housing situations of their choice. This role gives challenge and satisfaction and will suit someone that has:

• Experience of working with adults with learning disabilities and autistic adults in a community setting
• A good team member
• Understanding of the issues faced by people with learning disabilities and autistic people living independently and the skills to meet their practical, social and emotional needs
• A ‘Person Centred Planning’ ethos
• Excellent communication skills
• Good record keeping skills

The successful candidate will be required to complete an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check in line with Section 115 of The Police Act 1997.

Community Support Worker - Safe Space Café

Job Title: Community Support Worker (Safe Space Café)

Salary: £25,642.50 per annum (pro-rata to £15,385.50 for 22.5 hours per week)

Hours: 22.5 hours per week across 3 days (flexible working may be required)
 

Contract Term: permanent

Location: Open House, E3 4DA, Tower Hamlets

Closing Date:  Monday 9December 2024
Interview Date: Friday 13 December 2024

About Us
Mind in Tower Hamlets, Newham, and Redbridge is a local charity affiliated with National Mind. We are committed to supporting individuals with mental health challenges through inclusive and accessible services, creating opportunities for connection, recovery, and resilience.

About the Role
Our Safe Space Café provides a welcoming environment where individuals can access mental health support, affordable meals, and social opportunities. As a Community Support Worker, you will play a vital role in fostering a safe, inclusive space where clients can connect with services, build skills, and find support.

Key Responsibilities

• Prepare and serve refreshments while ensuring compliance with food safety standards.
• Deliver and continue to develop the Mindful Barista training programme, engaging, and developing our volunteer on this initiative
• Provide a warm, engaging atmosphere for clients to feel valued and supported.
• Signpost individuals to local services, activities, and resources tailored to their needs.
• Supervise and support volunteers and trainees, helping them develop employment skills.
• Collaborate with service teams to ensure smooth and effective café operations.

What We are Looking For

• Strong interpersonal and customer service skills with the ability to foster meaningful connections.
• Knowledge of mental health challenges and a commitment to promoting wellbeing.
• Experience supporting diverse communities and supervising volunteers or trainees.

If you are passionate about supporting individuals through inclusive mental health services and want to make a difference in your community, we encourage you to apply.

If you have any questions about the role, please contact Bernadette Keane on the email address below.

Submit your CV and cover letter by 9 December 2024  to Bernadette Keane

We're looking for a kind, compassionate and resilient Support Worker to join our Mental Health service in Islington.

£27,352.00 per annum, working 40 hours per week. Benefits include 25 days Annual Leave, pension schemes, staff discounts, healthcare and career progression.

Want to feel like you have an exciting future? You'll feel at home here.
Making you feel at home here means helping you thrive in every way. That's why we offer a wide range of benefits, award-winning Learning & Development and a culture that welcomes all. These aren't token gestures - we've thought long and hard about how best to support our team. After all, our people are doing something amazing: helping to transform lives every day.
Support Workers will provide support to customers to help them develop the life skills they require to meet the assessed needs of the customers of the service. In some services, this will include providing physical, domestic, emotional and social care. They will work with customers to promote social inclusion and alongside other members of the team to promote independent living, encouraging customers to maximise their skills and choices.
All applicants must be legally eligible to work in the UK by the start of employment as Look Ahead are not able to offer sponsorship.

What you'll do:

* If a need arises, deliver all aspects of support to enable a customer to develop independent living skills as appropriate to the individual needs of the customer. In some services, this will include delivering personal and physical care as appropriate
* Support customers to undertake all domestic tasks wherever possible, including practical assistance where they have not yet developed the skills, to ensure customers enjoy a high quality of accommodation
* Participate in the support planning and risk management, as facilitated by the lead Support Worker
* Carry out security duties to ensure the safety of the customers and premises
* Monitor the CCTV throughout the shift
* Enable customers to make full use of community facilities by providing support as directed
* Carry out support duties to enable customers to integrate into the community including e.g. accompanying the customer to attend benefit agency appointments and meetings, go shopping, to enquire at colleges about possible courses, to visit various public amenities
* Report any observations relating to customers welfare
* Adhere to all the policies and procedures of Look Ahead Care, Support & Housing plus those specific to the project including any statutory requirements ubject to change in accordance with the needs of Look Ahead

About you:
* Exudes a warm friendly presence and open behaviour
* Prefers working as part of a group or team
* Is fundamentally calm and resilient, does not let emotion adversely affect them or obscure their judgement
* Flexible
* Open to feedback and self development
* Has a practical and logical mind and is naturally well organised
* Thrives on change and enjoys dynamic diverse environments
* Is confident with high levels of self-esteem
* Is respectful, articulate and sensitive in style of communication
* Is motivated towards excellence and improvement of personal performance with a can do attitude
* Enjoys social interaction and the company of others, joins in local activities to encourage customer involvement
* Ability to cope positively with challenging and diverse behaviour

What you'll bring:

Essential:
* NVQ Level 2 or equivalent or experience within charity/social care sector

Desirable:
* Relevant specialism experience

About us:

Look Ahead is a leading, not-for-profit care and support provider in London and the South East. Our vision is to build better lives through social care and housing in local communities. As an organisation we deliver over 120 services, providing support to around 6000 customers each year. Our mission is to co-design and deliver services that offer innovative social care solutions and support people to thrive. We work across mental health, homelessness, young people and learning disabilities so there are plenty of opportunities to grow and progress your career with us.
We have a strong social purpose and we live and work by our values:
* We focus on Excellence and innovation.
* We are Caring and Compassionate.
* We are Inclusive and Trusted.
* We work in Partnership and are One-Team.
Look Ahead is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults at risk, and expects all employees, workers and volunteers to share this commitment.

If your application for this role is unsuccessful, but we feel that you would be suitable for another role, we may contact you to discuss alternative opportunities. If this occurs you would not need to submit another application for the alternative role.

We reserve the right to close this advert early if we are able to appoint to the vacancy before the advertised closed date.

We are committed to diversity and inclusion at work and are accredited with Silver in the Inclusive Employers Standard 2021. We are a proud member of the Employers Domestic Abuse Covenant and encourage applications from a diverse range of applicants of all backgrounds.

Please our website for full Job Description

Community Development and Wind Farm Manager

Location: Hybrid, based in Uist, with a desk at old Lochmaddy School, North Uist.

Application deadline: Sunday 01 December, 2024, noon.

Hours of work: Full-time, 35 hours per week, flexible working considered.

Holidays: 25 days per year plus 9 days public holidays per year.

About us:

North Uist Development Company, founded in 2010, registered as a Scottish Company No. 383175 and as a Scottish Charity No. SC041709, aims to develop a sustainable and viable community through promoting the social, educational, cultural, economic and environmental wellbeing of North Uist.UistWind (North Uist Development Company Trading Limited) is a Community Benefit Society, registered with the Financial Conduct Authority under registration no: RS007738.  The two UistWind 900kW wind turbines are operated by UistWind on behalf of the community, with projections indicating the project will generate over £2 million for community benefit.  For more details visit our website.

Role summary:                   
This is an exciting opportunity to join North Uist Development Company (NUDC) and UistWind (North Uist Development Company Trading Limited) to act as a catalyst for innovative and sustainable community development and for successful operational management of the North Uist community-owned wind farm – UistWind.

The successful candidate will work with the UistWind Management Committee, its members and associated parties, to manage the Community Benefit Society’s operational business needs, meeting compliance requirements while working to maximise generation and revenue from two 900kW wind turbines at Criongrabhal near Clachan-na-Luib in North Uist for the benefit of the local community.The successful candidate will also work with NUDC and the wider community, to develop and implement both a community development plan, and a community investment plan for the UistWind community benefit fund, which takes account of opportunities to enhance the socio-economic, cultural and environmental welfare of the North Uist and Berneray area.

Who we are looking for:
We are looking to recruit an energetic and self-motivated individual, with a strong commitment to community development and community ownership.  You will have experience of partnership working, especially with community groups and associated stakeholders, and of working with and supporting voluntary trustees.  You will also have excellent communication, coordination and facilitation skills, alongside attention to detail and demonstrable ability to understand, utilise and interpret complex technical and financial information.  ​If your experience looks a little different from what we've identified, and you think you can bring value to the role, we'd love to hear from you.

How to apply:
For full details about the role, who we are looking for, and how to apply, please see the attached application pack.

Applicants should submit a cover letter and CV by noon on Sunday 1st December 2024.

Our Values

Migrant Democracy Project (MDP) envisions a society where all migrants at home in the UK hold collective, political power to shape a society rooted in justice, freedom, and solidarity. 

We are looking for a full-time Community Organiser to organise first-generation migrants in the UK towards migrant justice by supporting community members to organise events and participate in campaign activities. The  work will connect across 3 streams: voter registration; advocacy & campaigns; and political empowerment. 

Whether it’s engaging migrants at a voter registration stall, supporting migrant leaders to develop activities in their own communities, or sharing stories for the campaign for votes for all - the lived experience of first generation migrants is at the heart of all our activities.

We are looking for a proactive Community Organiser who is passionate about migrants’ rights and democracy to start working as soon as possible.

Who funds the role?

The role is funded by a grant from the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation.

Contract

This is a fixed term contract, 2 years (with the possibility of extension depending on future grants). Benefits include:

• Annual salary £32,000 pro rata, with an immediate start
• 3% employer pension contribution
• Training and professional development support, such as organiser training
• Company phone 
• Flexible working hours
• Time off in lieu for work outside working hours such as evening or weekend community events

Location

Migrant Democracy Project does not have a physical office, although the team does meet in person on regular co-working days. The Community Organiser will work flexibly from home on administrative tasks and be expected to work in-person when necessary to deliver voter registration, training, informative, advocacy and campaign activities, as well as representing MDP at relevant community events.

This role will suit someone based in Greater London.

Responsibilities

• Register migrant communities to vote.

• Engage migrant communities in key locations in the UK towards the Our Home Our Vote campaign.

• Plan and deliver outreach events with first-generation migrant communities where there is scope for building power in their local areas.

• Connect community leaders with their elected representatives on the Our Home Our Vote campaign.

• Train and empower migrant communities on UK politics and how to best achieve their campaign aims.

• Identify new local and national migrants’ rights groups that can support MDP’s campaigns and keep MDP’s contact database up to date.

• Organise the logistics behind Parliament tours where migrants without the right to vote visit their MPs to ask for their right to vote.

• Share physical and digital materials on democratic rights and participation at relevant community events.

• Assist MDP’s Digital Organiser in collecting digital material from community events, which can be shared on MDP’s platforms. 

• Keep track of community engagement and assist with report writing for our projects’ evaluation.

Qualifications

We are looking for a proactive and confident Community Organiser with the following essential skills:

• Demonstrable experience working with local communities at the grassroots level on campaigns.

• Strong commitment to social justice, anti-racism, feminism and LGBTQIA+ equality.

• Event administration skills, including booking venues, inviting speakers and communicating event programmes, as well as dealing with last-minute event changes.

• Good people skills and ability to manage the needs, priorities and differences of a diverse range of communities.

• Knowledge of and interest in the UK political system, in particular of voter eligibility.

• Problem-solver who is able to work both independently and collaboratively in a startup environment.

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills. 

The following experiences would be helpful, although not necessary:

• Knowledge of languages other than English.

• Experience working with migrant communities in the UK.

• Experience working in the UK political space, such as voter registration drives or campaign support.

• Experience facilitating training sessions.

• Experience using design tools (e.g. Canva), editing websites (e.g. Squarespace) and digital organising tools (e.g. Action Network).

Application submission format

Apply using the linked application form.

MDP is dedicated to the kind of diversity and inclusion that makes our organisation thrive. We highly encourage people to apply who identify as women, trans or nonbinary; LGBTQIA+; Black or BIPOC; migrants and refugees; and disabled.

Decision-making timeline

We are looking for a Community Organiser to start as soon as possible. The applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to an initial online interview. If successful, the final stage will involve an in person interview in central London. Final stage interviews are likely to take place in early January. There will be a practical assessment part of the final interview process, sent by email in good time. 

Further information

Please note, MDP cannot offer visa sponsorship. Applicants must have the right to work in the UK. 

This is a vacancy for an established but growing Corporate and Community Fundraiser role in a Berkshire based charity, generating funds from local businesses and community groups, events and individuals. 

Camp Mohawk is a local but widely known and highly respected organisation, providing support services to children and young people with special needs and their families from our beautiful woodland site in rural East Berkshire. Camp Mohawk supports over 700 families from across the South / South East region, seeing over 17,000 visitors each year.

Many of our families and young people find it extremely difficult to access public play and leisure facilities, and the challenges they face with day-to-day life means that they are at significant risk of social isolation and deteriorating mental and physical health. Recent studies have found that families who have a child with special needs are experiencing significant pressure on their family finances, over and above those being experienced by the general population. Camp Mohawk is committed to a voluntary contribution system of charges for the families who use our service and with very limited government / local authority funding available we are therefore almost entirely reliant on grants and donations to make up our annual income requirements.

We have a vacancy for a dynamic, driven and experienced individual to join our small fundraising team, focussing on generating income from corporate and community sources and working closely with our Grants and Trusts Fundraiser. The successful applicant will be a superb communicator, with proven presentation and / or public speaking experience, allowing them to engage and enthuse diverse audiences of all ages. They will possess the skills and confidence to create and deliver persuasive presentations, write press releases, produce posters, leaflets and other written communications, and maintain and build our social media following on a variety of platforms.  Experience of planning and co-ordinating events and/or fundraising challenges, managing teams of volunteers and making pro-active approaches is desirable. They will possess good IT skills and will have a good understanding of financial reporting.

Working primarily from home or remotely (due to space limitations in our small office!), they will be highly self-motivated, driven and possess exceptional organisational skills. The role involves frequent travel locally for the purpose of visiting current and new contacts in the community and attending events, therefore the successful candidate will live locally and will need their own transport. Working hours can be flexible but the ability to work at occasional breakfast, evening and weekend events is essential. 

If you feel that you possess the skills and attributes this role requires, we would love to hear from you. 

Community Project Coordinator

Hours: Part-time, 21 hours per week (0.6 Full-Time Equivalent)

Starting salary: £25,767 (pro-rata)

Contract: Fixed term for 12 months. (Potentially longer dependent on funding).

Responsible to: Adult Projects Lead

Location: Office base is Chorley. A mix of home and office working, with a focus on travel to Burnley and Pendle for project delivery

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join our adults project team as a project coordinator. The postholder will have significant experience of engaging south Asian communities in Lancashire. Alongside working on Connecting Communities.

We are looking for an individual who understands the communities of Lancashire and the barriers to engagement they may face. Fluency in languages such as Urdu, Punjabi or Bengali is advantageous. The successful candidate will have excellent communication skills, with the ability to adapt to a range of audiences and with the ability to build relationships quickly with service users and professionals.

Lancashire Mind is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all sections of the community, particularly candidates with a lived experience of mental health conditions who fulfil all the criteria within the person specification.

We offer a workplace pension scheme, 28 days annual leave (plus bank holidays), a sick pay scheme, paid emergency and compassionate leave, regular supervision, and a variety of learning and development opportunities.

Please note: Lancashire Mind follows Safer Recruitment practices and have a commitment to safeguarding people who use our services. Therefore, this post is subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. If invited to interview, we will ask you to provide evidence of your qualifications and right to work.

Applications must be submitted using a Lancashire Mind job application form, which can be downloaded from our Lancashire Mind website along with our recruitment pack which contains more information about this role.

Deadline for applications: 9am on Monday 9th December 2024.

Interviews for this post are scheduled to take place on Wednesday 18th December, in person at our office in Chorley. Please keep this date free as alternatives can’t be offered.

Registered Charity Number 1081427

Registered Company Number 3888655

We are recruiting a Community Development Officer to engage key partners and stakeholders in the region providing support, training and education to create suicide safer communities.

What you will do:

· Identify, develop and maintain effective partnerships with local communities, volunteers and key partners across the region to engage them in the prevention of young suicide.

· Proactively promote suicide prevention including raising the profile of PAPYRUS and engaging with those personally affected by young suicide.

· Equip a wide range of stakeholders to enable them to create sustainable suicide safer communities through the provision of tailored support, training and education.

· Deliver training and awareness raising products to a variety of groups including professionals, parents, young people, volunteers and other trainers.

· Contribute to the development and review of projects, and education and training products, in line with strategic plans.

· Record, monitor and report on data to evaluate our projects and demonstrate impact.

· Represent the charity at events including conferences, panels, working groups and through media channels as required.

To be successful in this role you will have:

· Previous experience working in a community setting, delivering information and training sessions, leading workshops or educational activities

· A proven track record of networking and building and managing effective relationships, tailoring the approach to meet the differing needs of the audience

· Experience as a qualified ASIST Trainer or willingness to gain qualification and experience

· Experience of using your own initiative and creativity to develop a project, programme or area of work

· Excellent time management skills and ability to manage a diverse workload

· The ability to travel to different locations across London and the South of England to attend meetings, events and deliver training.

Please visit the careers site for the full job description and person specification for the role.

Salary: £30,559 per annum (Scale SCP 18) progressing by increments to £33,366 per annum (Scale SCP 23). As this is a London-based role, the post-holder will receive an additional Cost of Living Allowance which is £5,000 per annum.

Hours: 36 hours per week  

Location: London (7-9 Bream’s Buildings, London, EC4A 1DT) with travel across the South of England

Contract: Permanent

Benefits: You will receive 28 days annual leave plus Bank Holidays (pro rata for part time workers), hybrid and flexible working arrangements, an attractive pension scheme, Simply Health membership and enhanced sick pay. Please visit our website for more details.

Closing date: Sunday 8th December 2024 

We reserve the right to close the vacancy earlier if we receive sufficient applications so, please submit your application as soon as possible.

PAPYRUS is committed to the principle of equal opportunity in employment and its recruitment policies are designed to ensure that no job applicant or employee receives less favourable treatment on the grounds of age, disability, gender re-assignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation.

PAPYRUS is committed to safeguarding all children, young people and adults at risk that interact with the organisation. The organisation recognises its responsibility to safeguard the welfare of these vulnerable groups by a commitment to procedures to protect them. The charity expects all staff and volunteers to fully support and promote these commitments.

Job Title: Community Connector Essex

Salary: £22,776 - £26,000

Responsible to: Community and Business Development Manager Essex

Location: Across Essex with time spent in Colchester

Hours of Work: 36 ½ hours per week. Flexible working will be required

Contract: Fixed term until 31st March 2026

Benefits

We offer our team members a comprehensive staff benefits offering to include:

• Annual Leave – 38 days! 25 days AL (increasing to 29 days with service) plus 5 wellbeing days and 8 bank holidays.
• Flexible working, home working and remote working options available
• Nest Pension – 8% employer contribution - 3% employee contribution.
• Heath Cash Plan – giving you discounts on everyday healthcare such as dental, optical, physio, prescriptions & more.
• Employee Assistance Programme (counselling and DRs on call 24hrs a day).
• Fantastic volunteering opportunities within The Active Wellbeing Society every month.

Introduction to The Active Wellbeing Society

The Active Wellbeing Society (TAWS) is a community benefit society and cooperative working to develop healthy, happy communities living active and connected lives.

Our vision is for a society where people have the autonomy, capacity, resources and skills to become the architects of their own destiny; where our individual wellbeing is recognised as being bound up in our collective responsibility to and dependency on each other; and where all of us feel empowered as agents of social change to make a difference – whether at an individual level or more widely.

Essex Pedal Power is a flagship programme led by Essex County Council and Active Essex to support more people in deprived areas to cycle by removing the main barriers to cycling.

Main duties of the role

1. Work with communities and local organisations to develop and deliver ideas and activities to support people who are representative of the projects’ target audience in the areas.

2. Through local connections identify community assets (community spaces and key individuals) to support TAWS activities.

3. Develop new opportunities, in particular underrepresented groups, to ensure that services offered by The Active Wellbeing Society is brought to new audiences, with a particular focus on hard to reach citizens.

4. Devise, understand and use asset-based community development approaches to community development and work with your team/communities to understand priorities and co-design initiatives. Ensure that delivery mitigates or removes the barriers to participation.

5. Co-produce projects with local communities and locally trusted organisations and ensure continuous engagement and communication to ensure that eligible citizens receive a good quality experience.

6. Contribute to oral and written reports on engagement level, activity delivery and the development of new programmes / projects.

Experience and Knowledge

All criteria are essential, and your application will be assessed on all points detailed below.

1. Experience in volunteering and or recruitment or within another similar role.

2. A commitment to equal opportunities and an understanding of the impact on individuals and community’s health and deprivation.

3. Experience in customer facing roles and knowledge of local communities.

4. Ability to coordinate and consult internal and external organisations (including community groups) to provide pathways of opportunity for active citizenship and community activity.

5. A genuine passion for the wellbeing of others and a drive to improve the lives of individuals and communities by bringing them together to improve their mental and physical wellbeing.

We are recruiting a Community Development Officer to engage key partners and stakeholders in East Midlands and Cambridgeshire tailoring support, training and education to create suicide safer communities.

What you will do:

· Identify, develop and maintain effective partnerships with local communities, volunteers and key partners across the region to engage them in the prevention of young suicide.

· Proactively promote suicide prevention including raising the profile of PAPYRUS and engaging with those personally affected by young suicide.

· Equip a wide range of stakeholders to enable them to create sustainable suicide safer communities through the provision of tailored support, training and education.

· Deliver training and raise awareness of products to a variety of groups including professionals, parents, young people, volunteers and other trainers.

· Contribute to the development and review of projects, and education and training products, in line with the Strategic Plans.

· Contribute to and promote campaigns, training and opportunities as outlined in the Area and Strategic Plans.

To be successful in this role you will have:

· Previous experience working in a community setting, delivering information and training sessions, leading workshops or educational activities

· A proven track record of networking and building and managing effective relationships, tailoring the approach to meet the differing needs of the audience

· Experience as a qualified ASIST Trainer or willingness to gain qualification and experience

· Experience of using own initiative and creativity to develop a project, programme or area of work

· The ability to travel to different locations across West Midlands, West Mercia and Staffordshire  to attend meetings, events and deliver training.

· A degree or professional qualification in Education, Counselling, Training, Psychology, Community Development or Youth Work

Please visit the careers site for the full job description and person specification for the role.

Salary: £30,559 per annum (SCP 18) progressing by increments to £33,366 per annum (SCP 23)

Hours: 36 hours per week

Location: Birmingham, with travel across West Midlands, West Mercia and Staffordshire

Contract: Permanent

Benefits: You will receive 28 days annual leave plus Bank Holidays (pro rata for part time workers), hybrid and flexible working arrangements, an attractive pension scheme, Simply Health membership, enhanced sick pay and enhanced parental pay. Please visit our website for more details.

Closing date: Sunday 8th December 2024

We reserve the right to close the vacancy earlier if we receive sufficient applications so, please submit your application as soon as possible.

PAPYRUS is committed to the principle of equal opportunity in employment and its recruitment policies are designed to ensure that no job applicant or employee receives less favourable treatment on the grounds of age, disability, gender re-assignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation.

PAPYRUS is committed to safeguarding all children, young people and adults at risk that interact with the organisation. The organisation recognises its responsibility to safeguard the welfare of these vulnerable groups by a commitment to procedures to protect them. The charity expects all staff and volunteers to fully support and promote these commitments.

We are looking for a Community Organiser to join the Thames Valley Citizens team in Reading, building the power of local communities.  The role will work across the whole city and will support existing member institutions, as well as focus on recruiting new ones, particularly ‘anchor institutions’ such as schools/colleges, faith institutions, and unions. Primary responsibilities will include recruiting new members; developing core teams in member institutions and supporting community leaders to take action on issues of shared concern.

With your passion, energy, and commitment to democracy, you will support communities to build the power they need to win justice and make a real and lasting impact.  Join us in the fight for a wealthier, healthier and fairer Reading.

A Community Organiser is responsible for the day-to-day development or maintenance of a Citizens alliance or small chapter. Supported by a more experienced Organiser, they have considerable independence and responsibility for external political and media relationships. They take responsibility for financial issues and staff and community training; and may oversee a budget or manage a colleague. A Community Organiser is a practitioner of the craft of broad-based community organising methodology, and focuses on the building of relational power, the recruitment and retention of dues-paying institutions, the development of leaders, the strengthening of member institutions, leader-led public actions, and the winning of systemic change.

Citizens UK

Citizens UK is a people power alliance of diverse local communities working together for the common good. Our mission is to develop leaders, strengthen civic organisations and make change. Our 550 member communities are deeply rooted in their local areas and connect every day to the lives of hundreds of thousands of people. Through the method of community organising we enable people experiencing powerlessness to develop their leadership and come together with the power and strategy to make change. 

This leads to hundreds of neighbourhood improvements - from zebra crossings outside primary schools to renovated public toilets in cemeteries. And it leads to some of the biggest campaign impacts in the UK, such as winning over £2 billion of wages through the UK Living Wage campaign, securing a legal cap on the cost of credit to control exploitative lending, and ending the detention of children for immigration purposes. We enable local campaigns to grow into large-scale social change projects such as the Living Wage Foundation, Parent Action, Sponsor Refugees, and Refugees for Justice, that form an integral part of our theory of change. The most prominent of these is the rapidly growing Living Wage Foundation with a network of over 13,000 accredited Living Wage Employers across the UK.

Thames Valley Citizens is a chapter of Citizens UK comprising Citizens MK (in Milton Keynes), Reading Citizens, and Oxford Citizens). Reading Citizens is one of Citizens UK’s newest Alliances, launched in 2023. It is a leader-led alliance. In Reading, we are currently focusing on growing the Alliance’s foundations by recruiting more civil society institutions to join existing members. We are building the power of civil society by developing a broad alliance of institutions, strengthening community leadership, and supporting people to take action on what matters most to them.

Main Responsibilities

Working as a Thames Valley Citizens Community Organiser in Reading, reporting to a Regional Supervisor, your main responsibilities will include:

Community Organiser for Reading Citizens:

• Work as part of a team of organisers across Thames Valley and across the South East of England (Thames Valley, Essex, and Sussex)

• Recruit civil society institutions into the alliance

• Support existing institutions across Reading Citizens to focus upon institutional development and strengthen civil society.

• Build relationships and support our strategic partnerships with Reading University and the Students’ Union.

Build relational power to further the goals of CUK:

• Develop a comprehensive power analysis for Reading Citizens

• Develop and grow a substantial network of key influencers at a local level, including journalists; taking the initiative to establish new relationships as required

• Conduct at least 3 121s a day in order to develop relationships with leaders; ensuring a deep understanding of their concerns.

• Tell a wide range of Community Organising stories effectively in order to influence others and achieve CUK’s goals

Identify and develop relational leaders prepared to act with others for the common good:

• Identify and discern actual and potential leaders with the passion and ability to drive change 

• Achieve significant development of primary and secondary leaders; nominate new leaders for training on the core taster curriculum and for National Training 

• Successfully lead training on the core taster curriculum at a local level and teach a variety of sessions on the National Training course

Strengthen institutions and develop BBOs:

• Ensure good understanding of the basic interests and traditions of typical member institutions

• Organise a full local alliance or a large cluster of up to 15 standard member organisations or up to 5 strategic partners to work together on shared issues, including a Leadership Team

• Support pre-existing core teams and create/develop new core teams to provide leadership for multi-institutional campaigns

• Run institutional development campaigns in a range of types of organisation

Support leaders through the Cycle of Action in order to create change:

• Take the staff lead on major actions and campaigns at a local level; aiming to achieve multiple large local wins

• Develop and facilitate action planning teams at local level

• Develop strategies for significant local impact; with comprehensive plans and tactics

• Organise and support local actions, ensuring publicity, and facilitating negotiations 

• Evaluate the effectiveness of actions; demonstrating ability to incorporate lessons learned into future actions

Contribute to CUK’s financial viability through effective fundraising & financial management:

• Recruit new dues paying institutions; negotiating annual membership fees and letters of understanding as required

• Contribute to fundraising by securing £40k-£60k per annum overall, at least half of which must be ‘hard money’ from the recruitment and retention of member institutions. 

• Manage the budget at Alliance/campaign level, incl. setting/ monitoring of budgets, and ensuring dues are collected in a timely manner

Contribute to effective teamwork:

• Be proactive concerning personal professional development and wellbeing, i.e. by reading widely, developing a healthy work-life balance and demonstrating ability to reflect on own organising craft and improve on self-identified weaknesses

• Demonstrate ability to work effectively with colleagues and participate in a team; contribute to the learning of other Organisers

• Lead other Organisers or Associates in a manner that supports high performance by providing clear expectations and providing proactive support, encouragement, and mentorship

• Effective line management of associate organisers 

• Produce all required reports and follow CUK’s procedures on time and to the required standards

Participate in the development of the craft of Community Organising and play a role in the Guild of COs:

• Schedule an average of at least 3 1-2-1 relational meetings into your daily schedule as a core part of your professional practice

• Commit 10 working days pa (pro rata for part-time staff) to the preparation, delivery and evaluation of Citizens UK National Community Leadership Training;

• Participate in a Guild Team and help it develop as a Community of Practice that enables Organisers across the UK to develop their skills and experience.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion:

• Displays self-awareness of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion issues and good practice. 

• Considers the impact on chapter and direct reports. 

• Leads and acts within their area of responsibility and influence. 

• Acts as a champion for those who might otherwise be marginalised 

Person Specification:

Essential (E)

Desirable (D)

QUALIFICATIONS

Bachelor’s degree in any subject or equivalent (D)

Evidence of further and continuing study including a possible professional qualification (D)

EXPERIENCE

At least one-year employment track record of successful Organising (E)

Experience of carrying out a power analysis and using the results to initiate new relationships (E)

Experience of successful fundraising (E)

Experience of setting up a new or consolidating an existing project (E)

Clear evidence of campaigns won and volunteers developed (E)

KEY SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE

Ability to inspire, motivate and lead (particularly people who are different from you) (E)

Ability to organise yourself and others and to work responsibly in an unstructured environment (E)

Financial management skills including ability to set and manage a budget (D)

Ability to use creative strategies to support and develop leaders within unheard and diverse communities. (E)

Ability to plan and organise under pressure (E)

Ability to build trusting relationships and communicate to a wide range of diverse people and institutions (E)

Ability to teach and run workshops (E)

Ability to develop the potential of others (E)

Ability to communicate well verbally and in writing (E)

A good knowledge of Reading and its diverse communities, social dynamics, and challenges (D)

PERSONAL QUALITIES & VALUES

A passion for justice (E)

A positive enthusiasm for working with faith congregations, trade unions, schools and other community organisations (E)

An interest in and experience of politics and public life (E)

Able to work in a team (E)

Willingness to work within accountable relationships (E)

Self-motivated and adaptable (E)

Interview date: 16/01/2025 (subject to change)