Projects and Events Officer

Community Southwark 

Community Southwark is the umbrella body for the Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) in Southwark. We support charities and community groups with advice, training and volunteering. We connect organisations to each other, funders, and decision makers to make change, together. 

Our 2022-26 strategic objectives are for: 

• A more impactful and sustainable Voluntary and Community Sector 

• A more inclusive and equal Southwark 

• A collaborative Voluntary and Community Sector able to influence change 

The Role 

This is an exciting opportunity to design and deliver collaborative projects and events with Southwark’s charities and community groups, funders, businesses and statutory partners. The role is a unique combination of building relationships with VCS groups through one-to-one funding and governance support, helping the VCS to make decisions about community grants, and organising collaborative networking events activities with the VCS and its partners.  It directly builds on the Funding and Relationships recommendations in the borough’s State of the Sector report.

We welcome applications from all sectors and experience levels. We particularly encourage applications from disabled, Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) people and people from the LGBTQ+ communities. 

Job Description 

Main purpose 

• Support small grass roots groups through a ‘Funding Differently’ grants process with bid-writing, business planning, and strategy. Bring them together to share learning and collaborate on projects.  

• Facilitate our Funding Working Group – a network to bring together funders and VCS group to address the challenges outlined in our State of the Sector report.   

• Lead on two projects to support parts of the VCS to collaborate and effect change, for example bringing together youth groups, funders, and statutory partners to be more strategic about funding youth services in the borough.   

• Organise two networking or shared learning events per year to bring together parts of the sector to share good practice and build connections.  

Principal Responsibilities and Accountabilities 

Support Grass Roots Groups through ‘Funding Differently’ 

• Help groups with an income of less that £100,000 to prepare funding applications and ensure that their governance and strategy is clear.  

• Support the decision-making process to ensure that Funding Differently grants are allocated by the community in an open and transparent way 

• Individually and collectively explore further options for groups post Funding Differently decisions.  

Facilitate Funding Working Group 

• Support the administration of the Funding Working Group as one of the key recommendations from our State of the Sector report. 

• Organise meetings, prepare minutes, and maintain relationships with funders and VCS groups. 

Lead Collaborative Projects 

• Build strong relationships within the sector and external local and national partners to influence change in key areas for the VCS 

• Organise working group meetings to bring together stakeholders, plan and deliver campaigns, policy or practice changes. 

• Use project management skills to drive activity such as producing research, events or lobbying opportunities.  

• Support the sector to work strategically and in partnership 

Organise Shared Learning Networking Events 

• Work with the Community Southwark team, including colleagues in business volunteering and VCS Support, to design and deliver engaging events with clear purpose.  

• Project manage events, liaising with venues and speakers, organising invitations and agendas, and ensuring follow up action. 

General 

• Support Community Southwark’s mission, vision, values and strategic objectives   

• Undertake other tasks from time to time and as appropriate, that may be required by management in line with the goals of the organisation   

• Work within all of Community Southwark’s policies, in particular the Health and Safety, Equal Opportunities and Confidentiality policies, and help to ensure that diversity and equality of opportunity is integral to the organisation’s work   

• Perform five days (pro rata) consultancy on behalf of the organisation    

Changes 

This is a description of the job as it is presently constituted.  It is the practice of the organisation to examine job descriptions from time to time and to update them to ensure they relate to the job as then being performed, or to incorporate whatever changes are being proposed. This would be conducted in consultation with you through your Support & Supervision sessions. 

Person Specification  

Knowledge, Skills and Experience Needed  

• An experienced relationship builder, creating networks and connecting others   

• An understanding and appreciation of the VCS and the potential for partnerships  

• Strategic vision – able to think through opportunities and plan for the long term  

• Excellent written and communication skills  

• An understanding of charity fundraising and governance, ideally through experience of working or volunteering with a small charity 

Behavioural competencies   

• Confident with a range of audiences, including those in senior positions  

• High level listening, influencing and negotiating skills  

• Extremely well organised, flexible and proactive  

Closing Date: 11am on Tuesday, 25th February 2025

Interviews: Friday 7th March 2025