Community Connector Essex

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.