Activities coordinator for homeless centre jobs

The Resident Engagement Manager will be the organisational lead in a new and exciting lottery funded project leading a small team and overseeing the design and delivery of the LEAP service at Homeless Oxfordshire and with wider partners.

Some of your responsibilities will include:

• Provide leadership across the organisation on resident engagement, learning and skills, co-production and activities.
• To promote the active involvement of the resident’s experience and voice in the delivery, development and monitoring of LEAP service.
• To provide support and line management supervision to the engagement team, ensuring they meet all aims, objectives and outcomes, according to the lottery bid.
• Lead on monitoring, data collection and impact measures for all resident engagement work.
• Lead on the design of the peer mentoring training and traineeship programmes.
• Develop and maintain key relationships with key stakeholders including education, employment and third sector partners.
• Develop and maintain strong internal working relationships to ensure managers and teams deliver high quality services that are reflective of Homeless Oxfordshire’s values and address local needs.
• Lead on the development of a mutual support network for staff with lived experience
• Comply with Homeless Oxfordshire’s policies and procedures
• Contribute to a positive working environment in which equality and diversity are valued and staff are enabled to do their best.
• Contribute to the work of the broader team.

About LEAP

LEAP is built on the foundation of strong, supportive relationships that empower residents to move towards stable, independent living. Through one-to-one key worker support, trauma-informed care, and community engagement, residents rebuild trust, form friendships, and gain confidence. Activities like gardening, arts and crafts, and creative writing foster connection and personal growth, while group involvement helps residents feel part of a wider community. LEAP also supports residents to take steps into peer mentoring, volunteering, and training, helping them build positive networks beyond their immediate circle and develop the skills and confidence to thrive independently.

At LEAP, community involvement is at the heart of their work. Empowering residents through co-production is a key organisational goal. LEAP offer a range of inclusive engagement methods—from informal gatherings like group breakfasts and creative activities, to structured sessions such as support needs mapping and Residents’ Forums. These forums provide regular opportunities for feedback and co-design, with input reaching senior management and trustees. They are enhancing resident engagement by developing a mutual support network for staff with lived experience of homelessness and/or addiction. This group will shape services and policies, and guide resident outreach. LEAP also collaborates with local partners like RAW, a social enterprise offering training and employment to those with lived experience, and strengthens ties with adult education providers such as Abingdon and Witney College. We also create pathways to volunteer with cultural institutions like the University of Oxford Museums.

LEAP empowers people with lived experience of homelessness and/or addiction, helping them build the confidence and skills needed to move towards independent living and employment. Over three years, the project aims to support 750 individuals. Through a wide range of engaging and meaningful activities, residents will experience positive outcomes such as increased confidence, self-esteem, and a sense of inclusion. They will build supportive networks, learn key life skills and access training, volunteering, and employment opportunities. Many will gain qualifications and secure long-term accommodation. The project strengthens peer support and enables residents to shape services through formalised Residents’ Forums, ensuring their voices influence senior decision-making. For Homeless Oxfordshire, LEAP enhances our capacity to deliver peer-led support, builds staff knowledge, and informs service improvement. Wider community benefits include reduced stigma around homelessness, stronger partnerships with employers and organisations, and improved understanding of the issues faced by our residents—ultimately contributing to a more inclusive and compassionate society.

ST ALDATES and ACT CHARITY

St Aldates’ vision is to invite people to encounter Jesus, equip people to follow Jesus in every area of their lives, and envision people to transform their communities. We are pioneering new ways of discipling people to make a difference in every area of their lives. A vibrant church with a congregation of 1200+, we are passionate about connecting with and supporting people who are street homeless and those in or leaving local prisons.

As a city centre church, working alongside people who are poor or marginalised is a key part of our ministry and is carried out largely through Aldates Community Transformation Initiatives (ACT). ACT’s welcoming community offers support designed to help people find belonging, purpose and hope, which is carefully shaped to fit each individual’s needs. This includes street and prison outreach, community meals, mentoring and supported housing. 

ACT is a registered charity with a board of trustees drawn from within the church, including the Rector. We are a growing charity with seven salaried staff, and over 65 local volunteers. Staff are employed by St Aldates PCC and seconded to the ACT Charity.

At the heart of the charity is our ACT Family, a group of individuals living in our supported houses, and at varying stages of journeying towards independent living. We engage with these individuals on a relational basis through three main areas of support:

A community: regular opportunities to gather including a weekly breakfast and Bible study, small groups, social and vocational events, and an annual retreat.

A home: a safe, stable place in one of 11 ACT-managed properties in the city, and sustained 1:1 support from the team.

A mentor: regular sessions with a trained mentor to enable people to grow in confidence, skills and aspiration, including support to volunteer, study or find employment.

PURPOSE OF THE ROLE

The Progression Coordinator is responsible for engaging directly with our core ACT Family residents of supported ACT houses and inspiring their ongoing development. A large part of this will be helping them develop the skills needed so they can move towards living independently. 

 Key Duties

The role is split into two key areas:

Support, coaching and progression for individuals living in our ACT houses:

• Working alongside the Housing Manager to build relationships with the ACT Family
• Inspiring residents to explore a pathway towards independent living
• Establishing Personal Development Plans (PDPs) in response to the needs of each individual
• Administratively holding and monitoring the progress of the PDPs
• Conducting regular reviews with each resident and updating PDPs accordingly
• Giving regular progress reports to the Housing Manager and Head of ACT 
• Managing relationships with all mentors, including monitoring their engagement with the ACT Family and identifying any opportunities or risks
• Organising mentor training and events as required
• Identifying training and deploying new mentors as required
• Maintaining relationships with ACT Family members who are moving out of ACT houses, ensuring they are equipped and supported as they move on
• Providing ad-hoc cover and support for the Housing Manager as required (e.g. holiday and sickness cover, as well as picking up some day-to-day tasks if required)

Outward engagement into the wider community:

• Ongoing engagement and relationship-building with the wider housing and charity sector in and around Oxford
• Creating strategic industry connections that help implement the PDPs, including but not limited to private landlords and agencies able to support progression out of ACT houses 
• Building connections with local employers willing and able to train or employ the residents
• Developing connections with local educational and vocational organisations able to support the residents
• Managing relevant existing relationships with local agencies as required
• Developing an active understanding of issues related to housing in Oxford 
• Exploring and communicating any new initiatives or practices to support the role, or the wider activities of the charity

Person specification

Essential criteria

• Professional qualifications or professional experience in an area directly relevant to the role, e.g. Social Work, Occupational Health, Probation, Housing, Nursing/Mental Health, Therapy, Coaching
• Understanding of and experience working with marginalised adults, particularly former prisoners or homeless people
• Experience of managing projects and organising events
• Willingness to learn about housing, safeguarding, homelessness, rehabilitation of offenders, probation, state benefits, substance abuse, mental health and other relevant topics
• Experience of MS Office including One-Note, Teams or similar system
• Active Christian faith, willing to intercede for others and share your faith when appropriate
• Love and empathy for those who face poverty, hardship and other life challenges whilst maintaining essential boundaries
• Demonstrable ability to manage a varied workload and occasional remote work
• Ability to build relationships with people from all walks of life
• Ability to remain calm under pressure
• Able to maintain healthy boundaries whilst working as part of a close-knit team
• Resilient, able to adhere to a positive routine of mental self-care
• A full UK driving license or right to drive in the UK (regular local trips are part of the role)

Desirable criteria

• Previous experience of one or more of housing, safeguarding, homelessness, rehabilitation of offenders, probation, benefits, substance abuse, mental health and other relevant topics
• Experience of teaching life skills, stress and anger management, and other relevant subjects
• Experience of front-line work with those who face poverty, hardship and other life challenges that are marginalising
• Experience of risk assessment and risk management
• Experience of networking and/or public speaking
• Able to lead prayer meetings and/or worship
• Ability to lead Bible study groups and to develop one-to-one discipleship relationships
• Attends or would be willing to attend St Aldates Church
• Open to continue personal and spiritual development and training

OTHER ASPECTS OF THE ROLE

Due to the nature of the role and the ACT charity, there is a genuine occupational requirement that the post holder be a practising Christian.

We value diversity and recognise that some candidates may not feel they have all the skills, experience, and qualifications set out above. Please do not be deterred and rest assured that we believe God will equip the person he is calling to serve in this role. 

The post will be subject to a satisfactory DBS check and references.

Regional Youth and Community Director
OASIS UK – Youth and Community (OCP)

Permanent, full-time post, 40 hours per week, inclusive of breaks 

Salary: £51,959 per annum (£54,669 p.a. London Weighting for London based staff)

At an exciting and key stage in our journey we have the opportunity for Youth and Community Directors to join our team supporting Oasis’ youth and community work in neighbourhoods in the following regions;

- London and South East (North, Central and South London and Kent - five local Oasis charities)

- North West (Greater Manchester – two local charities, and two regionwide youth violence contracts)

- North East (NE Lincs, Humber, Bradford and Sheffield – four local charities)

With accountability to the Oasis CEO for Youth and Community the role of the regional Youth and Community Director will have three main functions:

1 Strategic management oversight of local Youth and Community teams

2 Regional development, working alongside other functions within the Oasis family

3 Being part of the national Youth and Community leadership team

The Youth and Community Director will have strategic management oversight of local Youth and Community teams in the region, providing accountability and support to the local leaders and charity boards. This responsibility area falls into two categories; those the Director is directly responsible for, and those they are responsible for ensuring are carried out by those within their region.

ORGANISATIONAL CONTEXT

Oasis neighbourhoods are local places of activity that provide integrated, high quality and diverse services to benefit the whole person and the whole community. The Oasis ethos stems from our Christian roots and is an expression of our character - it is a declaration of who we are and therefore the lens through which we assess all we do. This is encapsulated by the following five statements:

a passion to include everyone

a desire to treat everyone equally, respecting differences

a commitment to healthy and open relationships

a deep sense of hope that things can change and be transformed

a sense of perseverance to keep going for the long haul

An Oasis neighbourhood is a community movement and the joining together of all the work Oasis does in any one place, which could include foodbanks, debt advice centres, family support and advice services, healthcare, youth work, children’s work, alongside other Oasis activities in that community, including formal education through Oasis Academies.

The Youth and Community function of Oasis is responsible for the wider community work that takes place within Oasis neighbourhoods, working closely with the other functions of Oasis to outwork our vision. In relation to governance, Oasis Community Partnerships is the national charity, with each local team operating from their own local Oasis charity.

This is an exciting opportunity to be part of a growing national organisation, making a difference to communities on a local level, whilst also influencing the national landscape.  As part of the package, Oasis offers:

• A pension scheme, currently offering 7% employer contribution
• A generous holiday allowance, starting at 25 days per year (plus 8 Bank Holidays)

Please contact us to arrange for an informal conversation with our CEO to find out more about the role. If you are interested in this position, please send your CV and a covering letter (ensuring you refer to the job description and person spec).

The successful candidates must have the right to work in the UK.  Oasis cannot assist with sponsorship or visas.

We actively encourage applications from people of all ethnic backgrounds and minority and underrepresented groups. If you require any assistance to overcome potential barriers to application, please let us know.

Completed applications should be returned by 9AM on Monday 21st July.

Interviews will take place week beginning 28th July. (Shorter more informal calls may be arranged the previous week to assist with shortlisting)

Oasis is committed to making a difference to the lives of the communities it works in, and as such you must show a willingness to demonstrate commitment to the values and behaviours which flow from the Oasis ethos.  We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. We expect all staff to share this commitment and to undergo appropriate checks, including enhanced DBS checks.

Oasis supports Equal Opportunities.  Registered Charity No. 08749179

Are you looking for a new challenge?

Do you have experience of working within drug services and with volunteers?

Do you have relevant experience? This might be alcohol, injecting drug use, viral hepatitis or other liver disease. Have you supported anyone who has?

We are looking for self-motivated individuals who like to be part of a team but equally can work on their own. The post holders must have a desire to make a difference in promoting hepatitis awareness & liver health among services and affected communities and by increasing access to hepatitis treatment and liver disease care. We are looking for a passionate and skilled peer lead who will work on the Community Liver Health Bus and in community outreach locations in South West London

We are a patient-led organisation – you will be working in an environment where the patient/service user/client is placed at the centre of all that you do.

The post holder is required to hold a clean driving licence.