Buddying programmes coordinator jobs

Community Wellbeing Coordinator

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Job Title: Health and Nature Community Connector

Location: This role is based in Luton. The service is approximately a 20 minute walk from Luton railway station, or a short bus journey with several local bus routes stopping nearby on New Bedford Road. Hybrid working with 2 days from home; the remaining days are community based, involving travel within Luton to locations such as the community garden, Synergy office, and local GP surgeries. Unfortunately, this service does not have step free access.

Salary: £28,700 (Full Time Equivalent)

Shift Pattern: 18 month fixed term contract, 25 hours per week, Monday to Friday 10.00 - 15.00. Some flexibility around these hours can be considered and discussed at interview. You may also be required to work outside hours depending on service and participant needs.

About the Role

We’re hiring a Health and Nature Community Connector to join the SIG Penrose Roots team in Luton - an award winning community wellbeing service making a real difference locally. In this role, you will support members who focus on social isolation, mental health, and connection to nature. We are seeking a proactive, organised and compassionate individual to join our community based open recovery and wellbeing service as a Health and Nature Community Connector. In this role, you will identify members needs and provide person centred, tailored support to help them overcome challenges and improve their wellbeing through nature based activities and green landscape interventions. This is a dynamic role suited to someone passionate about the power of nature in supporting recovery and community connection. You will act as a key triage, coordination and partnership lead to ensure individuals are connected to the right level of support, whether through short term engagement within the service or onward signposting to community opportunities.

You will act as the primary point of contact a referrals, oversee volunteer buddy support and collaborate with a skilled internal team delivering interventions. This community focused role suits someone who enjoys working with people, building relationships and supporting individuals to improve their wellbeing. Help us reduce social isolation, boost mental health and build stronger, more connected communities.

Key Responsibilities Include:

• Supporting members who may be facing challenges with focus on social isolation, mental health, and connection to nature
• Manage and triage referrals from self referrals and partner organisations, acting as the main triage point to ensure individuals are connected to appropriate support.
• Acting as the main point of contact for referrals and coordination across GP surgeries, NHS services, council teams and community partners, liaising closely with external agencies to support smooth pathways into, within, and out of the service.
• Ensure effective service delivery, including safeguarding, risk assessments, and required checks.
• Ensure members understand their rights and can access appropriate tools, resources, and networks.
• Allocate volunteer buddies to individuals and arrange initial meet ups, including attending groups or activities to support engagement.
• Recruit, coordinate, and oversee up to 10 volunteer buddies, providing direction, light supervision, and day to day liaison.
• Empower members to build independence and take control of their lives in a safe, enabling environment.

About You

 We’re looking for a motivated, approachable, and community minded individual who understands the needs of our members, including wellbeing, social connection, collaboration, and meaningful engagement with community and nature based activities. You will be a self motivated individual who is proactive in managing your own time during busy or quiet periods to ensure productivity. You will be confidentially working across organisational boundaries, comfortable coordinating people and processes, and able to build positive relationships with professionals, volunteers, and individuals accessing the service. and will have strong alignment with our SIG values. You are organised and adaptable, able to balance multiple priorities while maintaining a person centred and non judgemental approach. An interest in green and outdoor activities, alongside an understanding of local communities and services, will help you thrive in this role.

• Knowledge of the local area and community landscape, with an understanding of available services and opportunities
• Experience or confidence in working across organisations, including health, council, and community settings
• Strong coordination, communication, and relationship building skills
• Ability to engage with adults experiencing social isolation and mental health challenges, offering empathetic and appropriate support
• Confidence in coordinating volunteers, providing guidance and supporting positive engagement
• IT proficiency, with the ability to learn new systems and use basic Microsoft programmes
• Flexibility and willingness to adapt working patterns in response to service needs
• Cultural awareness, self awareness, and openness to feedback and continuous learning
• Alignment with our values of Ambition, Empowerment, Inclusivity, and Transparency

Please refer to the JDPS attached for more details on the vacancy and our requirements/key criteria.

What we Offer

• 25 days (Full time equivalent) annual leave, increasing with the length of service
• Employer Pension Contribution
• Eligibility to register with Blue Light Discount Card
• Access to discounted tickets for music events, shows, sports and more
• Reflective Practice regular sessions with a therapist provided by an external provider to support Mental Health and Wellbeing at work
• Training and Development, including access to courses, upskilling, and progression plans
• Employee Assistance Programme, including counselling
• Life Assurance Scheme
• Cycle-to-work scheme
• Annual Staff Awards
• EDI Ambassador programme

About Social Interest Group (SIG)

SIG is a not-for-profit organisation providing thousands of people with good-quality support and care in residential, drop-in centres, community floating support settings, probation settings, and hospitals. We do so across London, Brighton, Bedfordshire, Luton, Kent and Liverpool. Our goal is to transform lives through empowering change. 

We believe good care and support improves lives with the vision to create healthier, safer, and more inclusive communities. Join us on our mission to empower independence through trauma-informed solutions and dynamic partnerships that keep people out of prison, out of hospital, and off the streets.
Want to know how we work? Watch our short Theory of Change video to see how we support people towards a brighter future: Theory of Change Further details can be found on our website here: Theory of Change - Social Interest Group - Social Interest Group. 

Additional Information

Please note that this job advert may close early due to screening applications on an ongoing basis. We advise applying as soon as possible for your application to be taken into consideration at the early stages.

Unfortunately, we are unable to provide sponsorship, please ensure you have full right to work in the UK prior to applying to our positions.