Community connector coordinator jobs

Job Title:Community Connector

Reference Number: V559

Location:  Must live/ work or have close connections to Chantry/ Belstead Hills/ Stoke Park areas of Ipswich  

Contract Type: Fixed Term Contract for 1 year

Hours: 15 hours per week

Salary: FTE £23,004.80 (annual salary for 15 h.p.w £9,859)

DBS/PVG: Basic DBS check required

Line Manager: Delivery Leader -  England 1

Closing date: Midday on 24th October 2025 – however we do reserve the right to close early if suitable applicants come forward.

Interview Date/s:TBC

Anticipated start date: asap

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications

Volunteering Matters  

Who we are
At Volunteering Matters, we believe people have the power to create change. Whether through volunteering by helping others and giving time, or through social action such as speaking up, campaigning, or leading change, everyone can make a difference. We bring people together to build stronger communities across England, Scotland and Wales, making sure everyone has the chance to get involved and create real change.

 What we do
We help people of all ages and backgrounds get involved in volunteering and social action. We focus on making sure that everyone, no matter their situation, has the chance to take part. We work with local people.

 How we do this

We support people to share their time and skills to help others and tackle big challenges in their communities.

· We remove barriers to volunteering and social action, making it easier for people who don’t always get the chance to take part.

· We listen to and amplify voices that aren’t always heard, helping volunteers and communities influence change.

· We help volunteers beyond their first experience, offering training, support, and pathways to new opportunities.

· We connect businesses with communities, creating meaningful employee volunteering projects.

· We show the impact of volunteering and social action, proving how it changes lives for the better.

 Job Purpose:

Volunteering Matters, in partnership with Active Suffolk and Sport England, is recruiting for a Community Connector to work in the Chantry / Belstead Hills / Stoke Park area of Ipswich

The aim of the role is to gather insights into local people’s lived experiences, particularly around physical activity, by having meaningful conversations in everyday settings like cafés, outside schools, and at community events. These insights will help shape future initiatives that support community wellbeing and development.

Ideal candidates will have strong local ties—preferably living in the area they work—and be confident, approachable, and proactive. The role involves identifying community needs, building local networks, signposting residents to support, and feeding back discussions to project partners.

Flexibility is key, with some evening and weekend work expected. The role reports to the Delivery Leader at Volunteering Matters and works closely with Active Suffolk’s Development Officer for Ipswich. A DBS check will be required before starting.

For more information about the role please refer to the Job description

Our Values & Way of Working

In all that we are guided by our values: Empowering, Inclusive, Compassionate, Positive & Straightforward. 

Diversity & Inclusion

Volunteering Matters welcomes all applicants and are keen to ensure our team reflects the diversity of the UK and the communities we serve. We encourage applications from disabled, LGBT and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic backgrounds, along with candidates with any protected characteristics and from disadvantaged groups.

Disability Confident & Reasonable Adjustments

We guarantee to interview anyone with a disability whose application meets the minimum criteria for the role. Please provide evidence in your application, which demonstrates that you meet the level of competence required in the Job Description under skill and experience. To be considered for a guaranteed interview or to discuss any reasonable adjustments during the process, please state this in your cover letter. 

Benefits

Our employee benefits reflect our culture which is built on an approach of full flexibility with accountability, and designed to let you make your most positive contribution; we offer:

· Flexible Working by Default (re hours & place of work) 

· Unlimited Annual Leave 

· Employee Pension scheme 

· Life Assurance 

· Cycle to Work Scheme 

· Season Ticket Loan 

· Employee Assistance Programme 

· Enhanced sick and family leave.

· Lifestyle Discount Scheme

We are also open to discussing job share applications.

GDPR Statement

If you apply for a role with us, we will retain your contact details including your name, address, email address and phone number to help us manage your application for up to six months.  We will not use your personal data for any other purpose or share it with any third party. You can contact us at any point to update your personal information or ask us to delete it from our records.

Policy on AI-Generated Applications 

Applications are accepted on trust, and we expect all submissions to reflect the applicant’s own words, experiences, and motivations. While tools such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) may support the application process, applications should not be generated wholly by AI. 

To Apply

Please send an updated, complete CV and cover letter via the Charity Job Apply button above. In your application clearly state which role you are applying for. In the cover letter please demonstrate how you would fulfil the role requirements, what previous relevant achievements you have (both in life and at work), what skills & experience you can offer, and what you believe you can contribute to Volunteering Matters.

Right to Work in the UK

Please note that while we hold a license to sponsor employees on a skilled worker visa, the number of applications we can make each year is very limited. Unfortunately, this role does not meet the criteria for sponsorship, therefore, you must already have the right to work in the UK to be considered for this position.

If you have any questions about current vacancies, the recruitment process, or need support, our team is here to help. Whether you're a candidate looking for more information or with an HR query, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

As Connector and Speaker, you will be a welcoming host, creating meaningful relationships and experiences that show people God’s transforming mission in tough places.

You will make an impact by connecting with new churches and supporters, building lasting partnerships, and designing events that inspire, energise, and leave a lasting impression. Through your storytelling, presentations, and personal warmth, you will help people feel included, valued, and part of something bigger.

If you are someone who loves connecting with people, enjoys hosting and presenting, and thrives on bringing energy, creativity, and care to every interaction, this could be the perfect role for you.

Full details can be found in the Candidate Pack attached. More information about Innovista can be found on our website.

Hours: Full-time or part-time (22.5 hours/week or more), permanent.

Location: Home-based with regular travel for church and community events, including at evenings and weekends. Requirement to attend regular team meetings in Oxford.

Salary: £33,000-£39,000 per annum FTE, depending on experience.

To apply, please follow the directions on our website.

• Closing date for applications: Thursday 30 October 2025 5pm.
• After reviewing applications, we'll invite shortlisted candidates to complete two short psychometric assessments. These help us better understand how you work and think. Candidates who are a strong match will then be invited to interview.
• Interviews will take place Friday 14 November, in Oxford.

This role has an occupational requirement to be filled by a Christian under the provisions of the Equality Act (2010).

Innovista is committed to protecting the well-being of children and adults at risk. Our Safeguarding Policy and Whistleblowing Policy are available.

Talent is everywhere, opportunity is not. The Talent Foundry (TTF), a UK education charity, bridges this gap and improves social mobility for young people in underserved schools.

Educational inequalities are vast, and the widening disadvantage gap is diminishing social mobility progress. Working with our partners, including Barclays LifeSkills, Dell Technologies, Network Rail and the NHS we deliver industry-focused, skills workshops to enhance opportunities for young people (aged 9-18+).

Each year we impact 60,000 young people thanks to industry partnerships and their volunteers’ engagement across lightbulb moments in schools, through to intensive connections with employers.

The Programme Coordinator role 

Due to the exciting expansion of our programmes in the new academic year we are seeking a new team member on a fixed term basis to support our next year of growth and delivery.

In this role you will provide crucial customer service and administration to support the delivery of our inspiring employability and skills-focused workshops in schools. 

What you will be doing

• Coordination of multiple projects and events
• Using systems and administrative processes to arrange and manage workshop delivery
• Enhance our feedback and customer service to all our stakeholders, including schools and volunteers

The skills and experience you will bring

• Managing multiple and often conflicting priorities 
• Use of IT, data and systems to operate efficient programmes (MS office, inc. Excel)
• Working in a fast paced environment
• Strong accuracy and attention to detail
• Understanding the importance of deadlines and achieving targets
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Planning, coordination and organisation 
• Time management 
• Customer service delivery focussed with a desire to achieve targets and objectives
• Technology (inc. MS office, including excel and spreadsheets) and seeking ways to maximise IT in administration
• Problem-solving and using initiative

To read the full job information pack please download the attachment. Please read this before completing your application as it contains some helpful advice of what we are looking for. For safer recruitment purposes - please ensure your CV includes the month and date of your previous employment and includes information about any employment gaps. 

Job details

• £26,000 salary (pro-rata for part time)
• Full or part time opportunity (eg 5 or 4 days a week)
• Hybrid working*
• 28 days holiday + bank holidays (pro-rata)
• Training budget

And if you join our team, you can expect to receive feedback like this from our former students: 

"I just wanted to say a big thank you for your help. Without networking with you I would not have been so prepared for it. If it wasn't for Powering Potential all those years ago I would not have developed into the person I am today. So for that, I thank you." 

*Hybrid working

This is a hybrid role. You will be working from home and join Team Together Days in a co-working space in London 2-3 individual days each month. These days are considered commuting days. You do not need to live in London to apply for this role, but you will need to consider what you feel is a reasonable commuting distance for you to attend the team days in London.

Safeguarding

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the wellbeing and welfare of children and we require everyone associated with The Talent Foundry Trust, including all trustees, employees, and volunteers to share this commitment. Successful applicants will need to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the role, including completing our Safer Recruitment process, references from past employers and Disclosure and Barring Service checks.

Are you passionate about sharing the good news of Jesus with children & young people through sport and physical activity?

About the role 

Scripture Union England & Wales (SU) one of the UK’s longest-established children and youth ministry organisations is  working in partnership with Activate, an exciting local sport and wellbeing project, to offer this unique role to reach many more young people in the Bushy Park area and across the South of England through physical activity. 

We’re looking for a creative and entrepreneurial individual with a passion for using sport to help children and young people across the South of England to explore and respond to the good news of Jesus. 

This unique role combines the benefits of direct face-to-face engagement with young people in a local context, delivering mission through sport activities and programmes, while also developing and mentoring others to expand ministry across the South region. The ideal candidate will have equal passion and experience in both contexts. 

Key details: Employed by Scripture Union you will spend three days per week developing sports mission across London and the South. For two days per week, you will work on the Activate sports and wellbeing project working across the Bushy Park area.

Location: Home based with travel across London and the wider south region for SU & St Peter’s Church in West Molesey for Activate. 

Important things to note before you apply.  

1. This role will focus on Bushy Park, London and the South of England and will require extensive regular travel across the region.

2. We are committed to building a culturally diverse workforce. As part of this commitment, we welcome applications from people, regardless of their background.  

3. We take Safeguarding seriously. This role will require a Disclosure from the Disclosure & Barring Service and has an occupational requirement to be filled by a committed Christian, active in church life. Equality Act 2010, Part 1, Schedule 9 applies. 

4. Please note that we do not provide visa sponsorship arrangements so applicants will need to have the right to live and be employed in a permanent job in the UK. 

A flexible role shaped around you 

The role is full-time, offering the best of both worlds by working with two partner organisations that collaborate synergistically. This position suits a candidate who enjoys face-to-face interactions with young people locally and strategic work regionally, training others for delivery. You’ll work closely with the Activate team and maintain weekly connections with the SU Sports Mission team as well as contributing to the wider work of the SU South region team. 

Who we’re looking for team

You are someone who loves variety in your work and thrives on the fact that no two days are the same. You value a blend of face-to-face interaction with children and young people through sports coaching and leading, while also adopting a facilitating approach; equipping, training, and motivating others. You enjoy being rooted in a local context but are also happy travelling and working in a range of settings. 

You’re a connector who relishes being in the community, with experience in leading teams whilst working with diverse groups of people. Your creative mindset, combined with excellent organisational skills, enables you to spot and create opportunities for impact. You love Jesus and are filled with energy and passion for sharing the gospel. You excel with people and thrive when given a blank canvas to drive projects from conception to completion. You are a confident communicator with experience in training, coaching, and empowering others. You have a passion for sport and experience in using this as a tool for sharing the gospel with children and young people. You’ve got a Level 2 coaching qualification or you’re willing to work towards one. 

If this describes you and you would like to join a like-minded organisation that offers the flexibility of an exciting, varied role, provides a competitive salary, a generous pension scheme, and other valuable benefits, then read on.

Invest in our mission, as we invest in you: Our Benefits: 

• Home-based working

• 23 days holiday + bank holidays + 5 volunteering days 

• Up to 12% pension contribution 

• Life insurance 

• Enhanced family leave.  

• Free Bible Reading Guide 

• A supportive, faith-filled environment where your work has eternal impact  

About Scripture Union  

You might have heard of us before if you're one of the 1.5 million+ who have attended one of our Christian holidays or missions over the years, or maybe you're one of the 40,000+ subscribers to have used our brilliant devotionals or been stirred by our exceptional bible resources. We've been at this for a fair few years... over 150 to be precise. Over this time, we’ve remained passionate about helping children and young people develop a vibrant faith in Jesus. As our name describes, the radical power of God's word has always been central to our approach.

We still do all the great stuff with resources and holidays, but in the last few years, we have sharpened our vision with a renewed focus to help the 95% of young people (primary and secondary school age) across the UK who have never stepped foot inside a church, to hear and respond to the good news of Jesus. We do this through equipping and resourcing the local church, training up volunteers from local churches (we call them ‘Faith Guides’) and collaborating with local and national partners across the UK to connect with children and young people and support them on a journey of exploring faith in a way that is relevant and meaningful.

In the last few years we’ve developed a brand new approach to how we do this, it’s deceptively simple and incredibly effective, we call it Revealing Jesus, and its making a massive difference, in the last couple of years we’ve trained up nearly 600 faith guides across 400+ churches all over the UK, collectively we’re seeing over 50,000 young people across the UK on a journey of exploring the Christian faith and responding to an invitation to become followers of Jesus. We have 24 staff organised into four regional mission teams, and alongside our local and national partners, we’re playing our part in a network of organisations that seeks to reach children and young people in every context, across every town and city across the whole of the UK. The journey ahead is significant, and we invite you to be a part of it! 

Since 2015, SU has had a dedicated Mission Through Sport team which contributes directly towards this outreach to the 95. We have recently developed some innovative new resources, aligned with the RJ framework, which the post holder will be involved in both delivering and equipping others to utilise. These include our flagship programme called Holy Ground which empowers churches to adopt a local sports space in their community to connect with the 95 in their context. Half Time is our brand new Explore-Respond resource which uses sports-themed videos and fun games to help the 95 to explore the life of Jesus by journeying through Mark’s Gospel. 

About Activate 

Activate is a sport and physical activity-based programme, formed in 2018, seeking to build community through wellbeing that invigorates faith.  Activate seeks to release God’s people to join in his mission through sport and physical activity in the areas surrounding Bushy Park. This includes gathering, encouraging and empowering local Christians involved in sports ministry, including expressions of chaplaincy and missional communities centred around sports clubs, centres, educational settings and gyms.  A number of local churches across denominations and Dioceses have been supporters of the project. 

In the past Activate has supported sports projects in local schools, an activity-based church service, wellbeing cafe sessions, exercise sessions for the elderly and youth activities.  The successful candidate will be involved in re-launching Activate’s mission after a break due to staff changes. 

About your team

With this role, you will have the benefit of being part of a national-focused sports team at SU, as well as the south team with a regional focus and the local context with Activate. You’ll work out of the office of St Peter’s Church, West Molesey, benefiting from the support of a local parish-based team including clergy and youth workers. You’ll contribute your expertise in a variety of settings, ranging from urban and suburban to coastal and rural areas across the south. You’ll have a brilliant time getting acquainted with this rich tapestry of local and national partners. Across the south region, we currently work with 130 churches and have 150 faith guides. We’d like to see these numbers grow significantly over the next few years and believe that a vibrant sports ministry can contribute meaningfully to this. 

Closing date: 31st October, 2025

Interview date: 11th November, 2025

Interview location: London, location to be confirmed. 

* (CONTRACT) Funding is in place for year one and partly secured for year two. We are confident that through the development of innovate partnerships via the Activate role, including within the church of England, the funds can be generated to not only fulfil the two initial years but also beyond that to ensure longevity in this vital mission. We invite interested applicants to contact Mark Oliver, Sports Mission Team Leader at Scripture Union, for an informal conversation.