Development worker jobs

Community Development Worker — Holtspur, Beaconsfield

Join Beaconsfield URC as our Community Development Worker and turn a newly refurbished building into a welcoming place in Holtspur.

About us

Beaconsfield United Reformed Church serves two very different communities. Beaconsfield itself is well-resourced, with an active church life. A short distance away, Holtspur tells a different story — isolation, cost-of-living pressure, and too few places for people to simply connect. We're investing in our Holtspur building to change that, and now we need someone to bring it to life.

The role

This is a rare chance to shape a role from the ground up. As our Community Development Worker, you won't be managing an established programme — you'll be building one. You'll get to know Holtspur street by street, person by person, and turn what you learn into activities that genuinely matter: community meals, bereavement support, family and children's groups, informal spaces where people feel they belong. You'll recruit and grow volunteers around you, and you'll help make our refurbished Holtspur building the welcoming hub it's meant to be.

Faith sits at the centre of this role. You'll work closely with our Minister and Eldership, and you'll have the confidence to create natural, unforced opportunities for people to explore Christian faith alongside the practical support you offer. This post carries an occupational requirement under Schedule 9 of the Equality Act 2010 for the postholder to be a practising Christian.

What you'll be doing

• Building a consistent, trusted presence in Holtspur, especially with families, children, young people and isolated residents
• Developing and expanding community activities — lunches, bereavement support, wellbeing groups and more
• Recruiting, supporting and growing volunteers
• Partnering with local schools, charities and community groups
• Creating genuine, natural opportunities for conversations about faith
• Helping tell the story of this work through our website, social media and reporting to Eldership, Church Meeting and Synod

What we're looking for

• Real experience of community engagement, outreach or pastoral work
• A knack for building trust with people who don't yet know you
• Confidence recruiting and encouraging volunteers
• Warmth, resilience, and the organisational skills to turn ideas into action
• An active Christian faith you're comfortable sharing appropriately as part of community work
• Flexibility for occasional evenings and weekends

Experience of church-based or "fresh expressions" community work, working with isolated or marginalised groups, or coordinating volunteers would be a bonus — as would a driving licence.

The details

• Salary: £30,000 p.a. pro rata (£18,000 p.a. actual)
• Hours: 22.5 hours per week (0.6 FTE), three days a week
• Leave: 15 days per year plus pro-rata bank holidays
• Location: Holtspur URC, Crabtree Close, HP9 1UQ
• Probation: 3 months

Safeguarding

This role involves working with children, young people and older adults. The successful candidate will be subject to an enhanced DBS check and must comply with United Reformed Church safeguarding policies.

How to apply

Please send a CV along with a personal statement (max. two sides of A4) telling us about your experience building relationships and communities, how you'd go about understanding Holtspur's needs, your track record of working with others to create change, and what draws you to this role.

Closing Date: 20th August, 2026

Our Charity: 

We are a busy, ambitious charity operating at the heart of the Wandsworth community since 1995, helping thousands of people across the borough in unpaid Caring roles. We give information and advice, organise respite, offer complementary therapies, deliver training, provide peer support, arrange fun events and much more.In short, we are the Carer's friend and advocate, often helping Carers through difficult times. 

About the role: 

This role involves providing information, support and advice, particularly around welfare benefits, housing and learning disabilities, to Carers through one-to-one appointments, case work, and group facilitation. 

Key Responsibilities Include: 

• Providing advice and advocacy on welfare benefits and housing. Minimum of 3 days a week.

• Providing information, support and advocacy to Carers of people with Learning Disabilities. 

• Facilitation of the Learning Disability Carers Peer Support Group. 

• Recording and maintaining accurate case records, adhering to AQS standards.

• Managing your own case load. 

Essential Requirements Include: 

• Experience of, or ability to provide one-to-one support, information, advocacy and advice, including welfare benefits. 

• Experience of or ability to facilitate peer support groups in person and online. 

• Ability to deliver training and information sessions. 

• Strong listening and questioning skills. 

• Ability and commitment to work on own initiative and as part of a team.

• The ability to balance and prioritise a busy and varied workload. 

• Developed IT skills with experience using Microsoft packages. 

• Clear verbal and written communication skills in English. 

Please see the job description and person specification for a full list of responsibilities and requirements.

Benefits of working for Wandsworth Carers’ Centre: 

• Hybrid on completion of induction period with a minimum 60% office based

• Friendly team and working environment 

• Annual leave starts at 31 days increasing to 36 days plus bank holidays

• Contributory company pension, 

• Ongoing training and development opportunities

• Employee assistance program offreing 24/7 support

If you're committed to working in the voluntary sector and want to be part of a diverse team that makes a real difference to people’s lives, this role is for you! 

Wandsworth Carers’ Centre is an inclusive employer, committed to the continued development of a diverse workforce.