Contract "Support Worker" Jobs
Children and Young People’s Engagement Coordinator
Hours: Full-Time, 35 hours per week
Starting salary: £25,767
Location: Contractual base is our office in Chorley. You will be working in youth settings in East Lancashire: Blackburn with Darwen, Pendle and Burnley
Do you want to join an organisation who are passionate about improving mental health and wellbeing for Lancashire communities?
We’re looking for a bold and caring person to join our Children and Young People’s team. We want someone who has experience of engaging and working with young people in community settings, ideally in Lancashire.
To succeed in the role, you will need excellent communication skills, be confident, driven and have the ability to work autonomously in the community. You will be open, hardworking, creative and able to quickly build rapport with young people.
You will have experience working with the community and voluntary sector and understand the barriers some young people face to achieving good mental health and wellbeing.
This is an exciting time for Lancashire Mind as our children and young people’s services are growing, enabling us to reach and support more people. We want someone who believes in our vision of a Lancashire where everyone can have the best mental health and wellbeing possible.
Lancashire Mind has a dedicated workplace wellbeing programme to ensure staff are supported with their own wellbeing which includes an Employee Assistance Programme, a half-day wellbeing day and wellbeing activities throughout the year.
We also offer a workplace pension scheme, paid emergency time off to care for dependents, regular supervision, and a commitment to supporting learning and development opportunities. We have also recently enhanced our annual leave offer with basic annual leave of 25 days, plus 3 days closure between xmas and new year, long service leave, the option to buy or sell annual leave and a half-day wellbeing day for all staff.
Above all, we are a friendly and supportive place to work; ‘Great staff team, positive and supportive culture’ (Lancashire Mind wellbeing survey, March 2024)
Please note: This post is subject to an enhanced DBS check.
Deadline for applications: 9am on 22 May
Interviews will be held on 30 May
Registered Charity Number 1081427
Registered Company Number 3888655
Lancashire Mind
We're working towards a Lancashire where everyone can have the best mental health and wellbeing possible
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
An exciting opportunity has arisen for two key individuals to join the team at Basis Yorkshire as a Sexual Exploitation Specialist (16+). You will be providing bespoke trauma informed 1-1 and group work for women who have experienced, or who are experiencing sexual exploitation.
Basis Yorkshire is an award-winning charity that was founded in 1995 and now operates across Yorkshire. This is a unique opportunity to join a challenging and vibrant organisation, working with women and young people who are involved in sex work or being sexually exploited. For more information about what Basis Yorkshire does and its values, please visit our website.
Our energy for and commitment to our work makes us a vibrant and resilient organisation with a strong and compassionate workforce. We are looking for someone who is passionate about making a difference to the lives of young people who have experienced or are experiencing child sexual exploitation, can embrace our core values of respect and trust and will support us in providing a unique service through their creative approach.
Basis is committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive working environment where we can all be ourselves and succeed. We particularly encourage applications from Black, Asian backgrounds, those who experience racism and those from the LGBTQ+ community as they are currently under-represented within our staff team. Equally we encourage applications from experts by experience. All appointments will be are made on merit, based on the criteria identified in the job description. You will be based in Leeds and may need to work some unsocial hours. There is some free parking but parking near the office will also be reimbursed.
Basis is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults at risk. This post will be subject to enhanced DBS check.
In addition to being part of a fun, dynamic and vibrant workforce, we offer a benefits package including flexible working, contributory pension (4%), childcare vouchers, funded external supervision and an Employee Assistance package, 35 hour full time week.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as the applications come in. Don’t miss your opportunity, apply now!
Are you passionate about welcoming refugees to the UK? Would you like to support refugees to get out of the city to enjoy the Cotswolds and meet local people?
Sanctuary Breaks is a new charity based in Stroud District, Gloucestershire, set up to welcome refugees and people seeking asylum to rural areas in the county, and enable social and cultural exchange between refugees and the resident population, especially with a view to supporting mental health. Your job would be to develop this charity, and increase refugee and asylum seeker opportunities for leisure, engagement and inclusion in the life of the area.
Sanctuary Breaks promotes equality, diversity and inclusion and requires employees to carry out their work in accordance with its policies on equality of opportunity in relation to staff, volunteers, promotion of the charity's policies and access to the charity's services. We particularly welcome applications from those with lived refugee experience and those with protected characteristics under the Equalities Act 2010.
Organisational Development
Work with Board of Trustees to develop necessary policies and procedures to be legal, effective and follow best practice,
Service and support the Trustees of Sanctuary Breaks CIO
Work with Directors of Hill House Retreats CIC to support generation of Trading Income for the charity
Support the Board of Trustees to make grant funding applications for service development and work with them to develop other income streams: community fundraising; events; donations
Represent Sanctuary Breaks as required
Project development
Work with partners and volunteers to enable two or more rural Sanctuary Breaks per month (events, day trips or residential visits)
Develop a system of evaluation to demonstrate the impact of the services that the charity is providing, with particular reference to mental health and wellbeing.
Maintain and further develop partnerships with refugee sector agencies in the target areas,
Network with local individuals and community groups and create partnerships as needed to promote a welcome for people seeking sanctuary in the area
Recruit and support volunteers to deliver the service
Lead on publicity and communications to promote the service, including regular newsletter and social media posts
Develop ideas for and support cultural and fundraising events
Administrative tasks
Maintain the calendar of events and bookings and work with HHR CIC to coordinate bookings of the house between Sanctuary Breaks and trading income activities
Manage day to day finances and provide information as required to the Treasurer
Create and maintain a register of refugee sector organisations requesting sanctuary breaks, allocating bookings, supplying and handling relevant paperwork
Job: £25k pro rata, 18 hours per week (initially fixed-term 12 month contract)
Hours: 18 per week, including occasional evening or weekend work
Location: flexible, at least one day per week in Amberley, Glos
Closing date: 9am Monday 13th May
Interview date: Friday 17th May or Monday 20th May
To facilitate inclusion and welcome of people seeking sanctuary into the beauty and delights of rural Gloucestershire
Are you looking for a dynamic and rewarding role working for an organisation with the feminist agenda at the core of its ethos? Then Advance Charity could be the career choice for you!
We are looking for a Senior Multiple Needs Independent Domestic Abuse Advocate
Salary: £30,000-£32,000
Location: Ealing Women’s Wellness Zone & Hammersmith – Advance Head Office
Hours: 35 Hours per week (a late shift once per week till 7pm)
Contract: Fixed Term – 12 months (from start of employment)
This post is open to female applicants only as being female is deemed to be a genuine occupational requirement under Schedule 9, Paragraph 1 of the Equality Act 2010.
Please note: Any offer of employment will be made subject to references, confirmation of the right to work in the UK, and satisfactory enhanced DBS check. This role is also subject to Police Vetting.
About us
Advance is an award-winning and innovative women-only organisation, established in 1998, providing emotional and practical support to women and girls survivors of domestic abuse and supporting women with short-term sentences to reduce offending. We believe in empowering women and girls to lead safe, non-violent, equal lives so that they can flourish and contribute to the community.
We are a community-based organisation who lead in best practice approaches to supporting women in their local community. We achieve this by being available to meet and support women in local settings and at our women’s centres, and by working in close partnership with other agencies.
Our values are to listen and support, to empower and respect, collaboration, innovation, and accountability.
About the role:
The Senior Multiple Needs Independent Domestic Violence Advisor (IDVA) will work within a dynamic, crisis intervention, advocacy and support service based at the CGL Ealing Women’s Wellness Zone. The IDVA will provide support in the local community and at the Ealing Women’s Wellness Zone. The successful candidate will be co-located up to 5 days a week at the Women’s Wellness Zone.
The IDVA will be closely working alongside CGL colleagues/team to deliver support to women with a range of complex support needs including substance misuse, mental health, domestic abuse, sex working, trafficking, and offending behaviour. The IDVA will work in collaboration with their team members to holistically support women in the borough of Ealing to achieve sustained recovery, improved health and wellbeing, helping women to manage/mitigate risks, and empowering them to reach their fullest potential in society as well as ensuring the voice of survivors informs every stage of the process.
The Senior Multiple Needs IDVA will assess the needs and risks of survivors, carry out short and longer-term risk management, safety planning and support. As well as identify and refer to services appropriate to their needs. They will also proactively advocate and advice women of their rights and options for seeking help and support from other agencies, encouraging them to engage with other agencies, and help co-ordinate the provision of multi-agency support where necessary.
About You:
To be successful as the Senior Multiple Needs IDVA you will need to have:
Excellent understanding of domestic abuse and its effects on women and children, of best practice in supporting survivors of domestic abuse, and of the MARAC. As well as understanding of drug and alcohol issues and experience of working within a related field.
Bringing your experience of risk and needs assessment, safety and support planning, and crisis planning and successfully managing high numbers of referrals and experience of working in a co-located setting with another agency and providing consultations/briefings to professionals to support in upskilling them around Domestic Abuse. The candidate will have experience of partnership working and of maintaining excellent working relationships with a range of stakeholders.
This is an exciting opportunity for you to work as part of an innovative service, designed to offer multi-disciplinary wrap-around support to women with multiple needs, with the aim of facilitating long-term recovery.
We enthusiastically welcome applications from Substance Misuse Workers/Practitioners, Recovery Workers, Recovery Practitioners, Recovery Coordinators, Drug Workers, Alcohol Workers and Needle Exchange Workers who meet the specified requirements.
How to apply:
Please submit your up-to-date CV with a supporting statement. Please note that only applications made via the job advert on the Advance careers page, and those that include a cover letter will be considered.
· Closing Date for Applications: Wednesday 22 May 2024
· Interviews are taking place on Thursday 30 May 2024
· *Advance reserves the right to close the advert early, or on the appointment of a candidate.
What we can offer you - Employee Benefits:
- A 35-hour working week
- An exceptional 30 days of paid holiday per year (pro rata for part time), PLUS public holidays on top (that's nearly 40 days paid holiday per year!)
- Additional days off to celebrate International Women’s Day, and for religious observance and moving home
- Perkbox - an employee discount platform where you can receive free rewards as well as take advantage of savings on clothes, groceries, travel, leisure and more
- Pension scheme
- Enhanced maternity/adoption provision
- Access to our Employee Assistance Programme
- Employee eye-care scheme
- Clinical supervision for front line staff and first line management roles
- Refer a Friend Scheme - £250 for each referral who passes probation
- Organisation wide away days
- Thorough induction and training
- Career development pathways
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Under the Equality Act 2010, we are required to make any reasonable adjustments. If you have a disability as defined under this act and/or have special needs, please email the Talent Acquisition Team via the Advance website and will aim to make the necessary arrangements to accommodate your needs.
Diversity, Inclusion and Equal Opportunities
We are committed to providing equality of opportunity and actively seek to recruit people from groups underrepresented in our current team. We have policies and processes in place to ensure that all employees are offered an equal opportunity in recruitment and selection, promotion, training, pay and benefits.
Safeguarding
Advance is committed to safeguarding and creating a culture of zero-tolerance of harm and expects all staff, including volunteers to share this commitment. We believe all individuals have the right to live their life free from violence and abuse and the right to feel and be safe. We have a suite of safeguarding policies, procedures and practice guidance, accessible to all staff, which promotes safeguarding and safer working practices across all our services and activities. When we recruit staff, we follow rigorous safer recruitment practices, this involves carrying out pre-employment checks including references, Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks, and identity checks. We ensure all staff undertake mandatory safeguarding training relevant to their role and responsibilities, to empower them to be competent and feel confident in recognising and responding appropriately to safeguarding issues and promote wellbeing.
An exciting opportunity has arisen for two key individuals to join the team at Basis Yorkshire as a Sexual Exploitation Specialist (LGBTQ+). You will be providing bespoke trauma informed 1-1 and group work for Young People who have experienced, who are experiencing or who are at risk of sexual exploitation.
Our energy for and commitment to our work makes us a vibrant and resilient organisation with a strong and compassionate workforce. We are looking for someone who is passionate about making a difference to the lives of young people who have experienced or are experiencing child sexual exploitation, can embrace our core values of respect and trust and will support us in providing a unique service through their creative approach.
Basis Yorkshire is an award-winning charity that was founded in 1995 and now operates across Yorkshire. This is a unique opportunity to join a challenging and vibrant organisation, working with women and young people who are involved in sex work or being sexually exploited. For more information about what Basis Yorkshire does and its values, please visit our website.
Basis is committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive working environment where we can all be ourselves and succeed. We particularly encourage applications from Black, Asian backgrounds, those who experience racism and those from the LGBTQ+ community as they are currently under-represented within our staff team. Equally we encourage applications from experts by experience. All appointments will be are made on merit, based on the criteria identified in the job description. You will be based in Leeds and may need to work some unsocial hours. There is some free parking but parking near the office will also be reimbursed.
Basis is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults at risk. This post will be subject to enhanced DBS check.
In addition to being part of a fun, dynamic and vibrant workforce, we offer a benefits package including flexible working, contributory pension (4%), childcare vouchers, funded external supervision and an Employee Assistance package, 35 hour full time week.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as the applications come in. Don’t miss your opportunity, apply now!
Are you looking for a fulfilling role where you can make a real difference? Are you organised and people orientated? We have an exciting opportunity at our Birmingham Centre to support us in connecting with our local community. Thrive is a national charity that uses gardening to change lives. We’re looking for a Community Engagement Officer who will strengthen our links within the local community, such that more people know about Thrive, understand what we do and access our programs.
Funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, we’re looking to significantly build on our fantastic work in Birmingham over the next two years. Working as a key part of the team at Thrive in Birmingham, the Community Engagement Officer will increase participation and strengthen our referral pathways through productive relationships. Such that engagement with our services is representative of the diversity within our locality. The successful candidate will have strong communication and organisational skills. We’re looking for a relational operator who can confidently facilitate visitors and work independently with a range of external partners.
to this post will be subject to a satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service check. Thrive complies fully with the DBS Code of Practice. Having a criminal record will not necessarily prevent an individual from working for Thrive.
Closing date for applications: 17.00 on the 2nd May 2024. We will be reviewing applications as they come in, so early application is recommended.
Please download the job information pack and send your CV and a covering letter to recruitment that explains how your skills meet the job description.
Basis is looking to appoint a Group Facilitator who can provide appropriate emotional and practical support to women in the sex industry and/or those who are being sexually exploited through group support sessions. The women we support all experience stigma; some may also have (recent or current) experience of poor mental and physical health, substance abuse, homelessness and sexual or other forms of abuse and/or substance abuse). You will be responsible for facilitating themed groups focusing on practical and emotional support as well as developing peer support and influencing mechanisms working in partnership with other partners in Leeds.
We are looking for someone who understands how trauma affects people and is able to offer a trauma – informed response, is respectful in engagement with clients, colleagues, and with partner agencies and understands the vital importance of trusting relationships. At Basis we work hard to recognise each person as individual, without judgement and tailor support based on their needs. We are looking for someone who works pragmatically and creatively to ensure women can access the services they want and need, who seeks out partnership opportunities to offer further support, who pro-actively and effectively advocates for the individual, challenges stigma and never gives up on someone.
We welcome applications from women with lived experience, recognising the value in this as well as any transferable skills that may not be mentioned in the person specification. We are committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive working environment where we can all be ourselves and succeed. We particularly encourage applications from Black, Asian, and other women who experience racism and Trans (identifying as women) and non-binary people as they are currently under-represented within our staff team. All appointments are made on merit, based on the criteria identified in the job description and person specification.
Working at Basis means being part of a fun, dynamic and vibrant workforce; we also offer a benefits package including flexible working, contributory pension (4%), significant opportunities to access training, funded external supervision and an Employee Assistance package.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Wellbeing Coach
Hours: 17.5 – 21 hours per week (part-time)
Starting salary: £25,767 (pro-rata)
Contract: Fixed-term until 31 March 2025
Location: Office base is Chorley. Delivery of sessions will be from home or in the community. Travel to office and venues around Lancashire for meetings, occasional national travel for network meetings
Do you want to join an organisation who are passionate about improving mental health and wellbeing for Lancashire communities?
The Role:
We’re looking for a bold and caring professional to join us as a Wellbeing Coach. If you have experience of supporting people with their mental health and wellbeing, this could be the job for you!
You will deliver predominantly one to one wellbeing coaching with some group support to both adults and young people. Ideally you will have some experience of using coaching and CBT techniques such as guided self-help, psychoeducation and thought challenging.
You will have excellent communication skills and experience of working in partnership with other stakeholders to deliver projects. To excel in the role, you will be able to motivate, inspire and engage a wide range of people and be proactive in your approach. You will be calm, proactive and resilient.
We also offer a workplace pension scheme, paid emergency time off to care for dependents, regular supervision, and a commitment to supporting learning and development opportunities. We have also recently enhanced our annual leave offer with basic annual leave of 25 days, plus 3 days closure between Christmas and New Year, long service leave, the option to buy or sell annual leave and a half-day wellbeing day for all staff.
Above all, we are a friendly and supportive place to work; ‘Great staff team, positive and supportive culture’ (Lancashire Mind wellbeing survey, March 2024)
Please note: This post is subject to an enhanced DBS check.
Application Forms:
The Lancashire Mind Application form and full job description can be downloaded via the documents.
Deadline for applications: 9am on 7 May
Interviews will be held virtually on 14 May
We're working towards a Lancashire where everyone can have the best mental health and wellbeing possible
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Location: Across London
Closing date: 6 May 2024
Interview dates: 21-23 May 2024
Whether your empathy towards homeless people has its roots in personal experience or your compassionate nature and determination to help, when you join Thames Reach on our 12-month Traineeship programme, you’ll be making a difference and taking the first steps towards a great career.
About us…
Thames Reach runs projects and services that help to end homelessness in London. We work directly with homeless people on the streets and in hostels. We work to prevent vulnerable people from becoming homeless. We help formerly homeless people get their lives back on track and help people find work and access training and volunteering opportunities.
Is our mission easy? No, but we never give up on people. Last year we helped more than 10,000 people.
Is our work rewarding? Yes, in every sense. We’re listed as one of the top 100 Best Workplaces in the UK. There’s no better place to develop or transfer your skills and build a fulfilling career.
About this role…
Every role at Thames Reach is about ensuring that the users of our services find and sustain a decent home, develop supportive relationships and lead fulfilling lives. On our structured Traineeship scheme, you’ll gain first-hand experience and on-the-job training in what we do. You’ll be expected to work full time on a rota basis. Our placements involve a range of working patterns such as shifts, including evenings and weekends, night work in our fast-paced Rapid Response Outreach team and Monday to Friday 9-5 roles.
The key features are:
• A thorough induction, followed by two six-month placements at our projects, one of which will be hostel-based.
• With supervision and training from experienced staff to help our clients to get off and stay off the street with access to appropriate services.
• Learning about and assisting with necessary administration and record-keeping.
The kind of thing we’re looking for:
• Compassion, determination and a desire to play your part in ending street homelessness.
• Good basic admin and IT skills.
• Good team working skills
• The resilience and commitment to work in a challenging, ever-changing environment.
• An understanding of street homelessness and its impact on people’s lives – applicants who have experienced homelessness are particularly encouraged to apply.
What you can expect…
• A generous pension contribution - we contribute 6.5% to your pension when you contribute 1.5%.
• A range of other benefits including generous holiday allowance – 24 days per year, wellbeing support, cycle to work and season ticket loans.
• High quality on-the-job training with the opportunity to develop the skills needed for a career in our front-line services.
• Potential job prospects – although this is not guaranteed, many of our trainees have gained permanent employment at Thames Reach or in related organisations following completion of the programme.
• Application Support Sessions – we encourage applicants to attend one of these before applying.
Please note that we cannot guarantee location of placements for successful intakes.
Thames Reach welcomes applications from people with transferable skills and fresh perspectives.
We are committed to achieving a diverse workforce that reflects the communities we serve. We value, respect, and celebrate diversity. We welcome and encourage applicants from all sections of the community regardless of their history of homelessness, sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, or religious belief.
For full information and to apply visit our website via the apply button.
Thames Reach is committed to safeguarding. Applicants must be willing to undergo pre-employment screening appropriate to the post, including, but not limited to checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service. Having a criminal record will not exclude you from applying but you will be asked to provide further details as most posts are considered exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.
We're looking for someone with experience of verging or similar church support work. Good social skills are essential as is the ability to work as part of a team as well as on your own inititiave. The ability to work closely with and relate well to all Cathedral staff, ministry team, congregation, volunteers, visitors, and members of the general public will also be required.
The two Assistant Vergers and Precinct Officers (AVPOs) carry out a wide range of duties under the direction of the Head Verger and Precinct Manager. Work includes: the careful setting up and delivery of all liturgical matters; ensuring a welcoming, clean, and safe environment for all working in, visiting, or using the Cathedral and Cathedral House and precinct and ensuring the day-to-day smooth running of the Cathedral for all.
Essential experience and skills
- Sympathy with the Christian faith.
- At least one year’s experience as a church or cathedral verger or in a similar role.
- A flexible attitude and willingness to take on a range of duties including practical ‘hands- on’ work.
- Attention to detail and an ability to assess priorities including when under pressure.
- Understanding of liturgy or willingness to learn.
- Ability to be a good team player and work collaboratively with Ministry Team, staff and volunteers.
- Willing to work alone.
- Good administrative and IT skills.
- Good understanding of the importance of security, maintenance and health and safety.
- Good social and communication skills.
- Have an open and welcoming attitude to all including volunteers and members of the general public.
- A trained First Aider (or willing to be trained upon appointment to an appropriate level).·
- Ability to work flexibly over seven days and evenings including holiday periods.
Desirable experience
- A communicant member of the Church of England.
- Previous experience in a liturgical capacity.
- Experience of working in an environment where paid and voluntary staff work side by side.
- Experience of delivering events.
- Experience of caretaking duties.
Personal qualities
- Excellent interpersonal skills, in particular warmth, tact, diplomacy, discretion, and imagination.
- In sympathy with the ethos and aims of the Cathedral as a Christian organisation.
- Highly collaborative.
- Ability to lift and carry furniture, climb stairs, walk, and stand unaided for significant periods of time and work at height.
- Ability to work with senior level colleagues and with the general public.
- Committed to equal opportunities and inclusivity.
- Committed to upholding the highest standards of safeguarding practice.
Benefits of working at Portsmouth Cathedral:
- Generous leave allowance of 27 days (pro rata for part-time posts) plus all public holidays
- Employer pension contributions of 7.5%
- Commitment to professional development and training.
- Cash health plan
Safeguarding. The Cathedral takes the safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults very seriously, and practices Safer Recruitment for all roles (both paid and voluntary), enhanced DBS for specific roles, and face-to-face or online training as required.
Portsmouth Cathedral is an Equal Opportunities Employer and a member of Inclusive Church.
Closing date for applications: 23.00 Monday 6 May 2024
Interviews will be held week commencing 15 May 2024
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Citizens UK
Citizens UK is a people power alliance of diverse local communities working together for the common good. Our mission is to develop leaders, strengthen civic organisations and make change. Our 550 member communities are deeply rooted in their local areas and connect every day to the lives of hundreds of thousands of people. Through the method of community organising we enable people experiencing powerlessness to develop their leadership and come together with the power and strategy to make change.
This leads to hundreds of neighbourhood improvements - from zebra crossings outside primary schools to renovated public toilets in cemeteries. And it leads to some of the biggest campaign impacts in the UK, such as winning over £2 billion of wages through the UK Living Wage campaign, securing a legal cap on the cost of credit to control exploitative lending, and ending the detention of children for immigration purposes. We enable local campaigns to grow into large-scale social change projects such as the Living Wage Foundation, Parents and Communities Together (PACT), Sponsor Refugees, and Refugees for Justice, that form an integral part of our theory of change. The most prominent of these is the rapidly growing Living Wage Foundation with a network of over 14,000 accredited Living Wage Employers across the UK.
South London Citizens
South London Citizens is a thriving chapter with a growing team of ~18 organisers and project staff. We are building the power of communities in South London through borough alliances (in Greenwich, Lewisham, Southwark, Lambeth, Wandsworth, Merton, Croydon) and the wider region by developing community leadership and supporting people to take action on what matters most to them. Over the past three years, we have worked in partnership with mental health trusts to deliver a pioneering organising project, South London Listens (SLL), to prevent mental ill-health, and more recently with wider South London NHS leaders to take action on a range of issues (from low wages to housing conditions) that impact our communities’ health.
Purpose
We are looking for two Associate Organisers to join our thriving and dynamic team in South London building the power of local communities. These roles will support local organising, and have a specific focus on health and living wage organising.
In this exciting and innovative role, you will work with community organisations, including faith institutions, schools, universities, and community groups. Your primary responsibility will be to
1. build ‘Be Well’ teams to support the wellbeing of their communities, as part of the South London Listens partnership;
2. find and develop new community leaders within their organisations; and
3. take action to tackle the social determinants of health inequality (e.g. lack of migration status, racism, housing conditions, low wages and precarious work).
One or both of the roles will also include specific organising with low paid workers to lead the fight for a real living wage and living hours.
With your passion, energy, and commitment to democracy, you will support communities to build the power they need to win justice and make a real and lasting impact. Join us in the fight for a healthier and more equitable future for South London.
A central focus of an Associate Organiser is their own development: learning the craft of Community Organising under the guidance of an experienced Community Organiser. An Associate Organiser is working towards becoming a competent practitioner of the craft of broad-based community organising methodology, and focuses on the building of relational power, the recruitment and retention of dues-paying institutions, the development of leaders, the strengthening of member institutions, leader-led public actions, and the winning of systemic change. Your learning and development will be paramount in the first few months as the responsibilities given to your experience and skills develop.
We encourage you to apply even if you don’t feel like you fit all the criteria. We are particularly interested in people who are angry at issues of injustice, who have demonstrated taking action on that in some way, who can communicate effectively, who can build relationships of trust with a diverse range of people, and who believe in the capacity of ordinary people to make extraordinary change! We are less interested in whether you understand every word in the responsibility list below or whether you have worked as a professional organiser before. You are also encouraged to reach out if you have any questions about whether you might be suitable for the role.
Main Responsibilities
Working as an Associate Organiser in South London for Citizens UK your main responsibilities will be to:
Grow and deliver on the priorities of South London Listens and our broader Health organising
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Build and support new Be Well Hubs in a range of institutions in your allocated boroughs. Including identifying new institutions, delivering training, and supporting them once they are established.
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Work with other organisers to deliver on the priorities identified by communities that are part of the South London Listens project
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Ensure reporting and capturing of stories of the South London Listens project are captured and shared to celebrate and grow the project.
At least one of the roles includes supporting our organising efforts for more just work and wages
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Identify and develop worker leaders
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Take action with South London Citizens leaders to increase the number of living wage and living hours employers in London
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Develop and deliver community organising training for worker leaders
Build relational power to further the goals of CUK
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Actively participate in the development of a comprehensive power analysis appropriate to the desired sphere of influence for each project/assignment
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Establish working relationships with identified leaders and demonstrate ability to move them into action, including as part of the wider alliance; taking the initiative to establish new relationships as required
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Conduct one-to-ones to develop relationships with leaders and understand their concerns.
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Tell a wide range of Community Organising stories effectively to influence others and achieve CUK’s goals
Identify and develop relational leaders prepared to act with others for the common good
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Identify and discern actual and potential leaders with the passion and ability to drive change in their borough alliance and through South London Listens.
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Proactively create opportunities for leaders to develop, in particular tertiary or new leaders; nominate for training on the core taster curriculum and Be Well Hubs training.
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Successfully deliver workshops in local institutions, South London Citizens community organising introductions and Be Well training.
Strengthen institutions and develop Broad Based Organisations
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Ensure good understanding of the basic interests and traditions of typical member institutions
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Organise a small cluster of up to 5 standard member institutions or 1 strategic partner to work together for the achievement of common goals
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Support pre-existing core teams and create/develop new core teams to provide leadership at local level and in South London Listens
Support leaders through the Cycle of Action in order to create change
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Support member institutions and Be Well Hubs in running listening campaigns
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Organise neighbourhood actions; demonstrating increasing independence in working without the need for close supervision
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Take the lead in supporting groups of leaders through the cycle of action on neighbourhood issues; aiming to achieve neighbourhood and health wins
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Evaluate the effectiveness of actions; demonstrating ability to incorporate lessons learned into future actions
Contribute to CUK’s financial viability through effective fundraising & financial management
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Contribute to fundraising to the value of at least £20,000 per annum through one or some of the following:
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WWritinge regular updates on the work to be shared with the funders and maintain a healthy relationship with them
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Recruit new dues paying institutions; work together with a more senior Organiser to negotiate annual membership fees and letters of understanding
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Liaise with the Finance & Operations team to update the membership database and ensure timely invoicing and fee collection
Contribute to effective teamwork and live out our ‘Inclusion’ value
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Be proactive concerning personal professional development and wellbeing: i.e. by reading widely, developing a healthy work-life balance and demonstrating ability to reflect on own organising craft & improve on self-identified weaknesses
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Demonstrate ability to work effectively with colleagues and participate in a team
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Produce all required reports and follow CUK’s procedures on time and to the required standards
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Contribute towards an inclusive environment for all colleagues and community leaders, so that our spaces are a place where all are able to participate
Participate in the development of the craft of Community Organising and play a role in the Guild of COs
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Schedule an average of at least three 1-2-1 relational meetings into your daily schedule as a core part of your professional practice
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Commit 10 working days per annum (pro rata) to the preparation, delivery, and evaluation of Citizens UK National Community Leadership Training or other local or regional trainings or other activities organised by the Learning and Innovation team.
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Participate in a Guild Team and help it develop as a Community of Practice that enables Organisers across the UK to develop their skills and experience.
Personal Specification
(D) Desirable, (E) Essential
EXPERIENCE
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Previous campaign experience (D)
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Evidence of having acted in a leadership role with peers or in local community activities (e.g. within a faith institution or clubs/societies) (E)
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Experience of project management; evidence of having delivered work on time and to standard (E)
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Able to demonstrate previous experience of ‘learning by doing’ in a work or project environment; evidence of being open to feedback and comfortably coachable (E)
KEY SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE
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Ability to speak additional languages, especially Spanish for one of the roles (D)
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Excellent interpersonal awareness – ability to listen well and appreciate a viewpoint or opinion that is different from one’s own (E)
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Excellent concern for impact – ability to adapt own behaviour to address the needs or concerns of someone else (E)
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Good communication skills – able to speak with conviction and passion; and to make a logical argument (E)
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PERSONAL QUALITIES & VALUES
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A self-starter with ability to take initiative and work independently (E)
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A passion for justice (E)
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A positive enthusiasm for working with faith congregations, trade unions, schools, and other community organisations (E)
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An interest in and experience of politics and public life (E)
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Able to work in a team (E)
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Willingness to work within accountable relationships (E)
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Self-motivated and adaptable (E
The successful applicant will be required to undertake a satisfactory Enhanced DBS check. DBS checks are renewed on a 3-year cycle.
Interviews are planned to take place on Wednesday, 12th June (subject to change).
Please note this is a 12-month fix term contract with a possibility to extend, funding permitting.