National Lead - Community Connect

Are you passionate about how the church can address homelessness?

About the role 

Our mission at Hope into Action is to empower the local church to help end homelessness. For over 15 years we’ve developed our model and grown a network in 38 locations. We know that homelessness is more than just house-lessness: people need community and friendship, as well as accommodation. 

Our Community Connect pilot project has a big vision: to extend our church-based friendship and support to those at risk of homelessness. The project will complement Hope into Action’s core model of supported housing and aligns directly with the government's strategic emphasis on community-basedsupport to preventhomelessness. 

You will be instrumental in assisting 3 initial locations (Peterborough, Norwich & Southampton) to pilot the Community Connect programme and will work with the Head of Delivery & Training to create the structures, training and processes necessary to develop and grow it in more locations. 

You will support the local Co-ordinators at each location to promote the vision, set up partnerships, recruit volunteers and receive appropriate referrals from local authorities and agencies. 

There will be a budget to work to and defined goals to deliver as we seek to grow in years 2 & 3 and to see Community Connect launched in more locations.  

About you 

You will be passionate about our work to empower the church to address homelessness and you share our values. You will be able to work with members of the public, professional bodies and churches. You will be able to work with people with support needs from a wide range of backgrounds. 

Whilst offering confident leadership for Community Connect, you will be closely liasing with existing Hope into Action staff to ensure the project dovetails well with our core delivery. Additionally, you will have a good understanding of strategic planning as we keep one eye on current provision and the other on future plans for growth and national scalability. 

We love diversity and we value your unique skills, strengths, knowledge, and experience. We hope that joining our team will help you realise your potential and help us to raise our performance in empowering those we serve.

About us

Peterborough was where Hope into Action began back in 2011. We are at the forefront of providing excellent quality supported accommodation to those that need it most in the city. Partnering with 11 churches, we currently have 16 homes each serving different demographics and strong relationships with other ministries and local authorities. It’s natural it is one of our initial locations for Community Connect and we’re delighted to be working with Light Project Peterborough on this venture. 

Norwich is also a city managed directly by Hope into Action UK. With 11 homes it’s been operating since 2012 and has our most experienced Team Lead. 

Our Southampton franchise is led by City Life Church and opened in 2020, it now has 7 homes and runs some other outreach projects to those on the margins, which make it another well suited and prepared location for Community Connect.   

We believe that homelessness ends in community and that the church has a unique role to play.