Communications and Engagement Officer

Who are we?

Volunteer Centre Hackney is a thriving charity (annual income circa £1.1m, with 29 paid staff). providing volunteering infrastructure to the voluntary sector across the City of London and the London borough of Hackney. We support over 1,500 residents a year to realise their skills and passions through volunteering and social action, and to share these for the benefit of others. We also provide volunteering resources, advice and guidance on best practice in volunteer management, to hundreds of charities and community organisations.

Background and Aims of the Community Health Champion Programme

This role is for our Community Health Champions Programme (CHC). The programme is led by and for City & Hackney’s diverse communities. Community Health Champions (Champions) empower residents to become aware of, take ownership and work towards more positive health and wellbeing outcomes.

This is achieved by the programme sourcing, recruiting, training and supporting a diverse cohort of Champions who live, work, volunteer or study within City & Hackney. Our vast network of 230+ Champions who amongst them speak 40+ languages, are instrumental in tailoring and sharing vital health messaging with residents and feeding back insights, concerns and questions which are then used to develop more bespoke, relevant and culturally nuanced health messaging. Champions, with support from the programme, give voice to communities with varying levels of health literacy: how residents access, assess, and engage with healthcare information, services and systems.

The programme was launched during the Covid-19 pandemic but has now expanded to focus on wider health issues and wider determinants of health such as mental health and wellbeing, long term conditions, diet and nutrition.

Purpose of the Role

The Communications and Engagement Officer will lead on programme communications, coordinating and delivering the day-to-day communications that power the Community Health Champion CHC) programme. The primary goal of this role is to equip Champions with accessible, inclusive, high-quality communications content, tools and resources enabling them to effectively engage in the programme whilst building trust and improving health literacy across City & Hackney.

This is a hands-on role focused on amplifying community voices, positioning and showcasing the continued impact of Champion activities, maintaining a positive programme reputation, and ensuring our health messages reach the people who need them most.