Supplementary Schools Support Officer

Supplementary Schools Support Officer

Role Overview

This is an exciting opportunity to join Young Hammersmith & Fulham and support a five-year collaborative initiative between Young Hammersmith & Fulham and Young Ealing Foundation, focused on strengthening supplementary schools across both boroughs. The Supplementary Schools Support Officer will provide practical support to supplementary schools, helping to improve educational outcomes for young people from diverse communities, preserve cultural heritage and mother-tongue language education, and create a thriving network of supplementary schools that share best practices and resources.

Key Details

• Line Manager: Membership and Sector Development Manager
• Salary: £30,000 pro rata (16 hours per week - approximately £12,000 per annum)
• Location: Hybrid – Young H&F & YEF offices and flexible working across Hammersmith & Fulham and Ealing boroughs
• Hours: 16 hours per week, flexible working including evenings and weekends to accommodate supplementary schools' operating schedules
• Contract: Permanent (project funded until March 2030)
• Annual Leave: 25 days per year plus bank holidays and Christmas closure period (pro rata)
• Start Date: September 2025

Key Responsibilities

Programme Management and Support

• Conduct regular site visits to supplementary schools across both boroughs (approximately 8 hours in each borough per week)
• Identify development needs of supplementary schools and connect them with relevant training and networking opportunities
• Support the grants programme, advising schools on applications and monitoring funded projects
• Facilitate termly network meetings to promote collaboration, information sharing, and professional development
• Organise training sessions based on identified needs, covering safeguarding, teaching methods, governance, and fundraising topics
• Plan and deliver an annual celebration and showcase event for all participating schools

Communication and Relationship Building

• Develop and maintain relationships with supplementary schools across both boroughs
• Create regular communications through a dedicated newsletter and online platforms
• Build connections between supplementary schools and mainstream education
• Liaise with key partners, including local authority education teams, cultural organisations, and the National Resource Centre for Supplementary Education (NRCSE)
• Report to the joint steering group/strategic panel on progress and outcomes

Monitoring and Evaluation

• Monitor the impact of grants on supplementary schools and the children and young people they serve
• Collect data on attendance, participation, and outcomes
• Develop case studies that demonstrate the impact of the project
• Support participating schools in evaluating their own provision
• Contribute to the overall project evaluation framework

Person Specification

Essential Skills and Experience

• Understanding of supplementary education and its importance for children and young people from diverse communities
• Experience of working with community organisations and/or education providers
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build relationships with diverse stakeholders
• Excellent organisational abilities, including managing a varied workload across multiple locations
• Good communication skills, both written and verbal
• Experience in providing capacity-building support to organisations
• Ability to work flexible hours, including some evenings and weekends
• Self-motivated with the ability to work independently
• Commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion

Desirable Skills and Experience

• Knowledge of the supplementary school sector in London
• Understanding of safeguarding practices in educational settings
• Experience in grant management and monitoring
• Familiarity with the communities in Hammersmith & Fulham and/or Ealing
• Knowledge of multiple languages relevant to local communities
• Experience in delivering training or facilitating network meetings
• Understanding of monitoring and evaluation methodologies

Benefits

• 7% Employer's pension contributions
• Travel and Hospitality Expenses
• Work Phone
• Death in Service payment of three times your salary
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Tech Scheme for discounted purchases of new personal laptops/smartphones
• Optional one-to-one external support for personal development
• Potential training opportunities
• Occasional team lunches and away-day activities

About the Project

This is a five-year collaborative initiative between the Young Hammersmith & Fulham and the Young Ealing Foundation to support supplementary schools across both boroughs. The project has two main components:

1. A grants programme providing £50,000 annually (£25,000 per borough) to support supplementary schools, with an average grant of £3,000 per school.

2. A dedicated Supplementary Schools Support Officer working around 16 hours per week, who will offer practical support to schools.

The project aims to enhance the capacity and sustainability of supplementary schools, improve educational outcomes for young people from diverse communities, preserve cultural heritage and mother-tongue language education, foster a vibrant network of supplementary schools, and strengthen links between supplementary provision and mainstream education.

About Young Hammersmith and Fulham

Young Hammersmith & Fulham is a membership charity dedicated to strengthening our borough's youth sector by supporting the charities, organisations, and professionals working with young people. Our vision is a borough where every young person can thrive, supported by a strong, connected and well-resourced youth sector. Our mission is to strengthen Hammersmith & Fulham's youth sector by supporting the charities, organisations, and professionals working with young people across the borough.

We support over 100 organisations through exclusive member-only grants, expert-led training, collaborative networks, and tailored support. We create both physical and metaphorical space for discussion and collaboration, while embedding youth voice into our decision-making through our Young Grantmakers and Youth Advisory Board.

Our membership scheme is open to everyone working with children and young people aged 0-25 in Hammersmith and Fulham, including youth clubs, charities, schools, businesses, voluntary groups, and public sector organisations. We provide dedicated one-to-one support to voluntary youth organisations with an annual income of under £50,000, and offer advice, guidance, and collaboration opportunities to all our community members.

Diversity and Inclusion Statement

Young Hammersmith & Fulham is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace. We welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds and experiences, and we do not discriminate on the basis of ethnicity, colour, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, or any other protected characteristic.

How to Apply

To apply for this position, please send your CV and a cover letter detailing your relevant experience and why you're interested in this role. The deadline for applications is Friday, 8th August 2025