Inspiring People Officer – Leeds & Bradford

Context

The Trust operates throughout the traditional county of Yorkshire (i.e. all of the Yorkshire and Humber region except North Lincolnshire) from the Humber to the Pennines and from the Dales and Moors to the urban conurbations of the south. It is the second oldest of the 47 Wildlife Trusts which work in partnership together covering the whole of the UK. Our purpose is to lead the way in achieving our vision of a Yorkshire rich in wildlife for everyone through pursuing our mission of creating Living Landscapes and securing Living Seas in Yorkshire. We will do this by being passionate leaders and natural partners whose objectives are to:

·  demonstrate how nature works

·  inspire people and communities to value and take action for wildlife

·  champion wildlife and our work

and to enable this by:

·  growing our resources through inspiring people to value our work

·  knowledge sharing, cooperation, flexibility and effectiveness and

·  ensuring excellent governance.

The Trust seeks to realise this vision through the objectives identified in the Development Plan and Business Plan. Activities that the Trust undertakes to achieve the plans are nature reserve management of over 100 reserves covering 3,000 hectares scattered across the region, specialist projects in river and wetland management, community development and environmental education activities, publicity and promotion and campaigning and policy work.

The Trust employs more than 120 staff (equivalent of 96 F/T staff) and, crucially, enjoys the support of 40,000 members. The staff work through four teams: support services; development; and two conservation delivery teams – north & east and south west. Each team has a director who reports to the Chief Executive who is responsible for the operations of the Trust and, in turn, reports to the Board of Trustees who govern the organisation.

The conservation delivery teams are then divided into regional teams which are led by a Regional Manager who reports to the Director of the delivery team.

The Trust engages more than 550 dedicated volunteers and voluntary trainees in its work. They make a huge contribution by giving time, skills, knowledge, enthusiasm and local ownership to our vision. All employees are expected to encourage, develop and support volunteer involvement wherever possible.

This role will sit within our West Yorkshire Regional team and will help us take long term steps to increase YWT’s community engagement activity in Leeds and Bradford

Though a thriving partnership with Leeds City Council over the last five years has increased our activity in East Leeds, historically Yorkshire Wildlife Trust has had relatively low activity in both Leeds and Bradford. In West Leeds, YWT manage Kirkstall Valley Nature Reserve, a 10ha site at the heart of a network of greenspace along the river valley on the doorstep of some of the most deprived urban communities in Leeds. Green spaces are underused and many have few opportunities to get involved. YWT have strong relationships with Leeds City Council, The Conservation Volunteers and Groundwork in this part of the city, and will work with them to connect the greenspaces in the valley with the people who live there.

Similarly in Bradford we have very little presence due to a historic lack of activity in the city. In partnership with Bradford Council a suite of council owned greenspaces have been identified in the south west of the city where there is huge potential to improve the quality of the greenspaces and the way local communities use them.

By creating a programme of introductory and family events to support people’s first engagement with greenspaces, we can start to break down some of the barriers that prevent people from making the most of their local area. In tandem we will raise local awareness of YWT and partner organisations and promote ‘Nature Matters’ messages while delivering health and wellbeing outcomes for local people.

Consultation will take part during events and through outreach with local community groups. We will identify how local greenspaces are viewed, how well they are used and by who, what the barriers are to people using the spaces and how to support harder to reach communities to use them in the future. Research in tandem with this will create a clearer picture of local needs and how a greenspace based project would create opportunities and address these needs.

Research and consultation responses will help inform project focus and we will use outreach sessions to co-design the project with the targeted communities. The outcome will be to have two bids ready for submission to an appropriate funder such as BIG Lottery Reaching Communities, to sustain longer term urban engagement in Leeds and Bradford.

Inspiring People Officer – Leeds & Bradford

Job Description

Outline

Responsible to: Regional Manager

Responsible for: Volunteers

Based at: Our regional office location, Stirley Community Farm, Huddersfield (HD4 6TU). Plus regular site based work in Leeds and Bradford.

Brief

An exciting new opportunity to make a lasting difference to the communities in two of our major Yorkshire conurbations. You will plan, co-ordinate and deliver a programme of events, activities and consultation sessions with urban communities in central Leeds and Bradford. Working with harder to reach groups you will use these sessions to foster community interest in the green and blue spaces on their door step and co-produce a project to benefit these groups.

You will analyse and present this information in an accessible way. Then working with partners, stakeholders and the wider YWT team use it to develop two projects (one in Leeds and one in Bradford) to deliver local community needs and organisational objectives. You will also significantly support the preparation of funding bids to resource the projects developed.

Community Engagement and Consultation

·  Develop and deliver a programme of engaging introductory events for local communities, which include an element of consultation

·  Plan and facilitate consultation sessions with existing local groups and networks

Partnership Working

·  Work closely with partners including other NGO’s, Local Government, service providers and community groups

·  Facilitate communication between partners, fostering a joined up approach to project development

Project Development

·  Carry out desk based research to inform opportunity and need for the projects

·  Analyse and present data (from research and consultation with partners and communities) in an accessible way and in a format relevant to identified funder

·  Support bid writing to an appropriate funder (eg. BIG Lottery Reaching Communities) for the projects developed

·  Liaise with identified funder(s) to ensure a strong application reflecting their funding priorities

Other

·  Promote the Trust and partner organisations whenever possible

·  Abide by all Trust policies

·  Participate in task force team working when required to work outside your usual operational functions

·  Undertake other duties as requested by your line manager and in line with the post

Inspiring People Officer – Leeds & Bradford

Person Specification

Experience
Experience of developing and delivering programmes of events / Essential
Experience of designing and delivering consultation sessions / Desirable
Experience of working with harder to reach groups, ideally in an urban setting / Essential
Experience of co-producing projects with partners and communities / Desirable
Experience of writing funding bids / Desirable
Knowledge and Understanding
Understanding of nature conservation and ecosystem services in an urban setting / Desirable
Understanding of safeguarding best practices and legislation / Essential
A good understanding of Health and Safety best practice in event delivery and community engagement / Essential
Skills and Qualifications
Ability to manage mixed groups and sustain their interest and involvement in activities / Essential
Excellent interpersonal skills and communication – both written and verbal / Essential
Effective organisational skills / Essential
Project management skills, including accounting for a budget and reporting / Essential
Personal Qualities
An engaging, personable and energetic person / Essential
A proactive and positive approach / Essential
Willing to work weekends and evenings when needed / Essential

Inspiring People Officer – Leeds & Bradford

Terms and Conditions

Salary: / £25000 p.a.
Hours: / 35 working hours per week, Monday to Friday for 12 months. The nature of the post’s duties may from time-to-time require evening and weekend work. Paid overtime is not available, but time off in lieu will be given.
Flexibility: / Subject to ensuring that the needs of the business and the role are met, the Trust, where possible, endeavours to meet the flexible working needs of its employees.
Holidays: / 25 working days per annum in addition to normal public holidays.
Pensions: / You will be eligible to be auto enrolled into the Trust’s Group Flexible Retirement plan. The Trust will contribute to this plan on your behalf at a rate set by the Trust’s Council. The rate is currently 3% of your basic salary. However, if you choose to make an employee contribution the Trust will make an employer contribution of up to 9% depending on the amount you choose to contribute as an employee. Written terms of the scheme are available on request from finance.
DBS / This post is subject to satisfactory DBS clearance at enhanced level.
Childcare Vouchers: / The Trust operates a Childcare Voucher Scheme. Details of which are available on request.
Employee Assistance Programme: / The Trust provides paid staff with access to an Employee Assistance Programme. This is a confidential service which aims to provide staff with support for a range of issues. Further details are available from the HR and Training Manager.
Equal Opportunities: / Yorkshire Wildlife Trust is committed to equal opportunities and appoints on merit. We welcome applicants from all sections of society regardless of gender, sexual orientation, race, disability, marital status, age and religion, perceived community background or political beliefs.
Notice Period: / Generally 4 weeks following satisfactory completion of a 6 month probationary period.
Place of Work: / The post will be based at Stirley Community Farm, Huddersfield
Travel: / Public transport is encouraged although pool vehicles are available. In exceptional circumstances the use of the officer’s own vehicle may be necessary for business use for which a mileage rate of 27.5p per mile will be paid.
Training: / The Trust is fully committed to personal development and training.
Closing date: / 9 am Monday 8 May 2017
Interview dates: / Monday 15 May 2017

170329 JD Inspiring People Officer - Leeds & Bradford CT