Post:TCV Natural Networks trainee: Urban Rewilding Community Officer

Bursary:£11,900

Location:Glasgow and Clyde Valley (GCV) Green Network Partnership offices, Central Glasgow

Duration:12 MONTHS

Start date:25thJanuary 2016

Closing date for Applications:30thOctober 2015

Thank you for your interest in the TCV Natural Networks Training Programme. Natural Networks is a new project funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund. It will develop skills to facilitate the 'green network' of sites considered essential for the effective conservation of biodiversity, creating a UK wide web of expertise in managing and engaging people in ecological networks. The project will develop the skills of 32 trainees and hundreds of communities across the UK to understand, value, protect and increase the biodiversity of their local green places.

Project Background

The Trainee will work closely with the Partnership’s Development Officer and a Central Scotland Green Network Trust (CSGNT)DevelopmentOfficer in four locations identified as ‘StrategicDelivery Areas’ (SDA) for the GCV Green Network. Over the course of the placement the trainee will work with local people and community groups to help them consider their local environment and the opportunities that exist to enhance greenspace and derelict and underused open space as part of the wider Green Network. Ultimately the trainee’s work will engage people in the identification and agreement of environmental projects to be delivered in the locality.

Learning Outcomes

The Trainee will be supported to identify and achieve a range of learning outcomes, including filling skills gaps and opportunity to gain an accredited qualification. During the placement, the trainee will achieve a range of Green Network and Community Development learning outcomes, as follows.

Green Network Learning Outcomes

  • Developing and improving ecological networks:The four SDA locations have been selected in part because they are places where Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) considers the development of habitat networks should be prioritised, based on an analysis of the Integrated Habitat Network (IHN) model for the GCV region. The IHN model can be used to identify opportunities to improve functional connectivity between isolated habitat patches for species associated with the habitat type. The IHN model includes woodland, heathland, wetland and grassland (neutral and acid) habitats.A focus of the work in the SDAs will be to identify the ‘on the ground’ opportunities’ to deliver projects which develop or improve the networks of the required habitats (i.e. woodland, heathland, wetland grassland).The trainee will work alongside the SDA Development Officer to develop skills in assessing and interpreting the IHN model GIS outputs alongside other spatial datasets (e.g. greenspace or Vacant and Derelict Land mapping) and site surveys.
  • Surveying, managing and improving local greenspace:The four SDA locations have been selected in part because they are places which have been identified as having ‘underperforming’ greenspace. This is based on local authority greenspace audits which include a qualitative assessment of spaces.The trainee will work alongside the SDA Development Officer to develop skills in assessing (and potentially surveying) existing greenspace for its potential to deliver more benefits to local communities and wider society. These benefits may include habitat network development or improvement; climate change adaptation; improved accessibility for people; encouraging active lifestyles.The trainee will also develop skills in working with local people to agree the design solutions for the greenspace improvement projects and to plan for the delivery phase of the projects.
  • Engaging and supporting local communities to understand and protect the local green network:A key aim of the traineeship will be to engage local communities in identifying opportunities and then shaping the design solutions and delivery of the SDA projects.The trainee will work alongside the SDA Development Officer to develop skills in locating local community groups and hard to reach sectors of the community and then to design approaches that will attract and encourage interest in the objectives of the project and to work alongside these people to meet their identified needs. It is likely that initially there will be a period of research which will involve talking with local officials and community representatives to help uncover the ‘target’ groups and community sectors that should be engaged in the project. An ‘icebreaking’ period of engagement with the groups and sectors will follow as the objectives of the project are presented to the community. This will then lead to a period of project exploration and design which will seek to engage a wide range of input to develop an agreed project plan.

Community Learning and Development Learning Outcomes

  • Enabling others to identify needs, plan and take action to protect and improve the local green network: The trainee will be expected to use a range of community involvement techniques (e.g. visioning, planning for real etc) to work with local people to identify needs and make plans to protect and improve their local greenspaces, and ultimately to take the action required to deliver the projects.
  • Enabling others to develop skills: Although the trainee will develop their own skill set whilst in post, it will also be necessary for the trainee to pass some of these skills on to local people. Working closely with the SDA Development Officer will provide a ‘job shadowing’ opportunity for the trainee and potentially for the key local contacts in the range of skills necessary to develop and environmental project and how to plan and deliver it.Opportunities to bring other skilled practitioners into the engagement process with local people will be taken.
  • Working with individuals & communities to achieve change: The trainee will look to empower local people by providing them with information on the benefits and issues associated with multifunctional urban greenspace. The trainee will support the local communities by assisting in locating potential resources to make delivery and sustaining the projects possible.

The trainee will also:

  • Identify underrepresented groups / communities that do not traditionally engage with the environment acrossthe GCV. Through engagement with community workers community, group leaders and individuals the trainee will identify opportunities to include these communities in participating in the project and improving their input to developing the biodiversity of the city
  • With the help of the Development Officer have the opportunity to use the IHN model alongside discussions with the relevant local authority biodiversity officers, greenspace managers, environmental NGO contacts and the local knowledge of local people identify potential biodiversity locations.

Person specification

Essential / Desirable
Qualifications:
Candidates will need to possess at least a basic knowledge of the environment, conservation and biodiversity. /
  • Educated to secondary level, including qualifications in English and Maths
ALL
Experience:
  • A personal interest in natural history
  • Working with individuals and groups from a wide range of backgrounds and abilities
/
  • Some experience of natural history identification
  • Experience of working outdoors (e.g. on a nature conservation project)
Strong leadership skills
Public speaking experience
Skills:
Excellent communication skills
Good numeracy and literacy skills, with NVQ 1 level (or equivalent) to demonstrate these skills
Basic competency in use of IT / Experience of working with volunteers and community groups
Experience delivering environmental education
  • A knowledge of health and safety issues relating to outdoor activities

Personal Qualities:
A motivated individual with a passion, commitment and enthusiasm for protecting and a commitment to conserving our natural environment
Applicants must have the dedication and drive to work on their own initiative with community groups, individuals and volunteers.
Self-confidence, reliability and the ability to work with minimal supervision. Applicants must be able to work on their own initiative or as part of a team / A willingness to learn and share what is learned
  • Organisational skills and excellent time management

Other:
An aptitude for engaging people and an interest in natural heritage are the most important qualities in a potential applicant.
A Standard Disclosure Check will be required
Some evening and / or weekend activitieswill be required /
  • Clean driving licence and 1 year’s (minimum) driving experience