Transition Stroud

Sustainability Project Contract

(value £3000)

Background

Transition Stroud (TS) is a volunteer led community organisation established ‘for the benefit of the community of Stroud District (pop. 113,100) to take, and inspire others to take, collaborative actions that strengthen our local communities and respond positively to the challenges of climate change and declining energy supplies’ (Memorandum of Association 2009).

Transition Stroud runs bimonthly film evenings, a book group, skills gain workshops, a repair cafe, community TV, and events such as Potato Day, Open Eco Homes and Edible Open Gardens. We currently have action groups on Building Skills, Textiles, Wood Fuel and Edible Stroud. A number of individuals support TS’s work financially by making a monthly contribution. Our quarterly e-newsletter goes to about 700 individuals and our social media audience is well over 1500. Monthly open meetings are held to plan, take and review positive actions to deliver our aims.

Sustainability Project

Since its founding in 2007 Transition Stroud has been successful in gaining funding for a number of its innovative projects. Funding however is increasingly competitive – and Transition Stroud needs to move to a more sustainable model. The community needs to support and benefit from TS’s activities. So we need to recruit more individuals to contribute to our current activities - and to launch new initiatives. We need financial support from individuals and/or organisations to ensure we are as effective as we can be. Transition Stroud has a saying: 'all are welcome - everyone is needed'

Transition Stroud has funding from the Summerfield Charitable Trust to deliver a project to build support for Transition Stroud leading to greater financial sustainability. The person appointed will have the key aim of:

·  Developing reliable funding streams via the TS newsletter database and the Stroud community (including the business community) to support Transition Stroud’s aims and objectives

Activities include:

·  Promoting a TS “Invitation Menu” leaflet (both in hard copy and on line) - so Stroud residents can easily opt in to the full range of TS activities available, be encouraged to initiate new activities or commit to a monthly financial contribution to TS’s activities.

·  Working with active members of TS to prioritise which individuals/organisations to contact (by telephone email or other means) to identify if/how they might engage further in TS’s activities.

·  Communicating with the 700 Transition Stroud e-newsletter readers to identify if/how they might engage further in TS’s activities - and to update the TS newsletter database

Outputs will be measured through the number of new individuals making a regular monthly financial contribution; the number of businesses making a financial contribution and the number of Invitation Menu leaflets completed in hard copy or on line.

Sustainability Project Contract: Person Specification:

Activities / Essential skills/abilities / Desirable
Engage with key populations in Stroud to deliver completed “Invitation Menu” leaflets / Ability to assess and prioritise key populations to target
Ability to assess the most effective way(s) to communicate to populations
Social and communication skills to engage with individuals and organisations / Knowledge of Stroud community and businesses
Understanding of the Transition Movement and its aims and objectives
Engage with businesses to communicate the value and range of TS’s activities / Ability to communicate effectively the value and range of TS activities / Knowledge of Stroud businesses
Deliver agreed targets on leaflets completed and income generated / Can do attitude; interpersonal and communication skills; ability to work to deadlines; ability to work on own initiative; entrepreneurial skills / mindset
Evidence of development and application of these skills
Write reports on progress for TS Directors and a final report for Summerfield Trust
Data entry / Relevant IT skills and the ability to write clearly and succinctly
Ability to respond to appropriate suggestions and criticism in a positive way / Evidence of these skills having been demonstrated
Identify and recommend additional activities to engage individuals and employers in Stroud / Ability to understand the context of the project in relation to TS’s aims
Ability to generate ideas of ways forward based on experience gained within the project

Terms

6 month contract on self employed basis. Total contract value not more than £3000.

Staged payments will be made against agreed outputs and reports.

How to apply:

Please email your CV and write up to 500 words on how your skills, abilities and experience fit with this work. Please email this to Erik Wilkinson and Seb Buckton Selected individuals will then be invited to an interview.

Closing date: Friday November 6th at 12 noon.

Expected interview date: Monday November 16th.

Expected start date: Monday November 23rd.