Job Description
Job title:The Cornfield Project – Eco-Warriors Club Leaders (x2 posts)
Responsible to:Project Manager, Focus on Family
Summary of post:
The post holders will be employed to develop and deliver the Children in Need-funded Eco-Warriors Club.
The main aims of this are:
• To provide local school-children from Ballysally & Millburn Primary Schools with a diverse range of fun and educational after-schools activities utilising the existing Cornfield site
• To ensure participating children have positive, safe and nurturing experiences at all times
• To ensure all local children have the opportunity to benefit from the project by liaising with relevant school principals, teachers and local parents
• To capture the success of the project in a number of creative and fun ways that further engages the participating children
• To promote the Club and activities to ensure maximum coverage and profile of the project successes
• To ensure the long-term success of the project by engaging local volunteers and supporting potential continuation of the project beyond the initial first year of delivery
Specific duties:
- Delivering an after-school club for local primary school children by using nature-inspired activities at the Cornfield Project site, e.g. trees and woodland, wildflowers, bugs and wildlife, birds and bats, renewable energies, care for the environment, recycling/re-using/non-littering,plants and growing, cooking/making produce; and fun interactive site activities, e.g. George the Lonely Dragon QR trail, den-building, survival skills, physical activity, outdoor gym equipment, etc.
The learning aspect will be substantive and will support The World Around Us curriculum within the schools. There will be key skills developed by the participating children in understanding the environment and in addition, key qualities like communication, team dynamics, using imagination and being aspirational will be encouraged and developed
- In the event of poor weather, schools will be used for indoor activities e.g. developing eco-school themes, school planters, litter pick-ups, using grown produce for breakfast club, awareness of healthy eating/nutrition/childhood obesity, etc.
- Ensuring all child protection procedures are followed as per Focus on Family’s policies and that any concerns are appropriately actioned with the Designated Child Protection Officers at Focus on Family (Brendan Patterson, Project Manager & Kim McAuley, Childcare Manager)
- Monitoring and evaluating the project - measured information will include numbers participating on a weekly basis, the range of activities that children engage in, regular recorded feedback sessions/interactive quizzes/Q&A with the participating children to gauge levels of learning and understanding, recorded observations/evaluation forms from both the project leaders and school teachers to ascertain improvements in behaviour, school attendance, understanding of curriculum themes, well-being, etc., how much children are using the Cornfield site in addition to and outside of the set project activity,and activity monitoring using things like step-counters to encourage physical engagement and development.
To enhance the evaluation process, there will be a range of fun and engaging methods used including the production of artwork using natural materials from the site, photography to represent key activity and learning, incorporating the use of digital technology, and encouraging videos or other age appropriate social media sources to share ongoing activities and benefits of the project
- Developing and supporting local volunteers to assist in Eco-Warrior Club activities where relevant
- Working alongside existing Cornfield Project Working Group members to ensure the Eco-Warriors Club complements other Cornfield site activities and other elements deemed relevant to the long-term success of the site
- Supporting the continuation of the Eco-Warriors Club beyond the first year of funding, either via continuation funding from Children in Need/other funders or via a social enterprise model where local parents pay a fee for children participating in the Club
- Maintaining effective methods of reporting to and liaising with the funding body and working group overseeing the project. Attending meetings as required to promote the Club, the site and related activity
- Marketing and promoting the site both locally and within the wider area to ensure maximum engagement via established Facebook and website pages. Ensuring Children in Need funding is recognised as per the Grant Terms & Conditions
- Ensuring all legal compliances are adhered to including ensuring effective insurance and health and safety requirements relating to the Club are in place. Update risk assessments, policies and procedures related to the site and ongoing activities
- Undertaking any relevant training deemed necessary to fulfil the requirements of the post
Project Details:
Cornfield Eco-Warriors Club will run for 39 weeks during term-time/summer months and involve our two local primary schools - Ballysally & Millburn - having 12 children each on two days per week - Ballysally Mon/Weds and Millburn Tues/Thurs (48x children involved each week). Children will be picked up from respective schools at normal end of school on given day, walked to Cornfield site (schools are 5mins walking distance) and then engaged in activities for 1.5 hours. Then walked back to school for parental pick-ups/parents collect from Cornfield site.
Weekly programme for two club leaders also includes 2 hrsplanning/preparation work. Total of 10 hours/wk = 8 hrs contact time with children, 2 hours planning (activities for following weeks, volunteer development, continuation plans, etc.) & site development (e.g. litter, risk assessments, raising/resolving issues, etc.)
Project Outcomes (these are the Differences we will make as per the Grant agreement with Children in Need) – these should inform all planning and delivery of the project):
Emotionally Well - Improving children's resilience and ability to feel good about themselves by engaging with their peers in fun, challenging and inspiring activities. This links to the wide research available on the benefits of outdoor play and engagement, particularly in our modern world of technology and often social isolation.
Essential Skills - Supporting children to learn a vast range of life-skills in an outdoor environment. In addition to the environmental awareness, children will develop skills of communication, teamwork, and creativity.
Physically Well - The project involves walking, followed by a range of active outdoor activities. The site is accessible also for children with disabilities or mobility issues ensuring the project is fully inclusive (in partnership with the school, we can arrange site transport if this is an issue)
Personnel specification of The Cornfield Project – Eco-Warriors Club Leaders
Essential criteria
1.A minimum of one year’srelevant work experience, in the last five years, within the environmental/community development/voluntary sector in a paid or voluntary capacity
OR
A third-level qualification in a relevant discipline such as
Environmental Studies, Community Development, Childcare, Health & Social Science, etc.
2. Experience of facilitating children’s activities in a group-work setting
3.A sound working knowledge of child protection procedures and policies, relevant to the delivery of this project
4.A sound working knowledge of health and safety requirements within the project
5.An understanding of and commitment to effective community development processes
6.Excellent inter-personal skills
Employment Details
Job TitleThe Cornfield Project – Eco-Warriors Club Leaders(2x posts)
Salary£8.74 - £10.54 per hour
Hours per week10hours per week
Duration9 months fixed term, with possibility of extension
LocationBallysally/Millburn, Coleraine
Responsible toProject Manager, Focus on Family
Funded byChildren in Need
Key dates
Application closing dateFriday 26th January 2018 at 4pm
Interview dateFriday 2nd February 2018
Job start1st March 2018
Job ends30th November 2018