Job Opportunity:Bike Back Derby project assistant

(part-time:9 hours per week)

1. Background Information

Life Cycle UK is an independent organisation and registered charity (1077575) that has been working since 1999 to transform lives through cycling.

Why cycling

Our experience is that cycling can be a fantastic agent for positive change: cycling improves physical and mental health, enables people on low incomes to access jobs and services, helps people who are lonely or isolated to engage better with community life and helps young people on their journey to independence. It also promotes stronger communities and sustainable living, as well as delivering wider benefits to the environment. We offer practical help and support to enable people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities to cycle. This includes cycle training, maintenance training, supported bike rides; access to affordable refurbished bikes and more.

Background to Life Cycle UK

We employ 10 full-time-equivalent staff, have a network of 20 freelance cycle instructors and mechanics; 8 Trustees and over 100 volunteers. We have contracts with the local authority to provide cycle training to encourage more people to cycle. In addition, we have a number of charitable projects such Bike Back our project supporting prisoners to learn mechanical skills and Bike Minded that supports people with mental health issues to improve their mental wellbeing through cycling.

Life Cycle’s impact in 2016/17

Last financial year we supported:

662 disadvantaged individuals supported to cycle through our inclusive projects.

  • 1,336 schoolchildren taught to cycle safely
  • 250 adults received skills training to help them start and keep cycling
  • 546 bikes recycled.
  • 750 individuals received free bike safety-checks
  • 4500 Volunteer hours provided.

There is more information on our website about our work.

Bike Back Derby: our bike recycling project

Bike Back Derby is a bike refurbishment scheme for Derby.

The scheme provides affordable refurbished bikes to local people in Derby, helping them access work, employment and other facilities by bike, whilst contributing to Derby City Council's aims to reducing congestion and increasing active sustainable travel.

The scheme takes in donations of unwanted bicycles from the public that are unused and gathering dust and completely refurbishes them to a roadworthy condition. This work is undertaken by prisoners at HMP Stocken and HMP Nottingham, where they work towards and gain a level 2 City and Guilds qualification in cycle mechanics.

The bicycles are then returned to Bike Back Derby and sold at affordable prices to any who work, live or study within Derby City. Job seekers and low income beneficiaries benefit through schemes and events run by our Connected partners: Wheels to Work, The University of Derby, Derby Royal Hospital, Sustrans, East Midland Trains and Derby City Council.

Bike Back Derby sells many bikes direct from its premises as well as at events locally. A new growth area for the project is in bike servicing through Dr Bike events and through delivering cycle maintenance courses to the public.

Benefits to the prisoners

The project provides positive productive employment training and nationally accredited City & Guilds qualifications for prisoners..

“I knew the basics, from working on my own bike, but I didn’t realise there was so much more to learn. I have learnt masses – and not just about bikes. I have learnt general things about employment, looking after tools, keeping the workshop clean and tidy. I am feeling much more positive now. I’ve got my mind set on other things and I want to try and get a job when I leave.” - Prisoner

Benefits to the community

Many people who would like to cycle but can’t afford a new bike are able to buy one at affordable prices. Through our volunteer programme we offer local people opportunities to gain skills and contribute to a meaningful community project. In addition we offer cycle training to ensure people have the skills and confidence to cycle.

2.Job description

Job title: Bike Back Bristol project assistant

Job overview

Life Cycle UK is recruiting for the position of Bike Back Derby Project Assistant for its successful Bike Back project. You will be joining a small staff team and volunteers based in a workshop in central Derby. The successful candidate will be a dynamic person who loves cycling, enjoys working in a busy work environment, has lots of good ideas likes to just get on and do things, you must also be sympathetic to the aims of the Bike Back project.

You will be responsible for providing support to the team, to enable them to do their jobs well, and ensure the smooth running of daily operations. You will have excellent IT skills, be very efficient and able to communicate well.

You will be will support the Project Manager with the organisation of bike sales including handling cash and online payments and collecting and processing customer information. You will assist Teaching Mechanic with the organisation of bike maintenance courses and Dr Bike events, booking venues, updating our website and helping with the promotion and bookings. You will also assist with general admin and reporting.

General duties and responsibilities

  1. Bike maintenance courses

Plan and organise maintenance courses alongside the Teaching Mechanic:

  • Plan course dates
  • Book course venues
  • Add course details to Life Cycle’s website
  • Monitor course bookings
  1. Dr Bike Surgeries:

Plan and organise Dr Bike Surgeries alongside the Teaching Mechanic

•Respond positively to requests for Dr Bike Surgeries

•Book/liaise with venues to agree times and dates for surgeries

  • Book additional mechanics as needed

•Monitor sessions and gather customer feedback

3. Promotional activities

Carry out activities to promote the project andstimulate bookings/sales

●Raise the profile of Bike Back through the local press, websites, Facebook, Twitter and Life Cycle’s website etc,.

●Keep the Bike Back website fresh and interesting

4.General project support:

Handling data collection and admin:

  • Data management for the project using Civi CRM (training will be given)
  • Reconciling of credit card payments and banking cash from bike sales
  • Recording details of invoices to be raised and providing details to the finance manager
  • Support the cycle training team with bookings and invoice processing
  • Assist with other record keeping and reporting as and when required
  1. Other duties:
  • Work with the team to achieve all project outcomes and particularly focussing on getting bikes to people on very low income
  • Attend project meetings as required

3.Person specification:Project Assistant

Essential

Ability to work independently, proactively and under own initiative

Experience using local and social media

Excellent time management skills and ability to get jobs done on time.

Computer literate to a high standard including Microsoft word and excel

Good communication skills

Positive approach and can-do attitude

You may be required to work evenings and weekends occasionally

Desirable

Knowledge of other Microsoft application i.e. PowerPoint, Publisher etc,.

Knowledge of broader cycling issues.

Experience handling cash and credit card payments

General data handling

4. Terms and conditions of employment – Bike Back project assistant

Contract

  • This is a fixed term contract which runs until 31st March 2020. It is our intention for the project to continue past this date but no funding has been secured yet.
  • This is a part-time post, we currently have funding for 9-hours per week. There may be a chance to increase this in the future. The core working day consists of 7.5 hours (excluding lunch break).
  • Days/hours to be worked to be confirmed when other postholder in place. Ideally, hours to be worked across several days.

Salary:

  • £17,500 per annum pro-rata depending on experience. Salaries are paid monthly in arrears and reviewed annually.
  • Life Cycle will make a matched contribution to your personal pension up to a maximum sum equivalent to 5% of salary.
  • Reasonable out-of-pocket expenses will be reimbursed.

Annual leave

  • You will receive 28 days annual leave pro-rata including bank holidays.

Reporting

  • The Bike Back project assistant will report to the Bike Back Project Manager.

Other relevant factors of the job

References

We will require two references.

Training

On-going training opportunities will be available to be discussed with your line manager.

Working with volunteers

Life Cycle values its volunteers, who are a major resource and make a vital contribution to our work. You will be expected to encourage, develop and support volunteer involvement in our work.

Environmental sustainability

We expect you to carry out your job responsibilities in an environmentally aware manner, ensuring as little damage to the environment as possible. Our aim is to ensure all resources are utilised effectively and efficiently. You will be expected to apply ‘sound value for money’ principles in all your work.

Other employment opportunities

There may be opportunities for the post-holder to work as a “freelancer” for Life Cycle on some of our other projects. See our website for more information on what is available.

Note: this job description is for guidance. Employees are expected to be flexible and co-operative and to undertake additional duties as required.

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