Job Description: Outreach Play and VolunteerCo-ordinator - Southwark

Responsible to:Management committee

Salary:£25,203 (including London weighting) pro rata
(equivalent to £13.85 per hour)

Length of contract:Part time, fixed term until November 2014

Hours of Work:35 days in total. Hours will be flexible and will involve weekend and evening work

Place of work: Playout office or home based and in community spaces within the area

Job Purpose

You will lead activity with volunteers to develop a new Woodcraft Folk group, using Play Out as a tool to attract new children and volunteers.

Project goals:

- Identify possible affordable venues for a Woodcraft group

- Co-ordinate 3-6 outreach play days to attract children and inspire adults to volunteer for new Woodcraft Folk groups

- Recruit 10 adult volunteers to deliver play sessions to children and young people

- Provide training to 10 adult volunteers in safeguarding, co-operative play and promoting positive behaviour

Phase 1 responsibilities:

You will be responsible for researching premises for a new Woodcraft group. You will then organise outreach play days which will reflect the Woodcraft Folk aims and principles and promote the opportunities available for children and their families of joining the Woodcraft Folk by -

  • Organising 3-6 outreach play days over the spring/summer at various sites in the area, with a planned programme including playing co-operative games and providing creative activities
  • Following Woodcraft Folk policies and procedures such as safeguarding and risk assessment
  • Promoting the play days with a view to opening a new group in the area in September
  • Ensuring all children have equal opportunity and equal access to the play activities
  • Creating and maintaining a network of interested volunteers and parents, together with interested community groups
  • Following up all new enquiries and other significant contacts
  • Communicating about the project to interested parties such as the volunteer centre,Southwark District and by attending relevant local events
  • Advertising for volunteers

Phase 2 responsibilities:

Building on the contacts, community knowledge, and enthusiasm gained from phase 1 of the project you will then -

  • Recruit new volunteers to engage in play work and session programmes of Woodcraft Folk
  • Recruit children (predominately 6 to 9s or 9-12s) interested in joining a local Woodcraft Folk group
  • Find a suitable venue for group night sessions
  • Organise and set up new Woodcraft Folk group with a planned programme
  • Support volunteers to engage with the programme and understand how to operate the group safely and responsibly
  • Run and lead the programme for 12 weekly group night sessions, increasingly turning to phase 3 priorities

Phase 3 responsibilities:

  • Organise induction training programmes to meet the needs of the volunteers
  • Organise a ‘Learn to Play’ volunteer training course
  • Facilitate the volunteers to draw upon their personal strengths in programme planning and role allocation
  • Support volunteers with any questions or guidance they need
  • Encourage the group to make local connections
  • Encourage the group to take part in wider Woodcraft Folk activities, and in particular camping and outdoor work.
  • Hand over responsibility of the group to the team of volunteers with a view to enabling them to run and sustain the group themselves
  • Make sure the group has organised themselves for a programme for the next term.

Other duties:

  • Communicate the project’s progress with the Playout committee and Southwark district..

Person Specification

Essential

  • Demonstrate commitment to the aims and principles of Woodcraft Folk
  • Ability to work on own initiative and plan and lead activities
  • Experience of working with and supporting volunteers
  • Experience of working with children in a play work setting
  • Ability to motivate and encourage others
  • Excellent communication skills using a range of mediums such as face to face, telephone, email and social media
  • Ability to develop and maintain a network of contacts
  • Understanding of safe working practices
  • Excellent organisational and administrative skills
  • Computer literate across the whole MS Office suite and email packages
  • Able to work flexible hours, including evenings and weekends

Desirable

  • To have relevant playwork/youth and community teaching qualification or experience in co-operative play and methods of working
  • Experience of recruiting and training volunteers
  • Understanding and experience of setting up volunteer led community groups
  • Experience of monitoring and reporting
  • Experience in supporting and encouraging participation from young volunteers

Woodcraft Folk is a registered charity in EnglandWales (1148195) and in Scotland (SC039791). And a Limited Company, registered in England & Wales, Company No. 8133727, registered office:Unit 9,83 Crampton Street,LondonSE17 3BQ.