‘Men in Sheds’ Co-ordinator
35 hours per week
£18,000 p.a.
Upto 5 months fixed term contract with extension subject to available funding.
The Men in Sheds concept was piloted in the UK in 2008 by Age UK in Northwich, Cheshire.Sincethattime,anumberofotherlocalAgeUK / Age Cymrupartnershaveestablished workingsheds.Theprojectsupportsmenwhohaveexperiencedlife-changingevents such as redundancy, retirement, bereavement or mental / physical health or social isolation. The ‘sheds’ give men a place to meet, be productive and get involved with their local community as well as keeping them physically and mentally active. They provide a safe, supportive and friendly setting where men can socialise, learn new skills and practice existing skills by working alongside each other on community projects. It’s a place for like-minded men to access a workshop-type space which contains tools, work benches and raw materials to construct, repair or finish a variety ofprojects.
Age Cymru Gwynedd a Môn are looking to recruit a resourceful, practical and enthusiastic Co-ordinator to lead the development of a brand new Men in Sheds project based in Caernarfon, Gwynedd. The role will involve working alongside the local community and relevant partners to set up the shed to required standards, developing and delivering a series of practical workshop sessions to small groups of local older men and supporting and motivating a team of volunteers working on the project.
For more information please call Stephen Williams, Ageing Well Manager on 01286677711
For an application pack please visit or email or telephone 01286 677711.
Introduction
AgeCymru Gwynedd a Môniscommittedtoencouragingandsupportingolderpeopletoremainas physically, mentally and socially active as possible for as long as possible to improve theirwell-beingandenablethemtolivewellastheyage.Sadlybecauseoftransitions in life such as retirement, unemployment, bereavement, relationship breakdown and poorhealthmanypeoplecanbecomesociallyisolatedandlonely.Thisinturnimpacts their mental and physical health and general well-being. Men over 50 are particularly vulnerable and often don’t find traditional services and activities appealing orrelevant to them. We are delighted therefore to be launching a new “Men in Sheds” project in Caernarfon to engage with and support socially isolated oldermen.
Men in Sheds Concept
TheMen’sShedprojectisbasedontheprinciplethat“AMen’sShedisalargerversion ofthetypicalman’sshedinthegarden–aplacewherehefeelsathomeandpursues practical interests with a high degree of autonomy”. The “Men’s Shed Project” offers thistoagroupofmenwherememberssharethisprinciplewithothersasacommunity- based project. They share tools and resources they need to work on projects of their own choosing, at their own pace and in a safe, friendly and inclusive venue. The project becomes a community programme where skill-sharing and informal learning, of individual pursuits and community projects, of purpose, achievement and social interaction can take place. This also is a place of leisure where men come together towork.
A “Shed’s” activities usually involve making or mending in wood (e.g. carpentry, joinery, turning, carving, whittling, marquetry, furniture renovation) but may include metalworking (milling, sheet metal, welding, etc.), bike repair, gardening, electronics, toolrenovation,boatrenovation,modelengineering(modelairways,planes)andeven building a car. Reclamation, reuse and restoration will feature strongly. Although “Sheds” mostly attract older men, some have included men of any age, women and young people. Whichever activities are pursued the essence of a “Shed” is not a building,whichsomedon’thave,butanetworkofrelationshipsbetweenthemembers and also the local community. The concept of this project is with the UK Men’s Sheds Association.
JOB DESCRIPTION
SERVICE CO-ORDINATOR - MEN IN SHEDS AGEING WELL TEAM
RESPONSIBLETO:AGEING WELLMANAGER RESPONSIBLEFOR:TEAM OF VOLUNTEERSAND
FROM TIME TO TIME OTHER STAFF AS
DIRECTED BY THE CHIEF OFFICER.
SALARY:£18,000 P.A.
HOURS:35HRS PER WEEK ONFLEXIBLEBASIS MAY INCLUDE SOME EVENINGS & WEEKEND WORK WITH REASONABLENOTICE. WILL CONSIDER A JOB SHARE
JOBLOCATION:CAERNARFON,GWYNEDD
OVERALL JOB PURPOSE
To manage the Men in Sheds project, encouraging, supporting and enabling older mentoparticipateandengageintheirlocalcommunityandremainphysically,mentally and socially active to improve their health outcomes and quality oflife.
To manage the Men in Sheds volunteers and other assets and resources to provide a safe and engaging environment.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
1.To co-ordinate, supervise, support and motivate a team of volunteers to continually develop the project as a place of recreation and social interaction formen.
2.In liaison with the AgeingWell Manager, to recruit, train and support volunteers to assist in theproject.
3.To develop a programme of activities for the project participants and encourage and facilitate them partaking in an activity of theirchoice.
4.Toactivelypromoteandmarkettheprojecttomenover50andtoencourage, accept and process referrals fromprofessionals
5.To be responsible for Health & Safety for the project; undertaking risk assessments and ensuring all activities are completed in safe and supportive environment and in accordance with relevant regulations and good practice guidance.
6.To encourage participation and engagement in Men’s Healthinitiatives.
7.To ensure that all participants are encouraged and supported to learn new skills, re-learn old skills and share existingones.
8.Facilitate participants’ engagement with other relevant Age Cymru Gwynedd a Môn projects, services and activities, those of other partner organisationsand with employment and volunteeringopportunities.
9.Tomonitorallequipmentonanon-goingbasisinordertoensurethatsufficient equipment is available, safe and fit forpurpose.
10.To undertake administrative tasks for the project including maintaining and updatingclientrecords,assessingimprovement/progress,undertakingregular reviews and providing monitoring information needed to meet funders’ requirements and evaluate performance andoutcomes.
11.Use Charitylog the charity’s database system to capture and hold data needed for the above monitoring and evaluationprocedures.
12.Such other duties as may from time to time be required by the AgeingWellManagerandChiefOfficerandthatareconsistentwiththeduties and responsibilities of the post..
13.TocarryoutalldutiesincompliancewithcurrentHealthandSafetylegislation and Age CymruGwynedd a Môn’s policies andprocedures.
PERSON SPECIFICATION SERVICE CO-ORDINATOR - MEN IN SHEDS
ESSENTIALCRITERIA / ASSESSMENTMETHODGood verbal and writtencommunicationskills / Application/Interview
Excellentinterpersonalskills / Application/Interview
Working knowledge of Health &Safetyregulations and the ability to identify and managerisks. / Application/Interview
Understanding of the issues affecting thelivesof olderpeople / Application/Interview
Understanding of the difficultiesfacedby disadvantaged groups in accessingservices. / Application/Interview
Networking andpartnershipskills / Application /Interview
ProvenDIYskills. / Application /Interview
Proficient in IT skills, including using thesuiteof Microsoft Officeprogrammes. / Application/Interview
Good organisational skillsincludinginformation, resources and timemanagement. / Application/Interview
Ability to set and manage priorities and motivate / Application / Interview
Ability to motivate selfandothers / Application/Interview
Possess a full clean driving licence with access to a fully insured vehicle for business use / Application
DESIRABLECRITERIA / ASSESSMENTMETHOD
Experience of the voluntary sector / Application/Interview
Experience of working with wood, metal or other raw materials. / Application /Interview
Experience of workingwithmachinery. / Application /Interview
Experience of gardeningorhorticulture / Application /Interview
PATTestingQualification / Certificate