Community Builder

Purpose of the Post:

Involve is the CVS charity supporting and facilitating community action and resilience. This post will use an Asset Based Community Development approach, to work with local communities, groups, and organisations in and around Crediton to identify and build solutions to unmet services and needs. The postholder will provide support to build capacity and skills, enable networking, collaboration, community engagement, and peer support, and influence positive change towards building stronger, healthier communities. This role is a key part of our exciting new Big Lottery funded ‘Communities that Can’ project. The project is designed to connect residents, foster local engagement, and support local organisations through real-world interactions. By offering connections through events, groups support, local directories, and volunteer opportunities, we aim to create stronger, more vibrant communities across Mid Devon. We lead neighbourhoods into supportive, interconnected networks where everyone feels at home. You will be one of three community builders based in the main Mid Devon towns of Crediton, Cullompton and Tiverton.

Key Outcomes

• Community activity and provision is mapped
• People are listened to and engaged
• Increased activity is happening within the community and as a result communities are inclusive, cohesive, and more resilient
• People, groups, and organisations are being linked creating a more connected community
• Learning from the co-design process and implementation informs changes in practice, where necessary.
• Personal, team and project objectives are met.

Responsibilities

• To map and maintain awareness of formal and informal community activity and provision; sharing this information within the CVS to maintain currency of intelligence and locally to promote increased participation.
• To identify community assets and resources and makes the information accessible using wide variety of platforms.
• To listen widely to people/young people of all backgrounds within the community to understand more about their lives and how they feel about their community and organise and chair quarterly Community Wellbeing Alliance meetings.
• To support motivated individuals to transform ideas into action for the benefit of themselves and others and utilise in house expertise at appropriate times to progress these ideas.
• To identify and encourage people who are natural connectors and natural leaders within the community
• To advocate for the community or underrepresented aspects of the community
• To develop insight into power dynamics within a community and supports people to understand, manage and challenge these, where necessary.
• Maintain awareness of County and other initiatives and developments that present opportunities for citizens to be more engaged and have influence over what happens in their communities.
• Encourage participation in such initiatives and/or enable for citizens to co-design their own initiatives including the set-up of new community groups and activities.
• Co-operate with (or work to establish) a group of local activists to share ideas, learning and co-design community led- initiatives and encourages links between activists and community organisation networks
• Actively market and promote the project within communities
• Collect evidence of outputs and outcomes, ensuring consistent implementation of the monitoring and evaluation process together with the Project Manager.
• Be aware of and follow policies and procedures, with particular attention to safeguarding, health and safety, and equality and diversity.
• Support fundraising and income generation.
• Undertake any other duties within your capabilities as may be required

Person Specification