Background

Stow Community Trust is a community based, not for profit organisation, made up of local people keen to see development of assets in the village and the surrounding area for common good. Our mission is to work with and support our community to make the villages of Stow and Fountainhall a great destination to live in and visit. We’ll do this by leading and supporting initiatives that have community engagement at its heart; are sustainable; and promotes economic development.

Find out more about work on our website: stowhub.co.uk

The Role

The Trust and local Community Council are nearing completion of the Stow and Fountainhall Community Action Plan (SFCAP) with various initiatives identified for action and implementation between now and 2030. A new post of Community Development Officer has been created to lead on achieving this plan. They will work with the Trust’s Board, Community Council, volunteers and other community groups to deliver the plan. Funding for this post has been secured for an initial 3-year period. As the sole paid employee, the Community Development Officer will have a crucial influence on the success of the plan in its early stages.

Main Tasks/Job Activities

• Developing and delivering an agreed number of initial priorities (as identified in the SFCAP) in year 1, followed by other agreed projects in years 2-3.
• Identify and develop medium to longer-term projects and opportunities as indicated in the SFCAP.
• Build and maintaining relationships with key local, regional and national stakeholders including other community development trusts.
• Identify and develop opportunities for partnerships across local community groups, organisations, and businesses to work together to support the implementation of the SFCAP.
• Recruitment of community volunteers and identification of community champions and leaders. Using best practice to recruit and train volunteers.
• Identification of the necessary resources (i.e. personnel, monies, experience, knowledge and skills) to action and implement a programme of community projects.
• Identify and bring forward funding applications to assist and ensure the success of community projects.
• To attend necessary meetings alongside community representatives.
• Provide regular reports to the Board of Stow Community Trust and Community Council.

Person Specification

Essential qualities

• Proven project management skills.
• Proven ability to engage with a variety of diverse groups within communities ensuring their inclusion in project planning and implementation.
• Flexible approach to working, to enable interaction with groups at various times of the day, and days of the week.
• Self-starter, capable of working on own initiative within the brief as outlined.
• Demonstrate excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Good ICT skills.
• Experience and understanding of using different types of marketing (including social media) to encourage participation of all parts of our community.
• A proven ability to organise and run events, with assistance of volunteers and community organisations.
• Commitment to equality, environmental sustainability, social justice and inclusion consistent with the Trust’s approach to community development.

Desirable Qualities

• A qualification in Community Development or related discipline.
• Previous experience of community engagement methodologies e.g. Place Standard, and be familiar with community development principles and processes.
• Experience of the delivery of a programme of volunteer training and development.

Reporting and Supervision

The Community Development Worker will report directly to and be supervised by a nominated member of the SCT Board in the first instance.

About Stow Community Trust

Stow Community Trust (SCT) is a dynamic Borders based community development trust and not for profit organisation affiliated to Development Trust Association Scotland (DTAS). We exist to invigorate and develop social, cultural, and economic opportunities for the benefit of the villages of Stow and Fountainhall in the north of the Borders .

Our Work involves

• Pursuing community projects involving close partnership with other community groups and statutory organisations.
• Successfully developing the Stow Station House project creating a community and visitor focal point for the villages and providing a bar/eating place, community facilities and a bike hub.
• Constantly seeking out new community openings and enterprises to improve the quality of life for residents.

Job Role

In conjunction with the Community Council we are seeking a motivated and innovative person to build upon the community engagement work taken place to date, and to co-design and assist with the early implementation of a community action plan identifying and prioritising community needs and projects.

This post will lead an exciting and comprehensive community engagement exercise with all stakeholders - statutory organisations, local businesses, and community organisations along with the maximum reach number of residents of all ages and diversity including hard to reach groups. The programme is ambitious and a ground-breaking participatory process to build the capacity of the communities of Stow and Fountainhall in taking action implementing community change and pursuing new opportunities. It will inform the community action plan and ongoing developments and the transition to more community led ways of working.

The successful community development worker will be an enthusiastic postholder with a high profile and visibility across the village localities. They will be skilled in community led development and be familiar with agile ways of working. As an empowering worker they will provide effective communication and organisations skills.