We are looking for an experienced person to provide inspirational leadership and direction for the volunteer development programme at Ruchazie Church. Working with people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities across the community, the post holder will restart and lead an inclusive Volunteer Development Programme to encourage local people to make an active contribution to community life, and help them build confidence, skills and achieve their personal goals.

Since 2018, we have re-established a worshipping community at Ruchazie Church and we are known as a key anchor organisation in Ruchazie with a reputation as a local catalyst for change. Using an asset-based community development model we have a track record of mobilising volunteers to develop ground-breaking initiatives that give practical help, support and hope for local people. Our support is available to anyone without discrimination.

We are looking for someone who can work effectively within our existing Church team to relaunch, develop and lead the volunteer programme at Ruchazie Church. Our ideal candidate will have previous experience of delivering a variety of volunteering activities aligned to best practice principles. They will possess well-developed interpersonal leadership skills to support our existing team of volunteers and also to recruit and train new volunteers. They will be expected to collaborate with external partners, networks and community connections. We are looking for someone who can build and maintain trusting, respectful relationships with people of all ages to promote good emotional, physical and mental health. Our Volunteer Development Worker will also be able to support access to inclusive programmes and activities that enable people to explore Christian spirituality and other themes of faith openly.

Our aim

We are looking for an experienced person who can (re)start and lead an inclusive youth work programme in Ruchazie to encourage young people in our community to build confidence, skills and achieve their personal goals.

Ruchazie Church

Since re-planting our church in 2018, we have re-established a worshipping community within the parish. We are now a key anchor organisation in Ruchazie with a reputation as a local catalyst for change. Using an asset-based community development model we have a track record of mobilising volunteers to develop ground-breaking initiatives that give practical help, support and hope for local people. Our support is available to anyone without discrimination.

We have a core team of active volunteers and, just before the COVID19 pandemic, we had a congregation of about 50 gathering weekly. As a church we are rooted in the evangelical tradition and our style is informal, friendly and welcoming. Our building is a key community hub. Before lockdown it was a very busy space used by our partners, local groups and other organisations to deliver vital practical help, services and activities.

Ruchazie is an area of significant, multiple deprivation. 41% of the children live in poverty. 67% of those attending our local secondary school have or had male relatives resident in Barlinnie Prison. 36% of the 16-19 year olds are not in any form of employment, education or training. There are many challenges here, but this is not our focus.

There is great community spirit here and we see wonderful, dynamic, creative people made in the image of God. By working together, we empower people to make the changes they want to see for themselves, their families and their community.

Previous Youth Work

Despite building significant momentum with our youth work programme pre-pandemic, lockdown restrictions halted most of our activities. We used to have a mixture of afterschool and holiday time clubs with various creative and performing arts programmes. Some activities were delivered in partnership with other organisations such as GK Experience, Bolt FM and Junction 12 (a local Christian youth project). While some of our young people made a significant contribution during lockdown as volunteers with our emergency response, only a small remnant of our previous youth work programme remains.

Therefore, we are looking for someone to work alongside local people to begin this work again. Our new Youth Worker will take the lead in building a team of volunteers and then relaunching a new youth work programme.

About the Youth Worker

We are looking for someone who can work effectively within our existing Church team to relaunch, develop and lead the youth work programme at Ruchazie Church.

Our ideal candidate will have previous experience of delivering a really effective youth work programme aligned to best practice principles. They will possess well-developed interpersonal leadership skills to recruit and support a team of volunteers and also to collaborate with external partners, networks and community connections. We are looking for someone who can build and maintain trusting, respectful relationships with young people to promote good emotional, physical and mental health. Our Youth Worker will also be able to deliver inclusive programmes and activities that will enable young people to explore Christian spirituality and other themes of faith openly.

Main Purpose of post

Working with the Ruchazie Team as a key point of contact and providing project support that enables the smooth running of the extensive programme of initiatives.

Main Duties

To represent Ruchazie Parish Church as a welcoming, well-managed and safe space through

• Being the primary point of contact for staff, volunteers and external enquiries, managing queries and sourcing information
• Managing external and internal communications
• Supporting the co-ordination of the day to day activities of Ruchazie Parish Church including managing the project diary, hall bookings, the provision of facilities and cash handling.
• Facilitating the Safeguarding function.
• Working as part of the Ruchazie Team, ensuring relevant information is stored and used appropriately, in accordance with GDPR requirements and activities are run in accordance with Health and Safety requirements

Additional duties

• To contribute to the Team reports to the Kirk Session and Presbytery
• To contribute fully to the Ministries Council appraisal process
• Undertake other duties as may be required from time to time by the Interim Moderator and Congregational Development Worker as part of the ministry team.

Responsible to

This is a Ministries Council Appointment but you will be responsible to the Congregational Leader at Ruchazie Parish Church in the first instance.

We are looking for a team player who can innovate, develop and lead. We are looking for someone who is not only able to re-establish the local café as a business, but shares our vision to see the Café located firmly in community well-being and connection.

We currently have start-up funding to re-open the Café in Ruchazie Church building, but we want to do more than just offer food.

Funding is available for 6 months to help get café side of the project up and running, with the expectation that the role would become self-funding through the cafe income after this period.

We are looking for team players who can innovate, develop and lead our Youth and Creative Projects - people who can build a strong team of volunteers to explore the themes of faith, identity and creativity. We want our building to become the creative hub of our community as a result of the work done. We want people who are passionate about faith and who believes that Jesus can change any person’s life.

We want someone who has experience and passion in using the Creative Arts to engage with a range of ages and stages across the community.

We also are looking for someone with a heart for young people, recognising the interaction of spiritual, emotional, physical and mental health, able to develop relationships and create programmes that address all of these.

It may be that these posts could be filled by the same person – we are open to that.