Creative Community Connector, Windrush Place Development, Downs Road, Curbridge, Witney

Fixed term freelance post, 48 weeks
We are looking for a Creative Community Connector to work with residents and other community providers on the Windrush Development, a new development of over approximately 1000 houses. The post holder will work alongside residents in the locality to develop a diversity of creative and well-being opportunities, engage with residents to help shape and realise ideas to improve opportunities for creativity, well-being and engagement, and work in association and partnership with the local school and other partners including faith-based groups.

Key Purpose & Approach
To work with residents on site to develop and enable a programme of creative provision for well-being, community cohesion on the development and local area, and for creative opportunity.
This role takes an asset-based community development approach to support residents to grow in confidence, enabling them to feel empowered and more connected to their local community. It is hoped that this in turn will help improve their health and wellbeing and have a positive impact on local health services. To achieve that, the post holder is expected to take the following approach:
• Be open in order to establish a deep understanding of the area
• Listen and support residents to make ‘connections’ in the community
• Create and curate opportunities which are inclusive
• Empower others to identify their skills and pursue their interests
• See the possibilities and strengths of the area

Main duties and responsibilities – these are not exclusive
• Engage with residents and local partners to build a programme of creative work to help strengthen community identity, connectedness and wellbeing
• Adopt an asset-based approach to all work
• Deliver creative activities where appropriate and oversee activities delivered by others on behalf of the project
• Consult and liaise with the local community, community leaders and key stakeholders including the local school to ensure that programmes respond to changing needs and are fully inclusive
• Support community-led initiatives
• Help tackle issues with creative interventions
• Work with residents to help establish a framework for community-led activity and to identify community-building themes
• Engage with all sections of the community to ensure everyone’s voice is heard
• Coordinate the commissioning of any public art works on site in conjunction with WODC.
• Produce promotional material about initiatives and events
• Manage the budget for the programme of creative interventions
• Recruit and book creative and other facilitators ensuring they are inducted, briefed and supervised
• Undertake risk assessments and ensure all work is fully compliant with health and safety issues
• Share learning, knowledge and best practice with others
• Work alongside other teams and groups to inform the activity across a range of community focussed disciplines, so that the services delivered are aligned to identified local need
• Work within an agreed evaluation and feedback framework to evaluate the project to measure impact, keeping written records
• Report regularly with the Council’s lead officer
• Undertake other duties as required

Person specification

• Relevant arts-based skill/s
• Experience working with different communities
• Experience of planning and delivery, of running workshops and arts interventions with individuals, groups and communities
• Ability to facilitate research and planning with groups
• Knowledge, understanding and commitment to the principles of ABCD, Healthy Place Shaping and a ‘by’ model of community activity
• Excellent communication skills
• Good organisational and administrative skills
• Commitment to partnership working
• Flexibility of approach
• Ability to work under own initiative as well as part of a team
• Experience of project management including setting and monitoring budgets
• Knowledge and understanding of equality and diversity, what this means in relation to this role and the ability to incorporate this into all aspects of work
• Knowledge and awareness of relevant health and safety issues
• Reflective practice with commitment to meaningful evaluation
• Confident with using a range of technology and software including Microsoft and Google Suite

The successful candidate must have full public liability insurance and will need Enhanced DBS clearance.

£115 per day, 2 ½ days a week (48 weeks)

Please submit a CV and covering letter explaining how you fit the above specifications and what you can bring to this role. Any queries, please email sarah.levete@westoxon.gov.uk

Deadline noon, Friday 20th May. Interviews to be held 7th June.