Contract: Temporary for a maximum of 1 year
Job ref: V539
Hours: 15 hours per week (flexible days/ hours but some evening and weekend work required)
Salary: £10,156 for 15 hours per week (£22,222.20 FTE)
Location: 2 roles in Whitton, 2 roles in Gainsborough, roles in Belstead Hills
Closing date: Thursday 15 May 2025 at noon
Interview date: 22 May 2025 – TBC but will be in person in central Ipswich
Volunteering Matters
At Volunteering Matters we use volunteering’s unique power to bring people together and build stronger, more resilient communities across the UK.
We bring people together to resolve some of society’s most complex issues. From social isolation and loneliness; improving health and wellbeing; building skills, confidence, and opportunity; to ensuring young people can become change makers in their community, the impact that we make is great. And we won’t stop until everyone in the UK has the opportunity to thrive.
People-led and impact driven, we are a national charity that is deeply embedded in local areas across the UK. We operate in five regions: London and the South East; Wales and the West of England; East of England; the Midlands and North West England; and Scotland and North East England. We also have an Employee volunteering Team with over 25 years’ experience, acting as a broker to provide tailor-made solutions to employers. We turn local knowledge and energy into action and progress, building stronger communities and a better future for all.
This is an exciting time to be joining the team. We’re changing the way we work to meet new ambitions and make sure our impact continues to grow alongside out business.
About the Role
Volunteering Matters are partnering with Active Suffolk to recruit 6 Community Connectors to work in the following areas of Ipswich:
2 x Whitton
2 x Gainsborough
2 x Belstead Hills
The ideal candidates will have strong local knowledge of the area and preferably, live within the community they are assigned to. In this role, you will have conversations with local residents (aged 18+) to capture lived experience around barriers, motivations, perceptions of being physically active in the local community. You must be a confident communicator and able to work off your own initiative.
The information collected will be shared with project partners and local stakeholders to guide further learning and community development, with the goal of securing future funding for further investment in these areas.
Responsibilities
Identify, plan and create opportunities to have conversations with local residents around being physically active in the local community
Identify community needs – gather information from local residents on what they value the most, the challenges they face, and what services or initiatives could benefit them. This could be done through informal conversations, community meetings, surveys
Share ideas with the local community and project partners/ stakeholders
Signpost to information and support for residents wanting to get more involved with their local community
Build relationships and networks locally to promote and create opportunities for conversations.
Conduct conversations safely and effectively in a range of settings (eg cafes, outside local schools, community events etc) to reach a diverse range of local residents
Participate in regular team meetings to support learning, problem solving and collaboration
Work within agreed budgets and utilise community resources and venues to undertake conversations
Skills & Experience:
Strong connections with and experience of the Whitton, Gainsborough and Belstead Hills areas of the town. Preference would be from applicants living in these areas.
Enthusiastic, friendly and approachable manner
Experience of bringing people together in your community
A confident self starter – some who is creative and can use their own initiative
Flexible and proactive
Great at putting people at ease and building rapport
Excellent listening and communication skills
Excellent organisational and IT skills including ability to manage workload and prioritise effectively
Our Values & Way of Working:
In all that we do, we embrace a philosophy of ‘Freedom within a Framework’ and are guided by our values: Empowering, Inclusive, Compassionate, Positive & Straightforward.
This job description is intended to include the broad range of responsibilities and requirements of the post. It is neither exhaustive nor exclusive but while some variations will be expected, these will be at an appropriate level for the role.
Diversity & Inclusion
Volunteering Matters welcomes all applicants and are keen to ensure our team reflects the diversity of the UK and the communities we serve. We encourage applications from disabled, LGBT and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic backgrounds, along with candidates with any protected characteristics and from disadvantaged groups.
Disability Confident & Reasonable Adjustments:
We guarantee to interview anyone with a disability whose application meets the minimum criteria for the role. Please provide evidence in your application, which demonstrates that you meet the level of competence required in the “Experience/Skills” section of this advert. To be considered for a guaranteed interview or to discuss any reasonable adjustments during the process, please state this in your application or contact join@volunteeringmatters.org.uk for more information.
We have also committed to the following pledges which positively encompass our recruitment and selection processes and methodology: The Promise, Show The Salary, Salary History.
Benefits
Our employee benefits reflect our culture which is built on an approach of full flexibility with accountability, and designed to let you make your most positive contribution; we offer Flexible Working by Default (re hours & place of work), Unlimited Annual Leave, Employee Pension scheme, Life Assurance, Cycle to Work Scheme, Season Ticket Loan, Employee Assistance Programme, enhanced sick and family leave. We are also open to discuss job share applications.
GDPR Statement
If you apply for a role with us, we will retain your contact details including your name, address, email address and phone number to help us manage your application for up to 6 months. We will not use your personal data for any other purpose or share it with any third party. You can contact us at any point to update your personal information or ask us to delete it from our records.
How to Apply
Please send a completed CV and cover letter to join@volunteeringmatters.org.uk clearly state which role you are applying for. In the cover letter please demonstrate how you would fulfil the role requirements and express yourself, what previous relevant achievements you have (both in life and at work), what skills & experience you can offer, and what you believe you can contribute to Volunteering Matters.
If you would like to have an informal discussion only, with the Hiring Manager prior to submitting your application, please contact Ellie on 07958 759807
volunteeringmatters www.volunteeringmatters.org.uk