Community Development Co-Ordinator

Background

This post will support the sector in East Belfast so that it has the capacity to:

• Develop and maintain community spirit through challenging times.
• Address the increasing diversity of communities and ensure that they are inclusive and welcoming to new residents.

Approach

This is one of two posts within the Community Connections Programme.  The post holder will be an experienced community development practitioner who will support and coordinate local action and local leadership.

The posts are relationship based – connecting people in neighbourhoods across East Belfast with each other, community partners, voluntary service providers and statutory agencies.

Role

• Develop relationships in various communities throughout East Belfast and identify an overview of their needs, issues, capacity, and current activities.
• Gather, update, and share information on services and activities across East Belfast and be an accessible and available knowledge point for residents’ groups and local organisations on diversity and inclusion issues and work, sharing information and understanding of existing services.
• Support the existing East Belfast Race Relations Forum and the efforts of local groups to welcome newcomers and signpost them to support and services.
• Deliver programmes for local groups which increase understanding and dispel myths about residents from other countries, manage inclusive meetings and events and increase access to interpreting services and English classes.
• Develop a volunteer development café alongside your colleague to connect volunteers and provide opportunities for newcomers.
• Identify the training needs of new and established residents’ groups and support them to access appropriate training on community development, governance, managing financial resources and supporting volunteers.
• Identify resources and training to support groups to be more inclusive.
• Identify and support potential and emerging community leaders focusing on areas with least capacity.
• Work closely with colleagues to be part of a new generation of emerging young local leaders and support their participation in a leadership training programme to build their confidence and competence in communication and their knowledge of social policy and local groups, activity, service provision in East Belfast.
• Work with your colleague to implement a simple measure to monitor the participation of local people in community action, volunteering, training, and events.

Duties

Facilitate, develop and support the work of the Community Connections Programme by:

• Co-ordinate and develop East Belfast Race Relations Network.
• Support community groups to welcome new residents and become more inclusive, signposting to support and services.
• Respond to community needs and provide workshops focusing on tackling prejudice and cultural awareness.
• Work with colleagues to develop training on inclusivity of section 75 groups.
• Work with colleagues to develop training in engaging with vulnerable people in your community’ and develop listening skills.
• Co-ordinate, and develop Welcome Initiatives for new residents to East Belfast including Welcome Packs and Welcome Events.
• Support local community groups with capacity building on community development, governance, annual planning, funding and training.
• Provide opportunities for groups to participate in training on supporting volunteers, community development, governance and managing money.
• Work with your colleague to promote community spirit, celebrate and acknowledge the contributions made by those working and volunteering in the community sector in East Belfast.
• Co-ordinate responses and requests, in relation to diversity and inclusion, from the community sector in East Belfast to statutory bodies.
• Promoting EBCDA with key stakeholders.
• In conjunction with other staff, the post holder will be expected to ensure compliance with EBCDA funders.
• Representing EBCDA at official or social occasions as relevant to the promotion of your role within the Community Connections Programme.
• Representing EBCDA and the interests of the community sector in East Belfast at relevant city-wide and Northern Ireland-wide forums and partnerships
• Delivering on other duties as requested by EBCDA.