Community Activities Facilitator

Communities 1st

We are looking for someone who can live and breathe our values; To work in
partnership, deliver quality, adapt, be positive and be inclusive. You will be proactive
and able to work with colleagues and volunteers to deliver amazing services.

Purpose of the Job:
We are currently seeking a creative, self-motivated individual to join us as a Community
Activities Facilitator. This role is pivotal in working sensitively and collaboratively with
local communities and agencies primarily across Hertsmere and St Albans, however
may require travel to other areas in Hertfordshire. The primary objective is to develop
and deliver a tailored programme of projects and activities within our innovative
Creative Café/Welcome Spaces programme. This initiative is focused on encouraging
residents from various backgrounds to come together, share their skills and experiences,
and actively participate in local groups and activities.

Our three strands of work are:
• Community – building spaces where people feel safe to be themselves, and feel a
sense of belonging, connectedness and acceptance
• 1-to-1 Support – flexible, person-centred support to meet the complexity a person
experiences in their day-to-day life, whether at home or out in the community
• Shared Learning – providing experiential learning and training opportunities that
support personal wellbeing and skills development.

The position involves significant autonomy and responsibility, as it is primarily based in
our community hubs. The successful candidate will need to be self-motivating and
confident in working both independently and collaboratively, often alongside minimal
support. This role is suited to someone who thrives in dynamic environments and can
effectively coordinate with team members across different sites. Organisation, flexibility,
and a good sense of humour are essential qualities for this position, enabling the
successful candidate to manage a wide range of tasks effectively.

Activity Planning and Coordination
• Oversee day-to-day activities in community hubs, focused on meeting residents’
social, emotional, and physical needs through autonomous, inclusive, and
wellbeing-oriented approaches in a tailored, facility-utilising manner.
• Broaden participation in Creative Cafes/Welcome Spaces among diverse groups,
leveraging partnerships and both formal and informal referral networks to boost
engagement.
• Handle all aspects of community projects at Creative Cafes/Welcome Spaces,
including curating, organising, scheduling, and executing various activities and
events.
• Collaborate with team members for effective programme delivery, engaging in
regular planning and stakeholder meetings.
• Display strong organisational skills in event pre-planning, ensuring smooth execution
of weekly activities and planning for future events.
• Continuously review and enhance the activities programme, using feedback from
satisfaction surveys for ongoing improvements.
• Explore and broaden the variety of activities offered, seeking new opportunities to
enrich the community experience.

Community Engagement and Inclusion
• Foster inclusive communities by engaging with diverse residents and encouraging
their active participation in projects.
• Build robust relationships with local groups, organizations, clubs, schools, and
businesses, enhancing community ties.
• Actively participate in community events, representing the organisation to boost
engagement and awareness.
• Continue to strengthen Communities 1st’s multiagency approach, linking residents,
groups, statutory partners, and the business community for unified service delivery.
• Collaborate with the Programme Lead to elevate community involvement via
strategic programming, marketing, and communications.
• Develop and manage partnerships and networks to support community well-being,
including co-producing activities and sustaining engagement.
• Actively promote and oversee the Welcome Spaces programme, focusing on
community participation and ownership.
• Collaborate with established community organisations to bolster current
programmes and practices.
• Build a network of informed and engaged community members, providing
continuous support and guidance for comprehensive community development.

Volunteer Coordination and Leadership
• Develop, manage and coordinate volunteer programme, including planning,
recruitment, selection, scheduling, training, managing, thanking and reporting.
• Recruit additional volunteers in accordance with the needs of the projects.
• Promote voluntary work through a variety of methods to potential volunteers and
support colleagues with recruiting and retaining volunteers.

Programme Evaluation and Communication
• Maintain up-to-date records on the organisation’s bespoke database of
engagement activities and feedback from residents.
• Produce regular reports including feedback and statistical information on service
delivery.
• Work with colleagues to implement systems for measuring, monitoring and
evaluating the programme effectiveness.
• Support the creation of content, producing high-quality and clear content to
communicate the programme updates effectively to stakeholders.
• Understand the role of Communities 1st and promote the services with service users
and the local community.

Contribute to the broader work of Communities 1st:
• Promote Communities 1st and its activities, and act in accordance with its principles.
• Work within agreed procedures, regulations, and systems, including for accounting,
expenses, communications, data collection, monitoring, and quality assurance.
• Establish and maintain professional and supportive relationships with colleagues and
with local groups and contribute towards a positive equalities’ ethos.
• Support internal and external events to promote the work of Communities 1st
• Help identify opportunities to proactively promote services and change
programmes

Other Duties
• Create a welcoming and supportive environment with a culture of trust so that end
users have the confidence to access the service.
• Work with people from a range of seldom heard groups and contribute towards a
positive equalities ethos.
• Work as part of Communities 1st team in a professional manner in accordance with
policies, procedures and equal opportunities practices.
• In order to be responsive to the community, you will need to be flexible, working
some evenings and weekends. Hours will be agreed on a mutually beneficial basis in
line with planned activities, with extra hours to be reclaimed on a TOIL basis
• This is not a final and complete statement of the duties attached to this post, which
may be amended from time to time in accordance with the changing needs of
Communities 1st.

Person Specification: Community Activities Facilitator

Values and Personal Attributes
1.1 Ability to implement our values in all aspects of work. These are to:
Work in partnership; Deliver quality; Adapt; Be positive; Be inclusive.
(Essential)
1.2 Ability to work with a diverse range of people and organisations
and be an effective communicator in both verbal and written
forms.
(Essential)
1.3 Be proactive and self starting in the development of projects as
well as work under pressure.
(Essential)
1.4 Ability to work flexibly and effectively as part of a team and on
own initiative
(Essential)
1.5 Proactive approach to personal development and the updating
of skills and knowledge
(Essential)

Skills & Knowledge
2.1 Community engagement and co-production
(Desirable)
2.2 Demonstrable understanding of best practice in staff and
volunteer management including recruitment, management and
support
(Desirable)
2.3 Excellent liaison skills and ability to develop and maintain a range
of partnerships and working relationships
(Essential)
2.4 Working in a people focused role
(Essential)

Experience
3.1 Planning, delivering and co-ordinating community activities and
events
(Essential)
3.2 Experience of engaging and motivating local people from a wide
range of backgrounds to participate in activities, including people
who are disengaged from services. This will include people with
physical or mental health conditions.
(Desirable)
3.3 Experience of managing difficult interpersonal situations
(Desirable)
3.4 Ability to recognise people’s strengths and support them to
develop new projects or activities from scratch.
(Desirable)
3.5 Experience of publicising and promoting projects and local events.
(Desirable)
3.6 Good personal organisation and ability to handle more than one
project at a time, including working to different people within the
team
(Essential)

Other Requirements
4.1 Flexible approach to working hours. Able and willing to work
occasional evenings / weekends
(Essential)
4.2 Ability to travel within the boroughs of Welwyn Hatfield, Hertsmere
and St Albans and occasionally wider afield
(Essential)
4.3 Ability to work in a fast-paced busy environment.
(Essential)