The Community Engagement Coordinator will support Abbeyfield Northumbria's Head Office team at and home managers in maintaining effective engagement with relevant communities, including residents and families, staff and volunteers, local people and businesses, supporters and the media. The postholder will strengthen the organisation’s community profile and impact by providing a focal point for both routine and reactive communications with various stakeholders, in line with agreed messaging and in compliance with all relevant policies, procedures, consents and data protection requirements.
Please state number of hours if applying for part time. All applications must include a covering letter. This position can be based in Newcastle or Northumberland.
Key Responsibilities
Community Engagement
- Support the Head Office team and home managers across the organisation in:
o Maintaining effective engagement with all relevant communities.
o Building and maintaining positive relationships with local community groups, schools, charities, businesses, faith groups, supporters, media contacts and other organisations.
o Identifying and coordinating opportunities for community partnerships, visits, events, campaigns and initiatives that support the organisation’s objectives and strengthen each home’s community presence.
o Supporting volunteers and community visitors in accordance with the organisation’s policies and procedures.
- Work with home managers, carers, activity coordinators, administration and Head Office colleagues to coordinate engagement activity across the whole organisation.
- Coordinate provision of appropriate community updates and engagement activities, using stories, images and information supplied by colleagues across the organisation.
Communications
- Plan, draft, coordinate and distribute clear, regular internal and external communications that connect residents, staff and volunteers and support effective engagement across the organisation using both digital and traditional media.
- Proactively maintain a communications calendar covering key updates, campaigns, fundraising activity and media opportunities ensuring alignment and consistency between agreed internal and external messaging.
- Coordinate information and materials from Head Office, home managers and colleagues, ensuring communications are:
o clear, timely, accurate, engaging and respectful
o suitable for the intended channel(s)
o accessible for the intended audience
o promote brand messaging throughout content
o consistent with the organisation’s values, tone and reputation
o compliant with confidentiality, safeguarding, consent, copyright and data protection requirements.
- Use analytics and insight to monitor, evaluate and report upon impact and communication effectiveness to inform and shape improvement.
Fundraising and Supporter Engagement
- Support fundraising and communications campaigns and community events across the organisation.
- Identify opportunities for donations, sponsorship, gifts in kind and community fundraising support to enhance and strengthen the charity’s brand.
- Draft fundraising communications, supporter updates, thank-you messages and impact stories using information supplied by colleagues.
- Support the Finance Team in maintain accurate fundraising and supporter records in line with organisational procedures and data protection requirements.
Teamwork and Administration
- Work closely with managers and colleagues across the organisation.
- Maintain accurate records of community engagement and communications activities, contacts, consent, feedback, fundraising activity and engagement outcomes where required.
- Coordinate periodic meetings of the community engagement forum, including attendance and preparation of minutes.
- Attend training and participate in supervision and professional development activities.
- Any other talks reasonably required by the Administration Manager.
Person Specification
Essential
- Experience in communications, community engagement, fundraising, administration or a customer-facing environment.
- Excellent written, editorial and verbal communication skills, with the ability to adapt content for different audiences.
- Experience drafting newsletters, social media content, supporter updates, press releases or similar communications.
- Strong relationship-building skills and a friendly, confident manner.
- Strong organisational skills, including the ability to manage deadlines and communications schedules.
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
- Understanding of confidentiality, safeguarding, professional boundaries, consent and data protection requirements.
- A genuine interest in engaging with communities and enhancing the lives of older people.
- Full driving licence and willingness to travel around Newcastle and Northumberland.
Desirable
- Demonstrable experience using MS Office 365, social media and content management systems.
- Knowledge and experience supporting fundraising, donor engagement, grants, sponsorship or community fundraising activity and campaigning communications.
- Experience organising events or working with volunteers, charities, businesses or community organisations.
- Proven experience in communications, public relations or media relations. including preparation or presentation or reports, briefings or action plans.
- Experience of working in health or social care.
- Own transport.
Personal Qualities
The successful candidate will be:
- Clear, accurate and engaging in written communication.
- Focused on attention to detail to ensure accuracy in all content.
- Confident communicating with internal and external audiences.
- Sensitive and careful when handling personal information, resident stories and images.
- Creative, organised and proactive.
- Able to work collaboratively across teams.
- Calm, resilient and adaptable.
- Committed to promoting dignity, community connection and positive impact for older people.
Pay: £28,496.00-£31,408.00 per year
Benefits:
- Company pension
- On-site parking
- Private medical insurance
Experience:
- community engagement, events, fundraising or similar: 3 years (required)
Licence/Certification:
- Driving Licence (required)
Work Location: In person
