Organisation:Age UK Gateshead
Job Title: Community Development Worker
Reporting to: Service Manager
Working Hours: 21 Hours
Location: Gateshead & Newcastle
Salary: £12.21 per hour
Probation Period: 6 Months
About the Role
In this role, you'll be at the heart of your community, helping older people feel connected, confident, and supported. You'll build meaningful relationships with people who may be experiencing loneliness or social isolation, offering both one-to-one befriending support and opportunities to become involved in local community life.
You'll use your creativity and enthusiasm to develop welcoming groups, activities, and events that bring people together whether that's a daytime disco, a themed film afternoon, a cooking class or a friendship group.
Alongside this, you'll play a key role in promoting digital inclusion, helping people develop the confidence and skills to use technology in ways that improve their everyday lives. This could include supporting someone to make their first video call to family, access online services, use email, or stay connected with friends and community groups.
Every day will be different. One day you might be visiting someone in their home for a friendly chat, helping them regain confidence and reconnect with their community. The next, you'll be supporting a lively community event full of music, laughter, and friendship. You'll be a trusted, familiar face, helping people overcome barriers, build confidence, and feel valued, connected, and part of their community.
Job Purpose
To support and enhance the work of Age UK Gateshead by delivering community development activities that reduce loneliness and social isolation while promoting independence, wellbeing, and community participation.
Using a person-centred and community development approach, the post holder will provide face-to-face befriending support, promote digital inclusion, and develop opportunities for older people to connect with others through groups, activities, and community initiatives. The role will empower individuals to overcome barriers, build confidence, develop digital skills, and access opportunities that enable them to live fuller, more connected lives.
Key Responsibilities
Community Development
- Develop, deliver and sustain community-based groups, activities and initiatives across Gateshead and Newcastle that reduce loneliness and social isolation.
- Engage with older people to identify their interests, strengths and aspirations, ensuring activities reflect local needs.
- Encourage people to become active participants within their communities and support them to build lasting friendships and peer support networks.
- Work with local partners to identify gaps in provision and develop new opportunities that improve community wellbeing.
- Promote Age UK Gateshead services within local communities and represent the organisation at community events and networking meetings.
Face-to-Face Befriending
- Provide one-to-one face-to-face befriending support for older people experiencing loneliness, social isolation or reduced confidence.
- Build trusting relationships through regular visits and meaningful conversations and activities.
- Identify changing needs and make referrals or signposting to other Age UK Gateshead services and external organisations.
Digital Inclusion
- Support older people to improve their digital confidence through patient, tailored one-to-one support.
- Assist people to use smartphones, tablets and computers safely.
- Help individuals access online health appointments, banking (where appropriate), shopping, benefits information and community services.
- Support people to communicate with family and friends using video calling, messaging and email.
- Promote online safety and digital awareness.
Activity Planning & Delivery
- Design and deliver engaging activities that promote wellbeing, independence and social connection.
- Develop innovative ideas for new groups based on community interests.
- Organise themed events, seasonal celebrations, trips and awareness campaigns.
- Ensure activities are inclusive and accessible for people with differing abilities and needs.
Partnership Working
- Develop positive relationships with community organisations, statutory agencies and local businesses.
- Work collaboratively with volunteers, apprentices and partner organisations.
- Attend partnership meetings and contribute to community planning initiatives.
Safeguarding & Wellbeing
- Recognise and respond appropriately to safeguarding concerns.
- Promote dignity, choice and independence at all times.
- Maintain professional boundaries whilst building supportive relationships.
- Follow Age UK Gateshead safeguarding policies and procedures.
Monitoring & Administration
- Maintain accurate records using organisational systems.
- Complete outcome monitoring and evaluation reports.
- Collect feedback and case studies demonstrating impact.
- Support funding returns and evidence gathering where required.
General
- Attend supervision, team meetings and mandatory training.
- Work flexibly including occasional evenings and weekends.
- Undertake any other duties appropriate to the role or requested by CEO.
Person Specification
Essential:
- Experience supporting vulnerable or older people.
- Experience of community outreach.
- Experience of one-to-one support or befriending.
- Experience delivering digital inclusion support.
- Understanding of loneliness and social isolation.
- Knowledge of safeguarding adults.
- Excellent interpersonal skills.
- Ability to motivate and empower others.
- Strong organisational skills.
- Ability to work independently.
- Experience working with volunteers.
- Good IT and digital skills.
- Ability to maintain confidentiality.
- Knowledge of GDPR.
- Flexible and adaptable.
- Full driving licence and access to a vehicle.
- Ability to travel across Gateshead and Newcastle.
Desirable:
- Community Development qualification.
- Health & Social Care qualification.
- Experience working within the voluntary sector.
- Experience with older people's services.
Pay: £12.71 per hour
Work Location: In person
