Community Action Norfolk is looking for a Community Builder to join our small but impactful team, to facilitate the residents of North Lynn & South Lynn to come together and create strong communities. The project will be delivered in partnership with Together Norfolk*.
*Although Together Norfolk is a faith-based organisation, the project is secular, and will be fully inclusive.
The Project
This project is part of the government funded Pride in Place programme and invests in neighbourhood-based approaches that strengthen community connections, amplify resident voice, build local leadership and support collaboration between residents, community organisations and public services. This new team will sit within the oversight of the local organisation, Together Norfolk*, facilitating these local communities to foster asset-based community development.
About the Project Partners
This is a partnership between Community Action Norfolk and Together Norfolk, with government funding managed by the Borough Council of King’s Lynn and West Norfolk. This role focuses on the communities of North Lynn & South Lynn and will predominantly operate out of The Beacon Church in North Lynn, and King’s Lynn Baptist Church in South Lynn*.
Community Action Norfolk
Community Action Norfolk is an independent charity. Our role is to help build a stronger and fairer Norfolk through support, empowerment and strategic partnership with voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations. We do this by:
Harnessing the value of connecting people and services in the communities of Norfolk.
Supporting people to make a positive difference by providing information, advice, training and support for positive outcomes in the communities of Norfolk.
We provide direct support to around 500 Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) organisations a year across Norfolk with everything from funding advice and governance support to engagement and needs identification. Through this we aim to build a positive dialogue between the VCSE sector and other key partners to collaboratively achieve the best possible outcomes for the people of Norfolk.
We want to ensure Norfolk is a fair place for all, whoever they are, wherever they live. In a county where 53% of the population live in rural areas, rurality remains an important part of this.
We run a wide range of programmes and projects from housing advice through to supporting people with cancer. Most of our delivery is undertaken in partnership with other organisations.
Together Norfolk*
Together Norfolk is a Christian charity (with links to the Diocese of Norwich) that works to strengthen communities by helping churches collaborate alongside community organisations and local partners to work effectively together around shared social challenges in specific areas of social need. We believe that local communities already contain strengths, skills, relationships, and resources that can be nurtured and connected to create lasting change.
Together Norfolk works specifically in King’s Lynn and Great Yarmouth, supporting networks, partnerships, and place-based collaborative initiatives that help communities thrive. Through facilitation, training, research, community engagement, and partnership development, we seek to create the conditions for long-term, grassroots social transformation and stronger local connections.
As part of the Together Network, a national movement facilitated by The Church Urban Fund, supporting churches and communities across England, we are passionate about enabling local people to discover their gifts, build meaningful relationships, and work together for the common good. Our vision is to see resilient, connected communities where people are empowered to participate, contribute, and flourish.
King’s Lynn Neighbourhood Board
The King’s Lynn Neighbourhood Board leads on the development and delivery of the Pride in Place programme in King’s Lynn, as part of their work to help King’s Lynn to realise its full potential. The Board is made up of representatives from local authorities, the Member of Parliament, local businesses, Business Improvement District, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, College of West Anglia, Norfolk Police and the community, bringing together diverse expertise, experience, and knowledge, and a shared passion for the town and its long-term success.
King’s Lynn’s Pride in Place programme is a £20 million, ten year programme aimed at revitalising the town centre, strengthening communities, and supporting long-term economic growth. It is guided by a Ten Year vision which has been shaped by extensive local community input and sets out a vision for a future where King’s Lynn will be a successful town for everyone, with flourishing communities and new opportunities for people to live, work, visit and play. It will be easy to travel in to and throughout the town, in a healthy, safe, sustainable and welcoming place. There will be better facilities, things to do, and arts and culture for people of all ages which will mean we are able to achieve our town’s ambitions.
About the Role
The Community Builder will work directly in the communities of North Lynn & South Lynn to engage with residents and local institutions to help them to build strong communities. The role works to the principles of Asset Based Community Development as described by Nurture Development – training will be provided. The key ethos to this project is that communities have the strength and skills to build themselves, and the Community Builder role supports this by connecting that passion to opportunities and resources.
Key activities:
- Identifying Community Connectors (local residents who are passionate about their community), and supporting them to develop connections.
- Gathering resident stories and reflections in order to identify what matters to the community.
- Supporting the community to map local resources, opportunities, and skills
The Community Builder will then support the identified local Community Connectors to create genuinely community led projects. Part of this will involve creating Neighbourhood Action Plans
Alongside this, the Community Builder will establish and strengthen neighbourhood structures for long-term community influence. This will include the development of resident-led community forums, partnership Hubs, and opportunities for community groups, schools, faith organisations, and public services to work with residents around shared priorities. The Community Builder will signpost the community to support and advice, including sources of funding to facilitate their activities.
Person Specification
Training in the principles of Asset Based Community Development will be given to the successful candidate to support them to enable both North Lynn & South Lynn communities to build themselves, however the ideal candidate will meet the following specification:
- Strong relationship building skills – you will connect with people easily and enjoy drawing their stories out. You will build trusted relationships at all levels.
- Be inclusive – You will be committed to ensuring that community participation includes people who are often under-represented.
- Confident Communicator - you will be able to communicate at all levels, from within a community, to project partners at a professional and strategic level.
- Confident in letting the community shape your work – you will not have any preconceived ideas about what the community could build, supporting it’s development in whatever direction the community desires.
- Advocate for the community – You will be motivational without controlling the project. Outside the community you will be able to create spaces for the community voice to be represented, without talking for them.
- Creative and adaptable with a systematic approach – you will have the energy and focus to drive work, whilst being accountable to the community. Balancing a systematic approach with creativity and adaptability.
- Skilled at identifying opportunities – you will recognise and seek out opportunities for collaboration, bringing people together around shared goals.
Management
The Community Builder will be formally employed by Community Action Norfolk and line management will be provided by the project leads for North Lynn & South Lynn at The Beacon Church and King’s Lynn Baptist Church respectively*.
Terms of Appointment
Hours: Fulltime 37hours per week.
Location: North Lynn & South Lynn with some travel across Norfolk for training and administrative purposes.
Contract: 4 years ending 31st August 2030
Salary: £27,017pa
The organisation is authorised to deduct per annum:
- Holiday taken in advance of accrual
- Where an employee has taken annual leave in excess of their accrued entitlement at the date of termination of employment, the employer reserves the right to deduct the monetary equivalent of the excess leave taken from the employee’s final salary payment.
- Recovery of training costs
- Where the employer has funded significant training costs and the employee leaves employment before completing any agreed minimum service period, the employer may deduct the outstanding balance of those costs from the employee’s final salary, in accordance with any applicable training agreement.
Holidays are 23 working days per annum (increasing annually to a maximum of 28), plus 8 Bank Holidays.
There is a contributory pension scheme.
Own transport is essential as is the ability to work some evenings and weekends.
Job Types: Full-time, Permanent
Pay: £27,017.00 per year
Benefits:
- Company pension
- On-site parking
- Sick pay
- Work from home
Licence/Certification:
- UK Drivers License (preferred)
Work Location: On the road
