Travelling Light

Community Engagement Officer – 12 month contract

The Role:

We are looking for a skilled and enthusiastic Community Engagement Officer to extend community engagement in active travel, and in particular to deliver our ‘Move More’ project. Travelling Light promotes sustainable  travel in, and into, the Hope Valley.

Travelling Light aims to:

• Make it easier for people to walk, wheel and cycle for everyday journeys
• Increase the use of high-quality public transport
• Reduce car use and encourage the switch to electric vehicles.

The Move More project aims to engage people in the Hope Valley in making active travel easier and more attractive for everyday journeys. The job involves working collaboratively with people from a wide range of backgrounds. If you share our commitment to addressing climate change, are comfortable in working both independently and as part of a team, and happy to share your ideas, we would love to hear from you.

Who are we?

Hope Valley Climate Action is one of the most active local climate groups in Derbyshire. Through campaigns, advocacy and local projects, HVCA aims to tackle the causes of climate change and to make a positive difference to the future of the Hope Valley and beyond. HVCA is a charity. HVCA created Travelling Light in 2021 as national beacon project, initially funded by the Department for Transport, with the support of Derbyshire County Council, the Peak District National Park Authority, and High Peak and Derbyshire Dales district councils.

What is Move More Hope Valley?

HVCA has received support from High Peak Borough Council for a 12 month project to work with people in each of the Hope Valley villages in the Hope Valley [Edale, Castleton, Hope, Bamford, Bradwell, Hathersage, Grindleford and Eyam] to:

• Inspire community engagement in active travel through community conversations
• Identify opportunities for, and barriers to, increased active travel
• Encourage and empower communities to identify current and potential active travel routes
• Set up local projects to promote active travel
• Work with Derbyshire County Council to create an Active Travel Masterplan for the Hope Valley
• Work with other partner organisations and businesses to deliver better opportunities for active travel.

Outcomes

• More Hope Valley residents will be engaged in activities and projects which increase the number of people walking, wheeling and cycling, and which improve facilities for active travel
• Information, issues, stories and insights from Hope Valley residents will have been collected and used to highlight needed improvements by public authorities and bus and train operators
• Derbyshire County Council will have produced and agreed an Active Travel Masterplan for the Hope Valley which will have taken account of the views of local people
• Local communities will have built relationships with groups working in complementary areas including health, education and the visitor economy to maximise opportunities from collaboration.

Role Description:

The Community Engagement Officer will:

• Collate information on volunteers and organisations in the Hope Valley with an existing interest in active travel, and identify external stakeholders who can assist the project
• Build up a core of supporters/advisers in each community
• Organise community conversations in each village, responding to local demand and to external events including the Active Travel Masterplan
• Encourage the formation of local groups to take forward issues arising from the community conversations, and provide these groups with support and advice as required
• Maintain contact with Parish Councils
• Liaise with the County Council, the Park Authority and the district councils, informing them of issues as they arise, and seeking their help to resolve any difficulties
• Keep a record of issues emerging from the community conversations
• Publicise the results of the community engagement, both to local communities to inspire further action, and to wider stakeholders
• Produce and disseminate an end-of-project report, with lessons learned
• Undertake such other duties as may reasonably be required.

Person Specification Knowledge, skills & experience:

Required

1. Commitment to the objectives of the project, and to tackling climate change through sustainable travel.
2. Experience of community organisation, and more generally of the role of the community and voluntary sector
3. Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to inspire and work collaboratively and to communicate effectively (verbally and in writing) at all levels.
4. Experience of effectively planning and organising own workload (e.g. in order to meet deadlines) and an ability to work on own initiative.
5. Ability to be out and about in the Hope Valley, attending daytime and evening meetings as required.

Terms

The appointment will be for 12 months in the first instance, starting as soon as possible. We expect an average of 40-50 hours per month, worked flexibly to meet the requirements of the job. Payment will be £20 per hour, depending on skills  and experience. Additional work may be available to support other areas of HVCA activity.

The post holder will be expected to work from home, and to work flexibly to meet the requirements of the job. HVCA will meet communications and travel costs, and contribute to the cost of home working. You will report to Roger Clarke, HVCA’s travel and transport convenor.

 Next Steps

Application is by covering letter, detailing the skills you would bring to the role and how you meet the person specification, and attaching your CV to rogerclarke@hopevalleyclimateaction.org.uk. Contact Roger for an informal chat about the opportunity. Closing Date: Friday 12^th April

HVCA is an equal opportunities employer. More information about HVCA and Travelling Light is at https://hopevalleyclimateaction.org.uk/

This post is generously supported by High Peak Borough Council.