Job Description

Overview

The Engagement and Support Officer will engage and support girls and young women from military families in Girls' Brigade activities. It's about understanding the context for their lives and the challenges they face. We want to ensure that through local groups and online activities, we can build their confidence, develop their skills and help them explore faith.

The principal method of doing this is expected to be in partnership with Methodist Churches, wherever possible.

The focus of the work is primarily in the Salisbury Plain, Amesbury, Tidworth, Bulford and Andover areas, though online activity is anticipated to allow broader engagement for those who can benefit from it.

Duties

Develop relationships with key stakeholder groups, including local military bases and the groups that support military families, other charities that focus on supporting military families, local Girls' Brigade groups, and Methodist Churches. Bearing in mind the context for military families, establish the needs of girls and young women so that we can ensure that out programme and our activities (both face-to-face and online) are designed to address the particular issues and challenges that they face. Contribute to the development of new programme resources on supporting girls and young women in military families. Work with contacts in the Methodist Church and the military to identify allies and advocates for the project, as well as identify potential leaders for new Girls' Brigade groups. Identify opportunities to open new Girls' Brigade groups in the area of focus, and undertake capacity building and promotional activities (primarily online) to grow capacity in existing GB groups in military areas e.g. Colchester and Amesbury. Leverage key contacts and allies in the Methodist Church as well as in the forces, liaise with the Girls' Brigade Communications Manager to run social media comms campaigns to promote the work and encourage engagement. Work to the agreed plan to deliver the project, proactively flagging up any issues at an early stage, and proposing solutions to issues as appropriate. Work with the Operations Manager to report to the project funder on a monthly basis (exception reporting) and quarterly reporting. Make a significant contribution to the review and evaluation of the project and the sharing good practice. Any other duties as reasonably directed by your manager.

Specification

Essential

Empathy with Christian values and with the aims of The Girls' Brigade and the project. Excellent communications and engagement skills. Well organised with good project management skills. Good appreciation of the value and key techniques of successful social media campaigns. Good digital skills and an appreciation of how to ensure engagement and participation in digital settings. Ability and willingness to identify and cultivate allies and advocates for the project as well as potential leaders for the new groups. Strong problem-solving skills. Self-motivated and proactive individual, who can also work well in teams. Good understanding of safeguarding policy and practice.

Desired

Practicing Christian. Familiarity with military families and the issues they face. Experience of youth work and/or membership of uniformed youth groups. Local knowledge in the geographic area of focus. Understanding of equality, diversity and inclusion.
The post-holder will work all their contracted hours on this project and will be a key part of a broader team of Girls' Brigade staff and volunteers contributing to ensuring the success of this project. Support and mentoring will be provided by the Girls' Brigade Support Centre.

Job Type: Part-time

Pay: 11,900.00 per year

Expected hours: 17.5 per week

Work Location: Remote

Expected start date: 01/09/2025