Job Description:

Community Connector
Location: Norwich & surrounding areas
Hours: 21 per week
Contract type: Fixed Term to end April 2025
Salary: £22,781 per annum pro rata

We’ve got an opportunity…

We are looking for a Community Connector to join us in Norwich to work on an exciting new pilot project between the British Red Cross, Norwich Foodbank and supported by the Trussell Trust. The aim of the project is to test if outreach approach working in partnership with foodbank volunteers and local agencies can positively impact people accessing the food bank and their immediate family, by addressing unmet social needs. You will provide social support with a particular focus on wellbeing, advocacy and building resilience including casework for clients referred by the foodbanks and partners involved. A further aim is to see if we can reduce food poverty, initial foodbank usage and reliance on foodbank and other charitable food aid support.

The Norwich foodbank operates across ‘Greater Norwich’ which includes Wymondham, Wroxham, Loddon and the area in between so travel will be needed to different sites and including to client’s homes within these areas.

About you…

We are seeking a resourceful individual who is able to demonstrate compassion, patience and a real appetite for helping some of the most vulnerable people in our society. You will be able to create referral pathways and engage with local, voluntary and statutory partners to create the best opportunities for those that we support. This is an excellent opportunity to make a difference to people’s lives, by putting in place interventions that reintegrate people into their local community, without the need to make demands on services that may not be the most approp riate to meet their needs.

What you’ll bring to the role…

• Exceptionally strong ability to connect with other people face to face – you’ll be authentic, relatable and compassionate.
• Strong communication skills.
• You understand how the system works and how to help people falling through the gaps.
• You’ll have experience of working with people who have complex needs.
• You’re curious and you can think on your feet.
• You are able to manage your own workload including prioritising clients and casework

Due to the specific requirements of this role, there is a need to visit various locations, some of which may be remote with no access to public transport, therefore you must have access to a vehicle which you are willing and able to use in conjunction with your duties or be eligible for transportation via the Access to Work Scheme.

You will be required to work one evening and one Saturday per month on a rota basis.

Say hello to the team…

Our Health and Local Crisis Response services help to prevent people from reaching crisis point, empowering them to better self-manage and connect with their surroundings. You will be joining a growing programme of work nationally, as well as an established local service infrastructure that is well respected locally.

We are committed to delivering person-centred services that empower people to achieve ‘what matters to them’. This could include an enhanced quality of life, increased confidence and independence, and an improved sense of choice and control.

Closing date for application is 23.59 on Tuesday 9th May with interviews to follow.

As well as being involved in an existing new pilot, you will also get:

• Learning Opportunities – Comprehensive learning opportunities for people to develop themselves as well as a bespoke training programme for the role
• Discounts – Access to brilliant discounts on everyday products through the Blue Light Discount Card and our own employee benefits
• And more – a wide range of staff benefits are available to all our employees, such as 36 days holiday, up to 6% pension contribution.

Please visit our career site for further details on our staff benefits. You can find out more about the Hunstanton foodbank and Trussell Trust via these links:

https://norwich.foodbank.org.uk/

www.trusselltrust.org

Connecting human kindness with human crisis