Age Friendly Champion

We are seeking a friendly and engaging Age Friendly Champion to join The Churn’s Ageing Well team to support delivery of the Age Friendly Cotswolds project, a collaborative district-wide initiative working in partnership with other local charities.

You will work alongside older residents, community groups and partner organisations to support local engagement, co-production and the development of age-friendly communities. The Age Friendly Champion will play a key role in listening to older people’s experiences, identifying priorities and helping to shape activity and delivery around agreed age-friendly themes.

The role will suit someone with experience of working with older people and communities, who is confident building relationships, facilitating conversations and supporting inclusive, locally led activity. You should be comfortable working collaboratively and able to work in a way that values lived experience and community knowledge.

The Churn Community Hub is an independent charity working in Cirencester and surrounding villages for over 25 years. We support people to reduce isolation and loneliness, improve wellbeing, build connections and feel part of their community. Our vision is that all people should be included, involved and invested in their community, feel supported and valued.

THE ROLE

As an Age Friendly Champion, you will support the development of the Age Friendly Cotswolds project through local engagement and co-production with older people. You will build relationships with older residents, listen to their views and experiences and help shape age-friendly activity. A key part of the role is identifying and supporting Age Friendly Ambassadors, enabling older people to take on connection roles and lead age-friendly activity within their communities.

You will contribute to age-friendly network meetings and work with key local people and organisations to strengthen collaboration and shared learning. You will support the coordination of age-friendly groups, activities and initiatives, including supporting the development and facilitation of the Community Chest fund.

Alongside this project work, you will be a core member of The Churn’s Ageing Well team, supporting the delivery of existing services and activities, including group provision, befriending programme and providing direct support to individuals. This will include working with volunteers, supporting group planning, administration, and helping people engage confidently with services and community activity.

You should thrive in a collaborative working environment and enjoy engaging with older people, partner agencies and others to ensure we continue to meet the needs of older people in our community.

Working with Older People:

• Run and support groups and activities, ensuring people feel welcomed, supported and able to participate.
• Support volunteers to assist with the delivery of groups, activities and community-based support.
• Listen to the views and opinions of service and use this to inform and plan delivery of services.
• Build relationships with older people and support connection to community activity and local networks.
• Promote age-friendly principles through day-to-day work with older people, volunteers and community groups.
• Identify gaps or barriers affecting older people and contribute to the development of new age-friendly groups, activities or approaches where needed.
• Support age-friendly network meetings and engagement with local organisations and community partners.
• Support the development and facilitation of the Community Chest fund, engaging older people and partners to help shape priorities.
• Identify and support Age Friendly Ambassadors, enabling them to take on connection roles and lead age-friendly activity within their communities.
• Signpost and refer to other agencies and services as appropriate.
• Assist in the organisation and planning of groups and activities.
• Process service user registration forms and referrals, including liaison with referring agencies where required.
• Maintain accurate, up to date records of service users and volunteers including contact and group attendance.
• Assist the team to make initial contact with service users to assess their needs and undertake appropriate risk assessments.
• Provide individual (1:1) support to older people, ensuring people feel supported and valued.
• Support volunteer befrienders.
• Proactively research and review local needs to help shape responsive and inclusive services.

General Churn work:

• The role will involve some travel around Cirencester and surrounding areas.
• As part of the team, contribute to the overall success of The Churn.
• Work with The Churn Community Hub team to accurately represent our services to supporters.
• Produce reports as required.
• Undergo Safeguarding Training.
• Be responsible for own health and safety at work in line with the projects health and safety policy.
• Be flexible about providing support and cover for colleagues as needed.
• Attend team meetings and events.

TO APPLY:

An application form can be requested via the email to the right of this advert or call the number in the contact details. Please complete the application form in full. You are welcome to submit a CV to provide additional information about your employment history and experience. However, CVs will not be used for shortlisting, which will be based solely on the information provided in your completed application form.

If you have any questions about the role, please contact The Churn on the number in the contact details and ask to speak to Kim Kimbell, Ageing Well Coordinator.

Conditions of Employment

• 33 days annual leave (FTE) per year including public holidays
• 30 hours per week
• Monday to Friday with occasional evening and weekend events. Working pattern to be discussed at interview.
• 3-month probation period
• All our roles are subject to a clear enhanced DBS check
• Auto enrolment into pension after 3 months
• Simply Health employee assistance scheme