Future Cotmanhay Outdoor Ranger
Job Details
- Job Title: Future Cotmanhay Outdoor Ranger
- Salary: £23,296 (£16/hour)
- Contract: 28 hours per week
- Contract Duration: 2 Years
- Responsible to: Parkside High CIC and the Future Cotmanhay Board
Background to Future Cotmanhay and its Objectives
Parkside High CIC have been awarded funding to deliver a programme called Future Cotmanhay. The funding has come from East Midlands Combined County Authority, who identified Cotmanhay as one of 10 areas facing high levels of disadvantage and having fewer local community and voluntary organisations than other areas.
Cotmanhay can feel disconnected and left behind because many community assets have closed and there is a degree of mistrust from residents who have seen well-intentioned initiatives come and go.
Future Cotmanhay builds on our community’s strengths and existing initiatives, helping people to connect, collaborate, and be empowered to meet economic and social challenges.
The programme focuses on three key themes:
- Improving communications to build trust.
- Increasing resident participation to strengthen voice and agency.
- Expanding opportunities through volunteering.
Parkside High will deliver the programme over 24 months together with these key partners:
- Ilkeston Town FC
- P3
- Home-Start Erewash
- The Elka Project
- Cotmanhay Community Network
- Friends of Bennerley Viaduct
- Erewash Borough Council
The funding comes from a £3 million regional programme which aims to support communities facing social and economic challenges.
Plans for the Project
Plans for the Future Cotmanhay project include:
- The recruitment of 2 members of staff dedicated to the community of Cotmanhay, the Future Cotmanhay Community Connector and the Future Cotmanhay Outdoor Ranger.
- The creation of a Cotmanhay Community Assembly (CCA), where residents can share ideas and discuss local issues that are important to them.
- 30 volunteer opportunities for local people, with a focus on up-skilling local youth and supporting employability.
- £8K for a Community Chest to support local groups and organisations.
- The Future Cotmanhay project and investment will mobilise and empower residents to be in control of their own futures.
Connecting, communicating, and involvement are all key words which sum up the potential in Cotmanhay to rebuild trust and enable local people to have autonomy and self-determination. Future Cotmanhay is about enabling that process to start.
Some Background About Parkside High CIC
Parkside High CIC are a local grassroots youth organisation based in Ilkeston, Derbyshire. We offer a range of activities, support, and alternative learning opportunities for children and young people aged 8 to 18 years.
Our mission is to inspire, encourage, and support young people to unlock their inner potential and achieve success. Young people access the project to learn new skills whilst having fun and building new relationships.
We deliver programmes in:
- Sport
- Physical activity
- Youth leadership
- Outdoor adventure
- Forest schools
- Multi-media
- Art and music
- Volunteering
Parkside High deliver programmes across the Borough of Erewash and the wider area of Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire. We are based at The POD Youth & Community Centre in Ilkeston and have a second site, Garden61 Youth & Community Allotment.
The Role
As Future Cotmanhay Outdoor Ranger, you will actively engage with local residents to cultivate meaningful relationships, develop innovative recreational opportunities, enhance volunteer involvement, and answer community enquiries.
You will contribute to the overall enrichment of the project while strengthening community connections.
A Future Cotmanhay Outdoor Ranger will build on our fantastic Community Wharf asset, developing it further and creating new opportunities for volunteering.
You will also establish and improve four warm and welcoming hubs where residents benefit from emergency resources, as well as providing crucial mental health support programmes.
You will work with the newly appointed Community Connector to implement the Cotmanhay Community Assembly and run regular meetings to gather ideas from residents. This information will be used to develop the Cotmanhay Newsletter and new notice boards to keep residents informed as plans and ideas develop.
Main Responsibilities
- Working closely with the newly appointed Community Connector, you will be a visible and welcoming presence for the residents of Cotmanhay.
- Establish and improve four warm and welcoming hubs where residents benefit from emergency resources, as well as providing crucial mental health support programmes.
- Maintain safe and enjoyable sites. Carry out regular inspections of Community Wharf Garden, warm space hubs, and other sites used in the project.
- Design and deliver creative community projects in nearby woodland areas.
- Increase the usage of outdoor spaces by local residents and families.
- Promote responsible behaviour in Cotmanhay and its outdoor spaces.
- Strengthen community engagement to develop recreation opportunities that create meaningful connections between Cotmanhay and its residents.
- Attend monthly meetings held by the Cotmanhay Community Assembly, keeping records of the meeting.
- Support the delivery of projects implemented by the Cotmanhay Community Assembly and key partners.
- Ensure health and safety standards are met, coordinate emergency procedures, provide first aid assistance, complete accident and incident reports, and adhere to health and safety guidelines.
Essential Skills, Experience and Attitude
- Experience of working in a public-facing role, delivering high levels of customer satisfaction, with the ability to problem solve and respond to community queries.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills, both in person and online.
- Willing and able to work outdoors in all weather and carry out various manual tasks.
- Practical experience of planning and delivering community engagement activities.
- Excellent team working skills and the ability to work with colleagues on different sites while maintaining strong communication.
- Practical understanding of health and safety best practices, with a commitment to health and safety culture in an outdoor environment.
- First Aid trained.
- Competent in IT, including MS Office and Outlook.
Desirable Skills, Experience and Attitude
- Knowledge of Cotmanhay and the surrounding area.
- Full UK driving licence.
- Experience of using evaluation tools and outcome measures to monitor impact.
- Awareness of mental health and wellness issues faced by vulnerable young people and adults.
- Knowledge and understanding of social media marketing communications.
- Experience of project management.
- Ability to lead, advise, and support colleagues and volunteers.
