Overview
Engagement and Wellbeing Officer, Nature Connections and Recovery Project, Morecambe.
Full time, Fixed term for 2 years
£27,609 pa
If you are passionate about the health and wellbeing of people and of the planet and have skills and experience in working with people and nature, this post might be for you!
Thanks to players of the National Lottery and the National Lottery’s Climate Action Fund, the Nature Connections and Recovery Project will target communities across the UK which are worst affected by climate change and health inequalities. The programme will connect people with nature to boost health and wellbeing, while equipping communities with the skills and confidence to take climate-positive action locally. We are looking for someone with experience of working with people and nature to develop nature based wellbeing groups and to run community nature recovery projects.
This post is a 2 year fixed term post in the first instance and continuation will be considered subject to funding. The role will work in partnership with Lancashire Wildlife Trust and other local organisations and alongside our Nature and Wellbeing Officer.
The closing date for applications is at midnight on Monday 26th January 2026 with interviews planned for the 4th, 5th and 6th February.
Job family definition: Roles within the Engagement, Learning and Entertainment job family focus upon the Eden experience, providing activities, learning programmes, encounters and events, which engage, inspire and entertain, thus enhancing individuals understanding, experience, skills and enjoyment.
Benefits
* 30 days holiday plus an extra day for your birthday (up to 35 days after 5 years service)
* Access to UNUM for wellbeing support
* Financial wellbeing support — access to 121 sessions with an independent financial advisor
* Cycle to work scheme
* Training and development
* Enhanced pension scheme (above auto-enrolment rates)
* Death in service policy (4 x annual salary)
Role purpose
Nature: Connection and Recovery Project - Engagement and Wellbeing Officer (Morecambe)
Working in partnership with Gwent, Ulster, Lancashire and Scottish Wildlife Trusts, and Intelligent Health, this new programme, funded by the National Lottery’s Climate Action Fund, will target communities across the UK which are worst affected by climate change and health inequalities. The programme will connect people with nature to boost health and wellbeing, while equipping communities with the skills and confidence to take climate-positive action locally.
The main purpose of the role is to co-ordinate and deliver nature based activities for small groups of people with poor health and wellbeing, to connect with nature and to one another, whilst also playing an active role in nature’s recovery within identified local communities, supporting groups to improve spaces for nature. You will need to build and maintain strong partnerships with NHS services (e.g., GP surgeries, primary care networks, social prescribers and community mental health care teams), local community and voluntary sector organisations and create bespoke 12 week programmes of nature connection and recovery activities for groups of people that partner organisations identify and are working with. Programmes will offer 6 weeks of nature connections activities that focus on wellbeing and social connection, followed by a 6 week nature recovery project in the community. You will also support people’s personal development and work within communities to encourage people to develop ways to sustain their connection to nature across their wider lives on a longer-term basis. In collaboration with team members, this will also include supporting participants to progress towards employment, education, or training, as appropriate and providing encouragement and mentoring to former participants and volunteers to this end.
This post is part of Eden Projects Nature Connections and Recovery Project and will work in close collaboration with Lancashire Wildlife Trust’s Nature and Wellbeing Service, delivered through The Bay Project. As an Engagement and Wellbeing Officer you will work to develop community partnerships that ensure your activity reaches the heart of communities and individuals who are impacted by climate change and health inequalities, enabling people to improve their health and wellbeing and take part in projects which benefit nature and help to mitigate the effects of climate change where they live. This is a practical role establishing partnerships in the community and setting up and delivering events which enable people to contribute to nature and climate recovery and regular nature-based wellbeing and nature recovery groups, co-producing tools and resources with participants to inspire and enable others to take climate positive action in the community.
The post will include occasional evening and weekend work, for which time off in lieu can be taken.
The Eden Project Engagement and Wellbeing Officer (Morecambe) is an exciting new fixed term role for 2 years, (continuation is subject to funding), that has been created to deliver this project in Morecambe. The post holder will work in partnership with Lancashire Wildlife Trust, and alongside our Nature and Wellbeing Officer.
Key Accountabilities
* Develop partnerships with health services and community and voluntary sector organisations in Morecambe to promote and disseminate the project to reach and inspire those who will most benefit from the project, i.e., people who might face barriers to participation such as disadvantage, poverty, discrimination or ill-health.
* Organise and deliver a programme of inspiring and inclusive nature based environmental activities and events to connect people to nature to improve their health and wellbeing and regenerate local natural spaces to help reduce the impact of climate change.
* Manage and support trainees and volunteers who may assist with activities and take the lead in running activities on behalf of the Project. Run and train volunteers to carry out citizen science surveys that will help to collect vital data on nature recovery.
* Organise and help programme colleagues to deliver corporate working parties, community events, and wellbeing days.
* Maintain good relationships and communicate regularly with other colleagues who work on the Nature: Connections and Recovery Project and The Bay Project, and local community partner organisations.
* Co-produce resources with participants to inspire and enable others to take climate positive action where they live.
* Give talks and presentations in order to promote the work and aims of the Project.
* Complete all programme reporting specific to your role as required and in a timely fashion.
Primary Responsibilities
* To develop and maintain referral partnerships to ensure that those most in need of the Nature Connections and Recovery project are most able to access it.
* To design and deliver a full, inspiring and inclusive nature-led, coastal activity programme, engaging with people from all communities and ages.
* Coordinate and deliver weekly sessions and plan activities that are engaging, inspiring, and support personal development, and actively contribute to nature’s recovery, including supporting groups to increase spaces for nature, and positively impact biodiversity and climate.
* Identify local stakeholders and organise locality events to ensure project activity meets the needs of the local community.
* Be responsible for the development and undertaking of innovative participant led projects and activities, including personal development opportunities and accreditation.
* To develop partnerships and opportunities across communities that support participants to move on and benefit from a long term connection to nature after participation. This might involve formal or informal volunteering opportunities.
* Develop and supervise volunteers as required to support delivery
* To organise and be responsible for the delivery and performance of your work, ensuring effective prioritisation in liaison with the wider Nature: Connections and Recovery Project team, The Bay Projects Nature and Wellbeing service and relevant teams within Eden Project and LWT.
* To maintain systems allowing successful reporting against KPIs and safe working practices.
* Contribute to income generation through varied sources; identifying and following up opportunities from funding applications, to contracts, to corporate events or wellbeing days
* Raising awareness of the Programme, Eden Project and LWT and the value of nature for wellbeing and the need to look after nature, by contributing content for social media and communications.
Qualifications and Requirements
Essential
* A degree in a relevant environmental or health and social care related discipline or equivalent practical experience in one of these sectors is essential, with demonstrable experience working within a recognised conservation or health body in a professional capacity.
* Experience of organising, coordinating and delivering activity programmes to a wide range of audiences.
* Experience in working with people from varied backgrounds who may be affected by poor health and wellbeing on environmental projects and supporting personal development.
* Knowledge of mental health, therapies to address mental health conditions and services available for people who suffer with mental health conditions
* Experience of working with communities, designing and developing spaces for wildlife and addressing community issues / opportunities and of empowering others to take action for nature.
* Up to date knowledge of practical conservation techniques, particularly in urban settings.
* Experience of working with community groups and partners.
* Experience of developing, delivering, monitoring and evaluating activities
* Experience of working with the media, social media and input into promotion and campaigns
* Desirable
* Experience of managing volunteers
* A track record of identifying, applying for, and securing external grants.
* Experience of varied approaches to income generation within the charitable sector.
Knowledge and Skills
* Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
* The ability to motivate, inspire and engage people from the most challenging backgrounds
* You will be skilled to deliver teaching and learning techniques to engage a range of audiences and have a good understanding of public health and safety issues (including risk assessments.)
* Excellent organisational skills and the ability to work independently to achieve the required evidence and administrative functions relevant to your delivery that support funders requirements.
* The ability to develop, publicise and deliver innovative and exciting environmental nature based activities, events and resources.
* Good IT skills with the ability to communicate and promote activities and key messages, as well as preparing concise and effective reports and documents.
* A full driving licence, access to the use of a vehicle with full business insurance cover
* Ability to set, prioritise and achieve targets on time.
Decision-Making and Environment
While this post is fairly autonomous the post holder will have a dedicated contact within the Eden Project Team as well as report to their line manager on a monthly basis with updates on progress. In addition, they will work alongside colleagues from Lancashire Wildlife Trust. The post holder will work to short- and long-term objectives where the impact of decisions will be apparent as part of both project delivery and longer-term project development. They will also be required to support the quarterly reporting process (e.g. Steering Group and funding partners), to help the team achieve objectives. The post holder will also be expected to represent both The Nature: Connections and Recovery programme and Eden Project externally. They will also be responsible for identifying emerging trends in this sector and keep abreast of supportive research and innovation.
Additional Features
A positive and mature outlook with the ability to demonstrate tact, diplomacy and integrity. The ability to inspire others and generate support, action and empowerment. The willingness to work outdoors on a range of sites in all weathers. A full, clean driving license is essential, with access to a vehicle with insurance for business use. A DBS check will be required, the cost will be met by Eden. In order for the organisation to work effectively, you may be required to assist with other areas of work and therefore, you should be prepared to undertake other duties appropriate to the post, as delegated by your line manager.
End of description.
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