Role Title: Media Literacy Trainer for Youth Education and Outreach Staff at and via Football Clubs
Duration: Exact number of days to be mutually agreed, depending on requirements and day rates. Anticipated range: 10–20 days over an initial six-month period, with potential to extend.
Location: We are hiring for two positions: one based in London and another in North-West England, or suitable for candidates within commuting distance of these locations.
Overview of Ofcom and the Team
Ofcom exists to make communications work for everyone. We regulate TV, fixed and mobile telecoms, postal services, and the airwaves over which wireless devices operate. We are also the regulator for UK-established video-sharing platforms and have recently taken on additional responsibilities as the UK’s online safety regulator under the Online Safety Act.
Our culture is clear: we live by our values - Empowerment, Excellence, Collaboration, Agility, and Respect. These values guide how we work to deliver our purpose, now and in the future. We focus not only on what we do, but how we do it. We pride ourselves on being an organisation of people who genuinely care about helping others.
This role is being recruited by Ofcom’s Making Sense of Media (MSOM) media literacy team, a cross-disciplinary team delivering a programme to improve the ability of adults and children in the UK to engage effectively with online services and other media.
Purpose of the Role
Ofcom’s three year media literacy strategy recognises that media literacy is everyone’s business. We have committed to commissioning targeted interventions in the cohorts where the need is greatest and to sharing best practice with organisations delivering media literacy activities and their funders.
As part of this work, we will use a train-the-trainer model to upskill football clubs’ youth engagement and outreach staff, enabling them to deliver media literacy activities tailored to the needs of their young people.
We are seeking two experienced media literacy trainers to deliver sessions to youth-facing staff at football clubs and the outreach organisations they collaborate with. Trainers will equip staff with the knowledge and skills needed to confidently address topics related to media and digital literacy, including mobile phone use.
In turn, football club youth engagement staff and outreach organisations will be better prepared to support young people, helping them understand online risks and develop the critical thinking skills necessary to navigate digital spaces safely. Ultimately, this will help reduce young people’s vulnerability to online harms, promote safer and more informed online behaviour, and provide the skills and confidence to flourish online.
This role requires prior experience in training individuals to become trainers in media literacy. Applicants must have excellent verbal communication skills and be comfortable leading complex conversations with external stakeholders. We are looking for someone who can self-motivate to deliver a varied set of training modules, adaptable to the needs of different young people, particularly in diverse socio-economic areas. Successful candidates will be comfortable working across a range of settings.
Requirements of the Role
* Build relationships with football clubs’ youth-facing teams to understand their training needs and, where appropriate, co-design training content with team leaders.
* Deliver media literacy training sessions to youth-facing teams so they can confidently develop and deliver their own educational programmes.
* Review and refine the media literacy education plans produced by youth-facing teams.
* Advise teams on activities likely to be effective for their target audiences.
* Anchor work in Ofcom’s media literacy outcomes bank, demonstrating familiarity with the What Works approach in media literacy interventions.
* Collaborate with Ofcom’s evaluation team to assess and document the impact of the work.
Skills, Knowledge, and Experience
* Media Literacy Training Skills: Experience delivering media literacy training to diverse audiences, particularly supporting children, young people, and their parents in inner-city or financially deprived areas.
* Understanding of Media Literacy Development: Proven knowledge of media literacy skills and their progression.
* Project Management: Ability to deliver projects on time and to a high standard.
* Relationship Building: Capacity to establish and maintain effective working relationships across a broad range of stakeholders.
* Communication: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with experience presenting to multiple levels of seniority.
* Teamwork and Leadership: Strong planning and organisational skills, with the ability to collaborate and incorporate insights from colleagues.