Job Title: Cycling Community Connector Salary: £23,915 (pro rota) Responsible to: Essex Pedal Power Team Leader Colchester Location: Essex Hours of Work: 15 hours per week over 2 days, some weekend or early evening hours may be required Contract: Fixed term until 31st March 2026 The Active Wellbeing Society (TAWS) is a community benefit society and cooperative working to develop healthy, happy communities living active and connected lives. Our vision is for a society where people have the autonomy, capacity, resources and skills to become the architects of their own destiny; where our individual wellbeing is recognised as being bound up in our collective responsibility to and dependency on each other; and where all of us feel empowered as agents of social change to make a difference – whether at an individual level or more widely. By working collaboratively with communities we aim to bring about sustainable change on an social, environmental and economic level; to do the social knitting required to create stronger and more resilient communities and to support communities to identify, mitigate and remove the barriers that prevent them from living active and connected lives. Essex Pedal Power is an exciting programme led by TAWS, Essex County Council and Active Essex to support more people to cycle by removing the barriers to participation. Essex Pedal Power allows eligible residents, including adults and children, to apply for a quality bicycle. The inclusive programme aims to make cycling accessible for everyone providing access to employment, training and educational opportunities or key local services. The Community Cycle Connector will engage with a wide range of local trusted organisations (LTO’s) to activate the start of the cycling journey for the adults. They will effectively communicate the aims and benefits of the project to LTOs/referral partners. They will advocate the benefits of cycling to the target audience, whilst recognising the barriers that people may face in participating. They will actively seek opportunities to better understand the lived experience of adults and barriers they may face to being physically actively and mentally well. This will include attending mental health and neurodiversity workshops, networking sessions, as well as co-location with community organisations and groups. They will be competent at using a range of digital communications and advertisements to reach people who stand to benefit from the programme With the support of the delivery team, they will plan and deliver a range of cycling activities. This includes local rides incorporating instruction on basic bike maintenance skills (basic checks, cleaning and maintenance tasks, trailside repairs). They will also plan cycle excursion, with aims to develop skills in mindfulness and navigation. They will develop pathways for participants to progress into peer mentoring or volunteering roles. The programme aims to use regular physical activity to improve mental wellbeing, build confidence and resilience, reduce isolation through community and peer networks and equip people with practical skills to ultimately support their long-term wellbeing and independence. You may like to watch this introductory video which showcases the positive work of The Active Wellbeing Society: TAWS Launch October 2018 - YouTube All criteria are essential, and your application will be assessed on all points detailed below. 1. It is necessary for the the post holder to be a competent and confident cyclist, preferable with ride leader qualifications, and basic bike mechanic knowledge. 2. Understand and use community assets (community spaces and key individuals) to support EPP activities. 3. It is necessary for the postholder to have obatined a f ull UK driving licence include van driving. 4. Develop new opportunities, in particular for underrepresented groups, to ensure that potential new services offered by TAWS are brought to new audiences, with a particular focus on inactive or hard to reach citizens. 5. Develop relationships within communities to become a trusted source for development and delivery. 6. Work closely with Team Leader and Marketing team to promote and celebrate EPP activities as well as ensuring that adverts for volunteering opportunities are engaging & timely. 7. Recruit, train and supervise new volunteers and work alongside other colleagues to manage volunteer’s shifts. 8. Identify and support volunteers with bespoke progression routes into training, pathways of employment and cycle groups. 9. Work with communities and local organisations to develop and deliver ideas and activities to support people who are representative of the EPP target audience in the area. The below is a reflective of what you'll be responsible for. Avid cyclist experience, including but not limited to evening or weekend rides depending community needs Experienced driver with ability to drive vans, in order to deliver cycling events. Experience in volunteering and or recruitment or within another similar role. A commitment to equal opportunities and an understanding of the impact on individuals and community’s health and deprivation. Ability to coordinate and consult internal and external organisations (including community groups) to provide pathways of opportunity for active citizenship and community activity. Demonstrate empathy and understanding with the citizens and communities who access our services. Have a knowledge of the barriers that exist to activity within communities. Adaptable and able to work at pace, working autonomously and collaboratively in a dynamic and challenging environment. A genuine passion for the wellbeing of others and a drive to improve the lives of individuals and communities by bringing them together to improve their mental and physical wellbeing. A flexible approach to all working practices with the willingness to support other team members in their work as required (including presence at events). Competent IT skills and familiarity with social media, with the ability to pick up skills in new systems as required along with excellent communication skills. We offer our team members a comprehensive staff benefits offering to include: Annual Leave – 38 days! 25 days AL (increasing to 29 days with service) plus 5 wellbeing days and 8 bank holidays. Flexible working, home working and remote working options available Nest Pension – 8% employer contribution - 3% employee contribution. Heath Cash Plan – giving you discounts on everyday healthcare such as dental, optical, physio, prescriptions & more. Employee Assistance Programme (counselling and DRs on call 24hrs a day). Fantastic volunteering opportunities within The Active Wellbeing Society every month. Application End Date 27th of August: Please submit a cover letter demonstrating how you meet the competencies required for the Community Cycling Connector, ensure your application includes detailed responses to each of the questions outlined below: A passion and interest in cycling or physical activity and understand the benefits that cycling/physical activity can bring Experience in ride leading, and working in community work and knowledge of local communities Digital competency and familiarity with social media, with the ability to pick up skills in new systems as required along with excellent communication skills Empathetic and have a knowledge of the barriers that exist to activity within communities. Experience in all aspects of logistics regarding community events such as, driving, setting up and community engagement. Due to the high numbers of applications we received for our job vacancies, we may close application windows early, so we would encourage you to submit your application ASAP. We will provide all applicants with an outcome on your application, this will usually be within 1 week of the application window closing. Successful applicants will be required to be DBS checked prior to starting. Our customers come from all walks of life and so do we, in recruiting for our team we welcome the unique contributions that you can bring. The Active Wellbeing Society is committed to being an equal opportunity employer, we recruit based upon capability and all applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership status, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation. At The Active Wellbeing Society we are searching for people who share the passion for what we do with different backgrounds, perspectives and experiences, collectively making a difference. If there is anything we can do to assist you in your application or preparations to be interviewed for one of our job vacancies please let us know and we can ensure you have a positive and comfortable experience. Thank you for your interest in working for The Active Wellbeing Society, we look forward to receiving your application. If you have any questions once you have read the Job Description or would like an informal chat about us, and/or, the role, please contact: [email protected] and we will be happy to help. As part of your application, please specify which vacancy you are interested in. Please note if you don't make reference to your preference, we will assume you are interested in either vacancy. Thank you once again.