Marlborough Community Area Youth Worker Job Description

Background

While typically regarded as an affluent area, many young people in the Marlborough Community Area* face challenges such as finding employment, poor mental health and a lack of support for positive activities, as well as ongoing disruption to education post Covid. In 2020, 5.7% of 0–19-year-olds in Marlborough Community Area were thought to be living in poverty and one area within the town sat within in the lowest 40% of most deprived areas of England; 9.1% of households were considered to be in fuel poverty and 23% of 10-11 year were obese or overweight. We can assume the situation is worse in the current cost of living crisis.

On the positive side we have a very strong local secondary school, great support from Marlborough College, a Leisure Centre and a Youth and Community centre in the town with a wide range of clubs supported by a vibrant community & voluntary sector.

A Youth Club currently runs in Marlborough on a Friday evening, offering a hot meal and tuck shop along with a variety of activities. But the volunteers are struggling to open the club, cook, organise activities and still have time with youngsters in need of a quiet conversation. It needs a Youth Worker to help bring new and existing activities together.

Like many market towns we have an increasing problem with County Line gangs targeting our young people, some anti-social behaviour and some graffiti ‘artists’ so we also need a Youth Worker who young people can relate to, someone to be out and about talking to them in the locations where they tend to congregate. In a recent survey “Anti-social behaviour & crime” was ranked sixth highest priority for Marlborough community area.

And outside the main town, local villages need support to tackle similar problems and to run or help set up their youth clubs. ‘The Junction’ in Aldbourne is a fantastic example.

To meet these needs, the Marlborough Area Youth Forum has been established as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (Registration number 1199626) and will provide a caring employment and support structure.

The Role

We are seeking a passionate advocate of young people to lead the planning, organising and enabling of our amazing volunteers, working with Marlborough Youth Club and other organisations like Youth Action Wiltshire, the Marlborough Sports Forum and local town/parish councils, to help our youngsters build life skills, develop healthy relationships, make decisions that are right for them and HAVE SOME FUN.

The Forum is offering a part time role, working in Marlborough and the local area, with planning time during the day, and face to face activity mainly in the evenings and weekends. The role will be home based but office space may be made available in Marlborough Youth and Community Centre if requested.

Fund raising – though grants and activities involving young people – will be a necessary component of the role to ensure it is sustainable after an initial one year fixed term period.

Typical responsibilities will include

setting up and running activities and projects in Marlborough and surrounding villages
building trust with young people through mentoring
signposting to specialist provision such as counselling
funding raising and applying for grants
maintaining safeguarding and confidential records in line with our Data Protection and related policies
recruiting and managing volunteers
working with other organisations, such as schools, sports clubs, community groups, local town and parish councils, and the police.

Essential skills and qualities include:

A strong track record of organising and delivering 1:1 support and group work activities for young people
Well organised and motivated
reliable
willing to keep up to date with relevant regulations and good practice in relation to working with young people.

Qualifications required

a Level 3 or Diploma in Youth Work Practice or related subject is desirable.

Support may be available for the right person to study for their qualified Youth Worker status (through a JNC recognised and National Youth Agency validated degree course – see https://www.nya.org.uk/career-in-youth-work/getting-qualified/).

Salary and Hours

£17,500 for 20 hours per week, of which 10 to 15 can be expected to be evenings or weekends.

A self-employed option will be considered.

Own transport is essential with a mileage allowance (45p per mile) paid

If you think this sounds right for you, contact Caroline Thomas on thomascs@me.com with your resume or arrange a chat to understand more about the role.

The Marlborough Community Area is made up of Marlborough and the surrounding parishes of Aldbourne, Avebury, Baydon, Berwick Bassett & Winterbourne Monkton, Broad Hinton & Winterbourne Bassett, Chilton Foliat, East Kennett, Froxfield, Fyfield & West Overton, Mildenhall, Ogbourne St Andrew, Ogbourne St George, Preshute, Ramsbury & Axford and Savernake