A summary of the Your Shore Beach Ranger Project A job description and person specification for the role of Community Engagement Officer

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1 INFORMATION PACK Community Engagement Officer For the Your Shore Beach Ranger Project This pack contains: A summary of the Your Shore Beach Ranger Project A job description and person specification for the role of Community Engagement Officer Applications are only accepted on a completed application form, we do not accept CVs and covering letters. The application form can be downloaded from Applications should be sent to recruitment@cornwallwildlifetrust.org.uk Application deadline midnight on Sunday 7 th February 2016 Interview date Wednesday 24 th February 2016, in Truro 5 year full time, immediate start Based at Cornwall College, Newquay Salary 24,000pa

2 Programme Summary Your Shore Beach Ranger Project 1. The Your Shore Beach Rangers project will scale up and replicate Cornwall Wildlife Trust s Your Shore project. Funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF), and delivered between 2010 and 2013, Your Shore addressed the need to work with communities within Cornwall to encourage an appreciation of and engagement with local marine heritage by providing opportunities to get involved in the marine environment at Cornwall s five Voluntary Marine Conservation Areas (VMCAs); Polzeath, St Agnes, Helford, Fowey and Looe. Your Shore established grass roots volunteer groups at each VMCA. A ground swell of public support was generated which led to an increased level of understanding and participation from all levels of the community at each VMCA. Your Shore reached 16,822 people through 495 public, volunteer and school events. The Your Shore Project evaluation report, which can be viewed at highlights the impact of Your Shore. In addition, a series of short films about Your Shore was produced by a local film maker and can be viewed at 2. Your Shore was open to all ages and 5,727 young people were directly involved, with 95% gaining an increased understanding of the marine environment and 77% of participants learning new skills. We have identified an enthusiasm for further engagement from this audience through a pilot Your Shore Beach Rangers project that evolved at one of the VMCAs, which has since lead onto the development of the full Your Shore Beach Ranger Project. 3. The Your Shore Beach Ranger Project aims to enable young communities and the general public to learn about and develop an understanding and appreciation of Cornwall s marine environment by increasing access to Cornwall s Marine Conservation Groups. The Project aims to specifically work with young people (Beach Rangers aged 16-24) to build their confidence, teamwork, communication and other life skills whilst promoting marine environmental issues and raising awareness of Cornwall s marine environment. To do this the Project will; o Scale up Your Shore by extending the geographical spread from 5 VMCAs to include a further 7 Cornwall marine groups that are near to existing or recommended Marine Protected Areas, where we need to foster better support for marine conservation. We will replicate the Your Shore model of community engagement focussing specifically on young people to provide them with skills and knowledge that will make them engaged and active long term members of Cornwall s Marine Conservation Group network. In doing so, the Project will ensure that Cornwall s marine environment is better protected by inspiring communities and stimulating action and community cohesion.

3 o Recruit Beach Rangers (local people aged 16-24) who will be trained at the Beach Rangers Academy, using Cornwall s inspirational coastline as a setting. The Beach Rangers will undertake engaging activities that will build their confidence, teamwork, communication and other life skills, with a majority of participants also being provided with training in marine environmental issues, survey techniques (including shore and snorkel surveys), marine species identification, and experience in planning and organising outdoor events and activities. Trained Beach Rangers will then organise and lead public engagement activities that promote their local marine environment to local secondary school pupils and the general public. In doing so, the Project will be engaging young people with their environment, and enabling them to gain new skills relevant to finding jobs, training, volunteering opportunities, or starting entrepreneurial projects that contribute to the green economy o Engage with secondary school pupils, enabling them free access to their local marine environment and a positive engaging experience: By , year olds will have an increased knowledge of the marine ecosystem and a better awareness of their ability to make a positive contribution to the health of their marine environment through mentoring and support of the Project and the Beach Ranger teams. 4. The project is being delivered in partnership by two organisations, Cornwall Wildlife Trust (CWT) and Cornwall College. CWT will be overall project lead and management, responsible for developing the Your Shore model of engagement to involve young people and the additional geographical locations. Cornwall College, Newquay, will lead on the evaluation of the Beach Rangers need for formal qualifications and soft skills throughout the project, developing and validating the Beach Ranger programme of training. 5. The project is being funded by The Big Lottery Fund, as part of a portfolio of projects being coordinated by the Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts.

4 JOB DESCRIPTION FOR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT OFFICER, EMPLOYED BY CORNWALL WILDLIFE TRUST 1. IDENTIFICATION OF JOB JOB TITLE : Community Engagement Officer POST NUMBER : 105 FUNCTION : Marine Conservation and Education RESPONSIBLE TO : Marine Conservation Officer RESPONSIBLE FOR : Project team and Volunteers as appropriate 2. OVERALL PURPOSE OF JOB Deliver the Trust s Your Shore Beach Ranger Project. The Project aims to enable communities and the general public to learn about and develop an understanding and appreciation of Cornwall s marine environment by increasing access to Cornwall s Voluntary Marine Conservation Areas (VMCAs). The Project aims to specifically work with young people (Beach Rangers aged 16-24) to build their confidence, teamwork, communication and other life skills whilst promoting marine environmental issues and raising awareness of Cornwall s marine environment. Work will require the delivery of a programme of activities and events at a scale and quality that will inspire a wide range of audiences, primarily youth officers, and generate public support for the marine environment. 3. MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES 1. Form sustainable community organisations (local Marine Conservation Groups) within key geographical areas to further the conservation of the marine environment within these locations in the long term.

5 To achieve this, the Community Engagement Officer will deliver a programme of visits, community workshops, and public events based within key geographical locations to develop relationships and inform local residents about the local marine environment, its importance, and the steps that can be taken to protect and enhance it. The Community Engagement Officer will need to ensure that events are open to all sectors of the community and will specifically ensure that those within the age range of are able to participate in the project. The Community Engagement Officer will set up a volunteer group for each new local Marine Conservation Group, with a focus on young people aged years old, who will receive specialised training in marine identification and recording, together with practical experience of marine science. Volunteers will be recruited from Cornwall College, local conservation groups, and through local advertising and publicity work. The Community Engagement Officer will work with other project staff and the Beach Rangers to deliver a programme of public events such as rockpool rambles, strandline surveys and beach cleans to inform people about the local marine environment, highlight its importance, and promote steps that can be taken to protect and enhance it. 2. Provide support to the Youth Engagement Officer to recruit, train and manage Your Shore Beach Rangers within the new and existing local Marine Conservation Groups. To achieve this, the Community Engagement Officer will provide support where necessary to deliver a programme of engaging activities in the marine outdoor sector (such as snorkelling, surfing, kayaking, coasteering) in addition to other marine science training for the Beach Ranger teams. The Community Engagement Officer will have a senior role within the project team and will manage day to day activities under supervision of Cornwall Wildlife Trust s Marine Conservation Officer. 3. Support the Beach Rangers in delivering opportunities for local school children to visit and learn about the local marine environment. The Community Engagement Officer will assist where necessary the other project staff and the Beach Rangers to deliver a programme of educational activities to local secondary school children. These activities will vary with school requirements, but will be closely linked to the National Curriculum in science and humanities. 4. Provide support and continued opportunities for existing local Marine Conservation Groups to visit and learn about their local marine environment. To achieve this, the Community Engagement Officer will continue to provide co-ordination and support where needed for the existing VMCAs and other local Marine Conservation Groups set up through the Your Shore project. The Officer will play a key role in establishing and coordinating the network of new and existing local Marine Conservation Groups through countywide publicity, conferences and other inspiring events. 5. Publicity and promotion The Community Engagement Officer, alongside the other project staff will be responsible for delivering a programme of media publicity activities for the project. This includes liaison with the

6 Trust s Marketing team to prepare and send out press releases and liaising with the media (radio and television interviews as necessary). The Community Engagement Officer will also be responsible for promoting the project by producing text for project leaflets, displays and other publicity materials such as magazine articles. The Officer will be responsible for creating and coordinating the project website in liaison with the other project staff and line manager. 6. Other Lead on the creation of the Your Shore Beach Ranger project timetable in close liaison with other project staff and line manager. Promote the Your Shore Beach Ranger project to external partners and share best practice as appropriate. Provide information and evaluation updates to the project funders in liaison with the project line manager. Act as an ambassador for the Wildlife Trust s Living Seas campaign and promote understanding of and support for the concept. Assist in fundraising for long term continuation of the marine conservation work of the Trust. Ensure that health and safety procedures are followed and implemented for all activities. Undertake training as appropriate. Other tasks as appropriate. Undertake a DBS/Disclosure check Community Engagement Officer Person Specification This section details the experience, skills, knowledge and personal qualities required for the post. We require a person with at least three years employment experience in the development and delivery of marine focussed education and engagement projects. We require an enthusiastic worker with diverse skills in delivery of exciting events as well as carrying out sensitive community development work that considers the needs of all stakeholders. Ideally you will also have a proven ability to forge positive relationships with young people, responding flexibly to their needs and those of the project. Good IT, organisation and communication skills are essential. You will be required to work evenings and weekends, and you will need to travel across the county so a full driving license is essential. Area A EXPERIENCE

7 Working in the community engagement field (minimum 3 years employment in a relevant marine environmental role, with particular focus on community engagement and integration of marine conservation issues into educational activities) - ESSENTIAL Experience of speaking publicly, both formally and informally, and delivery marine focussed activities and events - ESSENTIAL Experience of working with community groups and a diverse range of stakeholders on community development and involvement projects - ESSENTIAL Experience of co-ordinating and working with volunteers - ESSENTIAL Project specific budget management experience - DESIRABLE Area B KNOWLEDGE Degree or similar in relevant marine or environmental discipline - ESSENTIAL Knowledge of Cornwall's marine habitats, species and nature conservation issues - and also wider general nature conservation and sustainability issues - ESSENTIAL Understanding of the MPA designations, marine management and the planning process - DESIRABLE Knowledge of the national curriculum to identify opportunities for delivery of conservation issues - DESIRABLE Area C SKILLS Manage a diverse work programme with limited support and identify own work priories in liaison with line manager - ESSENTIAL Full clean driving licence - ESSENTIAL First Aid qualified - DESIRABLE Competent swimmer and snorkeler and understanding of diving - DESIRABLE Ability to develop activities suitable to the target audiences of school children - DESIRABLE Excellent communication skills, with the ability to liaise with and speak clearly and confidently to a wide range of audiences - ESSENTIAL Good I.T. skills with the ability to prepare concise, effective reports and letters, computer literate - ESSENTIAL Ability to develop, publicise and deliver innovative and exciting marine education activities - ESSENTIAL Area D PERSONAL QUALITIES Commitment to environmental conservation and sustainability issues - ESSENTIAL Effective communicator and able to motivate others - ESSENTIAL Enthusiastic, professional attitude - ESSENTIAL

8 Ability to work as part of a close team - ESSENTIAL Friendly and outgoing - ESSENTIAL Flexibility - ESSENTIAL