DGOWL Branching Out Project Officer

DGOWL Branching Out Project Officer

This contract is for 25 hours a week for 10 months paid at £17 per hour and will start as soon as possible ideally on or before the 1st September 2025 until June 2026. Funding for this post comes from Scottish Forestry and is match funded by DGOWL.

Please apply with a CV and covering letter showcasing your suitability for the role and how you meet the essential and desirable criteria. The closing date for applications is Tuesday 12th of August at midnight through the DGOWL email.

About DGOWL

Dumfries and Galloway Outdoor and Woodland Learning Group (DGOWL) CIC is a regional group of Outdoor & Woodland Learning Scotland (OWL Scotland) . We are dedicated to increasing the use of Dumfries and Galloway’s outdoor environments for learning.

Our aims are:

• Increasing first hand learning experiences.
• Supporting Learning for Sustainability
• Improving health and well-being through outdoor learning
• Increasing skills, knowledge and understanding of outdoor environments

One of our main projects to do this is Branching Out .

Branching Out is an adult nature prescription programme, developed by Scottish Forestry. Ideally 12 participants attend for 3 hours of woodland activity per week for 12 weeks. Activities are adapted to suit the client group, site and time of year and generally include – gentle physical activity, conservation activities, bushcraft and environmental art. On completion participants receive a certificate of achievement. Graduates are encouraged to join other community-based activities/groups after completion. Branching Out runs in all mainland health board areas.

In Dumfries and Galloway there are 6 DGOWL Branching Out Leaders who were trained through an initial grant from the Alcohol and Drugs Partnership (ADP). Here, our programme focuses on breaking down barriers, including geographic and economic barriers, to accessing Branching Out. The programme delivers across Dumfries and Galloway and takes account of its wide range of outdoor spaces and the widespread population with its associated health issues. Participants are given suitable outdoor clothing to enable them to take part and are assisted with transport.

Our aims have also been delivered through another major project recently with our involvement in Multiply; a UK government leveling-up programme to increase confidence in maths in adults. DGOWL was contracted by Dumfries and Galloway Council to deliver outdoor maths through:

• Attending the Amazing Summer Roadshows put on by Dumfries and Galloway Council at 80 venues across Dumfries and Galloway.
• Developing and delivering Stay and Play sessions for ‘Parents of Early Years Children’. Resulting in sessions at 137 venues attended by 2,043 parents, 4,371 children and the distribution of our ‘Just Add Play’ tins as a legacy element of this project.
• Increasing confidence and interest in maths in ‘Hard to Reach Groups’ through our Branching Out (with added Maths) rolling programme in 3 locations from September 2024 to March 2025
• Increasing confidence and interest in maths in ‘Hard to Reach Groups’ through showcasing elements of our ‘Just Add Play’ sessions and resources with DG College students (Dumfries and Stranraer) who themselves would be working with early years children.

DGOWL Branching Out Project Officer Role

To work at a strategic and operational level, to manage DGOWL Branching Out including:

Branching Out (60%)

Promoting and developing DGOWL’s Branching Out delivery including:

• Growing Roots training and developing skills of members,
• Branching Further Out shorter programmes and taster sessions within communities,
• Traditional Branching Out (as above) and
• After Branching Out for past participants.

Importantly your role will include planning for the future and finding funding to deliver that plan. Alongside the Branching Out Steering Group and DGOWL directors you will create a plan for the future of Branching Out in Dumfries and Galloway for 2025 and onwards. You will identify funding and be instrumental in applying successfully for suitable funding packages. You will also be expected to manage financial aspects of the project working along with the DGOWL treasurer in keeping records, allocating funds and reporting to funders.

You will be expected to develop and advise on DGOWL policy and operational elements of delivering Branching Out across Dumfries and Galloway. This will include actively liaising with the DGOWL directors and our Branching Out Leaders. You will also be expected to develop our current Branching Out Steering Group by inviting suitable partners to join creating a more dynamic mutli-agency Steering Group.

You will be the consistent and friendly face for mental health and social care services, health professionals, community groups, GP’s and individual participants who wish to refer to DGOWL’s Branching Out programmes. This will include attending the Third Sector Dumfries and Galloway Mental Health Forum, contributing to social media accounts and the creation of a web site for DGOWL as the public face of Branching Out.

You will maintain confidential working practices while working with services, groups, participants and DGOWL Branching Out Leaders to deliver projects on the ground, giving best value for the funding and breaking down perceived and real barriers to attendance. Leaders’ availability will need to be matched to venues and potential Branching Out days. Single issue groups e.g. ADP or Alzheimers Scotland and individual participants will also need to be matched with venues and available sessions.

Branching Out Outputs

• Funding – drawing down funding in excess of £36,000 to fund Branching Out Projects
• Promote awareness of Branching Out throughout Dumfries and Galloway including developing a new DGOWL website.
• Working with mental health and social care services, health professionals, community groups, GP’s to develop awareness and referrals to Branching Out
• Effective and efficient management and delivery of DGOWL Branching Out projects including enhancing existing and developing new systems and processes e.g. triage, timetabling, health and safety including risk assessments.
• Prepare ongoing reports for the DGOWL directors, Steering Group and funders.
  Future plan for 2026 onwards

Other DGOWL Priority Projects (40%)

Working with DGOWL’s directors and members to develop, fund and promote DGOWL projects over the next 5 years. We have funding from Maths Week Scotland 2025 which is already helping to deliver towards some of these projects.

• Working with college and university to train early years and primary students along with probationary and early career teachers, in outdoor learning
• Working towards getting outdoor learning options into Secondary schools
• Breaking down barriers and providing training for established teachers to deliver outdoor learning
  Food growing: gardening sessions and training for schools
• More training opportunities for DGOWL members e.g. Mental Health First Aid
• Adding Health & Wellbeing booklet to go along with our ‘Taking Maths Outdoors’ and ‘Taking Literacy Outdoors’ booklets.
• Adding other curriculum subjects e.g. art and science to our ‘Taking Curriculum Subjects Outdoors’ booklets
• CPD – packs with lesson plans, risk assessments
• Accreditation so we can offer certified courses in outdoor learning
• DGOWL website showcasing what can be offered by DGOWL’s membership of outdoor learning practitioners, organisations and venues etc. Plus links to the OWL Scotland resources and events.
• More delivery of Multiply Just Add Play type sessions to schools and nurseries
• Delivery of Just Add Play session to all DG Forest Schools

You are also expected to carry out any other tasks as deemed necessary towards fulfilling our organisational aims.

Fee for contract

This is a 10 month contract for 25 hours per week paid at £17 per hour. Project Officer hours may increase depending on funding brought in for the projects mentioned within this job description.

Ideally, we are looking for a project officer who is able to work flexibly. There will be some weeks where more time is needed and some less.

In addition, transport within Dumfries and Galloway only, at 45p per mile or bus ticket price. There is a cap on that as per funding.

Management structure

The Project Officer will be expected to work independently towards the outcomes and projects that are outlined in this document. Liaising with their main point of contact within DGOWL (Co-Chair).

The Project Officer will produce monthly reports that will keep the other DGOWL directors and the DG Branching Out Steering Group up to date about their progress.

Office

No workspace is provided – home working expected.

DGOWL will supply you with a password protected mobile phone with a suitable contract which you can use while you are our Project Officer.

You must have your own computer and access to the internet which meets our confidentiality criteria i.e. you must use secure wifi and your computer must be individual to you and secured with password or other similar security device.

Postage and printing costs will be paid on receipt of receipts or invoices.

Applications

Please apply with a CV and covering letter showcasing your suitability for the role and how you meet the essential and desirable criteria. The closing date for applications is Tuesday 12th of August at midnight through the DGOWL email. We welcome applications from all members of the community.

You must be eligible to work in the UK, have suitable public liability insurance and a PVG (Protection of Vulnerable Groups which permits work with vulnerable adults and children).

Offer of job is subject to satisfactory referees, PVG and public liability insurance being received.

If you would like to chat about this contract, please contact Elizabeth Tindal on 07598269625 or via the DGOWL email.

Interview

In person interviews and Meet the Leaders’ session will be held on the 22nd of August in Dumfries. Interviews over Teams are an option we are happy to explore. No travel expenses will be paid to attend the interview.

Areas of Knowledge and Experience

Essential

• Management, admin and coordination of projects
• Ability to work independently and on your own initiative
• Successful funding applications
• Financial management and record keeping
• Good communicator
• Good facilitator skills – including with mental health services, social care services etc
• Project timetabling – including ability to timetabling staff rotas
• Computer skills using Google docs and windows systems

Desirable

• Website creation and development skills
• Ability to work flexibly both in time and place
• Experience of confidential working practices – experience of security systems to maintain confidentiality
• Successful funding applications over £20,000
• Knowledge of Dumfries and Galloway and its outdoor spaces
• Mental Health Professional or with qualification and experience in this field
• Experience of working with vulnerable people or groups
• Knowledge of Branching Out programme
• Working with community groups
• Evaluation and report writing
• Working with a team
• Outdoor Learning Professional or with experience or qualification in this area
• Development of organisational policies and procedures
• Interest in and ability to use social media in a business capacity
• Knowledge of education settings and their needs at all levels
• Working within a CIC structure

Tagged as: branching out, funding, health and wellbeing, outdoor learning, project management

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