Community Support Officer - Forest Food Network

We're looking for a proactive and enthusiastic Community Support Officer to join our Communities Team at Forest of Dean District Council. This is an exciting opportunity to support the delivery of our Thriving Communities priority, with a specific focus on the Forest Food Network and projects that improve food resilience, wellbeing and community connections. Working alongside community organisations, partners and residents, you'll help turn local ideas into action while supporting projects that have a lasting impact across the district.

As a Community Support Officer, you'll play a key role in coordinating and supporting the Forest Food Network and Financial Inclusion partnership. Working closely with the Community Delivery Lead and specialist partners, you'll help organise meetings, support project delivery and build positive relationships with community groups and stakeholders.

Some of your responsibilities:

• Support the delivery of the Council's Thriving Communities priority, with a focus on Forest Food Network initiatives.
• Work closely with the Council's commissioned specialist to support the strategic development of the Forest Food Network and Financial Inclusion Group.
• Coordinate meetings, working groups and events, including arranging venues, preparing agendas, taking minutes and distributing actions.
• Support the development and delivery of community projects, including initiatives such as growing projects and other locally identified priorities.
• Ensure projects support equality, diversity, inclusion and belonging (EDIB) principles.
• Work with the Communications Team to promote projects and engage communities through a range of communication channels, including social media.

This is a fixed term position until March 2028. 29.6 hours per week.

You will need:

• A minimum of five GCSEs (Grade 4/C or above) or equivalent qualifications, including English and Maths.
• At least two years' practical experience in community wellbeing, community engagement or a related field.
• A good understanding of asset-based community development.
• Knowledge of the Forest of Dean and its communities.
• Experience working in partnership with multiple organisations and stakeholders.
• Experience supporting vulnerable or marginalised individuals and communities.

Special Conditions: Ability to travel.

What we can do for you:

• Agile working allowing a mix of home and office working.
• Flexible working arrangements (depending on the role).
• 27 days paid annual leave (pro rata if you are working part time) plus bank holidays, which increases to 30 days after five years of service.
• In addition, you will have an extra two volunteering days a year for you to support a charity of your choice.
• Health cash plan giving you cash back on health, dental and eye care.
• Generous contributory local government pension scheme.
• Employee Assistance Programme 24/7, providing positive, preventative and supportive advice and counselling to deal with everyday events and issues.
• Cycle to work scheme.
• Salary sacrifice car lease scheme with significant tax and NI savings to be made on electric cars.
• Generous sickness cover above statutory entitlements.

Forest of Dean District Council is dedicated to creating a vibrant and sustainable future for our community. Our priorities are centred on fostering thriving communities by empowering and engaging residents, enhancing infrastructure, promoting community well-being, and ensuring social equity. We are committed to decarbonisation and nature recovery, focusing on renewable energy transitions, energy efficiency, transport transformation, nature recovery, and food resilience. Additionally, we strive to build a sustainable economy through the promotion of a circular economy, robust business support, workforce skill development, sustainable town initiatives, and the preservation of natural capital.

Accredited of the disability confident scheme, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the vacancy/ies - Please state this within your covering statement or in a separate email.

Forest of Dean District Council is committed to meeting its statutory and moral duties to safeguard and promote the welfare of children, young people under 18 years of age and adults at risk who are the recipients of its services and/or activities. Safer recruitment practices are applied to all job vacancies. Successful candidates will be required to complete a pre-employment medical questionnaire; provide references; proof of identity; nationality and immigration status; three years employment or education history (if applicable) and, in some cases, verification of criminal record.