Community Development Worker

VONNE (Voluntary Organisations' Network North East); Gateshead; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 30,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days holiday

Statutory holidays

Job summary

VONNE (Voluntary Organisations' Network North East) in Gateshead is recruiting a Community Development Worker for Edberts House. You will manage a varied timetable of activities, educational sessions and trips, run community engagement opportunities, and oversee the Community House building.

This fixed-term role runs until 30 September 2027 (with potential extension subject to funding) and requires 37 hours per week with some evenings and weekends.

Responsibilities

• Manage a timetable of activities, educational sessions and trips for the community.
• Develop the Gateshead Family Hubs through groups for parents, carers and children.
• Work with co-located Social Prescribers and partners to improve community connections.
• Liaise with funders and provide timely evaluation and monitoring information.
• Oversee building management and ensure health and safety, safeguarding and record-keeping.

Job description

Contract Type: Fixed term

Role Type: Employment

Hours: Full time

Application deadline: Monday, November 2, 2026 - 12:00

Based: Gateshead

Salary: £27,311 Per Annum

Salary Type: Fixed Salary

Location: Tyne and Wear

Role description: Senior Project Support

Job Title: Community Development Worker

Responsible to: Head of Community Development & Engagement

Hours: 37 hours per week, flexibility for evening and occasional weekend work essential

Fixed Term contract until 30/09/2027 with the expectation of extension (subject to continued funding)

Salary: £27,311

Benefits: 25 days holiday per year, plus statutory holidays

Location: Main base in the outer west of Gateshead

Organisation Context

Edberts House is a vibrant community organisation based in East Gateshead. We manage two main strands of work, Community Development and Community Linking Project (Social Prescribing). Our vision is to make the communities within which we are based happier, healthier, fairer places to live. Our community development team is embedded in statistically complex local communities, building the capacity of local people across Gateshead through the provision of courses, person-centred support, community events and activities. Our work across the GP surgeries allows us to provide bespoke and holistic support for individuals, children and families, acknowledging the challenges of everyday life in our communities.

Job Purpose

An exciting opportunity to join our place-based Community Development team. The postholder will manage a varied timetable of activities, educational sessions and trips, regular community engagement opportunities, and consistent networking and signposting to other agencies and services, while overseeing a large community building.

They will actively develop our Gateshead Family Hubs offer through groups and activities for parents, carers and children to engage in, such as parent/carer toddler groups, messy play, education & training sessions, topical support groups and drop-ins, community events etc. promoting health for the whole family.

Work closely with co-located Social Prescribers and other inter-agency partners to improve connections to the local community, ensuring community involvement is at the heart of all programme activity. Also, the postholder will need to liaise with stakeholders and funders, providing evaluation and monitoring information on a regular and timely basis.

This post will be based in our Community House in the outer west of Gateshead, however, may be required to provide support in other areas of Edberts House. The post-holder will report to the Head of Community Development & Engagement and have line management responsibilities for the Youth & Community Worker.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Working alongside the local people to ensure the culture of the Community House reflects Edberts House Values and is an inclusive, kind and safe environment for everyone
• Working alongside local people to continue to develop and build community capacity, resilience, consistent meaningful engagement and healthy interdependent relationships, supporting local people to navigate community conflict successfully
• Ensuring regular Steering Group meetings are prioritised, where local people guide the work and are involved in day-to-day activity and evaluation
• Being an active member of the wider Community Development Team, attending weekly team meetings, training opportunities, working & planning together, implementing change & development
• Responsibility and oversight for ongoing delivery of a creative timetable of activities, responding to the ever-changing needs of the community. Ensuring support services are available and signposted to, to provide appropriate and timely support for a spectrum of resident’s needs
• Working with the community, researchers and partner agencies to ensure local voices are heard and represented across a variety of forums, influencing real change
• Operational responsibility for the building management and day-to-day activity of the Community House, ensuring the building is clean, and Health & Safety, Risk Management and Fire Safety standards are maintained
• Identifying and responding to any safeguarding concerns in line with Edberts House Policy
• Providing line management support for any Youth and Community Workers and support to volunteers attached to the Community House
• Providing guidance and support for any sessional staff delivering sessions as part of the Community House, ensuring behaviour management (in children & young people’s sessions), and standards are consistent with Edberts House Values
• Identifying any personal & staff training needs for continued professional development, and any development opportunities for volunteers
• Maintaining full, timely and accurate records on Charity Log to provide regular information and data for the Senior Management Team, Board of Trustees and Stakeholders. Keeping a close eye on the obligations of the funding associated with the Community House, and the role.
• Pro-actively developing partnerships with agencies in the area, modelling the culture and Values of Edberts House
• Identifying & applying for small grants, in discussion with the Head of Community Development, for small local-led projects
• Any other reasonable duties as required by the Head of Community Development & Engagement

The closing date for application is 12noon on Monday 2nd November 2026.