Health & Sport Partner

Canal & River Trust; Greater London; Remote; GBP 45,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a forward-thinking charity dedicated to enhancing community wellbeing through waterways. As a Health & Sport Partner, you'll lead strategic initiatives that promote outdoor activities and tackle health inequalities. This role offers the chance to influence national policies while working collaboratively with various stakeholders. With a focus on participatory approaches, you'll drive innovative solutions that connect people to nature, fostering healthier lifestyles. Embrace the opportunity to make a real difference in the community and enjoy a supportive work environment that values diversity and personal development.

Benefits

25 days paid holiday

Competitive pension scheme

£200 personal learning award

Free specialist counselling

Store discounts

Holiday purchase scheme

Maternity/paternity provisions

Paid volunteering leave

Qualifications

• Strong background in health and sport policy development.
• Experience in social prescribing and wellbeing interventions.

Responsibilities

• Develop and coordinate strategy and policy for health and sport.
• Build partnerships to enhance community health and wellbeing.

Skills

Strategy and policy development

Social prescribing

Health sector knowledge

Communication skills

Partnership building

Report writing

Project management

Campaign management

Education

Degree in Health, Sports, or related field

Tools

Communication channels

Marketing techniques

Job description

Job Purpose

Job Title: Health & Sport Partner

Advertised Salary: £45,000

Base Location: Home-based with requirements to travel nationally occasionally.

We're the charity who look after and bring to life 2,000 miles of waterways across England and Wales, because we believe that life is better by water. Every role across the Trust plays its part in transforming our canals and rivers into spaces where local people want to spend time and feel better, bringing wellbeing benefits to millions.

The Participation Partner (Health & Sport) will be responsible for driving the achievement of our 2035 ambitions, outcomes delivery and growing our supporter base (including future supporters) linked to participatory activities as well as contribution to the UK Government’s policy objectives, strategies, outcomes frameworks and programmes linked to tackling health inequalities and improving health outcomes.

The Participation Partner (Health & Sport) will be responsible for:

• Developing and coordinating strategy and policy development and delivery;
• Promoting the great outdoors on the doorstep and the wellbeing and therapeutic impacts of waterways usage including the positive and clinical outcomes for participants’ physical and mental health derived from outdoor, participatory, nature-based interventions and nature connectedness in green and blue spaces;
• Building strategic partnerships, propositions, consortiums (supporting co-design, production and delivery) and participatory models linked to social prescribing, physical activity, wellbeing and nature connectedness to attract investment and funding.

The role will be home-based, with the expectation to periodically attend an office hub and from time to time, Nationally.

Knowledge, Skills/Qualifications & Experience

Key Accountabilities:

• Strategy and policy development work
• Galvanising political and policy support at national level: through influencing national policy makers (civil servants) and decision makers (elected MPs)
• Shape and influence health, sport and active travel related policy, strategy and programme development
• Outcome focused funding proposition building
• Communication, Campaigns & Events
• Lead on design and piloting new participatory products
• Lead in building strategic alliances and partnerships
• Representing the Trust
• Provide support as an authoritative voice
• Outcomes generation, development, measurement and reporting
• Social (green) prescribing and GP referrals
• Creating Active Communities
• Lead or support the development and delivery of programmes

Knowledge, Experience & Skills:

• Health sector background and understanding of the PHE Outcomes Measurement Framework
• Track record in social prescribing and building physical and mental health and wellbeing related propositions delivering participation based interventions to improve health and wellbeing outcomes
• A strong knowledge of national, regional, and local health & sport structures, strategies and policies
• Experience in working collaboratively with key bodies (such as OHID and Sports England)
• Experience of developing & implementing sports/health and wellbeing programmes, in line with current funding opportunities
• A strong commercial awareness and experience of developing costed projects and budget projections.
• Experience of developing multi-organisation nationally impactful partnerships and mutually beneficial collaboration opportunities with stakeholders, including developing and maintaining fundraising relationships and delivering funder requirements.
• Able to creatively develop solutions to obstacles and challenges
• Good understanding of a variety of communication channels and marketing techniques, including social media
• Exceptional report writing and presentational ability.

What We Offer

The salary is made up as follows: £45,000. Additionally, we also offer a competitive contributory DC Pension scheme arrangement, great holiday entitlement (increasing with years of service) and numerous other employee benefits all of which can be found here.

• 25 days paid holiday, increasing to 27 days after 3 years.
• Competitive contributory DC Pension scheme arrangement, where we will double your contribution to a maximum of 10%.
• Annual £200 personal learning & growth award to spend on any learning related activity – hobbies; aspirations etc.
• Free access to specialist counselling on a range of issues – health; financial; lifestyle; well-being; domestic & neighbourly matters.
• Access to a range of employee benefits including – store discounts; boating holiday discounts; holiday purchase scheme.
• Expansive maternity/paternity provisions.
• Progressive access to learning tools and CPD.
• 2 days paid volunteering leave, volunteering for local community project work.

At the Trust we care passionately for our waterways, and as importantly, for those who look after and use them. We strongly believe that a diverse workforce brings with it a diversity of ideas, thinking and ways of working which enhances what we do as a Trust. We are striving to represent the diverse communities that we are a part of. All candidates will be treated on the basis of their merits, skills and abilities and solely by being assessed against the requirements for the job.

We believe that continuous personal & professional development are important, and through many Trust internal & externally supported development programmes we are pleased to support your ongoing growth and development in this role.