Local Councils’ Assistant

LLOYD'S REGISTER INTERNATIONAL; Roundway; Hybrid; GBP 6,800 - 8,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employer pension contribution 7%

Hybrid/office work

Job summary

Community First is seeking a Local Councils’ Assistant to provide administrative support across the WALC remit, with a mix of office and remote work, including occasional evenings and weekends. A DBS check is required, and duties include minute taking, preparing documents, and assisting in events and conferences.

The role is 10 hours per week, with a fixed-term contract until March 31, 2027, starting January 2026, based in Devizes with travel around the county likely.

Qualifications

• Relevant qualification or two years relevant experience.
• Experience using Microsoft Office 365 in a professional context.
• Experience in the voluntary/community sector.
• Experience with updating WordPress websites or a willingness to learn.

Responsibilities

• Provide administrative support in the post holder’s area of work.
• Prepare correspondence, reports, agendas and other documentation.
• Take and draft minutes of Executive Committee meetings, held in the evening (3–4 times a year).
• Support organisation of conferences, seminars, training and workshops.
• Acknowledge and log enquiries and log monthly WALC newsletter content.

Education

Relevant qualification

Tools

Microsoft Office 365

WordPress

Microsoft Teams

Zoom

Job description

Job Title: Local Councils’ Assistant

Hours: 10 hours per week – ideally split over three days, includes occasional evening and weekends

Salary: £6,993.11 gross per annum plus optional 7% employers pension contribution

Contract: Fixed term (March 31st 2027 with possible extension). Start date January 2026

Location: The role will be a combination of office and off‑site work, with some home working. Office based in Hopton Park, Devizes.

Supervisor: Wiltshire Association of Local Councils, Local County Advisor

Community First is a registered charity (288117) based in Devizes. As a member of Action with Communities in Rural England, we support communities across Wiltshire and Swindon. Our Patron is Her Majesty The Queen.

WALC supports and advises parish, town and city councils in Wiltshire and Swindon as they in turn support the communities in which they serve. Local Councils, as the first tier of local government, are in a position where they can really make things happen and make a difference in their communities.

WALC endeavours to support and encourage Local Councils by offering guidance, advice and training to councils in membership.

Due to the nature of the work, you will be required to undertake a satisfactory DBS check.

Main Responsibilities

• To provide assistance in meeting all administrative responsibilities within the post holder’s area of work.
• To prepare correspondence, reports, agendas and other documentation.
• To take and draft the minutes of Executive Committee meetings, which are generally held in the evening some three or four times a year.
• To support the organisation of conferences, seminars, training and workshops.
• To acknowledge and log incoming enquiries in the absence of the Local Councils’ Adviser, providing basic information where appropriate and ensuring timely referral or follow‑up.
• To support the compilations of the monthly newsletter to the WALC membership of news, advice and events.
• To carry out other work or contribute to projects which may support the local councils’ service.
• To provide cover for the Local Councils’ Adviser during periods of annual leave.

General Duties

• Support the Wiltshire Association of Local Councils and carry out other such general duties as determined by the WALC executive committee.
• Assume financial responsibility for own operational budget.
• Participate in the team working approach of Community First.
• Take responsibility for her / his own development, inform the line manager of any development needs and take part in prescribed development activities.
• Work within the agreed policies and procedures of Community First.
• Carry out such other general duties as shall be determined by the Deputy Chief Executive. Support other members of staff as required by the workload and by absences due to leave, sickness etc.
• Ensure that office security is maintained and confidences are not breached.

Community First is committed to Equal Opportunities and the post holder is expected to be familiar with the Equal Opportunities Policy and to complete his or her duties in a manner consistent with this policy.

Person Specification

Essential

• Relevant qualification or two years relevant experience.
• Understanding and experience of using Microsoft Office 365.
• Experience within the voluntary / community sector.
• Experience and/or understanding of updating WordPress websites or a willingness to learn.
• Understanding and experience of working with remote meeting platforms, such as Microsoft Teams and Zoom.
• Experience in delivering administration tasks in an office setting.
• Have an understanding of Local Councils and their roles within the community.
• Experience of how Parish and Town Councils work.
• Experience of organising physical and remote events and training courses.
• Experience of organising event booking systems.
• Experience of working with agendas and production of minutes of meetings.
• Experience in organising training courses.
• Ability to travel around the County.
• Well‑organised, confident and self‑motivated.
• Ability to set own priorities and meet deadlines.
• Ability to cope under pressure.
• Ability to keep confidences and act with tact and discretion.
• Tidy and well organised.
• Flexible approach to working hours and new areas of work.
• A desire and ability to work in a team setting.
• Good written and verbal communication skills.

Desirable

• Relevant qualification or two years relevant experience.
• Understanding and experience of using Microsoft Office 365.
• Experience within the voluntary / community sector.
• Experience and/or understanding of updating WordPress websites or a willingness to learn.
• Understanding and experience of working with remote meeting platforms, such as Microsoft Teams and Zoom.
• Experience in delivering administration tasks in an office setting.
• Have an understanding of Local Councils and their roles within the community.
• Experience of how Parish and Town Councils work.
• Experience of organising physical and remote events and training courses.
• Experience of organising event booking systems.
• Experience of working with agendas and production of minutes of meetings.
• Experience in organising training courses.
• Ability to travel around the County.
• Well‑organised, confident and self‑motivated.
• Ability to set own priorities and meet deadlines.
• Ability to cope under pressure.
• Ability to keep confidences and act with tact and discretion.
• Tidy and well organised.
• Flexible approach to working hours and new areas of work.
• A desire and ability to work in a team setting.
• Good written and verbal communication skills.

Registered Charity No. 288117.