Project Worker 2 - Community Engagement

BARNARDO'S; Newtownabbey; On-site; GBP 29,000 - 33,000; Part time

Job summary

Barnardo's in Newtownabbey is recruiting a Project Worker 2 – Community Engagement to inspire and enable change in local communities. The role focuses on children, young people, parents, schools and partner agencies, working with the THRiVE team to coordinate engagement activities and campaigns.

The post is part-time (30 hours per week) and term-time only (42 weeks per year) with a focus on community voice, social media outreach and partnership building.

Qualifications

• Demonstrable experience of working with children, young people and/or families in community settings.
• Experience working with agencies such as schools, youth work, health or community groups.
• Experience using communication and social media channels to engage audiences.

Responsibilities

• Enable Community Champions by recruiting and supporting local champions to amplify voices in the community and schools.
• Support the WE CAN campaign across channels to promote aspiration and achievement.

Skills

Community engagement

Social media engagement

Stakeholder collaboration

Job description

We are looking to recruit a dynamic individual to join the THRiVE collaboration team. This person will be committed and energetic in inspiring and enabling community change.

This role will focus on working with children, young people, parents, schools, community organisations and statutory services, along with the THRiVE Co-ordinator and team, to:-

EnableCommunity Champions

• Recruit and support local Children, Youth and Parent Champions to bring change in their community and facilitate space and audience for their voice and influence.
• Recruit and support Community Champions in community groups and schools to equip them to promote aspirational messages in their settings, engage in THRiVE sub-groups and influence community change.

Enable WE CAN campaign

• Support the implementation of an area-wide WE CAN campaign to promote aspiration and achievement – WE CAN Learn, WE CAN Be well and WE CAN Be Connected through the effective use of social media channels, THRiVE website, merchandise, advertising, awards ceremony, events, competitions etc

This role is 30 hours per week, working term time only (42 weeks per year).

A waiting list of Reserve candidates will be held in the event that similar vacancies arise during the next 12 months.

We would particularly welcome applications from candidates with lived experience of communities facing socio-economic challenges, who are 'experts by experience', and have the necessary requirements as set out in the Essential Criteria.

Applicants must demonstrate how they meet the Essential criteria outlined in the Additional Information Sheet when completing the application form.

• Demonstrable experience (paid or voluntary) of working with children, young people and/or families in community settings.
• Demonstrable experience (paid or voluntary) of working with agencies such as schools, youth work, health, community groups.
• Demonstrable experience of use of communication and social media channels to engage audiences.

Successful candidates will be required to undertake an Enhanced Child Barred List Access NI check.

*T&C's apply based on contract

• Reference number:23827
• Job Title:Project Worker 2 - Community Engagement
• Location:Newtownabbey
• Locality:Newtownabbey
• Contract type:Permanent
• Hours:30
• Salary:£28,867 - £32,786 (FTE) (£21,833.77 - £24,953.54 Pro-rata))
• Closing Date:20 October 2026
• Interview Date:W/C 26th October 2026

Additional Info

• Barnardo's Workplace Offer Visual Summary.pdf (27.58 KB)
• Recruitment of Ex-Offenders Policy Dec 2024.pdf (164.07 KB)
• Project Worker 2 - Job Description and Person Specification.pdf (262.63 KB)
• Storage Handling Retention and Disposal of Disclosure Policy Northern Ireland 2023.pdf (162.93 KB)
• AccessNI Revised Code of Practice.pdf (71.58 KB)
• AccessNI Privacy Notice - May 2025.pdf (141.60 KB)
• Additional Information Sheet - Project Worker 2 - Community Engagement October 2026.pdf (182.63 KB)