Village Agent

Community Futures; Preston; Remote; GBP 18,000 - 22,000; Part time

Job summary

Community Futures is seeking Village Agents to work in rural Lancashire, providing early help, linking residents with local groups and services, and supporting independence and wellbeing in communities. Role entails visiting households, building networks with community groups and small businesses, promoting micro-provision, and recording activities in the service database.

Term is fixed until 30 June 2027 with flexible hours up to 16 per week, mainly weekdays, home-based in Rufford, Mawdesley

Qualifications

• Village Agents must be self-motivated, organised and flexible, with strong interpersonal skills and a genuine commitment to helping people maintain independence and stay engaged in their communities.

Responsibilities

• Making contact with people referred into the service, as well as identifying people requiring support through local contacts and networks, and arranging to meet them in their homes or other suitable locations.
• Discussing individual circumstances to understand needs, risks of isolation, and opportunities for early support.
• Providing practical, non-specialist assistance where appropriate during visits.
• Linking people with local groups, activities, statutory services and voluntary organisations that can help prevent, reduce or delay the need for more formal support.
• Building relationships with community groups, parish councils, local volunteers and small local businesses to maintain up-to-date knowledge of what is available locally.
• Identifying relevant opportunities and promoting Village Agents in person at events in the community. 7. Instigating or supporting community activity where needed — for example, helping to set up a coffee morning, encouraging local meet-ups, or connecting small businesses with each other to strengthen informal support networks.
• Identifying individuals who may be interested in receiving or providing micro-provision services and signposting them to Lancashire County Council.
• Sharing and promoting other relevant services and activities being delivered by Community Futures upon request.
• Recording details of support, community connections and local intelligence and using the service database to support monitoring, evaluation and continual improvement.

Job description

Community Futures is the Rural Community Council for Lancashire and the only charitable organisation dedicated to rural community support and development in the county.

Village Agents are embedded in rural communities and act as trusted local contacts for people who may be isolated, unsure where to turn, or beginning to experience challenges that could lead to increased health or social care needs. The role focuses on early help: understanding people’s circumstances, helping them stay connected, and linking them with local groups, activities and services that can improve wellbeing and independence.

Alongside this one-to-one support, Village Agents play an active role in strengthening local networks. This includes helping to spark community activity where gaps exist, encouraging local participation, and connecting small local businesses - such as carers, cleaners, gardeners or mobile hairdressers - so that communities have a clearer picture of who may need help and who can offer it. Village Agents also support Lancashire County Council’s work to grow micro-provision by identifying people who may be interested in setting up small, community-based adult social care services.

Village Agents must be self-motivated, organised and flexible, with strong interpersonal skills and a genuine commitment to helping people maintain independence and stay engaged in their communities.

Pay: £13.36 per hour

Hours: Flexible hours (up to 16 hours per week), mainly weekdays, occasional evening meetings

Location: Home working, based within Rufford, Mawdesley and Croston

Term: Fixed term until 30 June 2027

Key responsibilities

1. Making contact with people referred into the service, as well as identifying people requiring support through local contacts and networks, and arranging to meet them in their homes or other suitable locations.

2. Discussing individual circumstances to understand needs, risks of isolation, and opportunities for early support.

3. Providing practical, non-specialist assistance where appropriate during visits.

4. Linking people with local groups, activities, statutory services and voluntary organisations that can help prevent, reduce or delay the need for more formal support.

5. Building relationships with community groups, parish councils, local volunteers and small local businesses to maintain up-to-date knowledge of what is available locally.

6. Identifying relevant opportunities and promoting Village Agents in person at events in the community. 7. Instigating or supporting community activity where needed — for example, helping to set up a coffee morning, encouraging local meet-ups, or connecting small businesses with each other to strengthen informal support networks.

8. Identifying individuals who may be interested in receiving or providing micro-provision services and signposting them to Lancashire County Council.

9. Sharing and promoting other relevant services and activities being delivered by Community Futures upon request.

10. Recording details of support, community connections and local intelligence and using the service database to support monitoring, evaluation and continual improvement.