PROJECTS OFFICER (Love Your Neighbour)

Salary £25,000 + monthly travel card

ABOUT THE CHARITY

Manchester Cares is a community network of young professionals and older neighbours

hanging out and helping one another in our rapidly changing city.

Our objectives are to tackle the growing plight of isolation and loneliness not just
amongst older people but also amongst young Mancunians; to help improve the
confidence, resilience, skills, connection and power of all participants so that older and
younger neighbours alike can better navigate the modern world; and to bring people
together to bridge widening social, generational, digital, cultural and attitudinal
divides.

We do this because in the context of globalisation, gentrification, digitisation and urban

transience Manchester has become a place of social extremes. Our city is home to some
of the best connected people in Britain – high flying graduates working in law, PR,
media, finance, etc – living directly alongside some of the most isolated, with particular
challenges to do with ageing, loneliness, depression and anxiety.

The result is that older people often have deep roots in their communities, but few
connections, while young professionals often have hundreds of connections but no
roots. That disconnect wastes human potential, perpetuates social division, entrenches
isolation and is ultimately corrosive for our society.

In a dynamic city like ours, clearly these two groups have so much to gain from one
another – in shared time, laughter, new experiences and, especially, friendship.

Manchester Cares therefore seeks to harness the people and places around us and to
mobilise a new generation of young professionals to build relationships and share
experiences with our older neighbours in a variety of fun, authentic ways. We speak the
language of younger and older people alike – and make interaction on a personal level
mutually accessible, sociable, rewarding and fun.

We achieve that vision through the constant development of programmes that people can
relate to and enjoy. At the cross-section of the public, private and community sectors we
work with local authorities, voluntary and community groups, businesses and individuals
to identify isolation where it occurs and to create new opportunities for older and
younger neighbours to share time. The majority of the older people who are part of our
network live alone, may not naturally have wide social networks, and love and look
forward to new experiences with their younger friends.

Specifically, we operate four programmes. Our Love Your Neighbour programme

matches young professionals and older neighbours to spend time together one-to-one,
Manchester Cares is the public name for MCR Cares Limited (registered company, no.10893107; registered charity,
no.1176902).
often in people's homes, to improve the life experiences of all parties and help bring
some of the outside world in for older people who may struggle to get out. Neighbours
build relationships on their own terms, enjoy meals together, and often become long-
standing friends.

Meanwhile, our Social Clubs are group activities bringing people together in community
centres, cafes, pubs, parks and local businesses to share time, laughter and cultural
exchange. Regular clubs include film nights, ‘Desert Island Discs’ evenings, ‘back to
work’ business visits and themed get-togethers like summer BBQs.

Third, our Outreach work identifies people at risk of isolation in our communities pro-
actively through innovative ongoing campaigns. Our Winter Wellbeing project, for
example, supports older neighbours through multiple interactions and interventions to
stay warm, active and connected through the most isolating time of the year.

Finally, our Community Fundraising offers another chance for younger and older
neighbours to contribute to their community network. Through individual physical
challenges including marathons, triathlons and Tough Mudders as well as events,
corporate partnerships, digital campaigns, regular donations and more, local people
support Manchester Cares in a variety of exciting ways.

ABOUT THIS ROLE

In this brand new position in this new charity which opened in 2017, you will work closely
with our Programmes Coordinator to develop, deepen and expand our Love Your
Neighbour programme across the City of Manchester. You will meet hundreds of
older people and young professionals, create friendships across the generations, support
those friendships to deepen and thrive, and ensure our safeguarding, records and
storytelling procedures are upheld to the highest standards.

You will be introducing yourself to older neighbours in various circumstances – from the
most active, outgoing, fun-loving 90-somethings to people with huge and complex
challenges navigating complicated situations. You will need diligently and warmly to
articulate Manchester Cares’ vision and the aims and objectives of our Love Your
Neighbour programme so that all participants – including older and younger neighbours,
family members, health agencies, councils and other partners – understand the role we
play.

And you will need to support those neighbours to get the most out of their mutually
beneficial relationships – through our check-in processes, regular reviews, informal
encouragement, digital storytelling and other reporting requirements, so that Manchester
Cares continues to grow and the relationships we build continue to thrive.

You will be required to build our Love Your Neighbour programme from the ground up,
creating referral pathways, making matches and allowing us to support one-to-one
friendships between older and younger neighbours across the city.

This is a special post in a special charity. We are a young and rapidly developing
organisation with the benefits of the security, support and platform provided by major
backers including Nesta, The Big Lottery and Esmée Fairbairn Foundation.

Manchester Cares is the public name for MCR Cares Limited (registered company, no.10893107; registered charity,
no.1176902).
When you join our team, you will work predominantly from our vibrant, shared office
complex in Ancoats on the edge of the city centre. But you will also regularly be out in
the community, meeting older neighbours joining the network for the first time, hosting
evening inductions for new volunteers, making matches in people’s homes, working with
colleagues across Manchester Cares, and holding meetings with various referral
organisations and other partners key to the successful delivery of the Love Your
Neighbour programme and our overall vision.

We therefore need someone who understands and is motivated by the demographics

and social challenges of our city and the issues we work on – and in particular who is
passionate about people and can clearly promote our vision of building friendships
across traditional divides in order to reduce isolation and loneliness in Manchester.

So we’re looking for someone who can talk to and relate to people from all
backgrounds, no matter their circumstances – someone equally comfortable discussing
illness and isolation with a 95-year-old housebound neighbour as they are talking about
work and weddings with a 25-year-old volunteer.

ABOUT YOU

The ideal candidate to join Manchester Cares as Projects Officer (Love Your Neighbour)
will have a track record and a great manner working with people. You will have
experience working in the community and dealing with multiple tasks, sensitivities and
challenges at the same time.

You will also be diligent with procedures – ensuring our vital records are kept up-to-
date, reviews are conducted and stories of the power of the relationships you create are
widely shared.

We are therefore looking for a creative, enterprising individual, with a natural confidence
with people combined with resilience and focus. You will be outgoing, full of energy and
determination; professional with an organised approach, a clear, authentic
communication style and an intrinsic understanding of the power of networks and
community in all their forms, including digital media. The stand out candidate will also
have deep knowledge of and a passion for the unique communities and culture of
Manchester’s changing neighbourhoods.

Crucially, we need a real people-person: someone who can build authentic relationships
across our network of young professionals and older neighbours, whilst also working with
health agencies, councils and other groups vital to the success of Manchester Cares’
vision. We also need a numbers person: someone who is methodical, target focused
and unwilling to give up.

And we need a self-starter: someone committed, tough, and focused working alone as
well as in teams; who is passionate about developing and improving Manchester Cares’
Love Your Neighbour programme over the coming years.

In return, you will be trusted to work dynamically and independently in this exciting
young charity, with a growing profile and backing from major local and national partners.
You will also be provided with development challenges and opportunities, professional
Manchester Cares is the public name for MCR Cares Limited (registered company, no.10893107; registered charity,
no.1176902).
support from our Programmes Coordinator and ever-growing networks to play a lasting,
transformative role in the development of the “Cares” vision and family.

LOGISTICS

For more information or to apply please send a CV and covering letter to

tess.young@manchestercares.org.uk, demonstrating why you are right for this role.

• Applications should be received no later than 5pm on Thursday 22nd March

2018.

• First round interviews will take place on Tuesday 27th and Wednesday 28th March,
with call backs for second interviews on Wednesday 4th April and a start as soon
as possible thereafter.

Please read the full job specification below for further information.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Working directly with Manchester Cares’ Programmes Coordinator, and also with our
CEO, Director of Operations, Projects Officer for Social Clubs and our fundraising team at
both Manchester Cares and our sister charities North London Cares and South London
Cares, you will:

• Be responsible for establishing, delivering and sustaining Manchester Cares’ Love

Your Neighbour programme;

• Induct, prepare, assess and safeguard both older neighbours and young
professional volunteers interested in having a Love Your Neighbour friend;

• Communicate professionally and warmly with our third party referral partners in
local authorities, health agencies and community organisations as well as with
members of the public;

• Connect new Love Your Neighbour friends during regular working hours, and also
during evenings and weekends (with time off in lieu);

• Manage the creation and distribution of our monthly email communications with
regular Love Your Neighbour volunteers;

• Communicate regularly with our older neighbours, on the telephone, in writing and
in person, including in people’s homes and in the community;

• Communicate regularly with volunteers, on the telephone, in writing and in person,

enabling and encouraging them to feel engaged, committed and supported;

• Support older neighbours with ad hoc tasks to enhance their wellbeing and
prevent further isolation, including liaising with statutory and health services to gain
access to specific support where required;

Manchester Cares is the public name for MCR Cares Limited (registered company, no.10893107; registered charity,
no.1176902).
 • Create regular and appealing digital content to help build our public profile –
applying knowledge of blast email, Twitter, YouTube, Facebook and CRM systems
– and populate Manchester Cares’ website regularly;

• Support other Manchester Cares team members to build and sustain vital
partnerships across the City of Manchester;

• Keep our databases, records and CRM tools constantly up-to-date;

• Support the delivery of our regular volunteer inductions and social gatherings, to
make our network as inclusive and welcoming as possible;

• Be agile to the dynamism required of a fast-growing charity, seizing new

opportunities to further our reach and impact as they arise.

SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES

This is a varied and fast-moving role, the success of which will depend on your tenacity,
passion and empathy – and your ability to support multiple relationships at the same
time. We are therefore looking for a true people-person with strong organisational skills
who will welcome a challenging and flexible role. Specifically, you will:

• Lead our Love Your Neighbour programme and also support the delivery of other
activities, working closely with the rest of our staff team and especially our
Programmes Coordinator;

• Communicate with volunteers, in person, by email, telephone, text and via other
social media, to inspire, enable and organise people to participate in the Love Your
Neighbour programme;

• Administer our vital and comprehensive records which contain data on

interactions, relationships and group activities Manchester Cares runs;

• Build at least 20 Love Your Neighbour friendships by September 2018 – and more
over subsequent months –, while sustaining quality and being attentive to the need
for innovative and sensitive problem solving when challenges arise;

• Maintain positive relationships with all volunteers and older neighbours engaged in
Love Your Neighbour, through building trust and emotionally intelligent
communication;

• Work with partners across the public, private and community sectors – receiving
referrals from local authorities, health professionals and other sources,
communicating with our internal team, and delivering outcomes for neighbours,
volunteers and Manchester Cares as a whole;

• Create colourful, powerful communications – digital content including blogs,

YouTube videos, Instagram images, diary pages, Facebook and Twitter posts,
case studies and blast emails; plus content such as posters, newsletters,
programmes and flyers – to facilitate the delivery of Love Your Neighbour;

Manchester Cares is the public name for MCR Cares Limited (registered company, no.10893107; registered charity,
no.1176902).
 • Present on Manchester Cares’ purpose and core activities to existing and potential
partners in the community – including to potential new groups of older neighbours
and volunteers;

DESIRABLE SKILLS

• You are charismatic, fun, warm, approachable, self-starting, confident, outgoing,

creative, sensitive, determined, ambitious, flexible, resilient, discreet, organised
and professional;

• You have experience working in a small or medium sized organisation and are
comfortable working alone as well as in a team;

• You’re an authentic, high-quality communicator and storyteller – with the ability to

build relationships with diverse groups and individuals effectively and
appropriately, from young professionals to older neighbours, and key local and
national partners (through written as well as verbal communications);

• You have a good understanding of the culture and socio-economic challenges

facing Manchester – and can relate to and build relationships with people from all
backgrounds;

• You have excellent skills and knowledge of using various common online and
office tools to enhance efficiency and improve results.

REQUIRED

• You are outgoing and confident working with a full spectrum of people – and you
encapsulate the “Cares” ethos by relating to young professionals and older
neighbours simultaneously;

• You are professionally agile, and able to adapt to the rapidly changing needs of a
small but growing charity operating in a volatile time;

• You have high quality written and verbal skills, and are confident creating
important materials to promote Manchester Cares’ work externally;

• You have the flexibility to work an average of six evenings and occasional
weekends each month in order to deliver your work, with time off provided in lieu;

• You are able to obtain a clear CRB/DBS certification (provided).

Manchester Cares is the public name for MCR Cares Limited (registered company, no.10893107; registered charity,
no.1176902).