Reporting to: Afrikindness Parent Team Lead
Location: Bradford
Hours: 15 hours per week, 12-month fixed term. Flexible working negotiable.
About Afrikindness
Afrikindness is an award-winning charity dedicated to breaking cultural and racial barriers to foster inclusion, social harmony, and equal opportunities for children, young people, and families from diverse ethnic communities. Founded to address the challenges of racial marginalization, social exclusion, and cultural misunderstandings, Afrikindness focuses on advancing education through social-emotional development and fostering positive racial identity.
Role Description
Working in partnership with Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust, we are seeking to provide better understanding, insights and connections with the African communities in and around Bradford. The role will seek to build relationships with these communities with a goal of developing, planning and coordinating a community event to be held in 2025. At the end of this programme, there will be an expected impact report to be disseminated and shared with stakeholders – highlighting lessons learnt, and informing any future developments.
Role Overview: The Community Engagement Officer will play a critical role in working closely with Afrikindness and establishing relationships with key community leaders and organisations representing African and black communities. They will also jointly work with the Research Engagement, and Young Dynamos Teams of Bradford District Care Trust. Links will be made with schools, community and faith groups, and exploring the adaptability of the “research education and engagement model”.
The role will seek to understand barriers, stereotypes and stigma these communities may have with regards to Mental Health, Dementia and Learning Difficulties Research.
Key Responsibilities:
1. Map and analyse the African and black communities within Bradford and the surrounding region.
2. Engage with these communities and assess the adaptability of the Education and Engagement Model – gathering any feedback on cultural barriers and considerations.
3. Liaise with Bradford District Care’s Research Engagement team and engage with the Young Dynamos Team.
4. Liaise with the Afrikindness Research team to engage the African and black communities within Bradford and the surrounding region.
5. Recruit parents and community representatives to establish the Afrikindness Community Empowerment Programme within Bradford.
6. Design, plan and coordinate a joint community event supporting the Afrikindness Community Empowerment Programme, with a session to help highlight research in support of the broader mental health programme.
7. Prepare an impact report and any presentations at the end of the programme of work that clearly communicate any findings to a variety of stakeholders, including community leaders and partner organisations.
8. Conduct data collection and analysis, working closely with trustees and evaluation managers.
9. Support and attend Afrikindness team meetings and events within Bradford and the surrounding region.
Person Specification
Time Commitment: This is a 12-month schedule commencing upon appointment, working 15 hours per week with the community event to be held within 2025.
What You Bring:
1. A broad understanding of Mental Health, ideally with a focus on social sciences, public health, or a related research field.
2. Experience or a keen interest in parenting, social cohesion, neurodiversity, community health, or minority issues and expertise and experience in research and evaluation gained in a professional or academic setting.
3. Excellent IT, analytical and communication skills.
4. A collaborative spirit and a commitment to making a difference in the community.
5. A willingness to travel across the region, ideally with access to your own transport.
6. Cultural understanding of the communities we work with.
What We Offer:
1. A unique opportunity to contribute to enhancing our understanding of, and engagement with communities within the region from children and young persons, parents and community leaders.
2. The chance to work alongside professionals within Afrikindness and Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust.
3. A supportive and dynamic working environment.
Qualities:
1. A quick learner with a positive can-do attitude.
2. Self-motivated and an ability to use own initiative.
3. Able to work well with a diverse team which includes staff and volunteers.
4. Hard working, responsible and reliable.
How to Apply:
Submit your CV and cover letter to info@afrikindness.org
Rolling interviews will be conducted with Afrikindness Parent Team Lead and NHS Bradford Research Team.
Apply Now!
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