Post: TryZone Project Co-ordinator
Hours: 15 hours per week (including some evenings and weekends). Please note, this position is a fixed term contract until 31 July 2026. It is hoped funding will be secured to extend the role beyond the contract end date.
Post holder would be required to be available on the following days as part of their hours:
- Tuesday - 3.20pm - 4.50pm
- Wednesday - 3.20pm - 4.50pm
- Thursday - 3.20pm - 4.50pm
- Friday - 1pm - 4pm
Remaining hours will be agreed with the successful candidate.
Salary: £26,325 pro rata (15 hours per week)
Base: The Trust is based at Strathmore Rugby Club in Forfar with hybrid working model.
In partnership with Strathmore Cricket Club, Strathmore Community Rugby Trust has an opportunity for a part-time project co-ordinator to join our team to focus on the TryZone projects and we invite qualified and/or experienced individuals to submit an application.
Strathmore Community Rugby Trust was founded in June 2017 and based in Forfar, Angus, the purpose of Strathmore Community Rugby Trust (The Trust) is the advancement of participation in rugby union and rugby league. We achieve this through our community rugby projects which include a Rugby Academy for secondary school pupils, Walking Rugby for those who wish a slower, non-contact version of the game, an inclusive rugby team for adults with learning disabilities and Autism-Friendly Rugby for primary aged children with Autism. All our projects are designed to meet our vision of 'Developing People Through Rugby.'
We are an ambitious local charity who have grown significantly in recent years. We now run nine projects across six days each week. We employ two full time staff, three part time staff and around twelve sessional coaches. We also have many volunteers who support the running of our projects.
Strathmore Cricket Club is a community run sports club that places a high priority on making a contribution to community life in Forfar and surrounding area. It does this through its inclusive cricket programme, catering for people of all abilities and ages, and more targeted initiatives that focus on particular population groups and use the sport of cricket and the club's facilities to help meet their needs.
This project is a partnership between Strathmore Community Rugby Trust (SCRT) and Strathmore Cricket Club (SCC). The post holder will be employed by SCRT, adhering to their policies and procedures and line management will sit with the SCRT Manager.
This is a new role, to co-ordinate the projects that have been running since 2023. The projects were established in response to the data around anti-social and risk-taking behaviour being presented on Friday afternoon and evening at the Loch in Forfar. Using the Planet Youth model, the projects aim to provide leisure-time activities as a protective factor and early intervention for local young people.
After a successful pilot year, we have secured funding for a further year. We are hopeful that the project will continue and you will play a key role in working with our Grant Funding Officer to provide relevant data and case studies to support future funding applications.
You will be a self-motivated and proactive team player who will lead on the co-ordination and development of our Planet Youth offering.
The successful applicant will have the ability to collaborate with the Angus Planet Youth Coalition, identifying key priorities for the area and feeding these back to SCRT and SCC.
As we pride ourselves on being person-centred, an understanding of the additional needs of marginalised groups, in particular people with learning disabilities, and the power sport (in particular rugby) has to enhance people's lives is highly desirable. However, training in this area would be available for the right candidate.
If you wish to be considered for the position, please submit a CV with a cover letter outlining your suitability for the role to:
Maggie Lawrie, Community Trust Manager via coordinator@strathmoretrust.co.uk
Any queries regarding the role should also be directed to the Community Trust Manager.
Closing Date: 12 noon on Friday, 17th October. Interviews are scheduled to take place on Friday 31st October.
Equality
Strathmore Community Rugby Trust endorses the principle of sports equality and will endeavour, through our policies, procedures, actions, and decision-making, to ensure that no person (employee, volunteer, or participant) who is part of, or who comes into contact with, Strathmore Community Rugby Trust receives less favourable treatment on the grounds of race, gender, disability, sexual orientation, religion, age, or social background.
We encourage applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates irrespective of their gender, ethnicity, religion, belief, or sexual orientation.
Job Description
Purpose & Scope:
The TryZone Project is a partnership led by the Strathmore Community Rugby Trust (SCRT) and Strathmore Cricket Club (SCC), with valuable support from Angus Active Schools and Angus Council Vibrant Communities. The Project Co-ordinator will play a key role in delivering and organising activities within this collaboration, ensuring they contribute to SCRT's vision of "Developing People Through Rugby" and align with the strategic aims and values of both SCC and SCRT.
The Project Co-ordinator will lead on the development and co-ordination of the projects, using the Planet Youth model to support young people from Forfar. While the model is built on four protective factors, this project prioritises the leisure time element, working collaboratively with multi-agency partners to address the remaining three.
Evidence shows that engaging children and young people through preventative approaches from an early age can reduce risk-taking behaviours. This project responds directly to the needs of young people at key transition stages by focusing on two main areas:
- Primary Schools - Working across three primary schools in Forfar, after-school sessions are delivered in partnership with other agencies, providing sporting opportunities to around 30 young people per week at each school.
- Secondary Schools - On Friday afternoons, when schools in Angus close at lunchtime, sessions are delivered at Forfar Community Campus in collaboration with multi-agency partners, engaging around 30 young people per week.
The post holder will be employed by SCRT, adhering to its policies and procedures, with line management provided by the SCRT Manager. Planning for the project is a shared responsibility between SCRT and SCC, and the Project Co-ordinator will play a key role in leading the joint approach across both charities and their projects.
Principal Duties & Responsibilities:
- Engage young people in local communities, building positive relationships and developing sustainable community connections.
- In conjunction with colleagues, recruit and register young people for TryZone projects, ensuring inclusive participation.
- Plan, co-ordinate, and deliver community-based sports programmes in collaboration with the wider team and young people across Primary and Secondary School TryZone Projects, supporting young people's development and wellbeing.
- Work collaboratively with colleagues, partners and volunteers to ensure smooth delivery of the Projects.
- Represent SCRT and SCC professionally to external partners, both new and existing.
- Build and maintain operational connections with partners in the Angus Planet Youth Coalition.
- In collaboration with colleagues and partners, monitor, evaluate, and report on project activities, collecting data and case studies to demonstrate the impact of the Planet Youth model and support the development of future action plans.
- Support programme development in line with SCRT's and SCC's charitable purposes, increasing participation in healthy recreation across Forfar.
- Promote and embed the community ethos of rugby and cricket among project participants, staff, and volunteers.
- Assist with communications, including creating, organising, and delivering content for social media, ensuring updates are timely, accurate, and appropriate.
- Undertake any other reasonable duties as required.
Skills, Knowledge & Experience:
Essential
- Understanding of SCRT and SCC values, and ability to work in line with them.
- Knowledge of community learning and development approaches and how sport can be used to promote healthy lifestyles and lifelong participation
- Minimum 1 year's experience delivering person centred community-based youth or grassroots sport programmes.
- Experience facilitating group youth work sessions, applying youth work principles in practice.
- Experience managing challenging behaviour and supporting young people to build positive relationships.
- Understanding of child protection and safeguarding, with confidence in following reporting procedures.
- Experience carrying out risk assessments to ensure safe programme delivery.
- Strong communication skills, both verbal and written.
- Good IT skills, including Microsoft Office 365.
- Self-motivated, with the ability to plan and co-ordinate sessions using own initiative.
Desirable
- An understanding of the Planet Youth model and preventative strategies in youth work and sport.
- Experience working in partnership with multi-agency organisations.
- Experience in sports coaching or youth leadership, particularly in rugby or cricket.
- Knowledge of the support agencies available to young people locally
- Experience of working with young people with physical, sensory, or cognitive disabilities.
- Experience designing and delivering engaging activities aimed at developing skills for everyday life
- Experience of facilitating group-based discussion with young people.
- Experience collecting data and conducting monitoring and evaluation.
- Knowledge of the local area and surrounding communities.
Qualifications:
Essential:
- A recognised qualification in youth work, community learning and development, sports coaching, education, or equivalent (minimum SCQF Level 6/7) or qualified by experience.
- Current PVG (Protecting Vulnerable Groups) Scheme membership or willingness to obtain this prior to starting the role
- Training in child protection and safeguarding or willingness to undertake this.
Desirable:
- Sports coaching qualifications (e.g. UKCC Level 1/2 in rugby, cricket, or another sport).
- Training or certification in mental health awareness (e.g. Mental Health First Aid, ASIST, or equivalent).
- First Aid certificate (Emergency First Aid at Work or equivalent).
Other:
Essential:
- Essential qualities: reliability, flexibility, creativity, trustworthy and resilient.
- Demonstrates and encourages healthy lifestyle choices.
- Willingness to undertake CPD in line with the development requirements of the role.
Desirable:
- Full driving license (with access to own vehicle for business purposes).