Ageing Creatively Rural Agent

Job Title**:Ageing Creatively Rural Agent**

Reports to: Ageing Creatively Coordinator

Hours: Part Time (18 hours a week)

**Salary**: £9,753 (£20,048 pro rata)

Closing date: Thursday 3 August, 12.00pm

Place of work: Corn Exchange Newbury (office) with a high percentage of time spent out in community settings

**Overview**

The Corn Exchange has been delivering its Ageing Creatively programme since 2016, becoming a core area of work for the organisation. Having received funding from the National Lottery Communities Fund (NLCF) in May 2021, for the continuation of delivery for 5 years, the programme has since expanded to focus more extensively on establishing creative activity with and for rural communities within West Berkshire and this role is a key part of that plan.

**Key Objectives**
- To schedule and deliver the Ageing Creatively Rural Programme, supporting the well-being, creative development and social inclusion of older people, in a number of community settings.
- To support the evaluation of the programme as directed by the Ageing Creatively Co-ordinator

**Main duties**

**Developing the programme**
- To consult with these rural communities in order to develop and deliver pilot activities to broaden the reach of the programme
- To deliver and co-ordinate an exciting arts programme for older people in rural localities, working with partners and community venues
- Engage the appropriate artists and practitioners for the delivery of the programme activity
- Develop and support a team of volunteers to embed into the programme

**Administration, consultation and evaluation**
- To maintain up to date project plans and project contact lists for all activities
- To work within specified budgets and keep accurate and up to date records
- To administrate artist and practitioner invoicing and contracting
- Collate and develop a database of key contacts supporting the work of older people; including artists, community partners
- To support the collection and collation of data for reporting
- Respond to enquiries about the ageing creatively programme in your rural locality
- Contribute material to the regular reporting and recording of the Learning and Participation team
- Monitor and keep detailed records of the Ageing Creatively programme including the timely payment of artists and practitioners

**Communication**
- Keep the Ageing Creatively Co-ordinator up to date on all aspects of the rural activity
- Promote the programme in a range of community settings using various methods including face to face meetings
- To develop the team of volunteers and partners to promote the programme in the specified this locality
- Ensure that the artists and practitioners working on the rural project are kept up to date about the project more broadly and the opportunities it presents.
- Collaborate with the wider Marketing team to help advocate for and promote Ageing Creatively to the local community.

**General**
- Work with Corn Exchange staff to ensure best possible service to all stakeholders
- Publicly represent the Corn Exchange in a prepared and professional manner
- Maintain confidentiality at all times
- Create a friendly and welcoming atmosphere for everyone involved in the project
- Work unsocial hours as required
- Perform any other duties that may be reasonably requested
- To be fully conversant with safeguarding and access policies and to work within their principles at all times.

**PERSONAL SPECIFICATION**

Key to this role is excellent organisational and interpersonal skills. Applicants should be able to demonstrate a high standard of written and verbal communication skills and should be passionate about issues related to the growth of the older population in the UK, the rights of older people to participate in society and inclusion in the arts in general.

**Key Attributes**
- Enjoy creating project plans to meet real community need
- Be passionate about engaging new participants and partner organisations in the arts
- Be passionate about widening inclusion in the arts
- Be pro-active and enthusiastic
- Have the ability to work flexibly around other commitments
- Be highly organized with excellent attention to detail
- Enjoy problem solving and developing creative solutions
- Be adaptable
- Enjoy having responsibility for a wide range of tasks
- Enjoy meeting and talking to new people of all backgrounds and interests
- Take a logical and practical approach to decision making
- Demand a high level of performance in themselves
- Be able to work under your own initiative and take responsibility for your actions

Essential Skills
- Experience of working in community arts and participation, or community focussed environment.
- Experience of project management in a creative environment
- Experience of delivering high quality projects for adult participants, preferably those over 55.
- An understanding of inclusive and socially engaged practice
- An understanding of project budgeting
- Full, clean drivers