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Football Development Officer – South London and Proud

1.         JOB DETAILS.

Title:                           Football Development Officer – South London and Proud

Location:                   Selhurst Park

Responsible to:        Sports Development Manager

Hours per Week:      38 hours

Contract:                    3 years fixed term

Salary:                     £22,000-£24,000 pa

2.         JOB PURPOSE

The Palace for Life Foundation is the official charity of Crystal Palace FC (CPFC). Our mission is to help young South Londoners grow through the power of sport, inspiring them to find a better path in life, for a better life.

We are currently looking for a highly-motivated development officer who believes in the power of sport and the opportunities which the brand of a professional football club can add to help to create stronger and more inclusive communities.

Focused on engaging with young men and women from Croydon’s diverse ethnic minority communities, your role will be to work collaboratively with Foundation colleagues and in partnership with local community organisations to promote football and other healthy activities and achieve greater representation in wider Foundation programmes, CPFC as our parent club and in football generally.

You can expect to help to receive the full support of an experienced management team which we hope can develop into a model of best practice with key outcomes including

·         Growth in children and young people from under-represented (Asian) backgrounds participating in community based sporting activities

·         Young People from different backgrounds participating in sport together

·         Young People who feel they have a stronger attachment to their neighbourhood and locality

·         Helping to create a more representative workforce and providing wider employment opportunities for young people within the wider community sports sector.

3.         GENERAL

Our Values are simply the things that are most important to us and will be demonstrated through the way in which we behave in achieving our charity objectives. Our people are at the centre of the delivery of our Foundation Values.

4.         SAFEGUARDING

The Palace for Life Foundation is committed to keeping children, young people and vulnerable adults safe from harm. We take our Safeguarding responsibilities very seriously and the successful candidate will be subject to Enhanced DBS checks and additional safeguarding training.

5.         MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES 

Project management: Reporting to the Sports Development Manager to carry out all activities associated with the delivery of the project including, project planning, supporting marketing and communications, ensuring the delivery of key project objectives, and preparing comprehensive monitoring reports back to the Premier League. There will be a project Board that will support and advise the officer and Sports Development Manager throughout the lifetime of the project.

Outreach and Engagement: to develop a plan of action for engaging local children and young people which includes drawing on the expertise, knowledge and networks of local community organisations and other sources of community intelligence to help shape and actively promote what our project is seeking to achieve.

Football and Community Sports Delivery: To develop an engaging programme of community sports, designed via community consultation with children and young people in order to identify activities, venues, days of the week and the times of the day to help achieve sustained participation by children and young people over the life of the project. Some of the delivery will take place over evenings and weekends in order to engage with the young people from those communities

 Integration to mainstream Foundation activities: Working with Foundation colleagues to develop innovative and successful best practice aimed at encouraging sustained participation in, and removing barriers to participation in wider Foundation funded community programmes, which could include:

·         Foundation soccer schools

·         Health

·         Premier League Kicks

·         Women and Girls

·         Disability

·         Employment

Progression Pathways: To work with Foundation colleagues to develop a menu of development opportunities for young people which includes volunteer development, workshops, personal development courses and accredited training in community sports.

Special events: To plan and organise a series of  events taking place at the main Selhurst Park stadium to provide opportunities to celebrate project successes and facilitating networking as well as coaching and career advisory events for coaches from Asian and BME backgrounds

The successful candidate will be required to have a sound understanding of the barriers faced by young people in accessing community and sport focussed projects particularly those from ethnic minority groups. We actively encourage applications from all sections of the community particularly those from Asian backgrounds

OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES

·         Work flexibly to ensure full and supportive delivery of the programme. May include some weekend or evening work.

·         Commit to ongoing self-directed learning in order to further develop work related skills and knowledge.

·         Undertake any other related responsibilities commensurate with the evolving objectives of the post and the evolution of the organisation.

·         Work with due regard for Foundation core values and objectives.

·         Ensure the effective implementation of, and adherence to the Foundation’s Equal Opportunities and Health and Safety policies and procedures.

HOW TO APPLY

Please send your completed Application Form detailing why you feel you are suitable for the role to recruitment@palaceforlife.org.

The Palace for Life Foundation is a recognised equal opportunities employer and positively encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of age, disability, sexual orientation, race, religion, belief and gender.

Deadline for submission of application forms is 5pm on Monday 5th April 2019.

Interviews w/c 15th April 2019.

Person Specification: E = Essential

D = Desirable

Able to demonstrate and communicate an understanding and passion in how community sports can engage young people, particularly from disadvantaged backgrounds. E
Able to demonstrate a knowledge and application of the principles of community development E
In depth knowledge of the composition and barriers which young people from Asian backgrounds face in participating in community life E
Able to demonstrate an understanding of the principles of project management E
Experience of successfully delivering projects which engage children and young people from Asian and other under-represented groups E
A recognised community sports qualification – FA Level 2 minimum E
Experience of working to tight deadlines without close supervision E
The ability to recognise opportunities to promote Palace for Life Foundation externally. E
Ability to communicate effectively and concisely both orally and in writing. E
Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to interact with all levels E
Evidence of continuing professional development E
Fluent or conversant in another language, in addition to English which is spoken widely within Croydon’s Asian and BME community D
Holds a driving licence D

Equality Statement:

Crystal Palace Football Club endorses the principle of equality and will strive to ensure that everyone who wishes to be involved in the club whether as players, match-day fans, staff, board members, participants in foundation programmes and other people engaged with the club’s activities (for example, suppliers, corporate partners):

Has a genuine and equal opportunity to participate to the full extent of their own ambitions and abilities, without regard to their age, disability, gender reassignment, marital or civil partnership status, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion and belief, sex or sexual orientation; and

Can be assured of an environment in which their rights, dignity and individual worth are respected, and in particular that they are able to enjoy their engagement at the club without the threat of intimidation, victimisation, harassment, bullying and abuse.

Safeguarding Statement:

Crystal Palace Football Club acknowledges its duty of care to safeguard and promote the welfare of children, and is committed to ensuring safeguarding practice reflects statutory requirements and responsibilities, government guidance, recognised best practice and complies with Premier league and football league rules.

The club expects all staff, players, volunteers, contractors and guests to share this commitment.

 

 

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