PROGRAMME COORDINATOR (Love Your Neighbour)

Salary 24,000 + monthly travel card

ABOUT THE CHARITY
North London Cares and our sister charity South London Cares are community
networks of young professionals and older neighbours hanging out and helping one
another in our rapidly changing capital city.
Our objectives are to tackle the growing plight of isolation and loneliness not just
amongst older people but also amongst young Londoners; to help improve the
confidence, resilience, skills and connection 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 and attitudinal divides.
We do this because in the context of globalisation, gentrification, digitisation, migration
and the housing bubble London has become a place of social extremes. The boroughs in
which we work Camden and Islington contain 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.
The Cares model 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 three core programmes. Our Love Your Neighbour programme
matches young professionals and older neighbours to spend time together one-to-one,
North London Cares is the public name for NL Cares Limited, a UK registered company number 07737818 and UK
registered charity number 1153137.

often in people's homes and community locations, to improve the life experiences of all
parties. 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 dances, film nights, podcasting clubs, back to work
trips and themed get-togethers like Grand National Day and summer BBQs.
Finally, our Outreach work identifies 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, healthy
and connected through the most isolating time of the year. In five years of delivering this
ambitious project North London Cares has knocked on over 15,000 doors, held 8,300
face-to-face conversations with older neighbours, made 1,000 direct interventions and
distributed 124 small grants.
ABOUT THIS ROLE
In your new role as Programme Coordinator (Love Your Neighbour) at North London
Cares, you will work closely with our Head of Programmes and the rest of our dedicated
team to develop, deepen and expand our Love Your Neighbour work. You will meet
hundreds of older people and young professionals, create friendships across the
generations including in local peoples homes, support those friendships to deepen and
thrive, and ensure our safeguarding, records and storytelling procedures are upheld to
the highest standards.
You will be introduced to older neighbours in various circumstances from the most
active, outgoing fun-loving 90-somethings to people with huge and complex
challenges navigating a complicated world. You will need to diligently and warmly
articulate North London 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 North
London Cares continues to grow and the relationships we build continue to thrive.
Currently, we support 50 one-to-one friendships through the programme. In the next year
and beyond, we know we can do more, ultimately doubling the number of people who
are enjoying rich, meaningful interactions across social and generational lines in Camden
and Islington.
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 and the Big Lottery, Mercers Company, international
corporations and our partner councils.
North London Cares is the public name for NL Cares Limited, a UK registered company number 07737818 and UK
registered charity number 1153137.

When you join our team, you will work predominantly from our private office in a vibrant,
shared office complex very close to Euston and Warren Street. But this is not an office
job anything but: you will also regularly be out in the community, meeting older
neighbours joining the community network for the first time, hosting evening inductions
for new volunteers, making matches in peoples homes, working with colleagues across
North London Cares and South London Cares too, 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 home boroughs and the issues we work on and in
particular who is passionate about people and can clearly promote our vision for
building friendships across traditional divides in order to tackle isolation and loneliness in
those boroughs.
We are 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 older neighbour as they are talking about work
and weddings with a 25-year-old colleague.
ABOUT YOU
The ideal candidate to join North London Cares as Programme Coordinator (Love Your
Neighbour) will have a track record and a great manner working with people. You will
have an honest, open yet discreet personality and experience working in the community
and dealing with multiple tasks, sensitivities and challenges at the same time.
You will also be diligent with procedures and records ensuring our vital databases
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 north
Londons 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 the Cares vision. We
also need a numbers person: someone who is methodical, target focused, organised
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 further developing and improving North London
Cares Love Your Neighbour programme over the coming years and in a challenging
environment.
North London Cares is the public name for NL Cares Limited, a UK registered company number 07737818 and UK
registered charity number 1153137.

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
support from our Head of Programmes 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
alex.smith@northlondoncares.org.uk, demonstrating why you are right for this role.

Applications should be received no later than 5pm on Thursday September 15th

2016.

First round interviews will take place from Monday September 19th, with call backs
for second interviews from September 26th and a start as soon as possible
thereafter.

Please read the full job specification below for further information.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Working directly with North London Cares experienced Head of Programmes, and also
with our CEO, other Programme Coordinators and our fundraising team across both
North London Cares and our sister charity South London Cares, you will:

Be responsible for delivering and sustaining North London Cares Love Your
Neighbour programme as a whole;

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, community organisations as well as with
members of the public;

Connect new Love Your Neighbour friends during regular working hours, and also
on an average eight evenings and one weekend day per month (with time off in
lieu);

Manage the creation and distribution of our monthly email updates and asks to
regular Love Your Neighbour volunteers;

Communicate regularly with our older neighbours, on the telephone, in writing and
in person, including in peoples 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;

North London Cares is the public name for NL Cares Limited, a UK registered company number 07737818 and UK
registered charity number 1153137.

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;

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 North London Cares website regularly;

Support other North London Cares team members to build and sustain vital
partnerships across Camden and Islington;

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 Head of
Programmes;

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 North London Cares runs;

Sustain Love Your Neighbour friendships as a whole both in quantity and quality,
whilst being attentive to the need for innovative and sensitive problem solving
when challenges arise;

Maintain positive relationships with all volunteers and older neighbours actively
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 North London Cares as a whole;

North London Cares is the public name for NL Cares Limited, a UK registered company number 07737818 and UK
registered charity number 1153137.

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;

Present on North London 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;

Youre 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 north London 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 North London Cares work externally;

You have the flexibility to work an average of eight evenings and one weekend day
per month in order to deliver your work, with time off provided in lieu;

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

North London Cares is the public name for NL Cares Limited, a UK registered company number 07737818 and UK
registered charity number 1153137.