Community Engagement Officer - Middleton
Rochdale AFC Community Trust
Candidate Information Pack
Introduction
Rochdale AFC Community Trust are looking for a warm, confident and community-minded individual to lead the development of our brand-new Live Well Space at King George Playing Fields in Middleton. This is an exciting opportunity for someone who is passionate about people, relationships and community-led change.
The successful candidate will play a key role in bringing the refurbished pavilion and surrounding green space to life. Working 18 hours per week on site, you will build strong relationships with local residents, support them to shape what happens in the space, and help them take the next step into volunteering, community leadership or paid opportunities through our Dale Works pathways.
This role is all about being present, listening deeply and empowering local people. You will support residents to develop their own ideas, run activities, build confidence and create a welcoming, inclusive environment where everyone feels they belong. You will also work closely with partners including social prescribers, local VCFSE groups, Action Together and neighbourhood teams to ensure the space is connected to the wider Live Well system.
With an over 30-year history of delivering high-quality community programmes, Rochdale AFC Community Trust is ideally placed to support this next chapter in Middleton. We are committed to the Live Well hallmarks and to building a space that is shaped by the community, for the community.
If you share our vision, believe in the power of relationships, and want to help create a thriving, resident-led community space, please send a CV and covering letter outlining how your experience meets the Person Specification to the email address below, using the subject title LIVEWELL2026
Charlotte Griffiths, Strategic Lead – Neighbourhoods and Communities Charlotte.griffiths@rochdaleafc.co.uk
OUR TOWN. COMMUNITY.
VISION
We share the vision of making Rochdale one of the best places in the world to live, work and play – a place where ALL voices are heard.
MISSION
We use the power of football and our
community standing to
raise aspirations and transform lives.
VALUES
Throughout all that we
do the following core
values are exhibited by
everyone connected with
Rochdale AFC
Community Trust.
We seek new opportunities
PASSIONATE
IMPACTFUL
TACTICS
HONEST
HIGH QUALITY
Tactics we utilise to achieve our strategic aims and objectives.
We are team-focused
FAIR
We worked to co-design and co-develop with our local communities
APPROACH
Throughout all of these areas of work the following approaches and priorities underpin all that we do.
We always work collaboratively and strategically with partners
The Role
| Job Title: | Community Engagement Officer - Middleton |
| Work Base: | King George V Playing Fields, Aspinall Road, M24 2BE |
| Salary: | £12,589 (actual, pro-rata'd for 18 hours) |
| Employment Type: | Part time, 18 hours per week |
| Contract Length: | 12-month fixed term |
Purpose of the Position
To lead the development and day-to-day delivery of our Live Well Space at King George Playing Fields, creating a welcoming, inclusive and community-led environment where local residents feel connected, valued and able to shape what happens in their neighbourhood.
The postholder will build strong relationships with local people, support them to develop their own ideas and activities, and help them progress into volunteering, community leadership or paid opportunities through our Dale Works pathways. Working 18 hours per week on site, they will act as a consistent, trusted presence in and around the pavilion, PlayZone and surrounding green space.
Main Duties and Responsibilities
Build strong, trusting relationships with residents through consistent presence in the pavilion, PlayZone and surrounding area.
Support local people to shape, lead and deliver activities based on their interests, strengths and lived experience.
Support residents to identify their strengths and progress into volunteering, community leadership or paid roles.
Use insight from residents to shape the evolving offer at the pavilion.
Generate new ideas that strengthen community ownership and participation.
Ensure all activity reflects the Live Well hallmarks and the values of Rochdale AFC Community Trust.
Work closely with social prescribers, neighbourhood teams, Action Together, VCFSE partners and local groups to connect residents to wider support.
Encourage community organisations to use the space for their own sessions and collaborate on activity.
Maintain accurate registers and update reporting systems regularly.
Capture stories, feedback and insight to demonstrate impact and inform ongoing development.
Work with the Senior Management Team to showcase the difference the space is making to individuals and the community.
Person Specification
| Personal Skills/Characteristics | Essential | Advantageous |
| Qualifications & Training | ||
| Degree level qualification in a relevant subject | ↓ | |
| Full UK driving license | ||
| Skills & Knowledge | ||
| Excellent planning, organisation, and timemanagement skills | √ | |
| Ability to work under own initiative and totimescales | √ | |
| Confident engaging people from diverse backgrounds | √ | |
| Ability to support residents to lead activities. | √ | |
| Confident working outdoors and in informalenvironments. | √ | |
| Experience | ||
| Experience building trusting relationships with others | √ | |
| Experience of supporting others to succeed | √ | |
| Experience supporting people facing barriers or lowconfidence. | √ | |
| Experience of working within a charity and/or aprofessional fotballclub and/or a communitysetting | √ | |
| Knowledge and understanding of safeguardingchildren and vulnerable adults | √ |
Application Process
1. APPLICATION
To apply, please follow the steps outlined below.
- Please send the following to charlotte.griffiths@rochdaleafc.co.uk, with the subject title LIVEWELL2026
CV
Cover letter highlighting your motivation for the post and indicating how your skills and experience meet the person specification.
2. SELECTION
All applications received will be shortlisted against person specification. Those most closely matching our requirements will be invited to interview.
Due to the volume of applications received for most roles, we are only able to contact candidates if they are shortlisted for interview. If you don’t hear from us within two weeks of the closing date, unfortunately on this occasion you should assume your application has not been successful.
We aim to provide feedback to all shortlisted candidates who are unsuccessful at interview. However, due to the volume of applications received for most roles, unfortunately we will not provide feedback for those who are not shortlisted for interview.
3. CHECKS & REFERENCES
If you are successful with your application, and at interview stage, we will ask for the details of two named contacts to act as references; one of which must be your current or most recent employer.
Successful candidates will also be required to undertake a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check before officially joining Rochdale AFC Community Trust.
Our Commitment
Rochdale AFC Community Trust is wholly committed to Safeguarding and promoting the welfare and safety of children and young people. We fully expect all Board members, employees and volunteers to always demonstrate and communicate this commitment.
As an equal opportunities’ employer, all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against based on race, colour, religion or belief, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, ethnic or national origin, disability, age, pregnancy or maternity, marital or civil partner status or any other consideration prohibited by law.
We are committed to positively promoting equality of opportunity in all aspects of employment. All applicants will be considered for employment based on the job requirements and the individual’s ability and merits in meeting the requirements