About Us

The Tree of Life Centre, established in 1984, is renowned for its furniture reuse project, which diverts quality used furniture and household goods from landfills to families and individuals, enhancing living standards and wellbeing. We serve as a lifeline, addressing urgent needs for food, clothing, dignity, and a sense of belonging.

Our social action initiatives and activities aim to improve residents' health and wellbeing, reducing social isolation. We deliver a wide range of choice based wellbeing activities.

We also run three food projects - a community café, foodbank, and food pantry—to support low-income families facing hunger and food insecurity. Tree of Life is a vital resource for the community, offering food parcels and affordable, healthy home-cooked meals. We take pride in assisting families in need.

Additionally, we enhance employability prospects through our job club, training courses, and volunteering opportunities. We provide skills development in CV writing, job search support, training, apprenticeships, and IT skills.

Job Description

Key Purpose of Role

This role has responsibility for the Pre-employment and Wellbeing functions delivered at The Tree of Life Centre. The successful candidate will set up and manage our volunteer, apprenticeship and wellbeing programmes. They will also develop, promote and deliver training and Information Advice & Guidance (IAG) in order to maximise learning and employability outcomes.

They will also promote and implement wellbeing and mentoring opportunities throughout the centre. Promote skills and confidence development, achievement of social mobility and, where appropriate minimising social isolation.

Main Responsibilities will include:

Pre - Employment

• Lead on the development, preparation and delivery of an apprenticeship programme at the centre.
• Support and contribute significantly to the on-going development of employability skills offer and the provision of IAG.
• Organise training sessions, providing support, advice, information and guidance regarding employability and skills development.
• Ensure that service users have access to appropriate contextualised employment and personal skills sessions.
• Work collaboratively with peers using verbal and written reports to ensure accurate and timely progress reviews, to meet the requirements of awarding and funding bodies.
• Liaison with outside agencies and employers who will offer support to the employability skills development.

Wellbeing

• To engage with service users and volunteers to support their wellbeing and progression journey through individual progress plans.
• To plan and deliver relevant wellbeing and progression training, events and activities.
• To record and maintain effective and efficient user and activity records and databases to ensure goals are being met, the right services are being delivered and to contribute to monitoring reports
• Develop, promote and maintain a wide range of Wellbeing and progression opportunities within the organisation.
• Assess needs for client assistance in the organisation
• Maintain role descriptions for each volunteering role
• Ensure all departments offer volunteer opportunities as necessary, recommending the most efficient use of volunteer time and contribution
• Arrange for volunteer induction and training
• Schedule all volunteer activity
• Continue to develop our volunteer policies and procedures
• Organise volunteer participation in special events
• To carry out any reasonable duties requested by the TOL Centre Manager or Management Committee, to contribute towards the work of the TOL Centre and enable it to deliver a flourishing range of community initiatives.

Person Specification

Key Essential Skills and Competencies Essential Criteria

Qualifications and Experience

• Hold a minimum of Level 2 in Literacy and Numeracy
• Hold a Level 3 training qualification or equivalent qualification
• Experience of designing/delivering/evaluating innovative and interactive presentations and workshops

Skills and Competencies

• A clear understanding of the challenges facing the community and region’s long term unemployed, young people and those with barriers to employment
• A clear understanding of the challenges facing today’s unemployed and those with no and low skills
• Successful track record in moving people into employment
• Successful track record developing apprenticeship training programs
• Excellent IT skills using the full range of Microsoft Office
• Good knowledge and demonstrable activity of latest Government Initiatives concerning apprenticeships
• The ability to oversee robust processes and controls
• Highly developed planning, coordination, administration, organisational, communication and time management skills

Attributes

• Drive and ability to work in a fast paced environment with a proven track record of achieving desired outcomes and a demonstrated ability to exceed targets
• Reliable, dependent and committed, holding personal values appropriate to the charitable status of the organisation
• Excellent attention to detail

Desirable Criteria

• An interest in the Voluntary Sector and Community Capacity Building.
• Knowledge of Matrix
• Be self motivated, well organised, able to manage own time and have good administrative skills
• Willingness to undergo training
• Willingness to work flexibly and undertake work outside normal hours
• Full Driving Licence with access to own vehicle with Business Use Insurance

Special Working Requirements

• Two job references satisfactory to the organisation
• Right to Work in the UK
• Criminal Records check and certificate issued by the Disclosure and Barring Service
• UK Driving license, have a vehicle for business use and appropriate insurance

Key information

• Employer: Tree of Life Community Centre
• Locations: Manchester
• Role Type: Permanent
• Working Hours: Full-Time
• Working Hours Per Week: 30

To apply for this role:

Please submit your CV and a cover letter explaining your suitability for the role to info@treeoflifecentre.org.uk by Friday 7th November.

For more information about The Tree of Life and this role, please visit our website at www.treeoflifecentre.org.uk or contact us at 0161 489 7018.

The Tree of Life is committed to equality, diversity, and inclusion. We welcome applications from all sections of the community.