Morecambe - Engagement and Wellbeing Officer (The Bay)

Job Description

Full time, fixed term for 2 years

£27,609 pa

 

If you are passionate about the health and wellbeing of people and of the planet and have skills and experience in working with people and nature, this post might be for you!

‘The Bay: a Blueprint for Recovery’, is an established coastal wellbeing programme, led by Lancashire Wildlife Trust and delivered in partnership with the Eden Project. The Bay provides opportunities for participants to get hands on with nature, look after their wellbeing and help to improve their local natural spaces for people and wildlife alike. The Engagement and Wellbeing Officer (‘The Bay Project’, Morecambe) is an exciting new role supported by the National Lottery Community Fund. The post holder will work as part of The Bay partnership, in Morecambe, as a direct employee of the Eden Project, delivering nature based engagement and wellbeing activities. The role will work alongside our Nature and Wellbeing Officer and is a fixed term role for 2 years in the first instance, continuation will be subject to funding.

Some of the benefits of working at the Eden Project include;

• 30 days holiday plus an extra day for your birthday (up to 35 days after 5 years service)
• Access to UNUM for wellbeing support
• Financial wellbeing support – access to 121 sessions with an independent financial advisor
• Cycle to work scheme
• Training and development
• Enhanced pension scheme (above auto-enrolment rates)
• Death in service policy (4 x annual salary)

The closing date for applications is at midnight on Monday 26 th January 2026 with interviews planned for the 4th, 5th and 6th February.

Engagement, Learning and Entertainment

Roles within the Engagement, Learning and Entertainment job family focus upon the Eden experience, providing activities, learning programmes, encounters and events, which engage, inspire and entertain, thus enhancing individuals’ understanding, experience, skills and enjoyment

The Bay seeks to inspire communities across Morecambe Bay to become actively involved in the amazing natural environment on our doorstep, understanding and protecting the habitats that make Morecambe so important for Wildlife. In doing so building a strong, connected and healthy community. As part of this we have developed a strong local programme of opportunities for those new to nature, or those keen to develop their interest and get more involved. We have a broad range of opportunities from nature based social prescribing, to training, citizen science surveys and regular volunteering.

Nature and Wellbeing participants range in age from young people to adults. Many of our Nature and Wellbeing participants will be facing multiple disadvantages. By engaging with our Nature and Wellbeing service they will have opportunities to increase their skills and confidence by playing an active part in nature’s recovery. By actively experiencing and implementing the 5 Ways to Wellbeing people will have the opportunity to meet new people, learn new things, be active, give back to nature and their community, and to stop and take notice of their natural world. In doing so many people experience a positive effect for their wellbeing. Alongside this we will also support progression into further skills development, volunteering, or employment where appropriate.

Referrals come from a variety of sources across our communities and networks, including but not limited to: the NHS, social prescribers, community partners, schools and colleges, and self-referrals. The ability to work to develop and maintain partnerships and referral pathways is an important element of the service provided as it enables Lancashire Wildlife Trust to ensure that those most in need of our Nature and Wellbeing service are able to access it.

In order to sustain the free to access Nature and Wellbeing service for our local communities our Nature and Wellbeing team also deliver commercial nature and wellbeing activities with the income generated reinvested into community delivery, as well as applying for grant funding and contracted work. This means we are often at the forefront of innovation in this field.

Our Engagement and Wellbeing team connect across Eden Project teams, Wildlife Trust sites and right in the heart of our communities and as such deliver a varied and highly rewarding programme of work that achieves important outcomes for both people and nature. In doing so we work with young people and adults and a diverse range of people across both social and geographical communities.

• Organise and deliver a full, inspiring and inclusive coastal and environmental activity programme to connect people to their community and to nature and identify community based opportunities for people to move on to.

• Manage and support trainees and volunteers who may assist with activities and take the lead in running activities on behalf of the Project. Run and train volunteers tocarry outcitizen science surveys that will help to collect vital data on nature recovery.

• Promotion and dissemination of the project to reach and inspire people who will benefit most from being involved with the project, ie people who might face barriers to participation such as disadvantage, poverty, discrimination or ill-health.

• Organise and help programme colleagues to deliver corporate working parties and wellbeing days

• Maintain good relationships and communicate regularly with other colleagues who work on theThe Bayprogramme, and partner organisations. Give talks and presentations in order to promote the work and aims of the Projectand of the nature and importance of the Morecambe Bay environment.

• Complete all programme reporting specific to your role as required and in a timely fashion.

 

Primary Responsibilities

• To develop and maintain referral pathways ensuring that the those most in need of the Nature and Wellbeing service are most able to access it.
• To design and deliver a full, inspiring and inclusive nature-led, coastal activity programme, engaging with people from all communities, and ages.

• Co-ordinate and deliver weekly sessions and plan activities that are engaging, inspiring, and support personal development, and actively contribute to nature’s recovery. Including supporting groups to increase spaces for nature, and positively impact biodiversity and climate.
• Actively recruit full team of participants for your own session delivery.
• Identify local stakeholders and organise locality events to ensure project activity meets the needs of the local community.
• Be responsible for the development and undertaking of innovative participant led projects and activities, including personal development opportunities and accreditation.

 

• To develop partnerships and opportunities both within LWT and across our communities that support participants to move on and benefit from a long term connection to nature after participation. This might involve formal or informal volunteering opportunities.
• Develop and supervise volunteers as required to support delivery
• To organise and be responsible for the delivery and performance of your work, ensuring effective prioritisation in liaison with the wider Nature and Wellbeing service, Community Engagement Manager and relevant teams within Eden Project and LWT.
• To maintain systems allowing successful reporting against KPIs and safe working practices.
• Contribute to income generation for the Nature and Wellbeing Service through varied sources identifying and following up opportunities from funding applications, to contracts, to Wild Wellbeing Days
• Raising awareness of the Programme, Eden Project, LWT and the value of nature for wellbeing by contributing content for social media and communications.

 

Secondary Responsibilities

 

• Attend Project Delivery Group meetings and maintain project progress reports to feed back to the project Steering Group and funder.
• Attend appropriate team meetings.
• Follow and comply with all policies and procedures of your host organisation which includes health and safety procedures in the workplace, ensuring personal safety and the safeguarding of the interests and safety of all staff, trainees and visitors.
• To uphold the working values and expectations of the project and host organisation.
• To carry out other duties relevant to your post as reasonably required by your line-manager.

 

Requirements of the role

 

Education and Experience

• A degree in a relevant environmental or health and social care related discipline or equivalent practical experience in one of these sectors is essential, with demonstrable experience working within a recognised conservation, charitable or health body in a professional capacity.
• Experience of organising, coordinating and delivering activity programmes to a wide range of audiences.
• Experience in recruiting participants and volunteers, particularly from challenging backgrounds, including people who experience mild to moderate mental health difficulties
• Experience in working with people from varied backgrounds who may be affected by poor health and wellbeing on environmental projects and supporting personal development.
• Proven knowledge of mental health, therapies to address mental health conditions and services available for people who suffer with mental health conditions
• Up to date knowledge of practical conservation techniques, particularly in urban settings.
• Experience of working with communities, designing and developing spaces for wildlife and addressing community issues / opportunities and of empowering others to take action for nature.
• Experience of working with community groups and partners.
• Experience of developing, delivering, monitoring and evaluating engagement activities
• Experience of working with the media, social media and input into promotion and campaigns

Desirable

• Experience of managing volunteers
• A track record of identifying, applying for, and securing external grants.
• Experience of varied approaches to income generation within the charitable sector.

Knowledge and Skills

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• The ability to motivate, inspire and engage people from the most challenging backgrounds
• You will be skilled to deliver teaching and learning techniques to engage a range of audiences and have a good understanding of public health and safety issues (including risk assessments.)
• Excellent organisational skills and the ability to work independently to achieve the required evidence and administrative functions relevant to your delivery that support funders requirements.
• The ability to develop, publicise and deliver innovative and exciting environmental awareness events, activities and resources.
• Good IT skills with the ability to communicate and promote activities and key messages, as well as preparing concise and effective reports and documents.
• A full driving licence, access to the use of a vehicle with full business insurance cover
• Ability to set, prioritise and achieve targets on time.

Decision-Making

While this post is fairly autonomous the post holder will have a dedicated contact within the Eden Project Team as well as report to their line manager on a monthly basis with updates on progress. In addition, they will work as part of the Bay Team, alongside colleagues from Lancashire Wildlife Trust. The post holder will work to short- and long-term objectives where the impact of decisions will be apparent as part of both project delivery and longer-term project development. They will also be required to support the quarterly reporting process (e.g. Steering Group and funding partners), to help the team achieve objectives. The post holder will also be expected to represent both The Bay programme and Eden Project externally. They will also be responsible for identifying emerging trends in this sector and keep abreast of supportive research and innovation.

Resourcefulness

The post holder is responsible for leading on the design, creation and implementation of a series of activities across a number of themes and issues. This work will need the post holder to be highly resourceful and adapt new ideas and apply these practically. The work will be breaking new ground and the post holder will need to support the innovative thinking needed to ensure we meet our key objectives. The ideal candidate will take a pro-active and creative approach to solving problems and will work closely with internal and external team members to expand the scope and direction of the project. They will develop new models to support the expansion and replication of social pilot projects around Morecambe Bay and the wider region.

People and Asset Management

The post holder will be not be required to directly line manage but alongside other colleagues, will be required to help mentor and develop the programme Trainees, as well as oversee and manage teams of volunteers to help deliver aspects of the project. You will be responsible for supporting and delivering ongoing community engagement in Morecambe.

You will advise and assist colleagues in the wider team delivering the social prescribing activities for Morecambe Bay and surrounding areas. This will include on-going conversation and engagement with external partners and operational teams. As well as sign off for financial payments up to £1K, this role will also require oversight of external spending by contractors and supervision and guidance of project resources.

 

 

 

Communications

The post holder will require an extensive range of communication and interpersonal skills. Working closely with a range external partners and internal stakeholders to share ideas and develop project plans, whilst also handling members of the community and project participants sensitively. Good IT skills as a range of communication methods and channels will be used and you should be comfortable providing content for social media.

Operational Environment

You will have due regard for health, safety and welfare of participants, volunteers and colleagues and work within appropriate health and safety guidelines and organizational risk management protocols. Working flexibility from an office base or partially remotely, from home will be expected. Your working hours will be normal office hours, with some evening and weekend work required to deliver events, work to a deadline or to attend out-of-hours meeting. Time off in lieu can be taken for irregular working hours.

Additional Features

A positive and mature outlook with the ability to demonstrate tact, diplomacy and integrity. The ability to inspire others and generate support, action and empowerment.

The willingness to work outdoors on a range of sites in all weathers.

A full, clean driving license is essential, with access to a vehicle with insurance for business use.

A DBS check will be required, the cost will be met by Eden.

In order for the organisation to work effectively, you may be required to assist with other areas of work and therefore, you should be prepared to undertake other duties appropriate to the post, as delegated by your line manager.

Job Details

• Pay Type
• Salary