COMMUNITY FIRST
6,993.11 per year
Hopton Park, Devizes
Part-time
18th November 2026
Recruitment Pack WALC, Local Councils’ Assistant Job Title: Local Councils’ Assistant Hours: 10 hours per week – ideally split over three days, includes occasional evening and weekends Salary: £6,993.11 gross per annum plus optional 7% employers pension contribution Contract: Fixed term (March 31st 2027 with possible extension). Start date January 2026 Location: The role will be a combination of office and off-site work, with some home working. Office based in Hopton Park, Devizes. This recruitment pack contains: Information about the role (page 2) • • Job description (page 3) • Person specification (page 5) To apply for the role, please complete the application form and return to Nicky Theobald by email: ntheobald@communityfirst.org.uk or by post: Community First, Unit C2 Beacon Business Centre, Hopton Park, Devizes, SN10 2EY Application Deadline 18th November at Midday Community First is an equal opportunities employer. About the Role Job Title: Local Councils’ Assistant Hours: 10 hours per week – ideally split over three days, includes occasional evening and weekends Salary: £6,993.11 gross per annum plus optional 7% employers pension contribution Location: The role will be a combination of office and off-site work, with some home working. Office based in Hopton Park, Devizes. Supervisor: Wiltshire Association of Local Councils, Local County Advisor Community First Community First is a registered charity (288117) based in Devizes. As a member of Action with Communities in Rural England, we support communities across Wiltshire and Swindon. Our Patron is Her Majesty The Queen. Wiltshire Association of Local Councils (WALC) supports and advises parish, town and city councils in Wiltshire and Swindon as they in turn support the communities in which they serve. Local Councils, as the first tier of local government, are in a position where they can really make things happen and make a difference in their communities. WALC endeavours to support and encourage Local Councils by offering guidance, advice and training to councils in membership. WALC has an Executive Committee made up of councillors from across Wiltshire and Swindon. WALC has membership on a variety of regional and local partnerships making sure the voice of local councils is heard, bringing the relevant issues to the fore whenever necessary. WALC has successfully lobbied Government in the past on issues important and central to parish and town councils in Wiltshire and enjoys representation on the NALC National Council and its various committees, offering a local voice at a national level. Due to the nature of the work, you will be required to undertake a satisfactory DBS check. If you would like to find out more about this position, please contact Ian Nockolds, Local County Advisor on: inockolds@communityfirst.org.uk or 07739 084867. Closing date: 18th November at Midday Interview dates: 27th November Community First is an equal opportunities employer. Registered Charity No. 288117. Please contact us if you would like a hard copy application form, or if you require any assistance in applying for this post. Community First is an equal opportunities employer. Registered Charity No. 288117. Community First – Recruitment Pack Page 2 Job Description Wiltshire Association of Local Councils (WALC) Local Councils’ Assistant Job Purpose To assist the Local County Advisor to enable local councils to act within their legal framework. The post holder will support the Local County Advisor to deliver a comprehensive information and advice service to the Wiltshire Association of Local Councils with the gathering and dissemination of information relating to Parish and Town Councils. WALC organises a range of training courses for member councils, for their councillors and council officers, some provided directly by the Local Councils’ Adviser and others bought in from outside. There is regular communication with the National Association of Local Councils (NALC) and with other county associations, most particularly with those in the South West. The Local Councils’ Adviser and the Chairman or other designated representative of the Association regularly attend conferences and other meetings held by NALC, either remotely or physically as circumstances permit. Main Responsibilities • To provide assistance in meeting all administrative responsibilities within the post holder’s area of work. • To prepare correspondence, reports, agendas and other documentation. • To take and draft the minutes of Executive Committee meetings, which are generally held in the evening some three or four times a year. • To support the organisation of conferences, seminars, training and workshops. • To acknowledge and log incoming enquiries in the absence of the Local Councils’ Adviser, providing basic information where appropriate and ensuring timely referral or follow-up. • To support the compilations of the monthly newsletter to the WALC membership of news, advice and events. • To carry out other work or contribute to projects which may support the local councils’ service. • To provide cover for the Local Councils’ Adviser during periods of annual leave. General Duties The post-holder will contribute to achieving the overall mission of Community First. • Support the Wiltshire Association of Local Councils and carry out other such general duties as determined by the WALC executive committee. • Assume financial responsibility for own operational budget • Participate in the team working approach of Community First Community First – Recruitment Pack Page 3 • Take responsibility for her / his own development, inform the line manager of any development needs and take part in prescribed development activities • Work within the agreed policies and procedures of Community First • Carry out such other general duties as shall be determined by the Deputy Chief Executive. Support other members of staff as required by the workload and by absences due to leave, sickness etc. • Ensure that office security is maintained and confidences are not breached. Community First is committed to Equal Opportunities and the post holder is expected to be familiar with the Equal Opportunities Policy and to complete his or her duties in a manner consistent with this policy. This job description does not form part of the contract of employment but indicates how the contract should be performed. The job description will be subject to review and amendment in the light of experience and in consultation with the post as part of the annual appraisal process. The responsibilities attached to the post may vary from time to time without changing the general character of the duties or the level of responsibility entailed. Such variations are a common occurrence and would not in themselves justify the re-evaluation of a post. In cases, however, where a permanent and substantial change in the duties of the post occurs, consistent with a higher level of responsibility, then the post would be eligible for re-evaluation. Community First – Recruitment Pack Page 4 Person Specification Local Councils’ Assistant e c n e i r e p x E & e g d e l w o n K , s l l i k S ) s l l i k s l a n o s r e p r e t n I & s l l i k s g n i v l o s m e l b o r p , y t i v i t a e r C ( Essential Desirable Relevant qualification or two years relevant experience. Understanding and experience of using Microsoft Office 365 Experience within the voluntary / community sector. Experience and/or understanding of updating WordPress websites or a willingness to learn Understanding and experience of working with remote meeting platforms, such as Microsoft Teams and Zoom Experience in delivering administration tasks in an office setting Have an understanding of Local Councils and their roles within the community. Experience of how Parish and Town Councils work Experience of organising physical and remote events and training courses Experience of organising event booking systems Experience of working with agendas and production of minutes of meetings. Experience in organising training courses Ability to travel around the County Well-organised, confident and self-motivated. s e t u b i r t t a l a n o s r e P m a e t i , s p h s n o i t a l e r g n d i l i u b , e v i t a i t i n I ( Ability to set own priorities and meet deadlines. Ability to cope under pressure. ) , . c t e a t a d , t n e m p u q e , i g n i k r o w Ability to keep confidences and act with tact and discretion. Tidy and well organised. Flexible approach to working hours and new areas of work. A desire and ability to work in a team setting. Good written and verbal communication skills Community First – Recruitment Pack Page 5
Vibrant Communities Brighter Futures Patron: Her Majesty The Queen President: Dame Sarah Troughton (DVCO), HM Lord-Lieutenant of Wiltshire Community First Chair Recruitment Information Pack Details Deadline for applications: 31st December 2025 Appointment length: A 3-year term as Trustee with annual renewal as Chair and up to 2 consecutive terms. All new Trustees are initially co-opted prior to being appointed formally to the Board at the AGM in October. Time commitment: Approximately 15-25 days a year Remuneration: This is an unpaid, voluntary role but travel expenses can be claimed. Introduction Community First is a leading charity at the heart of communities in Wiltshire and Swindon. Our work has a real and lasting impact on the lives of people across the county and the need for our service has never been greater. We have an exciting opportunity for someone who ideally has existing experience as a Trustee and is looking to grow their governance experience and take on the role of Chair as we embark on the next stage of our growth, innovation and development. We are committed to equal opportunities. We are looking for someone with experience of either being a Trustee or with similar experience of operating at a board/ leadership level and the ability to support our executive as we embark on major developments including our outdoor education centre, which means so much to both past and current beneficiaries of our services. We are particularly interested in applications from people with business, Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) sector and partnership experience. We have created this information pack as a guide to our work and the role Trustees and specifically the Chair plays in our charity. www.communityfirst.org.uk Vibrant Communities, Brighter Futures About Us Community First is a registered charity (288117) based in Devizes and a member of Action with Communities in Rural England (ACRE). Brighter Futures Community First works tirelessly to help people overcome challenges in their lives and we are passionate about brighter futures for the diverse range of people who live in the communities we serve. We support young people through our national award- winning ‘youth arm’ Youth Action Wiltshire, including Youth Action Wiltshire Young Carers Service, Splash, Project Inspire and youth club support. Many of our activities for young people take place at our dedicated outdoor education centres at Oxenwood and Linkenholt. As the managing partner for the Building Bridges Programmes in Swindon and Wiltshire, Community First is leading a partnership of organisations, who are working together to help people overcome their barriers to employment and education. The programmes are funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and The National Lottery Community Fund. As the Rural Community Council for Wiltshire and Swindon, we support communities across Wiltshire and Swindon through advisory services for village halls, community buildings and local councils. We envisage, create and manage projects to support people and places including community transport schemes, community led housing and community organising. Alongside our community development and engagement programmes, we also work with local landfill operators to distribute grant funding for community projects through the Landfill Communities Fund. Inspiring Ideas We are a champion for local enterprise and we love fresh ideas that make local communities better places to live and work. We think outside the box to develop new ideas through consultancy, trading and creative services. This includes Community Insurance and Minibus Driver Awareness (MiDAS) training. We also offer support for unpaid Carers (including Parent Carers and Young Adult Carers) through the Carers Together Wiltshire partnership which is led by Age UK Wiltshire. Find Us Online Our website: www.communityfirst.org.uk Vibrant Communities We are passionate about helping people work together to identify and find solutions to things that matter to them. From championing local grassroots causes to managing multi-million-pound projects, we are proud to support people and places in the vibrant communities we have served for 60 years. Social media: X: CommFirstWilts Facebook: CommunityFirstWiltshire Instagram: CommunityFirstWiltshire LinkedIn: uk.linkedin.com/company/community-first Page 3 The Role We’re looking for a Chair with vision and a passion for our communities in Wiltshire and Swindon who will lead the Board in the next stage of our strategic development. We have a strong and supportive Board with extensive experience across a wide range of sectors both business and voluntary. The wide range of services we offer provides a significant opportunity for a dynamic individual to develop their own and the Board’s skills sets as we continue to grow and evolve. You can find out more about the role and responsibilities of a Chair here: associationofchairs.co.uk/resources/chairs-compass The Chair The Chair is a trustee with a specific role on the Board. The Chair is elected or appointed to this role annually. The role of the Chair is to lead meetings of the Trustee Board. ✓ To ensure we comply with our governing document, charity law, company law and any other relevant legislation or regulations. ✓ To ensure we pursue the objectives outlined in our Additional roles of the chair include: governing documents. ✓ Supporting the Chief Executive and acting as a channel of communication between Board and staff ✓ Acting as a figurehead and advocate for the charity (for example, representing it at functions, meetings or in the press). ✓ Leading on the development of the Board and making sure that its decisions are carried out. ✓ To ensure that we apply our resources only in pursuance of our objectives and do not expend funds on activities which are not included, no matter how worthwhile or charitable these objectives may be. ✓ To contribute actively to the Board of Trustees’ role in supporting the CEO and Leadership team to set the strategic direction, agree overall policy, defining goals and monitoring targets. ✓ Taking urgent action (but not decision-making ✓ To monitor and evaluate our performance against unless authorised) between Board meetings when it isn’t possible or practical to hold a meeting. agreed objectives. ✓ To safeguard and uphold the good name and ✓ Undertaking the annual review of the Chief values of Community First. Executive. ✓ Chairing the Annual General Meeting. In addition to the specific responsibilities of the Chair mentioned above, as a Trustee the Chair also has the same responsibilities as other Trustees, namely: ✓ To ensure the effective and efficient administration of our charity and to ensure financial stability. ✓ To protect the property of our charity and to ensure proper investment of funds. ✓ To appoint a Chief Executive Officer and monitor performance and reward. Page 4 Chair: Person Specification Essential ✓ Able to run meetings effectively and on time. ✓ Have the necessary time available to read papers, attend planning meetings outside of the Board. ✓ Have a positive relationship with the CEO and Leadership Team fostering an environment of mutual respect, communication and trust. ✓ Able to form supportive, productive, inclusive relationships with other Board members, the CEO and the Leadership Team. ✓ Have a passion for and advocate for the activities across the whole organisation. ✓ Time and motivation to respond in a timely manner to communications, approving minutes etc. ✓ Appointing the Vice-Chair. Page 5 Terms of Appointment Appointment Length Time commitment Joining a new Board can be an exciting experience but can also be daunting. We are keen to ensure that this experience is as easy as possible. Trustees are recruited for a 3 year term with the Chair as an officer of the Company being approved on an annual basis at the AGM. All new Trustees are initially co-opted prior to being appointed formally to the Board at the AGM in October. The Chair is expected to Chair the 6 Board meetings held annually in addition to the Annual General Meeting (AGM) which is usually held in October. In addition, The Chair will need to set aside time to have regular meetings with the CEO and Chairs of the two sub-committees. Payments to Trustees This is an unpaid, voluntary role. All Trustees may claim expenses for travel, childcare while at Board meetings or support needed due to a disability. Interview Process Interviews will take place at the Community First office in Devizes or if this is not possible, by video call. We intend to interview prospective candidates in early 2026. The interview process will involve a panel consisting of a minimum of 3 existing Trustees and the CEO. Candidates will be expected to provide a presentation How to Apply of their approach to leadership and their perspective on the key areas of focus for their period in office. Following the interview, the interview panel will make a recommendation to the Board for final approval on the most suitable candidate with supporting rationale for their decision. To apply for the role as Chair of Community First, please send a short statement (no more than 2 pages) and CV addressing the person specification (on page 3) to Nicky Theobald. Email: ntheobald@communityfirst.org.uk. The deadline for applications is 31st December 2025. Page 6 Vibrant Communities Brighter Futures Patron: Her Majesty The Queen President Dame Sarah Troughton (DVCO), HM Lord-Lieutenant of Wiltshire Community First Chair Recruitment Information Pack Contact Us: Community First Unit C2, Beacon Business Centre Hopton Park, Devizes SN10 2EY 01380 722475 enquiries@communityfirst.org.uk Find us Online: Our website: www.communityfirst.org.uk Social media: Facebook: @CommunityFirstWiltshire X: @CommFirstWilts Instagram: @CommunityFirstWiltshire LinkedIn: uk.linkedin.com/company/community-first Registered Charity No: 288117 | VAT Registration No: 639 3860 06 | Company Limited by Guarantee Reg. No: 1757334 England Registered with the Financial Conduct Authority No: FRN 311971
COMMUNITY FIRST
28,203 per year
Hopton Park, Devizes
Full-time
26th January 2026
Recruitment Pack Community Grants Manager Job Title: Community Grants Manager Hours: 22.5 hours per week, includes occasional evening and weekends Salary: £28,203 FTE gross per annum (Actual salary £17,385.41) with 7% employers pension contribution Contract: Permanent Location: The role will be a combination of office, with some home working. Office based in Hopton Park, Devizes. This recruitment pack contains: Information about the role (page 2) • Job description (page 3) • • Person specification (page 5) To apply for the role, please complete the application form and return to Nicky Theobald by email: ntheobald@communityfirst.org.uk or by post: Community First, Unit C2 Beacon Business Centre, Hopton Park, Devizes, SN10 2EY Application Deadline 28th January 2026 at Midday Community First is an equal opportunities employer. About the Role Job Title: Community Grants Manager Hours: 22.5 hours per week, includes occasional evening and weekends Salary: £28,203 FTE gross per annum (actual salary £17,385.41) with 7% employers pension contribution Location: The role will be a combination of office, with some home working. Office based in Hopton Park, Devizes. Supervisor: Deputy CEO | Head of Community & Partnership Development Community First Community First is a registered charity (288117) based in Devizes. As a member of Action with Communities in Rural England, we support communities across Wiltshire and Swindon. Our Patron is Her Majesty The Queen. Community First manages a range of community-focused grant programmes across Wiltshire and Swindon. This includes the Landfill Communities Fund, which provides capital funding for community, environmental and heritage projects near landfill operator sites, and the Wiltshire Community Transport Development Fund, designed to strengthen and expand community and voluntary transport services, trial new provision and support the development of new groups. Community First also administers community benefit funds for projects such as the Bradenstoke Solar Park Community Benefit Fund. Together, these programmes represent a substantial and long-term investment in local community growth, environmental improvement and resilience. Due to the nature of the work, you will be required to undertake a satisfactory DBS check. If you would like to find out more about this position, please contact Harry Tipple, Deputy CEO on: htipple@communityfirst.org.uk or 07802688038. Closing date: 26th of January at Midday Interview dates: 3rd of February 2026 Community First is an equal opportunities employer. Registered Charity No. 288117. Please contact us if you would like a hard copy application form, or if you require any assistance in applying for this post. Community First is an equal opportunities employer. Registered Charity No. 288117. Community First – Recruitment Pack Page 2 Job Description Community Grants Manager Job Purpose The post holder will be responsible for the administration and operation of the Landfill Communities Fund, Community Transport Development Fund, and the administration of other community funds such as the Bradenstoke Solar Park Community Benefit Fund (BSPCBF). Main Responsibilities • Liaise with groups/organisations as required to provide advice and support on the various grants programmes. • Manage the administration of the Landfill Grants Fund, the Community Transport Development Fund and community funds such as the BSPCBF. • Prepare the budgets for the programmes. • Monitor the expenditure of the budgets and report to the Deputy CEO | Head of Community and Partnership Development on a regular basis to update on any deviation from the budgets. • Prepare and present reports on the programmes to funders, decision panel members and Community First Board of Trustees. • Develop good working relationships with ENTRUST staff, respond to any enquiries that arise, cooperate fully in the annual audit, and advice Community First of any additional requirements and changes. • • Liaise with ENTRUST regarding any issues that arise in the preparation and during any grant life. Liaise with the Community Transport staff within Community First and the Passenger Transport Unit of Wiltshire Council in the delivery of the Community Transport Development Fund. • Ensure that Community First is made aware of any changes to the rules/legislation with regard to any of the grants programmes and that appropriate changes are made to any procedures and paperwork. • Lead the support for community groups in identifying and developing eligible projects which will meet with the grant giving policies of both programmes and will meet all regulatory requirements. • Develop and present eligible applications and funding proposals for the consideration of Landfill Communities Fund Panel. • Assist and generally advise community groups in finding additional sources of funding for their projects. • Develop and organise events to publicise the landfill tax grants scheme. • Identify, develop and recommend new lines of work for Community First. Community First – Recruitment Pack Page 3 • Develop close working relationships and good communication with local authorities, funding partners, voluntary organisations, and staff at Community First. • Maintain contact with other grant advisers in the county e.g. The Community Foundation for Wiltshire and Swindon, and Wiltshire Council, to help identify and develop suitable LCF proposals. • Attend Wiltshire and Swindon Funders network meetings. • Attend ENTRUST Communication Forum meetings. • Provide administration support for Community funds such as the BSPCBF annually and report to the committee any concerns that may arise. General Duties The post-holder will contribute to achieving the overall mission of Community First. • Budget holders assume financial responsibility for own operational budget. Non-budget holders ensure expenditure is necessary and within budget constraints. • Participate in the team working approach of Community First • Take responsibility for their own development, inform the line manager of any development needs, and take part in prescribed development activities. • Work within the agreed policies and procedures of Community First. • Carry out such other general duties as shall be determined by the Chief Executive or Deputy CEO. • Support other members of staff as required by the workload and by absences due to leave, sickness etc. • Ensure that office security is maintained and confidences are not breached. Community First is committed to Equal Opportunities and the post holder is expected to be familiar with the Equal Opportunities Policy and to complete his or her duties in a manner consistent with this policy. This job description does not form part of the contract of employment but indicates how the contract should be performed. The job description will be subject to review and amendment in the light of experience and in consultation with the post as part of the annual appraisal process. The responsibilities attached to the post may vary from time to time without changing the general character of the duties or the level of responsibility entailed. Such variations are a common occurrence and would not in themselves justify the re-evaluation of a post. In cases, however, where a permanent and substantial change in the duties of the post occurs, consistent with a higher level of responsibility, then the post would be eligible for re-evaluation. Community First – Recruitment Pack Page 4 Person Specification Community Grants Manager Essential Experience of awarding, managing or applying for grants. Strong knowledge of legislation, accounting requirements and good practice relating to grant awarding and reporting. Desirable Experience within the voluntary / community sector. Experience of working with and managing collaborative groups, ensuring that all parties are supported to contribute. Experience of planning and working towards targets. Experience of developing a grant monitoring database. Experience of efficiently managing and delivering a demanding and varied workload. Experience of developing grant terms and conditions Ability to advise and support community groups and other stakeholders on effective community engagement Good knowledge of GDPR compliance and data protection best practice. Strong knowledge or working with Microsoft 365. Excellent all-round communication skills and the ability to communicate clearly and concisely to a range of audiences. Ability to plan and manage budgets effectively. Strong administration skills. e c n e i r e p x E & e g d e l w o n K , s l l i k S ) s l l i k s l a n o s r e p r e t n I & s l l i k s g n i v l o s m e l b o r p , y t i v i t a e r C ( s e t u b i r t t a l a n o s r e P m a e t i , s p h s n o i t a l e r g n d i l i u b , e v i t a i t i n I ( ) , . c t e a t a d , t n e m p u q e , i g n i k r o w Well-organised, confident and self-motivated. Ability to set own priorities and meet deadlines. Ability to cope under pressure. Ability to keep confidences and act with tact and discretion. Tidy and well organised. Flexible approach to working hours and new areas of work. Ability to work effectively as part of a team as well as independently Good written and verbal communication skills Community First – Recruitment Pack Page 5