Blue Mentor – Youth and Environment Worker

Purpose and Objectives of the Post

• The Blue Influencers Scheme will assist young people (10-14 year olds) living in coastal,
  river and estuarine communities, to create deep, lasting and meaningful connections with the
  natural environment and embed a culture where youth social action becomes the norm by:
• Building a network of local organisations that support young people and are looking to
  enable environmental youth social action
• Engaging with 60 young people per year (180 across three years)
• Facilitating Blue Influencers learning around blue/green issues affecting their communities
• Supporting Blue Influencer groups in the conception, planning, delivery and continuation of
  youth-led environmental social action projects of their choosing, to the benefit and
  involvement of their local community and the natural world
• Actively connect Blue Influencer groups with other local organisations to embed projects
  and facilitate intergenerational and cross-cultural projects
• Support local networks in communicating and embedding environmental change beyond the life
  of the projects
• Be an active member of regional and national network of Blue Mentors
• To enable Groundwork to fulfil its mission to bring about lasting environmental
  improvements through partnerships and contributing to the economic and social regeneration of
  the area.

Main Responsibilities

1. Supporting Blue Influencers to deliver inspiring projects

i) Identify Blue Influencers from a diverse range of the local community via connections with
schools, youth groups or other groups, specifically targeting areas of disadvantage

ii) Facilitate the creation of Blue Influencer groups providing support, encouragement and
advice where required

iii) Enable groups to conceive youth-led environmental social action projects, with a clear
plan for funding, delivery and evaluation

iv) Help Blue Influencers share their youth-led projects via social and other media to engage
their community, build momentum and share their successes

v) Ensure youth-led social action projects meet #iwill’s six principles of quality youth social
action, challenging, socially impactful, progressive, embedded and reflective

   2. Creating a network of community partners

i) Identify local organisations that work with and support young people and those that are
actively looking to work with more young people

ii) Create opportunities for Blue Influencers to build their own community networks

iii) Act as a link between Blue Influencers groups and community partners to build ongoing
support for projects and groups

  3.   Evaluating, communicating and sharing the project outcomes

i) Ensure evaluation is embedded into each Blue Influencer project using qualitative and
quantitative evaluation tools provided

ii) Report on project outcomes and evaluation data using reporting methods provided

iii) Work with The Ernest Cook trust’s Programme Manager to ensure projects meet funding
criteria and are administered in line with due diligence guidance

iv) Actively communicate the work of the Blue Influencers groups both regionally and nationally
through wider project network and social media

4.   Build local and regional momentum for environmental action

i) Share best practice and lessons learnt with the wider network of Blue mentors

ii) Act as an ambassador for youth social action and youth-led work for Groundwork Yorkshire,
implementing, where possible, youth-led decision making in other areas of our work

iii) Support Blue Influencers to continue environmental action beyond their initial project,
identifying further funding, partners or opportunities

iv) Where possible, link with other Blue Mentors at a regional level to create a network of
influencers and mentors

v) Attend national training and networking events to further develop professional skills that
expand the range and impact of local activity

5.   To ensure adherence with all corporate Policies and Procedures in place, in particular
Health and Safety Policy, Safeguarding Policy and Equal Opportunities, Diversity and Inclusion
Policy, that may change from time to time.

To Apply: Please send a CV and an optional cover letter to [email protected]