Project Manager - Holme Valley Sharing Memories

Do you have excellent organisational skills? Have you coordinated or managed an arts project before? Do you have a track record of successful fundraising and financial management?

We are looking for a highly organised person who can manage the successful delivery of a long-standing creative project with older people living in the Holme Valley near Huddersfield.

Holme Valley Sharing Memories is a unique group of older people, which uses life experiences as a starting point for creative projects. The group of 10 older people works with three core artists to learn new art skills (anything from silk painting and ceramics to singing, textile painting, model making) which are then shared with others in a range of community settings, including schools, a centre for adults with learning disabilities and adults recovering from mental health issues. The group’s work helps all participants learn from each other, build relationships, become less isolated, share memories and explore and celebrate their lives and locality. Recent projects include silk painting with residents from a supported living centre in Honley; an Easter Tea Dance with primary school children, adults with learning difficulties and adults with mental health issues; and a project called ‘Make Yourself At Home’ which resulted in an exhibition of model houses, and a soundscape of interviews about the meaning of home.

The Project Manager will be a passionate advocate for arts/creative activity which supports the needs of older people and other groups who experience social isolation - and have a track record of successful fund raising.

Areas of responsibility are as follows:

• Detailed planning and execution of all projects, including liaising with artists and partners / communicating key dates and activities to all participants / ensuring artists are thoroughly briefed to deliver arts workshops / health and safety audits
• Fundraising around £30-£40,000 per annum to support Sharing Memories activities – a knowledge of key local/national sources of funding and experience of submitting funding bids is essential.
• Financial management of all funding / paying artists and other suppliers / ensuring budgets are not overspent / monthly reconciliation of accounts / annual accounts (knowledge of Quickbooks would be desirable)
• Encouraging/generating donations through Local Giving
• Evaluation of all projects and reporting back to funders to meet their deadlines
• Liaison with funders if projects change substantially from the original proposal
• Arranging and running an Annual General Meeting each year
• Developing local partnerships which provide opportunities for future Sharing Memories projects in the future
• Marketing the organisation through the production of a leaflet /flyers to promote recruitment / stories in local press (copy writing skills/experience desirable)
• Keeping the website up to date (we are currently developing a new website) / leading on social media
• Making presentations to potential partners/funders
• Ensuring a continuous recruitment drive for new members
• Keeping policy documents up to date eg ‘vulnerable adults’ & ‘child protection’
• Basic admin tasks such as booking taxis to bring members to sessions / room hire / insurance etc

Number of days/remuneration:

This role is paid at a daily rate of between £150-£180 (funding dependent). An allowance of approximately one day a week is made to deliver this project over a 39 week period in any one year (there are currently no sessions during school holidays). There is potential to pay additional days if sufficient funding is available. Average wage is between £6,000-£7,500 per annum.

Weekly meetings:

The group meets once a week on a Thursday afternoon between 1pm-3.30pm at The Phoenix Centre, Dunford Road, Holmfirth – it is not essential for the project manager to attend each week however they must keep core artists up to date with any project management issues on a regular basis.

Taxis are booked to bring group members to sessions, however there are occasions when staff use their own vehicles to transport members to sessions. From time to time the group will work in other settings, eg local primary school or at The Bridgewood Trust in Armitage Bridge (a day centre for adults with learning disabilities), or at Enfield Down (a centre for adults recovering from mental health issues).

Staffing & structure:

Sharing memories currently employs three core artists who plan and deliver the arts projects. There is currently no management structure in place and all staff have an equal say in the development and direction of the organisation.

Sharing Memories is currently an Unincorporated Association with a Chair/Treasurer and Secretary

Qualifications and skills:

• A good knowledge of funding streams and a track record of applying for and acquiring funding from key national and regional funding sources.
• Financial management experience (knowledge of Quickbooks desirable but not essential)
• Strong project management skills/attention to detail/ability to communicate well with artists and potential partners
• Ability to work unpredictable hours when required
• Excellent communication and decision-making skills
• Previous experience of evaluating projects for funders
• Empathy/understanding of the needs/abilities of older people and other participants in this project eg adults/children with learning disabilities and adults recovering from mental health issues.
• Copy writing/media relations and print production experience desirable
• Ideally the Project Manager will live within the Kirklees area.

For further information:

• Contact Sally Brown, Project Manager, on mobile 07950 870864.
• Go to the website at www.sharingmemories.org.uk (currently under revision)

Deadline for applications/Interviews:
The deadline for applications is 12 midnight on Friday 4th October - email CV and covering letter to coletteneedles@hotmail.co.uk
Interviews will be held on Friday 11th October 2019.

For more information visit http://www.sharingmemories.org.uk/cms/