Although you might have a positive experience walking to work every morning, someone who is hard of hearing might find that same walk into town slightly terrifying because they can’t hear an electric car or bike approaching. A parent dropping their kids off at school by car might be wanting to switch this daily commute into a walk, but could also be struggling to find a safe and convenient way of making that happen on their own.
We all know that walking to the ferry and travelling into Glasgow using public transport is greener and cheaper than taking the car, but if connections fail and information is unclear, we also know that we are less likely to take this option.
Listening to people and their challenges will help us design better solutions
The solutions to climate change and improving our own health might seem simple, but for many people in our community who live out of the town centre, or are coping with busy work schedules or health challenges, then switching to a more active ways of moving around the town is complicated.
Dunoon Community Development is working to make sure that members of our local community are listened. That is why we are recruiting Community Connectors, people who can help us have new conversations across the community about moving around the town using more active forms of transport.
These conversations will inform the development of a Dunoon focused Active Travel Behaviour Change Plan. The plan will help a variety of local organisations, including Argyll and Bute Council, to prioritise investment in small scale active travel initiatives.
Paid work opportunities with Dunoon Community Development Trust
Community Connector roles will be paid (Living wage level £12 per hour). These are short term roles, of up to 20 hours that can be tailored around your availability. Payment can be requested as a Scotland Loves Local gift voucher to avoid complications with any benefits.
If you like talking to people and want to make a positive contribution to Dunoon, then have a look at the job description below and complete the expression of interest form by Wednesday 20 December.
Community Connector role
Rate of Payment: Real Living Wage £12 per hour Where: In and around Dunoon
When: This is a short-term work role that can be tailored around your availability. It has an estimated time commitment of 10 hours (minimum) to 20 hours (maximum) between January and March 2024.
About the project: Our Out & about in Dunoon project aims to gather information from across our community on how to make everyday walking, cycling, and wheeling (e.g. with wheelchairs or prams) easier and more appealing. The main goal of the project is to develop a plan that will support positive changes in how we move around Dunoon. The plan will provide evidence to support funding applications to make improvements happen.
Community Connectors will be allocated a particular area of Dunoon or a specific target group to contact. Therefore, we are looking to recruit people who live in specific areas of the town and people who have connections to specific priority groups, for example young families, young people, or people with mobility challenges.
If you are interested, you need to fill in our Expressions of Interest form here.
Successful candidates will be offered payment (or a Scotland Loves Local gift card) equivalent to the Real Living Wage for their designated tasks.
Tasks:
Work with the Dunoon Community Development Trust team to connect with local people from an allocated geographic area or from a specific group to gather their views on designated topics.
Promote everyday walking, cycling and wheeling opportunities to the people that you connect with.
Share the information gathered with the DCDT team to inform the Out & about in Dunoon plan.
Requirements:
An interest in meeting and talking to people within a specific area of Dunoon, either Ardenslate, Milton, The Glebe, or the town centre or from a specific group, for example young families, young people, or people with mobility challenges.
Enthusiasm for Dunoon and the local community.
All equipment and travel costs will be provided.
Training will be provided.
Helpful but not essential: an interest in everyday walking, cycling, or wheeling.
What you will get out of being a Community Connector: Through this role you will be part of a small, friendly team working on projects to improve the health and wellbeing of the community by gathering views about our town to help inform change.
You will learn about community engagement and community led action. You will be out and about around the town meeting people and talking to them about Dunoon and its future. Your work will help to support positive change in your community.
How to apply:
Complete this form. Closing Date: Wednesday 20 December 2023