We’re a small Hackney community charity seeking our new permanent Executive Director to lead the organisation in the exciting next stage of its development.
Boiler House Spaces is about local people helping each other in tough times. We run a community food pantry giving free food, advice and support. We open our safe and warm spaces for community groups so people can connect and make key improvements in their own lives.
We work to support disadvantaged people of all ages and cultures and operate in two main ways:
- We run community services often in partnership with others
- We open and hire out our safe and warm spaces for a wide range of community groups so people can meet others, get support, and make key improvements to their own and the lives of others.
We manage the following resources:
- The Boiler House Community Centre, George Downing Estate. A community space at the base of a tower block within a mixed tenure estate of 230 homes offering activities and events which engage the community at the heart of the George Downing Estate, Stoke Newington and Cazenove Wards and close to Stamford Hill West Ward
- Myddleton Grange Community Centre – a 2nd community centre recently re-decorated ready for hire, or for Boiler House Spaces to run services either solo or in partnership with others. A community garden partnership is already in place run by local residents, which covers Brownswood Park and Woodberry Down Wards and is close to Clissold Ward
- We run the Good Place Pantry currently supporting 30 – 40 local households on low-incomes with free food, guidance and support each week held at the Boiler House Community Centre
- Boiler House bee-keeping & N16 Honey. We have 4 beehives and hold a community honey harvest each year to engage local families with nature, producing honey for sale as an example of community social enterprise
- At George Downing Estate our capital project is underway to create c. £600k of new and improved indoor and outdoor spaces: an extension to the community centre; a small ‘MUGA’ sports / games pitch and a community garden. Community spaces where residents can socialise, build skills and develop their health and wellbeing.
Background to the role:
This exciting and multifaceted role is a fantastic opportunity for someone with the skills, energy and vision to make a significant impact with and on behalf of these local communities.
With the funding secured for the redevelopment of the Boiler House Community Centre, our new centre in N4 open and ready, the community garden partnership underway, and a host of ideas for more partnership development and engagement, the opportunities are endless.
We would welcome someone familiar with Hackney, or who brings knowledge of community development from another area with its own challenges, as well as perhaps bringing your lived experience of one or more of the issues so many people face in our borough.
The Executive Director is responsible for leading the charity and its small and committed team, to develop strategic partnerships and funding to take the organisation forwards.
An experienced successful leader and passionate about community development, you will be a great communicator, a team player with strong finance and project management skills and a willingness to roll up your sleeves.
Overall aim:
To lead Boiler House Spaces internally and externally, to lead the charity’s strategy, community programmes and projects working towards the charity’s vision and mission.
Person Specification: Essential Experience:
- Proven track record in a senior leadership role
- Proven track record of fostering successful relations and partnerships with a range of organisations and diverse stakeholders
- Proven track record in income generation
- Experience of managing teams and establishing a productive working culture; leading and motivating others to deliver
- Proven track record of budget planning and financial management.
Key Skills and Knowledge
- Effective communication and presentation skills, able to present Boiler House Spaces to diverse audiences
- Well-developed leadership skills to empower, motivate and develop individuals and teams
- Ability to think strategically and creatively
- Highly developed interpersonal and people management skills
- Understanding of the community sector and work alongside local people or ability to learn quickly
- Able to handle a complex workload with multiple priorities.
Personal Attributes
- A proactive, collaborative, ‘can-do’ approach, resilient, flexible and willing to roll up sleeves to help in a small team
- A strong commitment to community development and the values of Boiler House Spaces.
Diversity and Inclusion
We want you to have every opportunity to demonstrate your skills, ability and potential; please contact us if you require any assistance or adjustment so that we can help with making the application process work for you.
If you would like to discuss the role with the interim Executive Director, please email Lucinda Shaw, [email protected] who will arrange a convenient time. Having a call of this kind will not influence the success or otherwise of your application.
