Junior Wild Work Facilitators

SECAD Partnership is seeking to contract facilitators to support the roll out of the Junior Wild Work schools and communities project, in areas with high levels of new communities. The Junior Wild Work Toolkit is an online biodiversity resource and through classroom and outdoor learning, it will be used as a tool for integration in local communities.

The Junior Wild Work initiative is a nature education project for primary schools and their communities. It will promote:

• nature connectedness
• positive actions for biodiversity
• community integration; and
• empower children (and adults) to be champions for nature in their communities.

The project will build the capacity of teachers and local community groups in nature-based learning. We are seeking to contract facilitators to work with the schools and local community groups (Wild Work Ambassadors) in the following locations:

• Millstreet
• Macroom
• Cobh
• Youghal
• Midleton

Context

Wild Work is an initiative with a social ethos that was set up by SECAD Partnership to help people, help nature, help people. The Junior Wild Work Toolkit is a resource developed as part of a co-operation project with other Irish partners.

Junior Wild Work is a place-based nature education project for primary schools (5th/6th class) and local community groups designed to address the current shortcomings in biodiversity knowledge, nature connectedness and resourcing of biodiversity at the local level.  The Junior Wild Work initiative will demonstrate that nature connection and experience is integral to addressing the biodiversity crisis and as a tool for personal and social wellbeing and for integration.

SECAD’s 2024-2025 Junior Wild Work initiative will be supported through the South Cork Social Inclusion & Community Activation Programme (SICAP) and delivered specifically in locations that are prioritised for SICAP support (Local Priority Target Groups).  Junior Wild Work is being offered to schools and communities where there are high numbers of Refugees and International Protection seeking families, where the initiative will have the additional impact of bringing communities and cultures together as a positive integration approach.

The programme consists of:

1. The Junior Wild Work Toolkit

The Junior Wild Work Toolkit is a newly developed and comprehensive on-line support which consists of a series of modules designed to inform, educate, to capture the interest and imagination of younger people (aged 11-12 years).  Using the Junior Wild Work Online Toolkit with the Wild Work facilitator will help the participating pupils and teachers to build knowledge and understanding of biodiversity in the Irish and global context.

The focus of the Wild Work Facilitator is to enable the school to learn to use the Junior Wild Work Toolkit.  This facilitation will be delivered to the school over one school year, with an average of one half day support per month.  Each participating student will be given a Wild Work Journal to be completed during the period of the school year.  We aim to deliver this facilitated support to two classes per participating school. A key focus for the facilitator will be developing the capacity of the class teacher(s) to be confident and capable to deliver the Junior Wild Work Toolkit themselves in subsequent years.  There is an additional set of guidelines in place to support the teacher to utilise the Junior Wild Work Toolkit. Each participating school / student will be given access to the online toolkit for the duration of the project during the academic year and the school will have online access for two years thereafter.

2. The Community Wild Work Toolkit

The Community Wild Work Toolkit is focused on supporting community leaders who are interested in learning more about nature, protecting local habitats, learning to restore habitat areas and willing to create outdoor classrooms for their local community.  The toolkit will enable the community participants (who will become Wild Work Ambassadors) to identify the most appropriate sites for an outdoor classroom, considering its biodiversity value, physical accessibility, site safety and other important aspects.  For the purposes of this programme, our aim is to seek to develop at least three outdoor classrooms per community, each with their own, distinctive features, so that the visitor/learner can experience and learn about different habitats, flora and fauna.

Overall Approach

The project will build the capacity of teachers and local volunteers in nature-based learning. Local volunteers will be trained in facilitating experiential learning and will gain skills to share with the wider community.  They will become Wild Work Ambassadors who will support teachers and students in their learning journey; and share their own knowledge, experience and passion for local landscapes and nature. Through this capacity building, teachers and Wild Work Ambassadors will be able to continue running the Junior Wild Work initiative.

Wild Work’s educational approach is centred on learning through direct experience with natural environments and applies the principles of community led local development. This is the ‘bottom up’ approach to development which recognises that successful actions come from local community ownership and participation. Empowerment of local communities is integral to effective actions for biodiversity, and creating a cohesive, healthy and sustainable community.

Further to this, the process and outcomes of the programme will enhance local biodiversity and has the potential to positively benefit the wider community through improved networks and development of community led initiatives.

Key Responsibilities of the Junior Wild Work Facilitator

• Attend and complete all required training with the SECAD Wild Work Team
• Deliver school-based sessions to participating primary school 5^th/6^th class pupils using the Junior Wild Work Toolkit and develop the capacity of teachers within the school to deliver this in the future
• Deliver outdoor education sessions to participating primary school 5^th/6^th class pupils and develop the capacity of teachers within the school to deliver these in the future
• Work with designated local community group to identify suitable local habitats as nature spaces for the primary school participants in the Junior Wild Work Programme.
• Support the local community group to carry out risk assessments and manage risks for all outdoor activities
• Build capacity of the community group to support visiting pupils to understand, interpret and monitor the different natural features of these sites
• Ensure all education sessions are positively focused and follow a place-based approach
• Work with schools to develop an end of programme event for their school and community. The format of this event will be designed by the participants and supported by the Wild Work Team, class teachers and Wild Work Ambassadors
• Develop and maintain excellent working relationships with schools and relevant community/voluntary organisations.
• Contribute ideas and creative solutions as part of shaping future supports and development of the online toolkits
• Ensure detailed records of all work is maintained and reported, in a timely and efficient manner in line with the reporting requirements
• Effectively represent and promote the mission, vision and values of SECAD and Wild Work

Person Specification

 

ESSENTIAL

• Qualification/experience in a subject relevant to biodiversity such as ecology, earth/natural sciences, zoology, botany, natural resources management.

Or

• Qualification/experience of delivering Forest School sessions, bushcraft, nature-based events/education, practical conservation or gardening/landscaping

And

• An understanding of the values and challenges of our regions’ ‘nature’ and ‘biodiversity’
• Experience of working with and delivering activities to children, young people and/or adults
• Ability to engage with community and voluntary groups
• Passion for outdoor learning and nature and ability to enthuse others, particularly young people about the natural world
• Strong organisational, time management and administration skills
• Excellent written, verbal, analytical and interpersonal skills
• Good IT skills
• Good understanding of the wider implications of Health and Safety/ Risk Assessments, Child Protection and Safeguarding issues
• Be motivated to work independently and as part of a small team
• Have a full clean driving licence and own transport

 

DESIRABLE

• Experience in the delivery of nature/environmental/outdoor education programmes that follow a positive, place-based approach and are delivered through experiential learning and outdoor education methodologies
• Practical experience of nature friendly landscape management; gardening; food growing or farming
• Experience of working with schools
• Experience using/teaching with online learning systems (e.g. Moodle)
• Experience of delivering events to engage with local communities
• Identification skills in botany, birds and pollinator species groups
• Knowledge and awareness of national programmes such as the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan, the National Biodiversity Data Centre, Invasive Species Ireland and Citizen Science
• Possess a knowledge of digital tools & information sources focused on Irish biodiversity

Time Requirement

The following will be required for each participating school. There will be at least one school participating in each area, but there may be two:

Per School	Days required	Cost @ €500 per day
6 x 0.5 days Classroom sessions	3	1500
4 x 0.5 days Outdoor Sessions involving school and community hosts	2	1000
1 Presentation/final project	1	500
Report Writing	1	500
	7

The following will be required for each of the five geographic areas / participating communities. Where two schools from the same area are participating, the following will only need to be undertaken once:

Per Community	Days	Cost @ €500 per day
Identification of training locations, provision of community volunteer training etc	3 (eg. 6 x 0.5 days)	1500
Other Costs	Days	Cost @ €500 per day
Facilitator training day provided by Wild Work team	1	500
Report Writing	1	500
	5

 

Tender Requirements

• Name and contact details of person submitting the tender
• CV of person to undertake the contract
• Proposed methodology and workplan to undertake the work
• Confirmation of availability during the project timeframe
• Details of all relevant qualifications, skills and experience of contractor
• Details of relevant experience in the delivery of similar contracts
• Confirmation that up-to-date Tax Clearance will be available if selected
• Confirmation that professional indemnity/other Insurance will be available if selected
• Names and contact details of two referees

Terms & Conditions

• Contract for 9-10 months in line with academic year
• Location: Post requires outreach work with travel throughout the service delivery area of South Cork. A contractor may be selected for one or more of the 5 geographic areas listed
• Scheduling to be confirmed, in line with the school calendar. Flexibility will be required from the contractor(s)
• Maximum daily rate is €500 inclusive of all costs
• Reporting to Social Inclusion Programme Manager and CEO (or their designate)

Full and clean Irish/Irish qualified driver’s licence is required with access to own vehicle

Application Process

Please email your application (CV & Letter of Application) to: info@secad.ie – subject line ‘SICAP Junior Wild Work Facilitator 2024’

Closing date for receipt of Applications is 12 noon on Thursday 18^th July 2024.

Shortlisting may take place. Candidates selected for interview will be informed by 19^th July and must be available for interview on Monday 22^nd July 2024.  A panel may be formed and those interviewed may be considered for other related opportunities in SECAD in the near future.

SECAD Partnership is an Equal Opportunities Employer.

 

---

About SECAD Partnership

SECAD Partnership CLG (SECAD) is a Local Development Company established in 1995. Our main office is located in Midleton, Co. Cork. SECAD’s main development objective is to promote and enable sustainable development through our Rural Development and Social Inclusion programmes. SECAD has a voluntary Board of Directors and a staff team of c. 50 people.

SECAD works with individuals, community and voluntary groups, business, academia and other stakeholders to create a more vibrant, sustainable and inclusive society. SECAD manages a wide range of funds and services including social investment and employment support programmes, implemented on behalf of various Government Departments, State Bodies, the European Commission and the private sector. SECAD currently delivers a number of major programmes along with other smaller schemes and initiatives.

SECAD is delivering the Social Inclusion Community Activation Programme (SICAP 2024-2028) throughout South Cork including the Múscraí Gaeltacht.  SECAD is an implementing partner for LEADER 2023-2027 on behalf of the South Cork and West Cork LCDC’s. SECAD has vast experience in administering Irish government and European funds, as well as transnational co-operation projects including LEADER / Rural Development Programmes, Social Inclusion Programmes, the Local Area Employment Service (LAES), Rural Social Scheme and Tús (Employment Schemes), Interreg, Intelligent Energy Europe, Erasmus + and the Programme for Employability Inclusion and Learning (gender equality). SECAD was recently approved funding for WorkAbility (ESF+ 2021-2027) and the Asylum Migration and Integration Fund.

Wild Work is a SECAD initiative with a social ethos. Wild Work supports employment activation, educates and raises awareness of nature and biodiversity and benefits society as a whole. To read more about Wild Work see www.wildwork.ie.

As a Grant Making Organisation (GMO), SECAD manages community benefit funds throughout Ireland on behalf of various sustainable energy developers, infrastructure providers and others. A key area of expertise is community engagement – developing positive, effective links with communities, supporting them to access and maximise funding and services.

For more information on SECAD see www.secad.ie.