Job Vacancy – Community Engagement Officer

We are looking for a passionate and motivated Community Engagement Officer to play a central role in delivering the Open Arms project across Rotherham.

Location: Rotherham Borough 
Hours: Full-time, 37 hours per week (flexible, some evening/weekend work required) 
Contract: fixed term until 31st March 2027 (initially) with further 2 years expected thereafter.
Salary: £26,362 per annum, pro rata 

You will work directly with local communities to build trust, increase engagement, and support residents affected by the ongoing cost-of-living challenges. 
 
This is a varied, people‑focused role, ideal for someone who enjoys working in community settings, developing partnerships, and making a tangible difference to people’s lives. 

Key responsibilities include: 

  • Leading the delivery and development of the Open Arms project in community venues 
  • Creating safe, welcoming and inclusive spaces through drop‑ins and community events 
  • Carrying out outreach to engage a diverse range of residents 
  • Providing information, advice and signposting around cost‑of‑living and financial wellbeing issues 
  • Working closely with Citizens Advice Rotherham and other partners to ensure joined‑up support 
  • Supporting and signposting volunteers to become active Volunteer Champions 
  • Collecting monitoring data and contributing to reports for funders and stakeholders 
  • Acting as an ambassador for the project within the community 

About you 

You will have experience of working with communities in a front‑facing or engagement role, with the ability to build positive relationships with people from a wide range of backgrounds. You will be organised, empathetic, and confident working both independently and as part of a team. 
 
You will also have: 

  • Experience delivering or supporting community activities or projects 
  • Strong communication and listening skills 
  • An understanding of safeguarding and equality principles 
  • Confidence using digital tools such as Office 365 and online communication platforms 
  • A willingness to work flexibly, including occasional evenings and weekends 
  • The ability to travel across Rotherham Borough 

What we offer 

  • A rewarding role making a real difference in local communities 
  • Supportive management and opportunities for training and development 
  • The chance to be part of a collaborative, values-driven project 

This role is subject to an Enhanced DBS check. 

How to apply 

For further details and to request an application pack, please contact: Sarah Fletcher on 07538 625113 or email sarah.fletcher@rotherfed.org

Interviews are expected to take place in early July, however, will review applications as they come in and may invite candidates to interview earlier, with reasonable notice.  This vacancy may close sooner than advertised if we receive enough applications.

Job Description

Job Vacancy – Community Grants Support Officer

Rotherham Federation are seeking an experienced Community Grants Officer to support Rotherham communities to grow and develop, building the confidence of local people to strengthen their communities.

Salary: £30,257 per annum

Hours: Full-time (37 hours per week)

Contract: 12-month fixed term (initially)

Location: Across Rotherham Borough

Responsible to: Community Grants Project Manager

About the Role

The Community Grants Support Officer will play a key role in supporting community groups through every stage of the grants process – from developing ideas and applying for funding, to delivering, monitoring, and evaluating their projects.

  • Provide 1:1 support to groups applying for small grants, including eligibility guidance and application support.
  • Recruit, train, and develop a resident-led grants panel.
  • Deliver workshops, outreach sessions, and information events to promote funding opportunities.
  • Support funded groups to manage their projects, monitor progress, and stay within budget.
  • Collect monitoring information, case studies and evidence of impact.
  • Build strong relationships with local partners and networks.
  • Maintain accurate records of applications, funded projects and outcomes.

About You

  • Experience supporting community groups or delivering community-based projects.
  • Knowledge of grant processes including budgeting, eligibility and monitoring.
  • Strong time-management and the ability to juggle multiple deadlines.
  • Confidence in communicating with residents, partners and voluntary sector organisations.
  • Ability to prepare simple budgets and summarise monitoring information.
  • Commitment to inclusion, community empowerment and high-quality service delivery.

Additional Requirements

  • Ability to work across the borough.
  • Willingness to work occasional evenings/weekends.
  • Full clean driving license and access to a car.
  • Willingness to undertake an Enhanced DBS check.

How to Apply

For further details and to request an application pack, please contact: Sarah Fletcher on 07538 625113 or email sarah.fletcher@rotherfed.org

Closing date for applications: Monday 6th July 2026 @10am

Interviews will be held on: Thursday 9th July 2026

Job Description

Job Vacancy – Community Grants Project Manager

Rotherham Federation is seeking an experienced, motivated and highly organised Community Project Manager to lead the successful delivery of our Community Grants Programme, supporting Rotherham communities to grow and develop, and build the confidence of local people to strengthen their communities.

Salary: £36,274 per annum

Hours: Full time – 37 hours per week

Contract: 12‑month fixed term (initially)

Location: Across Rotherham Borough

Responsible to: RotherFed Project Manager

About the Role

The Community Grants Project Manager will be responsible for coordinating all aspects of the Community Grants Programme, ensuring that outputs, outcomes, and reporting requirements are met.

  • Lead operational management of the project
  • Oversee promotion, applications, assessments and monitoring
  • Line-manage and support the Community Grants Support Officer
  • Recruit, train and support a resident grants panel
  • Provide guidance to community groups and partner organisations
  • Maintain accurate monitoring systems and produce regular reports
  • Build strong partnerships to maximise project reach and impact
  • Organise workshops, information sessions and outreach activities

About You

We are looking for someone who can bring strong coordination, communication and organisational skills to a complex, multi‑stakeholder project. You will have:

  • Experience managing community‑based projects
  • Experience of grant management and monitoring
  • Experience working with voluntary/community sector partners
  • Strong analytical and reporting skills
  • Excellent communication skills
  • Strong time‑management skills
  • Commitment to equality, inclusion and community empowerment

Additional Requirements

  • Ability to work across the borough.
  • Willingness to work occasional evenings/weekends.
  • Full clean driving license and access to a car.
  • Willingness to undertake an Enhanced DBS check.

How to Apply

For further details and to request an application pack, please contact: Sarah Fletcher on 07538 625113 or email sarah.fletcher@rotherfed.org

Closing date for applications: Monday 6th July 2026 @ 10am

Interviews will be held on:  Thursday 9th July 2026

Job Description

New Project: Maltby Decides

Thanks to National Lottery players, Rotherham Federation of Communities has received more than £285,000 of life-changing funding from The National Lottery Community Fund. The funding will be used to deliver an inspiring, community-led programme that supports and empowers local residents to design and award small and medium grants that aim to enhance local services, build skills and confidence, and strengthen community life across Maltby.

This has been awarded from The National Lottery Community Fund’s new “You Decide” programme – involving communities directly in decisions about funding good causes. You Decide is key to the funder’s efforts to put community power, agency, and control at the heart of its funding in England – supporting communities to live happier, healthier lives. This truly life-changing funding has been made possible by National Lottery players. 

We will establish a local grants panel that gives community members the power to decide how funding is allocated. A tiered programme of small and medium grants will be introduced, providing accessible opportunities for local groups to apply for funding that strengthens their communities. This participatory approach will deliver improved outcomes for residents, foster a sense of local ownership, enhance community-led support, and build stronger connections and resilience across Maltby.

New Incentives For The Tenant Scrutiny Panel

We are pleased to introduce a new Rewards and Incentives process for members of the Tenant Scrutiny Panel. This initiative has been developed as a token of appreciation for members voluntary contribution, and to thank members for their dedication and involvement in helping to improve housing services.

The scheme aims to ensure that all participation is acknowledged fairly and consistently, offering a range of incentives in recognition of members valued input into improving services for all. Whether through vouchers, social get togethers, or other forms of recognition, we want to make sure you feel appreciated for the difference you make.

We hope this new approach is welcomed by tenants, and that it aids continued engagement and collaboration with the existing panel members whilst encouraging new members to join the panel.

View our new incentive guidelines here

Rotherham Federation Celebrates Commitment to Real Living Wage

Rotherham Federation has today accredited as a Living Wage Employer. Their Living Wage commitment will see everyone working at RotherFed receive a minimum hourly wage of £12, significantly higher than the government minimum for over 23s, which currently stands at £10.42 per hour.

RotherFed is based in Yorkshire and the Humber, the UK region with the highest proportion of non-Living Wage jobs in the country (15.8%), with over 368,000 jobs paying less than the real Living Wage. Despite this, RotherFed has committed to pay the real Living Wage and deliver a fair day’s pay for a hard day’s work.

The real Living Wage is the only rate calculated according to the costs of living. It provides a voluntary benchmark for employers that wish to ensure their staff earn a wage they can live on, not just the government minimum. Since 2011 the Living Wage movement has delivered a pay rise to over 460,000 people and put £3 billion extra into the pockets of low paid workers.

Katherine Chapman, Director, Living Wage Foundation said: “We’re delighted that Rotherham Federation has joined the movement of over 14,000 responsible employers across the UK who voluntarily commit to go further than the government minimum to make sure all their staff earn enough to live on.

“They join thousands of small businesses, as well as household names such as Burberry, Barclays, Everton Football Club and many more. These businesses recognise that paying the real Living Wage is the mark of a responsible employer and they, like RotherFed, believe that a hard day’s work deserves a fair day’s pay.”

About the Living Wage

The real Living Wage is the only rate calculated according to what people need to make ends meet. It provides a voluntary benchmark for employers that choose to take a stand by ensuring their staff earn a wage that meets the costs and pressures they face in their everyday lives.

The UK Living Wage is currently £12 per hour. There is a separate London Living Wage rate of £13.15 per hour to reflect the higher costs of transport, childcare and housing in the capital. These figures are calculated annually by the Resolution Foundation and overseen by the Living Wage Commission, based on the best available evidence on living standards in London and the UK.

The Living Wage Foundation is the organisation at the heart of the movement of businesses, organisations and individuals who campaign for the simple idea that a hard day’s work deserves a fair day’s pay. The Living Wage Foundation receives guidance and advice from the Living Wage Advisory Council. The Foundation is supported by our principal partners: Aviva; IKEA; Joseph Rowntree Foundation; KPMG; Linklaters; Nationwide; Nestle; Resolution Foundation; Oxfam; Trust for London; People’s Health Trust; and Queen Mary University of London.

What about the Government’s national living wage?

In July 2015 the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced that the UK Government would introduce a compulsory ‘national living wage’. It was introduced in April 2016, originally applying for all workers over the age of 25, is currently £10.42 an hour and applies for workers over the age of 23. The rate is different to the Living Wage rates calculated by the Living Wage Foundation. The government rate is based on median earnings while the Living Wage Foundation rates are calculated according to the cost of living in London and the UK.

Tenants Open Day

At the Tenants Open Day all Rotherham Federation member groups were put in a draw to win £500 for their group. 3 Winners were drawn by the Mayor of Rotherham, which were:

  • Aston TARA
  • Rotherham Sanjeet Choir
  • The Lings Monday Club

All the lucky winners will have the money paid into their groups accounts.

Congratulations to the winners.