Community Engagement Officer Post

For an application pack email: jo@multiculturalcumbria.org.uk

Closing Date: Applications must be submitted by 9am Tuesday 24th March 2026.

Interviews: Interviews will be held on Monday 30th March 2026.

Rate of Pay

£13,000 per annum. 

(£26,000 Full Time Equivalent) 

Hours of Work

Negotiable, depending on programme of work – flexibility is essential and some evening and weekend working will be required.

Total of  18.75 hours per week on average

Location:

Carlisle base, but working across Cumberland

Responsible to: 

Chief Executive Officer

Context of Job:

Working as part of a team supporting people seeking asylum, refugees and other diaspora communities, you will proactively target diaspora communities to co -develop projects that address needs, bring people together, enable understanding and promote integration.  

A second part time post of Inclusive Volunteering Lead is also being recruited for. We are open to applications to both positions to create full time hours, if the candidate has the skills and experience for both roles.

Community engagement requires flexible working including some evenings and weekends. Multicultural Cumbria cannot pay overtime, so time off in lieu will be given. 

The post is funded by Cumberland Council, initially up to 31st March 2027

We are an equal opportunities employer

Multicultural Cumbria is a grassroots organisation committed to promoting inclusion, celebrating cultural diversity, and empowering ethnically diverse communities across Cumbria. Since its formation in 2017, we have built strong community connections through arts, education, food, and dialogue, creating a vital bridge between cultures.

We aim to enable, engage and empower diasporas to create a truly multicultural county; to break down barriers and promote cultures by sharing our similarities and celebrating our differences. This promotes a strong sense of identity for diasporas to make a positive contribution to Cumbria and its cultural diversity.

Multicultural Cumbria has a small staff team of 5 people, so this position is an opportunity to really contribute your ideas, energy, skills and experience with visible results.

Purpose of Job:

  • To increase capacity within Multicultural Cumbria to develop, expand and deliver cultural and community engagement activities, including events, education, workshops and volunteering.
  • To work as part of the Asylum Seeker and Refugee Support Team, integrating community development practice with opportunities for asylum seekers and refugees to interact with the community and enhance their skills and confidence.
  • To lead on the replication of our award winning Culture Bazaar in West Cumberland, on a reduced scale.
  • To work with our partners to co-produce community events, including Carnival in Carlisle, which celebrates diversity in all its forms
  • To collaborate with staff and volunteers to expand an education programme in schools
  • To reach out to and work with Syrian, Afghan and Ukrainian refugee communities and Cumberland Council’s Resettlement Team.
  • To support members of diaspora communities to express their views on issues which affect them, especially health and racial discrimination.
  • To raise awareness of the work of Multicultural Cumbria
  • To work to the principles of welcome, inclusion, equality and thus promoting the well-being of everyone – a culture of mutual support and good community cohesion 
  • To collaborate with key stakeholders such as statutory bodies, district councils, charities and services from the third sector and volunteers from the community, to welcome and accept newcomers without bias or prejudice

Main Duties:

  • To take a lead role in developing and delivering community engagement activity with diaspora communities across Cumberland, including within schools
  • To monitor, gather feedback and data and aid in the evaluation of the effectiveness of this role.
  • To work with the team to deliver Culture Bazaar in West Cumbria to celebrate diverse cultures through music, dance, art, food and creative workshops.
  • To work together with other staff and stakeholders to agreed deadlines and budgets including the Asylum Seeker and Refugee Coordinators.
  • To learn about and contribute to our Asylum Seeker and Refugee Support Service and develop skills to enable Multicultural Cumbria to provide a flexible and responsive service
  • To help the communities of Cumberland to welcome people seeking asylum, enabling integration and participation in the life of the communities.     
  • Support community awareness and education around asylum matters and immigration.

General Duties:

  • To promote community cohesion, inclusion and equity for all.    
  • Attend meetings as necessary.
  • Represent Multicultural Cumbria and promote their ethos by working in a positive way.
  • Contribute to monitoring and reports.
  • Abide by all Multicultural Cumbria’s policies, including those around safeguarding, confidentiality and data protection.
  • Ensure that personal behaviour demonstrates integrity, openness and honesty; and is anti-oppressive, non-judgmental and supports diversity.
  • Take responsibility for inputting and storing data, and compliance with GDPR.
  • To maintain and update CRM mailing lists for newsletter, volunteers, service providers and professional contacts

It is the nature of the work that tasks and responsibilities are in many circumstances unpredictable and varied. Employees are therefore expected to work in a flexible way and tasks which are not specifically covered in their job description may have to be undertaken.

Person Specification

Experience and knowledge

  • Experience in community engagement, partnership building or working with community groups
  • Experience of engaging with diverse, often hard to reach, communities and residents
  • Skills and abilities
    • Excellent verbal/written communication skills for facilitating meetings, persuading and presenting.
    • Ability to set/meet deadlines and prioritise tasks.
    • Ability to foster trust, manage conflict, and build relationships.
    • Ability to work on own initiative and as part of a team.
    • Must hold a full driving licence and have access to their own car.

     

    Personal attributes

    • Enthusiastic, proactive, and committed to community development.
    • Adaptable to working with different groups and in different locations.
    • Available for flexible working hours, including evenings or weekends.

     

    Please note this role is subject to an enhanced DBS check