Prisons Programme Co-Ordinator

Prisons Programme Co-Ordinator 

About Street Soccer

Street Soccer is a charity using football to create lasting change in the lives of isolated and excluded adults and young people. We run 60 sessions a week of free, inclusive and judgement-free football. These sessions provide person-centred support to players facing a number of challenges including mental health, homelessness, long term unemployment, problem substance use, criminal justice and seeking asylum. Our mission is to create hope and opportunity for all. 

We support thousands of players a year on their journey to positive change by providing a safe space, trusting relationships and a sense of belonging. We fight isolation and exclusion by bringing people together, building confidence and creating supportive communities. We support people of all ages and backgrounds through relationship-based support, focusing on trust and personal development, supporting everyone to set and achieve their own goals. Thanks to the support of Street Soccer, 82% of players say that their quality of life has improved

Lived experience is at the heart of what we do, with over 80% of our staff having lived experience of the challenges our players face.

97% of players think that Street Soccer is a unique organisation. With 15 years of experience delivering positive change through football, we are now working in more communities than ever, with city hubs in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dundee, Aberdeen and South London, and network of sessions across 6 other local authorities.

Role Purpose 

Since 2015 Street Soccer has been delivering Football themed personal development qualifications within 12 prisons across Scotland to both men and women, focusing on building transferable life skills and self-esteem to best prepare for release. Street Soccer 2 of 4 players who have engaged in our Prisons Programme are 9x less likely to experience prison or probation following their engagement.

We are now pleased to be delivering our Prisons Programme in partnership with SACRO. This exciting partnership means that we are looking to expand our team delivering this programme across East & West Scotland to support delivering the programme to our players but also to support those nearing liberation and then through the gate into our 60 community drop-in sessions that take place across the country.

Main Duties & Responsibilities

• To deliver a range of Street Soccer programmes, SCQF qualifications and activities within several prisons across Scotland.
• To engage meaningfully with socially disadvantaged adults and young people in ways which are consistent with Street Soccer policy, values and ethos.
• To engage and prepare players for liberation from the criminal justice system and provide support post release to engage with Street Soccer programmes and partners.
• To ensure that programme delivery reflects the ethos and values of Street Soccer and is compliant with all regulatory and legislative requirements.
• To establish and maintain a range of key relationships vital to the delivery of Street Soccer programmes.
• To provide leadership, support and mentoring to players, sessional workers and volunteers in line with Street Soccer policy, values and ethos.
• To work with colleagues to deliver and/or support a range of regional and national events.
• To manage and monitor all aspects of health and safety, including completing risk assessments across a range of activities.
• To effectively manage resources across activities to ensure programme delivery is efficient and effective.
• To create, update and maintain an accurate record of all aspects of programme delivery, provided support and referrals.
• To ensure effective communication across partners both from within and outwith the organisation. 3 of 4
• To contribute to the development of the organisation and to participate effectively in a range of internal meetings and forums.
• To represent Street Soccer at a range of external meetings and networks.
• To ensure contractual and regulatory compliance in all activities.
• To ensure full compliance with Street Soccer Governance, HR and Operational Policies and Procedures. 

The Prisons Programme Co-Ordinator is a dynamic individual who enjoys working in an exciting and challenging but very rewarding environment. Street Soccer is a growing organisation and we require people who can think on their feet, willing to accept change and are committed to continuing their professional development. There will be times where you will be required to work on tasks and projects outside of the job description including occasional evening and weekend work. The successful candidate will be enthusiastic and committed to supporting the overall aims and objectives of Street Soccer. This job description is a general outline of the above post and it is not exhaustive. This job description is subject to periodic review with the postholder. Duties may change in line with the organisational changes and of the postholders own personal development.