Policy and Campaigns Coordinator

Job Description

Central London, like many cities across the world, is an exciting and stimulating place. However, for some, it is a place to go when things have gone profoundly wrong and there is nowhere else. When people are on the edge, homeless, isolated and in despair there must be a place to turn. The Connection is there to be with people as they overcome that isolation, recover and move on to a meaningful, fulfilling life. However, this is not enough. The experiences of people on the edge matter. Their story must be told to those in a position of power and influence, so that homelessness, exclusion and isolation are not acceptable features of life in the UK.The Government has prioritised homelessness through a Rough Sleeping Initiative run from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government since 2019. Subsequent to this, the Government responded to homelessness during the Pandemic through the Everyone In initiative and through legislation to restrict evictions. We have, as a subsequence, seen a huge drop in rough sleeping and very limited Covid infections in the homeless population. These are huge achievements.Looking ahead, the homelessness sector is keen to maintain the low level of rough sleeping that has been achieved. The Connection is very keen to play its part in this work. We had been developing a more proactive approach to policy and advocacy work prior to the Pandemic and we are planning to resume this work. Policy and campaigning activity related to accommodation (particularly Housing First) and migration is well developed. However, there is a gap in thinking around access to mental health, drug and alcohol treatment which we are very well placed to fill. Alongside this, we are interested in the emerging debate on the repeal of the Vagrancy Act.About the role:With this as our backdrop, an exciting opportunity has become available to work as a Policy and Campaigns Co-ordinator. This will give us the skills and capacity to significantly increase our influence with policy makers locally and nationally to achieve systemic changes for people sleeping rough, drawing on the experiences of our clients and practitioners.As the Policy and Campaigns Co-ordinator you will: Create a strong link with a treatment specialist agency with an advocacy function to support this work (could be substance misuse or mental health), bringing credibility and additional connections/networks. Consult internally and externally with partners to design a treatment model suitable for supporting our clients away from rough sleeping and into accommodation and recovery. Engage with policy makers locally, regionally and nationally to propose this model to be included in RSI and Health funding in order to pilot and roll out the approach. Co-ordinate the Connections participation in the debate about the repeal of the Vagrancy Act and emerging alternatives. Create key messages for the media on our work, to cover issues with the potential for reputational risk (begging, use of tents, enforcement etc.) to mitigate risk and reduce instances of reacting to stories.So, are you interested in this rewarding role that comes with some really great benefits To apply, please submit an application form highlighting that you meet the requirements of the role set out in the person specification. Only candidates that provide this, and who meet the essential criteria within the person specification, will be considered for an interview.Details of the role including the person specification can be found attached.Please find the application form attached.Closing date: Sunday 6th June 2021 - MidnightInterview date: Tuesday 15th June 2021