We are currently recruiting female and non-binary facilitators and assistants for creative groups for autistic girls and non-binary young people in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire.
*If you require this information in a different format, need support to apply, or have any questions or queries, please email [email protected]*
‘Being Me’ is an arts project devised and led by Can’t Sit Still and funded by The Barnwood Trust. We are seeking professional, female or non-binary, freelance facilitators and assistants, to co-lead and assist the delivery of 2 different weekly creative groups for autistic girls and non-binary young people. One group is for 11-16 year olds (or in school years 7-11), and the other is for 17 - 25 year olds, who have an autistic profile.
By ‘autistic profile’, we mean that the young people will either:
Each group accommodates up to 15 participants.
The groups will take place between on weekday evenings during term time. We are currently confirming venues to host the groups but expect them to take place on either Mondays, Tuesdays or Wednesdays, in Cheltenham.
The clubs will begin during the week of 20th November 2023 and then continue every week with holiday breaks in line with Gloucestershire school holidays. There will be a total of 29 sessions concluding by the end of 19th July 2024.
By ‘autistic profile’, we mean that the young people will either:
- have an autism diagnosis
- be on the diagnostic pathway
- self-identify as autistic
Each group accommodates up to 15 participants.
The groups will take place between on weekday evenings during term time. We are currently confirming venues to host the groups but expect them to take place on either Mondays, Tuesdays or Wednesdays, in Cheltenham.
The clubs will begin during the week of 20th November 2023 and then continue every week with holiday breaks in line with Gloucestershire school holidays. There will be a total of 29 sessions concluding by the end of 19th July 2024.
Context
The funding has been allocated by The Barnwood Trust so that parents and unpaid carers can take breaks from their caring responsibilities to maintain their resilience, and their physical and emotional wellbeing. At the same time, disabled* children, young people and adults should have opportunities to socialise independently in an environment that is safe, secure and suitable for their needs.
*Please note: the use of the term ‘disabled’ in the paragraph above refers to the social model of disability. Can’t Sit Still acknowledges the right of every autistic person to describe themselves in their own terms.
Can’t Sit Still is one of 6 organisations selected by Barnwood to form a ‘Community of Practice’. Our project will enable 11-25 year olds with an autistic profile to have access to high quality creative opportunities that are co-designed with them.
*Please note: the use of the term ‘disabled’ in the paragraph above refers to the social model of disability. Can’t Sit Still acknowledges the right of every autistic person to describe themselves in their own terms.
Can’t Sit Still is one of 6 organisations selected by Barnwood to form a ‘Community of Practice’. Our project will enable 11-25 year olds with an autistic profile to have access to high quality creative opportunities that are co-designed with them.
Who are we looking for?
We want to meet people who have a professional creative practice (including but not limited to visual arts, performance, music and writing) and who are experienced/interested in participatory arts practice.
‘Participatory arts practice’ might include: running workshops in schools and community settings, working as a ‘creative enabler’ within companies of people with disabilities, making interactive performances or exhibitions, curating events within communities and more.
Please see essential criteria for each of the roles, below, for more info.
Each delivery team will be made up of 2 x facilitators, 1 x assistant and at least 1 volunteer per group. The facilitators will be responsible for planning the groups co-creatively with participants and briefing the assistant and volunteers to ensure high quality, creative and safe delivery.
To ensure that the delivery team is representative of our group participants, we strongly encourage applications from autistic facilitators and assistants.
We believe that innovation occurs through the interactions of people with diverse experiences, expertise and points of view (Collective Genius - Hill, Brandeau, Truelove and Linebeck, 2014). With this in mind we are very interested in receiving applications from people whose lived experiences are currently under-represented in our team. This includes people who:
‘Participatory arts practice’ might include: running workshops in schools and community settings, working as a ‘creative enabler’ within companies of people with disabilities, making interactive performances or exhibitions, curating events within communities and more.
Please see essential criteria for each of the roles, below, for more info.
Each delivery team will be made up of 2 x facilitators, 1 x assistant and at least 1 volunteer per group. The facilitators will be responsible for planning the groups co-creatively with participants and briefing the assistant and volunteers to ensure high quality, creative and safe delivery.
To ensure that the delivery team is representative of our group participants, we strongly encourage applications from autistic facilitators and assistants.
We believe that innovation occurs through the interactions of people with diverse experiences, expertise and points of view (Collective Genius - Hill, Brandeau, Truelove and Linebeck, 2014). With this in mind we are very interested in receiving applications from people whose lived experiences are currently under-represented in our team. This includes people who:
- are from the global majority
- have physical disabilities, impairments or differences.
What you will deliver
FACILITATORS:
ASSISTANTS:
- Facilitators will co-lead either one or two sessions a week between November ‘23 and July ‘24, in pairs. They will be responsible for briefing the assistants and volunteers, and for capturing observations & learning to contribute to the project evaluation.
- Before the sessions begin all facilitators will be sent paid research and reading tasks and attend a paid planning and development time with the Can’t Sit Still team. We will discuss the wider context of the Being Me project and what we hope to achieve. Together, we will share practice and co-design the session-holding framework and evaluation plan.
- There will also be a paid weekly online reflection session with the other facilitators and the Project Manager, lasting 1.5 hours. This will take place every Friday morning, on the same weeks as the clubs.
ASSISTANTS:
- Assistants will support the facilitators to deliver one or two sessions a week between November ‘23 and July ‘24. They will be responsible for following the facilitators briefing and in-session guidance, and for helping to capture observations & learning to contribute to the project evaluation.
- Before the sessions begin all assistants will attend a paid planning and development day with the Can’t Sit Still team. During the day we will discuss the wider context of the Being Me project and what we hope to achieve.
Essential criteria
FACILITATORS:
ASSISTANTS:
BOTH:
- Experience of working as an artist in the creative industries. This may include, but isn’t limited to: theatre, craft, dance, music, circus, visual arts, writing.
- Experience of participatory arts practice.
- Lived experience of autism (either personally or with a close family member) or professional experience working with autistic people.
- Availability for weekly 1.5 hour online reflection session (Friday mornings).
ASSISTANTS:
- Your own creative practice - this could be as a professional or also simply as a hobby.
- Some experience of, or interest in, participatory arts practice.
- Lived experience of autism (either personally or with a close family member) OR some experience (either professionally or voluntarily) working with people with additional needs. This might include autism, mental health issues or Special Educational Needs.
BOTH:
- Availability for planning and development dates - 16th & 17th October 2023 (assistants are only required on one of these days).
- Availability on either Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday between 6-9pm from 20th Nov 23 - 19th July 24
- Female or non-binary
- Willingness to learn about Can’t Sit Still’s co-creative approach to running participatory arts activities.
- Current DBS check, or willingness to complete one.
- Right to work in the UK.
- Public liability insurance (we can support candidates in obtaining this, if necessary).
- Ability to travel independently to a venue in Cheltenham (we can provide access support with journey planning if required.)
Timeline
Deadline for applications: Midday, Friday 22nd September 2023
All applicants notified whether they have an interview or not: Tuesday 26th September 2023
Interviews: Tuesday 3rd October 2023 - these can take place either online or in person at a venue in Cheltenham.
Planning and development days: 16th & 17th October 2023 (location to be confirmed). Please note: assistants will only be required for ONE of these days.
Weekly groups and online reflection sessions begin: Week of 6th November 2023
Christmas break: 24th December 2023 - 7th January 2024
February Half Term break: 10th - 18th February 2024
Easter break: 23rd March - 7th April 2024
Summer Half Term break: 25th May - 7th June 2024
Weekly groups finish: By 12th July 2024
All applicants notified whether they have an interview or not: Tuesday 26th September 2023
Interviews: Tuesday 3rd October 2023 - these can take place either online or in person at a venue in Cheltenham.
Planning and development days: 16th & 17th October 2023 (location to be confirmed). Please note: assistants will only be required for ONE of these days.
Weekly groups and online reflection sessions begin: Week of 6th November 2023
Christmas break: 24th December 2023 - 7th January 2024
February Half Term break: 10th - 18th February 2024
Easter break: 23rd March - 7th April 2024
Summer Half Term break: 25th May - 7th June 2024
Weekly groups finish: By 12th July 2024
Fees offered
|
FACILITATOR
Training & planning: £166 per day x 2 days = £332 Weekly planning, group delivery and reflective practice session: £166 per group x 29 = £4814 Overall fee: £5146 |
ASSISTANT
Training & planning: £166 per day x 1 day = £166 Group delivery: £66 per session (3 hours) x 29 sessions = £1914 Overall fee: £2080 |
Our fee structure is in line with our company wide pay policy which can be found here.
How to apply
Please email [email protected]:
A video, audio or written application answering the following questions:
Written applications should be no longer than 500 words, and video or audio applications should be no more than 3 minutes in length.
Please also send us a CV of your relevant work (in whatever format works best for you) OR link to your website.
A video, audio or written application answering the following questions:
- Are you applying to be a facilitator or assistant?
- Would you prefer to work at one or two groups?
- What makes you suitable for this work?
- What excites and/or interests you about facilitating or assisting the Being Me Clubs?
Written applications should be no longer than 500 words, and video or audio applications should be no more than 3 minutes in length.
Please also send us a CV of your relevant work (in whatever format works best for you) OR link to your website.