Regional Physical Activity Advisor

We are here to support, to provide insight, knowledge and expertise around physical activity, sport and challenging inactivity in London.

We're here to make it simple to turn good work into great achievements which have a real impact on Londoners' lives.

But our vision for London to be the most active city in the world is not about us working alone. It's about working with everyone who delivers opportunities directly to Londoners.

We are looking for a talented, enthusiastic and ambitious individual to join the Operations Team at London Sport in a newly created role as Regional Physical Activity Advisor (RPAA).

The role which focuses entirely on London is part of a national programme in partnership with Sport England and the National Academy for Social Prescribing. It is one of seven similar positions across England.

The aim of the programme is to provide support to help local communities increase and improve community activities, enabling those people with the greatest need to live their best life.

It will do this by focusing on supporting organisations who have reach to, and engage with, people most impacted by COVID and those experiencing health inequalities. The programme will help to strengthen social prescribing at a community level through:

• building new connections
• informing and shaping support through user led and partner experience
• sharing learning to inform practice amongst partners
• supporting strategic influencing.

The programme will seek to make the following impact:

• improve access to physical activity and sport opportunities for people that are inactive
• increase levels of physical activity in communities especially for those inactive and/or from priority groups
• contributes effectively to London Sport approach to placed based working
• share learning to help develop good practice across London

The RPAA role will provide a blended level of support to community organisations which will range from an open access offer, including guidance, checklists and toolkits, through to a more intensive offer, which will include direct mentoring and support around the strategic engagement with commissioners, and embedding physical activity within existing pathways.

• Lead on developing models of good practice and implement these within London, with a particular focus on reducing health inequalities and helping communities recover from COVID 19
• Work as part of a virtual regional development team, providing development support to a select number of local community groups, Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) organisations and partners, to identify new/existing physical activity offers at local, regional and national level and innovative partnerships.
• Develop a community of practice, processes and tools that help to connect community groups and VCSE organisations, providing physical activity advice and services, to their local social prescribing link workers and partners.
• Connect community groups and VCSE organisations, providing physical activity advice and services, to local commissioners, funding and development partners, to develop financially robust and sustainable models of service provision and an effective commissioning pathway.

• Ensure London Sport priorities are considered in the approach and work closely with regional partners e.g. Greater London Authority; Healthy London Partnership; London Social Prescribing Network & VCSE.

Excellent relationship builder especially with community groups and community leaders

Experience of supporting sport and physical activity organisations to work in partnership with local communities.

• Understanding of the health landscape within London and the ability to build relationships with key health partners.
• Committed to reducing health inequalities, especially within those communities that are disproportionately impacted.
• Knowledge of the pressures faced within local communities, especially from COVID 19, and ensure that community views inform the local approach.
• Committed to social prescribing and the role that it can play in helping communities become more physically active

For a more detailed view of the role, please see the recruitment pack by clicking here .

Closing date for applications: 11:59 pm, 29th Nov 2020