Community Education Co-ordinator
Job Description:Community education co-ordinators organise education, training and recreation courses to meet the needs of the local community.
Job Category:What you will do:
Day-to-day tasks
As a community education co-ordinator, you could:
- work with local groups to understand their needs and interests
- plan and develop learning projects with course providers
- recruit and support community volunteers
- organise suitable venues for workshops and classes
- promote activities and training courses
- keep records, control budgets and bid for funding
Skills:
You’ll need:
- the ability to understand people’s reactions
- to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently
As well as:
- excellent verbal communication skills
- sensitivity and understanding
- the ability to work well with others (teamwork skills)
- a desire to help people
- customer service skills
- to be thorough and pay attention to detail (organisation skills)
- patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations (adaptability skills)
Entry Requirements:
You can get into this job through:
- a university course
- a college course
- an apprenticeship
- volunteering
- applying directly
University
You could do a foundation degree or degree in a subject like:
- education
- sociology
- youth work
- community development
College
You could do a college course which might be useful when applying for a trainee job. Courses include:
- Diploma in Teamwork and Personal Development in the Community
- Certificate in Social and Community Work
Apprenticeship
You could start by doing an Advanced Apprenticeship as a:
- Youth Support Worker
- Cultural Learning and Participation Officer
- Learning and Development Practitioner
These apprenticeships can take around 1 year and 6 months to complete.
Volunteering
You could become a community education co-ordinator though volunteering.
Volunteering is a good way to get practical experience, meet new people and develop your network of contacts. This might help you when looking for a job in community education or development.
Direct Application
You could apply directly for community education co-ordinator jobs.
You’ll need paid or voluntary experience of working in the community such as in:
- adult education
- teaching
- youth work
You’ll also find it helpful to have experience of working with disadvantaged or vulnerable groups.
School Subjects
Here are some GCSE subjects that could be helpful:
- English: Strong language and communication skills are essential for developing and delivering educational programs and communicating with participants and stakeholders.
- Mathematics: Basic mathematical skills are useful for budgeting and financial management aspects of coordinating community education programs.
- ICT (Information and Communication Technology): Knowledge of ICT can be valuable for managing data, creating promotional materials, and using technology in educational programs.
- Business Studies: This subject can provide insights into project management, administration, and organizational skills required for coordinating community education initiatives.
- Sociology or Psychology: Understanding human behavior and social dynamics can be beneficial when working with diverse groups in the community.
- Citizenship or Social Studies: These subjects can provide an understanding of civic engagement and community development, which are relevant to community education initiatives.
Working Hours and Environment:
Typical working hours are 30-40 hours of work a week.
You may have to be flexible with your hours and could work in the evenings or on the weekend.
You could work in an office, in the community, at a school or at a college.
Career Path & Progression:
With experience, you could:
- become a manager and get involved in
- developing policy
- specialise in working with particular groups or types of training
- become freelance and do consultancy work
- move into related areas like adult education, social work, teaching or charity work