Paid Opportunity: Community Evaluators
Shaping Shieldfield - Help us to understand what makes the difference
Since October 2024, a paid team of Community Evaluators has worked alongside Dwellbeing worker-members and our Independent Evaluator. Together, they have been exploring what difference our work makes in Shieldfield.
After training in listening and conversation skills, the Community Evaluators recorded what they saw and heard across our Flourishing, Shieling and Youth programmes.
The things they found out helped us to find ways to speak to different parts of our community. They spoke to parents and carers in focus groups and had conversations with residents and partner organisations.
We're looking for new paid Community Evaluators to build on this work to make sure we hear from a wider range of people in our community.
The new Community Evaluators will meet regularly. Together, the group will decide what questions to ask and how to collect information. This information will help us understand the difference Dwellbeing is making in the community. The Community Evaluators will share what they learn with worker-members and Stewards and together we will decide what actions to take.
We see evaluation as a shared learning journey with our communities. We want to make the evaluation process inclusive and representative of the people we work with so that our communities can be part of identifying what’s important.
Why apply?
Dwellbeing Community Evaluators will have the opportunity to:
Build confidence and people skills through working with others
Learn new skills from training in community organising
Work with other people and be part of a team
Share their ideas and experiences to help plan and run activities
Use creative skills to record and share what they learn
Take a more active role in the Shieldfield community
Develop skills in research and facilitation that may be useful in future volunteering, education or employment opportunities.
Have fun and meet new people!
Here’s what previous Community Evaluators said about their experience:
“I’m most proud of the relationships I built through this role with members of Dwellbeing and the Shieldfield community”
“I’m a lot more confident about engaging with new faces, making introductions, and talking about Dwellbeing Shieldfield and wider issues for the area”
“I enjoyed working as a Community Evaluator where I learnt a lot about people’s expectations, I met new people and got to tell people about our work”
What is the time commitment?
Starting November 2026 for 6 months
Total of 39 hours in total (1-2 hours per week) including:
Introductory workshop to help people understand the role and confirm suitability (see dates below)
4 monthly group meetings to share and discuss what we’re learning
Regular evaluation activities in the community
A one-hour recorded conversation to reflect on the project once it is completed.
Paid at £14.10 per hour (Real Living Wage) on a session-by-session basis
What skills and qualities are we looking for?
Community Evaluators will:
Enjoy working with other people
Be good listeners and communicators
Be friendly and approachable
Be well-organised and reliable
Have a passion for helping people to share their thoughts
Be willing to work occasional evenings and weekends
Don't worry if you have never done anything like this before. You do not need previous evaluation experience. We will provide training, ongoing support and opportunities to learn as you go. Most important is that you are a person who is curious, approachable and interested in helping others share their views and experiences.
We are particularly interested in hearing from people who also:
Speak Arabic or have strong connections with local Arabic-speaking communities
Have experience working with young people or feel confident building trust with younger community members
Enjoy meeting new people and helping those who may not usually take part in community activities to share their views
Have connections with communities who are not well represented
We actively welcome applications from people of all ages, backgrounds and life experiences.
To help us create a safe and supportive environment, we'll ask for a reference before you join. Community Evaluators will also be expected to follow Dwellbeing Shieldfield’s policies and guidelines.
Community Evaluators do not need to be Members of Dwellbeing. We want to hear from a range of views and experiences.
What will the Community Evaluators do?
You will:
Actively join in group meetings, contribute your ideas and listen to others
Work within the team to develop the group’s evaluation activities
Work in pairs to carry out the evaluation activities that have been agreed
Help us reach and listen to people who do not know Dwellbeing well or have not yet taken part in our activities
Support conversations with a wide range of community members to understand their interests, priorities and ideas for Shieldfield
Help identify barriers that might prevent people from getting involved in community activities
Report back from your observations and conversations, making suggestions of what Dwellbeing might want to change
Have the opportunity to share your experiences during a recorded group conversation reflecting on the project once it is completed. This will be edited into a podcast to share back with the community.
Make a difference to your community - your ideas and findings will help shape Dwellbeing's future work and help make sure more people’s voices are heard.
Please note, this role does not require perfect English language skills. The Community Evaluators will be supported by Dwellbeing Worker Members and a Community Evaluator Coordinator.
The Community Evaluator Coordinator will provide independent and experienced input to the design, delivery and reporting of the evaluation activities and is responsible for writing any final reports. The Community Evaluators will contribute their views in ways that suit them – this might be through voice notes, conversations, visuals, photographs, scrapbooks.
About Dwellbeing Shieldfield
Dwellbeing Shieldfield is a welcoming, creative and inclusive co-operative of Shieldfield residents and community members of all ages and backgrounds. Through our projects, research and events we share life together, support our neighbours and celebrate and empower our rich and diverse community. Our aim is for community members to play an active role in shaping life in Shieldfield.
Dwellbeing Shieldfield is open to everyone who wants to join. We believe people should have a say in decisions and be able to work independently. We support learning, training and working together with other cooperatives and are part of a wider movement that connects people around the world. Our values are honesty, openness, caring for others, democracy and equality. Everything we do aims to improve wellbeing in our community.
For further information about what we do and why we do it, please visit our website and social media pages (Dwellbeing instagram, facebook).
How to apply
We would love to hear from you. Please send a short message to Hannah Marsden using the email address or phone number below.
Tell us:
why you are interested in becoming a Community Evaluator
what skills, experience or personal qualities you can bring to the role
You can send your message in one of these ways:
Written: up to one side of A4 paper
Voice note or video: up to 4 minutes long
This helps us learn more about you and why you would like to take part.
Please apply by 10am, Tuesday 10th November.
If you get this role, it is your responsibility to tell the DWP or HMRC about your work hours and pay. This could affect your benefits or tax payments.
Any questions?
If you would like an informal chat with one of our previous Community Evaluators, please get in touch.
Send applications to:
Hannah, Programme Worker Member
hannah@dwellbeingshieldfield.org.uk
07938 412 286