We are recruiting for a Children & Young People’s Co-ordinator

Derby Book Festival (DBF)

Contract details: Children & Young People’s Co-ordinator

Role: To co-ordinate, deliver and further develop a year-round programme of book-related projects for schools and early years, both in and out of school settings, engaging with children and young people from 0 – 18. To build on relationships with school, library and other partners to maximise the impact of the programme.

Reporting to: Festival Director

Rate of pay and hours: Up to 90 days at a rate of £105 per day (£9,450).Weekly hours will vary across the year but you will be expected to work up to three days each week at key times. Please note that this is primarily a term-time only post, but you will be expected to do some work in school holidays when necessary particularly when they overlap with Festival events. Normal office hours: 9am to 5pm but flexible work is allowed and some home working by agreement. This role includes some occasional weekend and evening work. Out of pocket expenses and business mileage (other than to work base from home) will be paid on receipt of a claim form and VAT invoices.

Terms and conditions: this is a freelance contract from February to end of December 2024, with an anticipated extension if we are successful in obtaining further funding. The role is currently funded by Arts Council England. You will be working for Derby Book Festival, a registered charity. The office base is at the University of Derby, Kedleston Road, Derby. The role is suitable for some home working by agreement, but there is also desk space at the office base and meeting spaces for your use. There is an expectation that you will attend meetings in the office on a regular basis.

Job Description

Responsibilities

Meet the Author events for primary and secondary schools

• Working with the Education Group and Festival Director, support the organisation of the Meet the Author events including securing authors, liaison with publishers, marketing & communications, bookings & payments, contacts’ database

• Devise and organise support activities for schools to generate stronger engagement with the authors’ work in preparation for the events

• Develop wider engagement with the online events by extending the offer to Derbyshire, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire schools.

Early Years project with libraries and nurseries

• Co-ordinate the project activities with the University of Derby Childcare students, libraries and nurseries

• Support the University students and library staff in developing activities eg. production of Story Sacks and their use in settings, Storytime activities

• Support the marketing of the project with libraries and nurseries to the general public to encourage greater involvement eg. uptake of membership of libraries by families, more nurseries involved

• Develop stronger links with nurseries across the city and liaise with them to develop a better understanding of the needs of pre-school children

Children’s Picture Book Award

• Support the management of the Award including schools’ database, submissions from publishers, applications from schools, purchase & distribution of books, shortlisting and voting

• With the Children’s Trustee, develop activities for schools to support the Award around the three shortlisted books to further embed the project’s impact

• Organise the online visits to schools by the winning author/illustrator.

Develop projects to engage with Young People (12+) in and out of school/college

• Identify and develop new partnerships with school/colleges and organisations supporting young people

• Develop new initiatives and build on existing projects to develop arts activities with book-related themes

• Working with the University of Derby’s Saturday Club, support the development of the Manga Moves project in 2024.

Children’s Book Appeal

• Organise the Children’s Book Appeal each year including marketing & communications, collection of books, requests and distribution of books to schools, nurseries, childminders and libraries

• Work with Marketing Derby, sponsors, local businesses & organisations to maximise collections of books for the appeal.

Flash Fiction Writing competition – schools’ entries

• Promote the Flash Fiction writing competition to schools and young people to increase entries in the 11s and under and 12 – 17 categories

• Liaise with schools on receiving entries from schools electronically/by email

• Support the Flash Fiction co-ordinator to prepare the entries for judging, the judging panel/venue and the prize giving.

Organise the Education Group

• Organise and distribute the agenda and minutes of meetings of the Education Group (approx. 6 times each year)

• Organise a venue or create a Zoom link for all meetings

To promote children & young people’s projects and raise their profile in the city

• Develop better links with businesses and partners in the city to support Festival activities for children eg. Derbion, QUAD, Deda

• Produce regular updates for the Festival Director and Education Group on progress and new ideas

• Develop and support Festival events and activities as part of the Festival programmes.