GROW Trainee

Job Introduction

Come and Join us

The GROW Traineeship gives people with lived experience of homelessness and/or other related disadvantages (including but not limited to; contact with the criminal justice system, mental ill-health or substance use) access to paid employment, training and personal development opportunities. The traineeship lasts for up to 12 months, and each GROW receives personalised training and support to help remove some of the barriers that may have prevented them from getting meaningful employment. 

We are looking for people who are passionate about using their own experiences to help make change for people in the UK experiencing bad housing and homelessness.

About Shelter

A home is a fundamental human need, as essential as education or healthcare. Yet millions of people across Britain struggle on a daily basis with homelessness, bad housing conditions, soaring rents, discrimination and the threat of eviction. So, we are striving for change, with individuals, in communities, across society, and leading the way to a safe home. We need ambitious, best-in-class individuals who are passionate about our cause to join us at this exciting time. This is your chance to play a part in the fundamental change we are striving to achieve.

 At Shelter we are united by our purpose to defend the right to a safe home. Our enemy is the social injustice at the core of the escalating housing emergency. We believe that to win that fight, we must be representative of the people we are here to help and those who support our movement for change. In all our people decisions, we take pride in being inclusive, fair, equitable and transparent. We have committed to combat racism both within and outside Shelter and welcome you on our journey to becoming a truly anti-racist organisation.

About the role

We are looking for someone who can help us to support our community and the team. You will be based at the Merseyside hub and will have the opportunity to work closely with a variety of teams to support people from many different backgrounds who access our services. No day will be the same as every person who accesses our service is unique with different support needs.

As well as supporting the Merseyside Hub with administration, engagement and support, you will develop in your role and build knowledge of issues facing people engaging with our lived experience group. You will be given training, support, and supervision, and will have access to a flexible personal budget to help in your own personal and professional development. Previous trainees have used the personal budget for things like training, qualifications, mental health support and more. The GROW trainee programme includes opportunities to get involved in Shelter at a national level, using your experiences to influence our work as a whole. The successful candidate will also be expected to contribute to community hub priorities and be involved in systems change work in the area.

About you

You’ll be a team player who is flexible, open to learning, and willing to ask for support when needed. You’ll have basic IT skills, such as using email and searching the internet, and be able to stay organised and manage your time well. You’ll also be proactive, curious, and interested in learning more about housing and the issues people face. Importantly, you’ll have lived experience of homelessness or other disadvantages – such as substance use, or involvement with the criminal justice system – and you’ll want to use your experience to make a positive difference. You may also be facing challenges to employment, such as limited qualifications, a lack of experience, or long-term unemployment. A strong belief in equality and a commitment to tackling discrimination are essential

How to apply

To apply you need to submit a copy of your CV and a completed application form (attached). This can be submitted through any of the following ways:
 

• You can submit an application online - Welcome to the Shelter Careers Hub 
• You can email your CV and application form to GROW@shelter.org.uk
• You can submit a paper copy to the Merseyside Hub: Shelter @ The Crypt, Holy Trinity Church, Richmond Park, Anfield, L6 5AA.

Please don’t worry if your CV has gaps or limited work experience, this is not a problem. If you need support creating a CV please get in touch. 

We will be holding an application support session at our hub in Anfield to give people practical support and advice on how to complete an application, or to pick up a paper application. This session will also give you the chance to find out more about the role as well as other opportunities at Shelter Merseyside.  

Application support session: Tuesday 3rd Nov from 12 - 1.30pm - Merseyside Hub (Shelter @ The Crypt, Holy Trinity Church, Richmond Park, Anfield, L6 5AA)

If you are interested in coming along then please let us know beforehand so we can book you in. You can contact the GROW team at GROW@shelter.org.uk to book your place.

We encourage all applicants to attend this session before submitting an application. If you can’t attend, we encourage people to give us a call to discuss the job.

We operate Fair Chance Recruitment practices and will not ask for any information about convictions during the application process. This role is subject to a Basic Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. We are open to and inclusive of applicants with criminal convictions for this role; having a criminal conviction will not prevent us from considering you. Following the interview stage, we will ask our preferred applicant to disclose any past unspent convictions. The information disclosed will be considered by a panel and a decision will be taken about making an offer. 

Please note

This role is ring-fenced for those with lived experience of multiple disadvantage.  

Benefits

We offer a wide range of benefits, including 30 days of annual leave, enhanced family friendly policies, pension and interest free travel loans. Our employees also have access to a tenancy deposit loan, payroll giving, cycle to work scheme and an employee assistance programme. Shelter helps millions of people every year struggling with bad housing or homelessness through our advice, support and legal services. And we campaign to make sure that, one day, no one will have to turn to us for help. We’re here so no one has to fight bad housing or homelessness on their own.

Safeguarding

Safeguarding is everyone's business. Shelter is committed to protecting the health, wellbeing and human rights of those we support, and enabling them to live free from harm, abuse and neglect. All our staff will be expected to observe professional standards of behaviour and conduct their work in line with our Safeguarding Policies. Shelter does not accept unsolicited CVs from external recruitment agencies nor accept