This Project aims to explore, document and reveal a crucial period of Balsall Heath’s history through collecting and recording people’s memories and linking these with the Mick Turner Archive of photographic images.
🌟JOB ADVERTISEMENT FOR PROJECT OFFICER
Job Details: To co-ordinate the Project, taking the lead on the Oral History programme and supervising volunteers.
Salary: £15.38 per hour. ( pro rata to £32,000 based on 40 hour week)
Hours: 10 hours per week.
Fixed Term Contract for 60 weeks to Oct/Nov 2026.
Based in Balsall Heath, Birmingham.
Closing Date: September 7th at 4 pm. Interviews will be held 15th September.
For further details and an application form please email:
info@balsallheathhistory.co.uk
All members of staff employed by Balsall Heath Local History Society have an individual responsibility for promoting and safeguarding the welfare of the children/young people and vulnerable adults that they come into contact with.
It is a condition of employment that the successful candidate obtains a satisfactory enhanced DBS Disclosure
JOB DESCRIPTION PROJECT OFFICER
Supervision will be by the Society Treasurer.
Duties and Responsibilities
1. To take the major responsibility for co-ordinating and delivering the Project, reporting regularly to the History Society Project Steering Group and to the Heritage Lottery as required
2. To contribute to events, and to recruit additional volunteers for the project, ensuring they receive induction and training as appropriate
3. To set up a system of monitoring and evaluation, including Case Studies, which will lead to the final Evaluation Report.
4. To take the lead on the programme of Oral History and Reminiscence, co- ordinating, supervising and supporting the team of volunteers, organising oral history training, interviews and Reminiscence Sessions; to work with the team to identify extracts for transcription; editing and presenting recordings in a publicly accessible format, according to good practice guidelines; To undertake some Oral history interviews.
5. To support the group of volunteers working on the photographic archive
6. To take the lead on publicity and marketing, through the Society website and social media, as well as local networks, other local agencies, local schools and city wide heritage groups
7. To work with the Steering Group and volunteers to produce pop up banners and other resources for the Exhibition and continuing displays. To contribute to the booklet and the film being produced by the project
8. To work with the Steering Group to organise venues and staffing for the Exhibition and touring displays in community venues.
9. To supervise University Interns working on the Project
10. To organise a Celebration Event for participants and volunteers. To write testimonials for volunteers for their future use.
11 To be familiar with and work within the Policies and Procedures of the Society
PERSON SPECIFICATION Project Officer
ESSENTIAL
1.Experience of project management
2. Experience of oral history project work
3. Experience of recruiting and supporting volunteers
4. Experience of organising and managing exhibitions and events
5. ICT skills and administrative efficiency
6.. Ability to set up a system for monitoring and evaluation
7. Ability to edit, and preserve oral history in a digital format
8. Communication and interpersonal skills
9. Ability to undertake effective marketing
10.Graduate or teaching qualifications or equivalent.
11.Good understanding of written English
12. Willingness to undertake training
DESIRABLE
1.Knowledge of social history of Birmingham
2. Knowledge of the Balsall Heath neighbourhood
3.Experience of supervising University Interns ot trainees
4.Ability to speak and understand other community languages.
5.Training in oral history techniques
The sudden death of Jim on October 8th has come as a great shock to us all. He has been a member of the Society for nearly 20 years and has made a huge contribution to our understanding of Balsall Heath’s history. He was committed to collecting stories from Balsall Heath people and spent a lot of time interviewing people, writing up the results and presenting them in an illustrated form for the Gazette newsletter.
Jim was also a member of the Birmingham History Theatre Company . He used often to tell people that he originally got involved as a scenery shifter but somehow got roped in to play significant parts in a host of productions. He was willing to try his hand at anything and dress up appropriately too.
Reviews
