We are hiring! Project Lead – Green Health Routes
This is a unique and impactful role for an environmentally committed project leader. We are seeking an individual who can provide strategic oversight for our Green Health Routes project and effectively coordinate its implementation in partnership with community and healthcare stakeholders. The ideal candidate will bring strong project management expertise and a passion for increasing public access to green spaces, playing a key role in embedding long-term benefits for community health and wellbeing.
- Location: Home-based/on-site at Chopwell Wood (Gateshead) and Guisborough Forest (Teesside), with monthly travel to Oxford encouraged.
- Contract: Part-time, 18.75 hours per week
- Salary: £36,071 per annum pro rata (£18,036 for 18.75 hours)
- Fixed Term: Until 31st December 2025
- Closing Date: Wednesday 20th November 2024
- Interview Date: Thursday 28th November 2024
About the Centre for Sustainable Healthcare
The Centre for Sustainable Healthcare (CSH) provides research, training, and strategic insights to national and local health programmes. Our programmes include education on sustainable healthcare, clinical transformation for sustainability in health systems, and the Green Space for Health Programme, which aims to enhance NHS green estate spaces for physical and mental health benefits of patients, staff and communities through the NHS Forest, while improving biodiversity and combating climate change.
About the Green Health Routes Project
The Green Health Routes project encourages communities to engage with local green spaces, helping patients connect with nearby parks, meadows, and woodlands to support a healthy lifestyle. Working closely with GPs and social prescribing link workers, we provide resources like maps and walking groups as part of a ‘green prescription’. Research supports that green prescribing offers both physiological and psychological benefits.
This project, funded in partnership with Forestry England, focuses on piloting Green Health Routes at Chopwell Wood and Guisborough Forest in Northeast England to complement the Feel Good in the Forest programme.
About the role
The Project Lead will work closely with Forestry England’s "Feel Good in the Forest" team, local community groups, and healthcare professionals to establish permanent walking routes and support outdoor activities that promote green prescriptions. Based near Chopwell Wood and Guisborough Forest, the Project Lead will organise community engagement events, train volunteer walk leaders, and ensure long-term use of the routes. They will develop partnerships with environmental and healthcare stakeholders, requiring strong organisational skills, a proactive mindset, and a commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, with a focus on the health benefits of green spaces.
Ideally, you live within commuting distance of Chopwell Wood and Guisborough Forest.
Key responsibilities include:
- Developing and delivering project activities within budget and timeline.
- Leading community engagement events and volunteer training for walk leaders.
- Building partnerships with local healthcare professionals to integrate green prescriptions.
- Coordinating with the Communications team to produce stories, case studies, and blogs for the NHS Forest website.
- Overseeing monitoring and evaluation for the project’s long-term legacy.
Additional details
This role requires regular travel to Chopwell Wood and Guisborough Forest, with potential UK travel for meetings. CSH encourages sustainable travel and offers travel reimbursement for monthly meetings in Oxford.
Contract Terms: This is a part-time post, offering a salary of £36,071 per annum pro rata.
For more information, please see the full job description and person specification attached.
About you
Essential:
- Strong project management, organisational, and communication skills.
- A proactive, innovative self-starter with excellent networking abilities.
- Commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion, with an understanding of the health benefits of green spaces.
Desirable: Experience in communications, partnership work, community engagement, and running walk leader training.
How to apply
Please email your cover letter (max two pages) and CV to info@sustainablehealthcare.org.uk by 20th November 2024. In your cover letter, outline how you meet the Person Specification.
Please contact us if you have any other accessibility needs or if you would like help with applying. For questions, contact info@sustainablehealthcare.org.uk.
Equal opportunities
CSH is committed to equal treatment for all applicants and encourages applications from under-represented groups, including people with disabilities and men. Please let us know if you require reasonable adjustments during the application process.
