Community Engagement & Partnerships Lead (Part‑time)
BEAT – Belonging, Empowering & Thriving
Hours: 21 Contract: Fixed term (subject to funding) Location: BEAT, Hawksworth Wood, Leeds (with outreach) Reports to: CEO
Purpose of the role:
To lead BEAT’s partnership development across Kirkstall and the wider city, strengthening relationships with the VCSE sector, commissioners and local businesses in order to increase collaboration, commissioning readiness and long‑term sustainability — while ensuring this external work translates into consistent, inclusive community participation at BEAT.
In practical terms, this role exists to:
- Build and leverage partnerships that strengthen BEAT’s reach, influence and sustainability
- Increase regular community participation (“butts on seats”) as evidence of relevance, trust and value
- Position BEAT as a neighbourhood asset and credible delivery partner
This role is grounded in BEAT’s commitment to Asset‑Based Community Development (ABCD). It builds on the strengths, skills, relationships and leadership already present within Hawksworth Wood, rather than focusing on deficits or need. Partnership development is rooted in the same ethos: presenting BEAT as a community asset with deep local trust and insight to contribute to wider systems.
Key Responsibilities:
- Build and maintain relationships with VCSE organisations, consortia and infrastructure bodies across Kirkstall and Leeds
- Identify opportunities for:
- co‑delivery
- sub‑contracting
- consortia membership
- commissioning and collaborative bids
- Position BEAT as a trusted neighbourhood delivery partner, rooted in strong community participation
- Increase BEAT’s readiness for partnership‑based and commissioned work
- Represent BEAT within neighbourhood and city‑wide networks
- Link BEAT into thematic partnerships (e.g. health, families, youth, prevention, wellbeing)
- Support joint funding bids and shared delivery models that value local community insight
- Engage local businesses and the local economy
- Build relationships with local employers and businesses
- Explore opportunities for:
- sponsorship
- in‑kind support
- staff volunteering
- shared community use of BEAT’s space
- Strengthen BEAT’s role within the local economic ecosystem
- Grow consistent community participation
- Build on existing community participation and momentum
- Translate partnerships and referrals into regular, predictable use of BEAT’s space
- Support practical solutions that enable people and groups to attend more consistently
- Reconnect with individuals and organisations who have previously engaged and have skills or interest to re‑contribute
- Turn participation and partnerships into sustainability
- Support increased and consistent use of BEAT’s building
- Contribute partnership intelligence, learning and evidence to funding and commissioning bids
- Capture insight on what drives effective engagement and collaboration locally
Outputs and impact:
- New and strengthened VCSE, commissioner and business partnerships
- Evidence of joint delivery, collaboration and commissioning readiness
- Higher and more consistent community participation at BEAT
- Greater diversity of people and groups connected through existing networks
- Improved long‑term organisational sustainability
- Significant experience in partnership development, community engagement or place‑based working
- Strong track record of relationship‑building across grassroots, VCSE and statutory sectors
- Deep understanding of asset‑based, community‑led approaches
- Ability to operate confidently across community and strategic/system spaces
- Experience of collaborative working, co‑production or partnership delivery
- Strong communication skills and ability to represent an organisation externally
- Commitment to inclusive, community‑led practice aligned with BEAT’s values
How success will be measured:
- Strength and quality of partnerships formed
- Increased and more consistent use of BEAT’s space
- Clear evidence of collaboration, co‑delivery or commissioning pathways
- Community participation that reflects local strengths, relationships and leadership
- Contribution to BEAT’s sustainability and future funding readiness
Values fit:
This role requires someone who believes that strong communities are built by recognising and connecting existing assets, relationships and leadership — and that community participation grows through trust, presence and partnership, not promotion alone.
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