Reading High Street Heritage Action Zone Community Representative

The Reading High Street Heritage Action Zone (HSHAZ) Community Representatives are local people who attend certain HSHAZ meetings and groups to represent their communities. This role description has been written to clarify the role of the HSHAZ Community Representative and to provide information on how we can support you in your role.

We need High Street Heritage Action Zone Community Representatives

The High Street Heritage Action Zone programme, a four-year programme funded by Historic England. Reading was selected as one of 68 areas in England to receive a share of the fund. As a result, Reading Borough Council has been awarded £806,500 to transform the high streets in three conservation areas in the town centre; the East end of Oxford Road, St Mary’s Butts & Castle Street and Market Place & London Street.

The HSHAZ programme has three complementary strands; physical interventions to restore and repair building and improve the public realm, a programme of cultural activities to celebrate the high streets and their importance to local communities, and community engagement which give local people a key role in deciding what work they want to see happening on their high streets.

We are looking for two community representatives who can help us with the Cultural Programme. The role will include a combination of some paid and some voluntary hours.

More information about the project is available at www.reading.gov.uk/hshaz

The Role

The role will include the following:

To represent and advocate for the interests of your community (geographic or interest)
Act as a communication point between the HSHAZ project and the group/community you represent sharing information both ways
To attend HSHAZ Cultural Consortium meetings and take part in the discussion and debate at the meetings (up to 10 meetings until the end of the project in March 2024)
To bring your expertise or local knowledge to discussions and decision making within the HSHAZ project
Be part of the HSHAZ Cultural Programme Selection Panel for the applications to the HSHAZ Cultural Programme Oxford Road Projects (up to 6 meetings between December 2021 and March 2022)
To help promote and champion the HSHAZ cultural programme activities and opportunities (at points between May 2022 and March 2024)
To encourage and support local people to take part in the HSHAZ cultural programme activities and opportunities (at points between May 2022 and March 2024)
Assist in putting us in touch with appropriate contacts within the community to promote HSHAZ cultural programme activities and opportunities (at points between May 2022 and March 2024)
Talk with local residents to identify opinions and feedback on the HSHAZ project (at points between May 2022 and March 2024)

The role will suit you if you are:

Able to commit to being a HSHAZ Community Reprsentative until March 2024 when the project will end
Interested in local history, heritage and arts
Enjoy meeting new people
Interested in helping to give the community a voice
Able to attend meetings and confident to take part in discussions
Confident in approaching and engaging with people
Sympathetic, polite and an interested listener
Able to work both independently and as part of a team
Able to feedback information to members of your group and community including learning and explaining clearly project information, aims and objectives
Passionate about Reading and it’s communities

*We are particularly interested in recruiting community representatives who live in or work with the communities in the three HSHAZ zones we are working in.

What you will gain in return:

Introduction session where you will learn about the HSHAZ project
Ongoing support from the HSHAZ Community Engagement and Cultural Officer
Become part of a friendly team
Learn more about the history, heritage and communities of Reading
Contribute to the development of the HSHAZ project
Gain new skills and experiences for your CV

Who does the role report to? Community Engagement & Cultural Officer – Hannah.dix@reading.gov.uk

How do I become a HSHAZ Community Representative?

Download and complete the HSHAZ Community Representative Form on this page and return it to the HSHAZ Community Engagement and Cultural Officer at HSHAZ@reading.gov.uk by 5pm Friday 17th December.