Sport Development Assistant – Foundation

Essex County Council (ECC) are delighted to be advertising the Sport for Development Assistant on behalf of Active Essex.

Job Title and Role: Sport for Development Assistant

Salary range: £26,000 - £28,000 dependent on experience

Fixed term contract: 18 months October 2026 to March 2028 (extension subject to funding)

Hours: Full Time 37.5 hours a week. Please note this opportunity is available on a fixed-term contract or secondment basis.

Directly responsible to: Operations and Development Manager

Location: Anywhere worker - You will work from the Chelmsford office approximately 1 / 2 days a week and across our operational area on other days, depending on business need.(County Hall, Chelmsford, CM1 1QH
)

Active Essex Foundation is a successful and growing charity dedicated to creating the conditions for young people and communities across Essex to thrive. Our work focuses on three core areas: improving young people’s mental health, reducing vulnerabilities to youth crime and exploitation, and strengthening communities through trusted relationships and positive engagement.

A defining feature of our approach is our network of more than 100 Locally Trusted Organisations (LTOs) across Essex. These community-based organisations are at the heart of our delivery model, providing trusted relationships, local insight and direct support within the communities they serve. Working closely with our LTO network enables us to reach those who may be least likely to engage with traditional services and ensure support is tailored to local needs.

Through partnerships with our LTOs, we deliver programmes that use physical activity, mentoring and community support to build resilience, improve wellbeing and reduce inequalities. This role will play a key part in developing and strengthening these relationships, helping our LTO network to maximise its impact and deliver positive outcomes for young people and communities across Essex.

Everything we do is shaped by the real experiences of the people we serve, ensuring our interventions are meaningful, accessible and rooted in what communities tell us they need.

We are pleased to offer an exciting opportunity to join the Active Essex Foundation team as a Sport for Development Assistant.

The Sport for Development Assistant will play an important role in supporting the delivery and coordination of these programmes. Working closely with the Sport for Development Officer, programme leads, Locally Trusted Organisations (LTOs), and community stakeholders, the postholder will help ensure smooth programme administration, high-quality communication, and effective operational support across our mental health, youth crime prevention and community strengthening work.

The ideal candidate will bring strong relationship-building skills and experience of working collaboratively with a diverse range of stakeholders.

The post holder will work with AEF staff across the business to deliver the duties and responsibilities set out below.

• Support the Sport for Development Officer in maintaining positive relationships with community organisations across Sport, Youth Crime Prevention, and Young People’s Mental Health & Wellbeing programmes.
• Assist in gathering and updating information about people and organisations involved in programme delivery.
• Act as a first point of contact for LTOs where appropriate, ensuring timely responses and consistent messaging.
• Support ongoing LTO liaison
  , helping maintain strong communication channels and ensuring LTOs feel supported and connected.

• Provide administrative support the coordination of referrals into project activities, working with delivery partners and Locally Trusted Organisations…