Creative Youth Worker
Job Title: Creative Youth Worker
Location: Homeworking/Dundee Libraries.
Responsible: In the first instance to the Board of Trustees and secondly to the Youth Development Board.
Your challenge:
The Creative Youth Worker role offers a unique opportunity to support the delivery of Building Stories, a transformative initiative that empowers young people in Dundee to create comics and zines inspired by their experiences and local heritage. You will work closely with the Art Director to deliver creative workshops in libraries and community settings, fostering young people’s storytelling skills while promoting self-expression, resilience, and social connection. You will help ensure the project reaches marginalised young people who stand to benefit most from this empowering and inclusive program.
Background:
Comics Youth SCIO is an innovative non-profit based in Dundee that delivers comics-based literacy and wellbeing projects for disadvantaged and marginalised children and young people aged 8-25. The organisation’s ethos is to break down participation barriers for marginalised groups, including LGBTQIA+ youth, young people with neurodivergence, care-experienced young people, and those facing complex mental health challenges.
By providing safe, inclusive, and youth-led spaces, we empower young people to make, create, and publish comic books and zines that explore salient community issues. Through these creative outlets, young people develop their skills, build resilience, and amplify their voices whilst fostering a sense of belonging and connection to their communities. Our sessions are delivered in accessible, welcoming venues across Dundee, including libraries, community hubs, and cultural spaces, ensuring that every young person-no matter their circumstances-has the opportunity to engage, learn, and flourish creatively.
HOURS OF WORK: 22.5 hours per week
RATE OF PAY: 24k pro rata
DURATION OF CONTRACT: 12 months
POSITION GUIDE:
MAIN TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
1. Supporting Comics focused Creative Workshops and Sessions
Assist the Art Director in delivering youth-led library sessions and comic hubs across Dundee.
Facilitate face-to-face creative workshops with young people aged 8-24, focusing on comics creation, advocacy, and literacy.
Provide hands-on support during sessions, helping young people with character design, storyboarding, and other aspects of comic-making.
Promote inclusivity and provide individualised encouragement to marginalised participants to ensure they feel confident in expressing themselves creatively.
2. Outreach and Engagement
Act as a primary point of contact for young people and community partners, promoting the Building Stories project and recruiting participants for workshops.
Conduct outreach activities to engage marginalised young people, including those with neurodivergence, care experience, or mental health challenges.
Build relationships with local stakeholders such as schools, libraries, and community organisations to extend the project’s reach.
3. Peer Mentoring and Development
Support young people in becoming peer mentors, helping them develop skills to lead workshops and assist their peers.
Provide ongoing mentorship and guidance to young people as they progress in their creative journeys.
4. Programme Delivery
Assist with the logistical planning of sessions, ensuring all materials and resources are prepared.
Help coordinate community events and exhibitions, showcasing young people’s work in partnership with venues such as the McManus Gallery & Museum.
Support young people in achieving SQA qualifications in comics creation, working collaboratively with the Art Director to align activities with accreditation requirements.
ESSENTIAL EDUCATION AND SKILLS:
Qualifications and Expertise:
Experience in facilitating creative workshops or working with young people in an educational or youth work setting.
Basic knowledge of comics or visual storytelling techniques, with a passion for supporting creative expression.
Demonstrable understanding of working with marginalised young people, particularly those with neurodivergence, LGBTQIA+ identities, or mental health challenges.
Interpersonal and Organisational Skills:
Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage and inspire young people in creative activities.
Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written, with the ability to connect with diverse groups.
Ability to work collaboratively in a team and independently when required.
A commitment to working within an inclusive, anti-discriminatory environment.
Additional Requirements:
Must be legally entitled to work in the UK.
Flexible availability to attend face-to-face sessions at libraries and community venues across Dundee.
Availability to work Saturdays.
HOW TO APPLY:
To apply, please send your CV and a covering letter outlining your suitability for the post to rhiannon@comicsyouth.co.uk.
Applications submitted without a covering letter, as specified, will unfortunately not be considered.
The deadline for applications is 12 pm on the 17th of January 2025.
FURTHER INFORMATION:
If you are shortlisted, interviews will be conducted digitally in the New Year. If you would like to discuss the role further or require any reasonable adjustments to support your application or interview process, please don’t hesitate to contact hailey@comicsyouthscio.uk.