The Division seeks to appoint a Project Co-ordinator to work in the Manchester Centre for Health Psychology at the University of Manchester.
This is a part time post working on a research project funded by the BBSRC called Farm Urban Manchester.The project involves both agriculture and social science to create a high profile, UK of a "Protected and Controlled Environment (PACE) urban farm.The agricultural side of the project will aim to: Produce sufficient, good quality and consistent crops to meet commercial demand and be financially viable Successfully grow less usual crops, that can offer better flavour and nutrition than those produced through more conventional farming methods, and which have social and cultural significance to a multi cultural communityThe social science side of the project will aim to:Help to make the idea of farming in this way more acceptable to communities - both local people / individual consumers, and also to the food and hospitality industry (restaurants, wholesalers, retailers).
Demystifying the world of 'urban farming', myth bust, and encourage people to engage and adoptHelp to address issues of inequality around access to healthy food across urban communities, creating a source of healthy food, and then engaging people in a meaningful way, so that they feel inspired, and able, to include it in their lives.We are looking for a person with experience of community engagement preferably in relation to urban farming or healthy eating.Project Co-ordinator (40%)The ProjectCo-ordinator will work closely with our Post Doctoral Research Associate by using the feedback from research conducted with community groups to improve community engagement.
This strand of activity ensures that local voices shape the project, both in terms of how the PACE farms operate, what the farms produce, where and how the produce is distributed and what the longer-term future of PACE growing across Manchester might look like.
The Project Co-ordinator will set up events and activities (e.g., cookery classes, tasting sessions, skills exchanges between professional chefs and local communities, as well as PACE farm produce boxes available to buy or donated) and evaluate them.
This is an ideal opportunity for people seeking experience of working within a multi-disciplinary team, to apply research to public engagement.The School of Health Sciences is strongly committed to promoting equality and diversity, including the Athena SWAN charter for gender equality in higher education.
The School holds a Silver Award which recognises their good practice in relation to gender; including flexible working arrangements, family-friendly policies, and support to allow staff achieve a good work-life balance.
We particularly welcome applications from women for this post.
Appointment will always be made on merit.