VACANCY: Walking for all Officer

Nov 3, 2025

Outscape, in collaboration with Louth Local Sports Partnership, invites applications for the position of Louth Walking For All Officer.

Walking For All is a project supported by PEACEPLUS (€7,536,957), a programme managed by the Special EU Programmes Body, (SEUPB), under the Rural Regeneration and Social Inclusion Investment Area, through the PEACEPLUS Healthy and Inclusive Communities theme. PEACEPLUS is a cross-border funding Programme designed to support peace and prosperity across Northern Ireland and the border counties of Ireland.

Walking For All is a volunteer-led walking participation programme developed to improve health, wellbeing, and social inclusion within local communities. The programme will operate across Northern Ireland and the six border counties. This is a unique and exciting opportunity to lead the delivery of the Walking For All programme for Louth.

Job description

To develop, co-ordinate, build community capacity and sustain regular volunteer-led walks in towns, villages and rural communities throughout the County, through the recruitment, training and support of Volunteer Walk Leaders to, in turn, increase the number of people walking and meet the objectives of the Walking For All programme.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

Volunteer Recruitment

  • Proactively engage with communities to identify potential Volunteer Walk Leaders in towns, villages and rural communities across the County. Engagement will include travelling to and meeting with a wide range of groups in the local community such as community groups, sports clubs, groups for people with a disability, mother and toddlers’ groups, Age Friendly clubs, Men’s Shed and new communities.
  • Engage with potential Volunteers to explain the responsibilities, expectations and benefits of the role of Volunteer Walk Leader and recruit.

Volunteer Training

  • Plan and coordinate a series of one-day Walking For All training courses for Volunteer Walk Leaders including venue, materials, walking route.
  • Deliver one-day training courses to new Volunteer Walk Leaders.
  • Organise and deliver additional training to the Volunteer Walk Leaders as appropriate

Volunteer Support & Retention

  • Implement a strong support system for all new Volunteer Walk Leaders, including accompanying them on initial led walks to build their confidence and ensure quality control.
  • Put in place measures to support, motivate and retain Volunteer Walk Leaders (so that they maintain a weekly regular walk as a minimum) including regular and high levels of contact
  • Encourage Volunteer Walk Leaders in your area to attend the annual Volunteer Walk Leader Celebration Event to recognise and reward Volunteer Walk Leaders for their contribution to Walking For All.
  • Plan, coordinate and host an annual Walking Celebration Event specific to the County for the Volunteers and walkers to celebrate their achievements and walking
  • Roll out the incentive programme to all qualifying Volunteer Walk Leaders

Twinning

  • For established walking groups, pair up (twin) groups based on a cross-border and/or cross-community basis.
  • Plan, organise and host a series of events for the twinned walking groups such as a shared walking trip to an inspirational location, hosting a walk in each other’s local community, a walking activity day.

Promotion

  • Use appropriate social media platforms and other promotion such as poster and leaflet distribution to promote Walking For All across the County
  • Attend events or organise presentations on Walking For All to promote the opportunities for Volunteers and walkers to relevant stakeholders and organisations
  • Support the development of promotional content in your area such as the creation of videos
  • Supply photos and good news stories to the communications officer

Partnership Working

  • Attend monthly Regional Meetings and liaise on an ongoing basis with other Walking For All Officers in your region in order to share best practice and improve effectiveness
  • Where appropriate, work in partnership with other participation officers in LLSP or other organisations (such as Get Ireland Walking) to share learnings and leverage activities

Administration

  • Keep accurate records of the people and activities for Walking For All at all times.
  • Manage the programme budget associated with the project.
  • Prepare monitoring and evaluation reports for the Regional Managers and SEUPB on a quarterly basis.
  • Assist with the preparation of the quarterly finance reports to SEUPB.
  • Meet and report to the Regional Manager on targets and outputs on a monthly basis
  • Report to the Project Working Group and Managers’ Group when required.
  • Any other additional tasks as may be reasonably assigned according to the changing priorities of the Walking For All programme.

General Responsibilities

  • Contribute to and assist with the preparation and implementation of the LLSP Strategic Plan and annual operational plans, in the context of the Walking For All programme.
  • Implement Walking For All monitoring and evaluation processes to understand the effectiveness of the programme.
  • Provide reports and regular updates to the CEO and LLSP Board as required.
  • Record accurately all financial transactions relevant to the Walking For All programme and prepare timely and accurate budgets and financial reports to Outscape, LLSP and SEUPB as appropriate.
  • Promote best practice health & safety awareness and reporting of all incidents.
  • Be flexible in approach to work and undertake any other duties related to the role of Walking For All officer
  • Ensure that all activities undertaken as an employee of Outscape are in line with Outscape’s values, codes of conduct and relevant legislation.

Essential

  • A minimum level 6 or a Level 7 Degree (NFQ) in a relevant discipline such as Sports Development/Health Fitness, Sport Science, Health Promotion, Physical Education, Community Development or related fields
  • A minimum of three years’ experience in the following areas:

❖ Project Planning and Delivery: Proven track record in the successful development, coordination and delivery of projects from initiation through to    evaluation, ensuring objectives are met on time and within scope.

❖ Stakeholder engagement: Extensive experience in engaging with and supporting a broad range of stakeholders, including community groups,         sports clubs, schools voluntary and statutory organisations. Skilled in collaborative relationships and maintaining positive communication channels to    achieve shared outcomes.

❖ Event, Training and Meeting coordination; demonstrated ability to plan, organise and deliver community events, stakeholder meetings, and training sessions, including managing logistics, communications, venue arrangements and post event follow up.

❖ Administrative and Organisational Support: strong administrative skills with experience maintaining accurate records, preparing reports, managing

correspondence and ensuring compliance with organisational procedures and reporting requirements.

Other Essential

  • Must have access to a car and hold a current EU/Irish/UK driving licence
  • Garda Vetting is mandatory for this role
  • Ability to travel efficiently between sites
  • Commitment to work evenings and weekends as required

Application

  • Completed application form and equal opportunities monitoring form (applications will not be accepted by any other method and CVs will not be considered) to be submitted by email to roisin@out-scape.com
  • Closing date: 12 November 2025 at midday
  • If you would like further information on the opportunity, contact Gareth Moore –

Regional Manager Walking For All at gareth@out-scape.com to arrange a confidential discussion.

  • Firsts interviews will take place on 20 November 2025 in Dundalk.

Outscape is an Equal Opportunities Employer

Further details, including the job description, person specification and how to apply can be found on the Outscape website: https://lnkd.in/eQ4RAsQ2