Do you have a passion for powerful storytelling? Are you confident building relationships with journalists and identifying opportunities to raise awareness of important issues? Do you understand the role that media plays in shaping public understanding of homelessness and social exclusion?

If so, this new role in our Marketing & Communications team could be for you.

About Cyrenians

At Cyrenians we tackle the causes and consequences of homelessness. We take a values-led and relationships-based approach to delivering our services because we understand that there is no ‘one size fits all’ approach to supporting people towards more positive and stable futures.

About the Marketing & Communications Team

Relationships are at the heart of everything we do at Cyrenians, with those we support and those who support us too.

The Media and Stories Officer will join our Relationships team, which brings together fundraising, marketing and communications, press and public affairs. With ambitious fundraising targets, 47 frontline services and homelessness prevention firmly on the public agenda, it's an exciting time to join our team.

Our Marketing & Communications team works across the organisation to raise awareness of our services, support fundraising, engage colleagues, amplify the voices of those we support and position Cyrenians as a trusted expert in homelessness prevention.

About the Role

This newly created role will lead on Cyrenians’ media relations activity while supporting the wider team to identify and develop compelling stories from across our services.

Working closely with the Communications and Policy Manager and Marketing and Communications Officers, you'll take the lead on both proactive and reactive media engagement. You'll write and distribute press releases, coordinate media opportunities, develop relationships with journalists and identify opportunities for Cyrenians to contribute to public conversations around homelessness and social exclusion.

You'll also play a key role in working with colleagues, volunteers and people accessing our services to uncover and share stories that demonstrate the impact of Cyrenians' work. This requires sensitivity, sound judgement and a commitment to ensuring stories are shared ethically and with dignity.

About You

You'll have experience in media, public relations, communications or a similar field and be an excellent communicator who can quickly spot a story and turn it into engaging content for media audiences.

You'll be confident building relationships with journalists and responding to media enquiries, while remaining calm and professional when working to deadlines.

Most importantly, you'll understand the responsibility that comes with sharing the experiences of people facing homelessness, poverty and social exclusion. You'll be committed to ethical storytelling and recognise the importance of consent, safeguarding and dignity in all communications activity.

Like us, you'll be values-led and relationship-focused in everything you do.

How We'll Support You

Working closely with colleagues across fundraising, policy, communications and frontline services, you'll be warmly supported by people who share your passion for tackling homelessness and its root causes. Cyrenians is a place where people quickly feel at home, and we want your experience with us to be as rewarding and enjoyable as possible.

You will be supported to attend training and networking opportunities to deepen your understanding of homelessness, social exclusion, media relations and ethical communications practice.

Are you passionate about supporting people to live independently? Are you able to build trusted relationships and be flexible and creative in your approach to supporting others?

If so, this role working to provide homes for those most in need is for you.

About the role

Cyrenians WiSH project is an exciting partnership with Resonance, a social investment organisation, which purchased homes for charity partners to provide to vulnerable women. Domestic Abuse is the biggest cause of women’s homelessness in Scotland, and the fund purchased 30 homes for Cyrenians to provide to women and children who have had to leave an abusive household.

Working in a small team, you will provide relationship-based support to women who have become homeless due to fleeing domestic abuse. You will assist them to settle into one of our safe, supported properties and work alongside them to manage risk and promote wellbeing while they transition into a new permanent home.

About You

You will be an experienced support worker, and passionate about helping vulnerable people into a better situation. You will also be:

• Experienced in working within homelessness, social work, health or related fields
• Trauma-informed and committed to supporting those who face disadvantage and stigma
• Organised and able to work flexibly with a varied workload

Under Schedule 9 of the Equality Act 2010 only women are eligible to apply.

How we’ll support you

You’ll be working independently with a supportive manager and a range of internal and external colleagues and partnerships. You will have access to wider Cyrenians support, including our learning and development programme, and staff wellbeing services.

About us

At Cyrenians we tackle the causes and consequences of homelessness by taking a values-led and relationships-based approach to delivering our services. You can find out more about our organisation and our impact online.

Our values

Compassion | Respect | Integrity | Innovation