NEWS
We want to appoint two people into two roles for the Citizens’ Assembly. This is for the Citizens for Culture project for the West of England.
- Lead Safeguarding Officer – £800 fee for 4 days
- Designated Safeguarding Officer – specific responsibility for under 18s – £1,800 fee for 9 days
These are important roles for an exciting initiative for the West of England.
Please read below for further information and if you have any questions, please email David Jubb, Project Manager for Citizens for Culture, on david@citizensinpower.com
How to apply: If you are interested in one of these roles, please send a brief email with your CV to David on david@citizensinpower.com or just send an email with any enquiries.
Deadline: There is no fixed deadline for applications; we are aiming to recruit during August or early September.
1. Lead Safeguarding Officer
Purpose of the Role:
- To oversee safeguarding for all participants during Citizens for Culture Citizens’ Assembly sessions, ensuring a safe, respectful, and inclusive environment.
- Provide support to participants in relation to wider welfare concerns.
1) Key Safeguarding Responsibilities:
- Act as the named lead for safeguarding during the in-person sessions.
- Recognise and act on any safeguarding concerns, escalating appropriately in line with Trinity’s Safeguarding Practice Framework.
- Be familiar with and uphold Trinity’s Safeguarding Framework, Safeguarding Reporting Procedure, Anti-Harassment Policy, Wellbeing Policy, and follow Trinity’s principles of Confidentiality and GDPR.
- To share the on-call mobile with the other Safeguarding representative.
2) Key welfare responsibilities:
- Be available as a listening ear for any participant who needs to talk.
- Provide immediate support and signposting for participants experiencing distress, discomfort, or welfare concerns.
- Promote psychological safety, accessibility, and respect and assist participants with any relevant signposting in relation to any arising welfare issues/concerns
Time Commitment:
- 1 day preparation (remote working)
- 3 x in-person Citizens’ Assembly days (Bristol) – 14 Sep, 19 Oct, 9 Nov
Person Specification:
- Level 3 Safeguarding Training (Children and/or Adults)
- Valid Enhanced DBS check registered in your name with the DBS Update Service*
- Knowledge of safeguarding principles and pathways.
- Strong interpersonal skills.
- Discretion, sensitivity, and commitment to confidentiality
- Experience working with diverse communities
- Mental health first-aid trained (desirable)
- Trauma-informed care training (desirable)
Payment:
- £200 per day
- £800 total payment for the 4 days
- Reasonable travel expenses will be reimbursed for the three in-person sessions
- Payments will be on receipt of invoice
2. Designated Safeguarding Officer
Purpose of the Role:
- To act as the dedicated safeguarding officer for under-18 participants during the Citizens’ Assembly.
Key Responsibilities:
- Provide dedicated safeguarding support for under-18 participants
- Be an approachable welfare presence for all participants.
- Ensure young people are familiar with safeguarding procedures.
- Ensure that under-18 participants do not enter a space where they are one to one with an adult.
- Liaise with parents/carers, ensuring consent and safeguarding measures are in place.
- Uphold Trinity’s safeguarding policies and escalate any concerns to the Assembly DSO
- Support a safe, inclusive environment.
- To share the on-call mobile with the other Safeguarding representative.
Time Commitment:
- 1 day preparation (remote working)
- 3 x in-person Citizens’ Assembly days (Bristol) – 14 Sep, 19 Oct, 9 Nov
- 5 x online Citizens’ Assembly days – 27/28 Sep, 11/12 Oct, 26 Oct
Person Specification:
- Level 2 Safeguarding Training (Children) minimum training
- Valid Enhanced DBS check registered in your name with the DBS Update Service*
- Experience working with children/young people
- Familiarity with safeguarding reporting pathways
- Compassionate, approachable, and discreet.
- Mental health first aid training (desirable)
- Trauma-aware practice training (desirable)
Payment:
- £200 per day
- £1,800 total payment for the 9 days
- Reasonable travel expenses will be reimbursed for the three in-person sessions
- Payments will be on receipt of invoice
Onboarding Information for Safeguarding Roles
The appointed persons will be provided with the following information prior to the Citizens’ Assembly.
Pre-Assembly Onboarding:
- Read and sign Trinity frameworks and policies:
- Safeguarding Policy
- Safeguarding Reporting Procedure
- Anti-Harassment Policy
- Wellbeing Policy
- Confidentiality guidance
- GDPR guidance
- Provide evidence in relation to completed training and submit consent form for Trinity to carry out a certificate status check via the DBS Update Service
- Attend online briefing session covering:
– Team introduction
– Assembly process and values
– Safeguarding scenarios and reporting
– Accessibility and inclusion considerations.
At Citizens for Culture, we are keen to explore engaging ways to understand how the regional cultural ecosystem works, how its many parts connect, and the many different roles stakeholders play in shaping it.
Play:Disrupt are a creative studio designing playful, participatory experiences that help people explore complex systems, spark collaboration, and imagine new possibilities together.
We asked Play:Disrupt to design a game that would help Assembly members understand how the regional cultural ecology works, how it connects with other systems, and the roles and responsibilities of each set of stakeholders.
In our model, these stakeholders are grouped into five key categories:
Authorities, e.g. Combined and Unitary
Advocates, e.g. Funders and Investors
Associates, e.g. Culture Sector Partners
Activists, e.g. Community Partners
Allies, e.g. Business and Development Partners
The Trinity team were the guinnea pigs for a game testing session which took place at The Trinity Centre last month. The session was fun, full of laughter and learning, and a brilliant opportunity to test what we’ll deliver at the first official Assembly session in September.
At the end of the session, we caught up with the Play:Disrupt team to tell us more about their work and how their game design is developing. Here’s what they had to share:
Play:Disrupt were invited to develop and deliver an engaging, accessible activity for the first session of the Citizens’ Assembly for Culture. The aim was to introduce participants to the West of England’s cultural ecosystem in a way that made it easy to understand how organisations and individuals connect, and who does what in the sector. We were also asked to support participants in identifying key actors (funders, organisations, venues, artists, freelancers, infrastructure staff, and production/tech roles) while exploring challenges and opportunities across Bath & North East Somerset, South Gloucestershire, Bristol, and Somerset.
The result of the workshop needed to be visually engaging and feel like a map that everyone taking part had created and could refer back to during the day. Ideally, participants would remember the experience and how it looked throughout the Citizens for Culture programme, and feel a sense of pride in having made something together.
After an initial meeting with the team, we devised and trialled a workshop at Trinity in July with the mission of learning what worked and what didn’t and perfecting the activities ready for delivery on September 14th.
We worked with the Citizens for Culture team to create an engaging experience that promoted active participation and fun. Participants embodied one of five stakeholder groups and developed a cultural activity based on a recent experience.
One group focused on the Bristol Harbour Festival, discussing how their characters could contribute to its success. The other group took a “devil’s advocate” approach, exploring ways to counter negativity and secure funding from the council leader by appealing to his vanity!
Both groups shared their insights afterwards, reflecting on what could have been improved, which helped refine the workshop ideas.
Games and the invitation to play allow people to engage with complex systems in ways that relate to their lives and experiences. Once people have relaxed and become absorbed in activity, they seem more open to understanding topics, landscapes, and systems that initially seem remote or disconnected.
What surprised us most was how differently the groups approached the task. One became very involved in making the event and creating something visually appealing, while the other grappled with difficult questions and challenges. From this, we were able to iron out wrinkles and now have a much clearer idea of how to prepare facilitators, props, layout and materials for the workshop day.
Once you engage people actively in play, barriers are broken down. It’s all about active engagement and encouraging a playful mindset. Our practice is built through years of making interactive street performance, play interventions, and embedded community engagement. The skills needed to encourage people to play together in public transfer really well to civic participation. Our observations and experiments are backed up by decades of international research into play, game design and psychology. We know that active engagement leads to deeper conversations, and play is a surefire way to actively engage and immerse people in the topic.
We are really excited to see how our workshop plays out in September and feel immensely privileged to be offering participants their first opportunity to take part in a collective activity. We hope people have a lot of fun and gain a deeper understanding of the cultural landscape in the West of England, helping the project to involve ordinary citizens in decision-making.
Our aim is to widen engagement, especially with communities that’ve been overlooked. Active engagement empowers participants, encourages collaboration, and allows more voices to share the stage. The Citizens for Culture programme fits perfectly with our ideals; we need to ensure people from all walks of life are empowered to have a voice in civic decision-making, as it enriches the cultural fabric of our cities and ensures that places and services reflect the communities they serve.
Thanks to Emma and LaToyah for inviting us to develop this with you in an open and collaborative way.Learn more about Play:Disrupt by heading to their website.
We want to hear from people from every corner of the West of England to better understand individual experiences of culture, what’s working, what’s missing, and what needs to change. These conversations will help inform our Citizens’ Assembly as they explore and answer this vital question: “What would culture and creativity look like in the West of England if they were for everyone?”
In our new ‘Citizens for Culture meets’ blog series, we’re connecting with people from across the region behind the live music and community events that bring the West of England to life. Learning more about how they work, what culture means to them, the communities they work with, and why inclusive cultural spaces matter.
In the first of our new blog series, we welcome Laura Porter, whose work in North Somerset is a powerful reminder that culture thrives when everyone is invited to take part. Take a read below as we ask Laura a few questions.
Can you tell us a bit about yourself and the work that you do?
I’m a clarinet and saxophone specialist with a background in musical theatre, teaching, and ensemble leadership. After becoming physically disabled in 2017, I shifted my focus to inclusive community music-making. With support from Arts Council England and Culture West, I’ve explored new ways to create music with people of all abilities and backgrounds.
I founded Now Hear This Music C.I.C. in North Somerset, where we run diverse music groups and celebrate each season with a joyful, collaborative party that brings everyone together.
What inspired you to get involved in cultural organising, and what keeps you motivated?
After becoming disabled in 2017, I dedicated myself to fostering accessibility and inclusion in music. Through my journey of physical recovery and self-discovery as a neurodivergent individual, I became determined to dismantle barriers that exclude others.
I invested in accessible instruments and assistive technology, creating spaces where everyone can participate and connect. I believe everyone deserves access to music, and I am committed to making that a reality.
How would you describe the current state of culture in the West of England?
Culture, to me, is simply people being In places like Bristol and Bath, that spirit thrives through vibrant, diverse microcommunities. But in North Somerset, the picture is different.
A lack of funding, poor transport links, and inaccessible spaces mean fewer opportunities to connect and celebrate. Despite being named a Priority Place by Arts Council England, access here often feels tokenistic, and there’s still a long way to go in understanding what true inclusion looks like. Amplifying disabled voices and embedding awareness systemically is vital.
What does “culture” mean to you personally, and how do you see it reflected in your community?
Culture is a snapshot of human interaction in an identified place and time.
Are there any local cultural events, spaces, or traditions that you feel truly represent the spirit of your community?
For years, I felt excluded from my community’s cultural life. The compounded microaggressions became too much, and I was avoiding participating. So, when my mental health improved, I created something new, where I truly belong. After becoming disabled, I grew frustrated with events that segregated people by labels like “Relaxed Performance” or “Elderly Persons’ Event.” To me, real community means everyone in the same room, at the same time, together.
In your experience, what are some of the biggest barriers to cultural participation in the West of England?
North Somerset’s poor transport links, inaccessible buildings, and lack of affordable and accessible parking make cultural participation incredibly difficult, especially for disabled people. As a wheelchair user transporting musical instruments, public transport simply isn’t an option. While reducing car use is important, rural communities need realistic alternatives. Right now, they don’t exist.
What would you like decision-makers to understand about the cultural needs of your community?
You need to come and see us. Hear us. In person. Stop the desktop analysis. Stop the “Have Your Say!” surveys… Get yourselves into these spaces to see for yourselves. Come and see me! Participate with a glockenspiel and tambourine in your hands.
Creative Health matters, take a read of my recent post.
In June, the Government launched its Arts, Culture and Creative Industries Sector Plan, setting out a bold vision to grow the UK’s creative economy and ensure that creative opportunities are more widely accessible across the country. With ambitions to nearly double investment in the sector by 2035 and support creative clusters beyond London, the plan promised a more inclusive and dynamic cultural landscape. Though some progress has been made, what more can be done?
Last month, the Government unveiled the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill, signalling a growing shift of power from central government to local leaders. The details of how this will translate into meaningful cultural participation for everyday citizens across the country are not yet clear.
Community power isn’t just about where decisions are made; it’s about how they’re made, and who gets to be part of them. Although the recent bill marks a step forward, there is still a risk that decisions about public arts funding and cultural priorities will simply move from centralised institutions to local elites without truly engaging the communities they are meant to serve.
To build real trust and resilience in communities, handing greater authority to local leaders is one step. We need deeper participation where citizens are not just consulted but actively involved in shaping priorities.
That’s where the Citizens’ Assembly model comes in.
When diverse voices come together to learn, deliberate and decide, it leads to decisions that are more legitimate, more inclusive, and more connected to the lived experience of local people. As a citizen-led cultural initiative, culture must be seen as integral to this vision, not a peripheral policy area, but a vital space where communities make meaning, build identity, and imagine new futures.
Cultural democracy and political democracy go hand in hand. When people are involved in shaping their cultural lives, and when culture is valued as a public good, communities thrive.
We’re continuing to work with artists, organisations and civic thinkers to ask:
- What does culture-led devolution look like?
- How can we embed participation through citizens’ assemblies, co-design, and creative consultation into the democratic fabric of local governance?
- How do we ensure that investment reaches places and people too often overlooked?
The Devolution Bill offers a moment of possibility. Let’s not stop at power passed down, let’s build power from the ground up.
The Digital Producer will lead and manage all online and digital components of the Citizens’ Assembly for Culture for the West of England.
Job Title: Citizens Assembly Digital Producer
Contract type: Freelance
Working With: Citizens Assembly Producer
Rate of Pay: £2,400 for 13 days of work spread across July, August, September & November 2025 (equivalent to £175 per day)
4 days preparation across July and August and 8 days present, both in person and online, during the Assembly itself across September, October & November.
Hours: Must be available on all Assembly dates with some in-person sessions on the following dates:
- 14 September 2025 – In-person, Bristol
- 27 & 28 September 2025 – Online
- 11 & 12 October 2025 – In-person, Bristol
- 19 October 2025 – Online
- 26 October 2025 – Online
- 9 November 2025 – In-person, Bristol
About the Role:
The Digital Producer will lead and manage all online and digital components of the Citizens’ Assembly for Culture for the West of England. This means ensuring the smooth delivery of digital operations, including live streaming, online meetings, and the coordination of digital accessibility provisions for 52 participants.
The Digital Producer will work closely with the Citizens’ Assembly Producer and with participants to create an inclusive online environment where people can fully participate in the assembly.
Why This Work Matters:
In June 2025, 15,000 invitations will be circulated to households across the West of England region, including Bath and North East Somerset, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire. People will be invited to enter their name into a public lottery. The people who are selected will become part of a Citizens’ Assembly to create a plan for cultural activities. A Citizens’ Assembly is when a group of randomly selected citizens are brought together to learn about, deliberate, and make recommendations on a specific issue. In this case, the focus is on culture and creativity in the West of England. They will receive £700 as a gift for participating in the Citizens’ Assembly. We know that there are communities of people who have been excluded from cultural activities in the region.
Many communities in our region have been left out of creative and cultural opportunities. Research shows that people from lower-income backgrounds, global majority communities, disabled communities, young people under 25, and those in rural areas are less likely to participate in publicly funded cultural activities. We are committed to changing this, and digital accessibility is a key part of that commitment.
As the Citizens Assembly Digital Access Producer, you will play a key role in ensuring that digital access barriers do not prevent anyone from participating. This includes supporting participants with technology loans, tutorials, device checks, and ensuring that all digital platforms used for the Assembly are accessible and inclusive.
Key Responsibilities:
Digital Event Production:
- Work with the venue to plan, set up, and manage livestream for in-person and online Assembly sessions, ensuring high-quality audio and video delivery.
- Coordinate online meetings for all Assembly sessions, using platforms such as Zoom.
- Manage and troubleshoot technical issues during live events and online meetings to minimise disruptions.
Citizen Accessibility:
- Collect and manage digital access needs from participants, including device loans, tech tutorials, and support requests.
- Book and coordinate provisions such as laptop loans and device checks.
- Deliver or arrange one-to-one and group tech tutorials, platform walkthroughs, and rehearsals ahead of Assembly sessions if needed.
- Provide ongoing technical support before and during sessions to participants and facilitators.
- Ensure accessibility features (captioning, translation, screen reader compatibility) are integrated into digital platforms.
- Act as primary contact for all technical inquiries related to participant access and digital platforms.
Digital Asset Management:
- Coordinate recording, archiving, and distribution of livestreams, session recordings, presentation materials, and transcripts.
Essential Skills:
- Experience in digital event production, including live streaming and online meeting management.
- Proficiency in online meeting platforms like Zoom.
- Strong technical troubleshooting skills and the ability to work under pressure.
- Experience in coordinating and supporting diverse groups, ensuring inclusivity and accessibility.
- Excellent communication skills, able to guide non-technical users.
Desirable Skills:
- Interest in Citizens’ Assemblies, participatory democracy or similar.
- Experience in cultural events.
To Apply:
Submit your application via this form by 1st July 5pm. On the form you have the option to upload audio/video responses to the form’s questions (up to 10 minutes). If you have access needs, please contact anjali@citizensforculture.info
Citizens for Culture will empower people across the West of England to shape the region’s cultural future. This marks the UK’s first Citizens’ Assembly dedicated to exploring how creative opportunities can be made truly inclusive and accessible to all, bringing together individuals from every walk of life.
Culture in the West of England means much more than just the arts, it is shaped by libraries, museums and festivals, music and more. The Citizens’ Assembly is a people-powered process that gives residents the chance to influence the decisions that directly impact them.
From 23 June, 15,000 randomly selected households across the region will receive invitations to take part in a unique democratic process. Those who accept will form a Citizens’ Assembly that truly reflects the diversity of the West of England. These participants will help shape decisions on key regional issues, ensuring that every voice has a chance to be heard.
The 52 citizens selected to take part will answer the question: “What would culture and creativity look like in the West of England if they were for everyone?”
These discussions will help shape a Cultural Plan to be unveiled in November 2025. This community-led plan will reflect the hopes, values, and creative vision of the region’s residents, serving as a model for citizen-led cultural policymaking across the UK.
Citizens for Culture is backed by the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority, Bath and North East Somerset Council, Bristol City Council, North Somerset Council, and South Gloucestershire Council. Citizens for Culture is also supported by Arts Council England, the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation and Paul Hamlyn Foundation.
Helen Godwin, the new Mayor of the West of England, said:
“From festivals to theatre, sport to heritage, clubs to cinema, and so much more besides, culture in the West knows few limits – or equals. Creativity is part of who we are, and everyone in our region deserves to make the most of the best of life in our part of the world.
“How we understand and tell our story will be a big part of this new chapter for the West, and will be key to attracting further investment. It’s past time for all communities, wherever or whoever they are in our region, to be connected – including to the economic opportunities offered by a world-renowned cultural scene.
“I can’t wait to see the ideas and energy of the new Citizens’ Assembly on culture. Their collective voice will be an important part of shaping our plans on culture, which will be developed and delivered with partners from the sector and local councils.”
The first of the Assembly events will take place on Sunday 14 September, the day before International Democracy Day. Marking a historic shift in how decisions about culture are made, rather than being shaped solely by policy-makers or institutions, the region’s future creative landscape will be crafted by its citizens, with the support of the region’s cultural sector.
Trinity Community Arts’ CEO Emma Harvey said; “Citizens for Culture is about handing power back to the people to define our cultural destinies. Culture is about arts and creativity, the spaces we socialise in, the stories we tell about who we are, and how we make sense of the world around us. That’s why it’s important that decisions about culture reflect all of us, regardless of background or political view.
“We all have a right to freedom of cultural expression. So, whether you see yourself as a lover of the arts or if you’ve never felt it’s for you, if you receive a letter inviting you to take part, we’d encourage you to say yes! Your voice matters, and this is a chance for everyday folk to lead the conversation and help shape a cultural future that includes all of us.”
Whether or not you receive an official invitation to the Citizens’ Assembly, there are plenty of ways to get involved in shaping the future of culture in our region. From taking part in inspiring workshops and local events to signing up for our newsletter or joining the conversation on social media, everyone has a role to play.
Additional quotes:
- Cllr Kevin Guy, Leader of Bath and North East Somerset Council & Deputy Mayor for West of England, said: “Citizens for Culture represents exactly the kind of bold, citizen-led thinking we need to build a more inclusive and dynamic cultural future across the West of England. In Bath and North East Somerset, we are proud to support this initiative as part of our wider ambition to place culture at the heart of community wellbeing, economic renewal, and civic pride. By working in partnership with our neighbouring authorities, the West of England Combined Authority, and the creative sector, we can unlock the full potential of our region through a cultural plan shaped by its people. Citizens for Culture is a key step towards that goal.”
- Cllr Tony Dyer, Leader of Bristol City Council, said: “Culture in our city and region is part of our everyday lives. It brings people together, supports jobs, inspires learning, and creates spaces where everyone can feel welcome and represented. Our cultural scene is known around the world, but its true strength lies in the people and communities who shape it. That’s why it’s so important that we listen to local voices and work together to shape the future of culture in our region. By supporting the Citizens for Culture approach, we’re committing to a shared journey — one where everyone has a role in building a cultural life that reflects and supports us all. We’re excited to learn, contribute, and help ensure that culture continues to thrive for everyone in Bristol and beyond.”
- Cllr Mike Bell, Leader, North Somerset Council, said: “North Somerset Council is happy to support Citizens for Culture. We see real value in this initiative, not just as a catalyst for culture, but as a powerful driver for inward investment. The opportunity for a broad range of partners to come together with residents and cultural champions, pooling their creativity and expertise, is really exciting. A vibrant, inclusive cultural landscape that truly reflects our region is an important part of what makes our area a great place to live and we are pleased to work with Citizens for Culture to help achieve that.”
- Cllr Maggie Tyrrell, Leader of South Gloucestershire Council, said: “We’re proud to support Citizens for Culture, the UK’s first Citizens’ Assembly dedicated to creating a region-wide Cultural Delivery Plan. This exciting collaboration brings together voices from across South Gloucestershire and the wider West of England to ensure that culture and creativity are accessible to everyone. Through meaningful participation, we’re helping to shape a future where arts and culture play a central role in community life, local pride and economic opportunity.”
