Active Partners Trust is a single entity trust, bringing together the Active Partnerships in Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire through two operating units - Active Derbyshire and Active Notts. Our ambition is to create sustainable behaviour change across our local communities.

If we are to reduce levels of physical inactivity within our communities and respond to the challenges set out within Sport England’s ‘Uniting the Movement’, we need to see change at all levels and across many sectors. Our strategies in Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire set out the need for a collective response based on an in-depth understanding of people and communities, that builds a consistent message and way of working, removes the barriers to participation, builds capacity from within, and makes physical activity the norm for people who live and work in our communities in a way that works for them.

To do this, we need the best team, with the right attitude, work ethic, behaviours and commitment to make this happen. You’ll need to be able to identify with our core values; make a difference, collaborate, integrity, inclusive, and passionate.

Job purpose and main areas of responsibility:

Provide overall programme coordination of Sport England's Place Universal Offer (PUO) programme in Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire and support the work led by our Strategic and Place Leads in 12 priority neighbourhoods and communities. These neighbourhoods are Somercotes, Shirebrook, Barrow Hill, Bradwell, Gamesley, Danesmoor, Swadlincote, Eastwood, Arnold, Warsop, Hawtonville, and Cotgrave.

The PUO is Sport England's investment to enable long-term systemic changes in how neighbourhoods tackle physical inactivity. The programme will provide support, tools and resources that encourage collaborative leadership, catalyse behaviour change, and promote system thinking.

What you will do - Understand

• Support Strategic and Place Leads to build on existing work in our priority neighbourhoods to co-design local plans and agree test and learn approaches. Identify where PUO (and other funding where relevant) can support the implementation of these local plans.

• Support the collation and capture of what is being delivered, what is changing, and highlight learning from across all priority neighbourhoods. Share this information through our Strategic and Place Leads, communities of practice, and learning networks.

• Translate and present findings for use by the team and partners, including development of resources for the APT website, and other communication channels.

• Support monitoring, evaluation, and learning for the work and ensure alignment to the wider priorities of Making our Move.

What you will do - Enable

• Support identification of workforce needs and coordinate a community leadership offer including one-to-one coaching / leadership support to enable people to lead change within their communities.

• Support and coordinate communities of practice / learning networks to develop learning across our priority neighbourhoods.

• Act as the main point of contact for the PUO offer funding with Sport England and support compliance with all programme requirements and reporting obligations.

• Support local and APT steering group/governance meetings to oversee programme delivery and strategic direction.

What you will do - Invest

• Support, identify, and understand funding opportunities that can support neighbourhood work and provide support where needed to access this funding – helping priority places secure additional funding for delivery of projects and strategic alignment.

• Support budget management, evaluation, and learning for Sport England, APT Board and county panels, demonstrating programme impact and learning.

What you will do - Deliver

• Support our Strategic and Place Leads, partners, and neighbourhoods to plan and deliver test and learn initiatives,

• Provide vision, leadership, and commitment in safeguarding, diversity, and inclusion matters with colleagues and partners.

• Be accountable for the achievement of identified actions in the annual action plan and regularly record change on APT systems.

Budget responsibility

• Support budget management for the PUO programme.

We are looking for someone to join us who:

• Believes in the value of physical activity and community-led change.

• Believes in our values and behaviours.

• Is passionate about enabling people and communities to have positive experiences of being active.

• Is committed to reducing inequalities in physical activity, understands communities and that some people and communities need more support.

• Is an excellent communicator – writing, speaking, and presenting – an effective advocate.

• Is a good listener and skilled at asking questions that unlock community insight and understanding.

• Is able and willing to challenge systems and practices in a positive way to create meaningful change.

• Is motivated, can plan, organise, and prioritise own workload to meet internal and external deadlines.

• Has experience of developing positive light touch relationships with a range of partners.

• Has experience of working collaboratively with partners to develop and/or deliver shared purpose and vision.

• Has experience of managing or coordinating funded programmes, including budget management, monitoring, evaluation, and reporting.

• Has the IT skills to work competently.

• Can travel regularly across Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire - because of the areas this role covers, we are unsure that it would be possible to fulfil the responsibilities listed without a driving licence and/or access to a personal vehicle.

• Understands the value of being humble and meeting communities and partners where they are.

• Understands the value of learning, the need to make time for reflection and evaluation, and the importance of sharing findings to inform future practice.

Please note that these are the skills we want you to tell us about in your application as we’ll be assessing candidates against them.

Your place of work will be the APT offices in Chesterfield and Nottingham. Regular travel will be required across both counties to work with team members and in the 12 priority neighbourhoods. 

If you’re passionate about addressing inequalities and physical activity, we welcome your application. We encourage people to join our organisation from all walks of life, you don’t need experience in the sport and physical activity sector to work for us. Disabled people and those from ethnically or culturally diverse communities are underrepresented in our workforce and are particularly encouraged to apply.

Please note, we are unable to support employees with Visa costs. Proof of Right to Work in the UK is essential and will be requested during the application process.

If you want to find out more about the role, to help you decide whether to apply, you are welcome to contact Michelle Skinner – 07854 116191 or michelle.skinner@activepartnerstrust.org.uk – for a brief chat.

How to Apply 

Complete the anonymised work-related questions by 11/01/2026 11:59pm.

Submit your CV whilst completing your application – please note your personal details will remain anonymous whilst shortlisting decisions are made.

Stage 1 interviews (online): either 21st January 2026 or 23rd January 2026 (for 30 minutes).

Stage 2 interviews (in person): 30th January 2026 in Chesterfield.