Community Pioneer for Blindwells

Blindwells lies just off the A1 near to Tranent.

The developer Hargreaves has been working on site with East Lothian Council since 2017 and around 500 houses have been completed, both social & private housing. There is however outline planning permission for many more houses over the next twenty years.

The High Street is scheduled for construction and there will be two other schools. It is intended that the Church be a key community partner and part of the long term infrastructure. 

Background to this post

The local churches have, led by the local Church of Scotland churches, been engaged in welcoming new residents to Blindwells for the past three years.

The opening of the first Primary school marks an important moment in the life of this fledgling new community. With space for community development now is the time to move from providing occasional gatherings to a more day to day working on the ground with residents.

The vision is for the establishment of a new Christian community that emerges from the local context. It is intended that this community will be ecumenical and will be at the heart of the Blindwells community.

Although initiated and led by the Church of Scotland applications are encouraged widely and an ecumenical advisory group has been formed. 

Purpose of Post:

To lead the planning and implementation of Lothian & Borders Presbytery’s vision to develop Christian witness and ministry in the new settlement of Blindwells.

Main Duties :

• Developing the existing work by the local churches and to develop & initiate plans for establishing a new Christian community
• Reaching out and engage with children & families in Blindwells to start new community groups
• Building relationships with and engagement in local schools.
• Recruiting & building voluntary teams to be part of this work
• Overseeing all safeguarding & to lead training of this work
• Liasing with other local bodies, site developers, construction workers
• Work closely with the Blindwells Beacon Leadership team & the Local advisory group
• To communicate to Presbytery regularly and to share good practice with regard to mission with partner churches
• To undertake any other duties as reasonably required by the Line Manager