St John of Jerusalem, South Hackney, is a Grade II* listed Gothic Revival church, built 1845 to 1848 to designs by Edward Charles Hakewill. Supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, the PCC's project, St John of Jerusalem: Celebrating 200 Years, will secure the long-term sustainability of the church while opening up its heritage to the local community. The PCC is seeking a freelance Heritage Engagement Consultant to embed heritage engagement and learning across the project. Reporting to the Project Manager, the consultant will: The commission runs from early September 2026 to June 2027. A fee of up to £7,000 (excluding VAT but including all expenses) is available. The number of days is for the consultant to propose; we anticipate around 20 working days spread across the commission, and in any event no more than 35 days (approximately 260 hours). As the role involves activities with children, compliance with the PCC's safeguarding policy is required and an Enhanced DBS check may be required. To request the Invitation to Quote, please email the Project Manager, Caroline Johnson, at [email protected]. Quotations must be received by 12 noon on Monday 24 August 2026. The successful candidate will be a creative and innovative person, with: The successful consultant will enter into a consultancy agreement with the PCC and must hold appropriate professional indemnity insurance. As the role involves engagement activities with children, compliance with the PCC's safeguarding policy is required and an Enhanced DBS check may be required. Quotations should be a maximum of 3 sides of A4, covering a summary methodology and project plan, two or three case studies of similar work, and a fee proposal with a breakdown of days and day rates. CVs and two referees may be appended. Full details are in the Invitation to Quote, available from the Project Manager. Reporting to the Project Manager, the Heritage Engagement Consultant will: Please email to register your interest so that any clarification questions and answers can be shared with all interested parties. Quotations should be a maximum of 3 sides of A4, covering a summary methodology and project plan, two or three case studies of similar work, and a lump sum fee proposal including expenses, with a breakdown of days and day rates. CVs of key personnel and details of two referees may be appended and are excluded from the page limit. Clarification questions should be emailed by 12 noon on Friday 14 August 2026. Visits to the church can be arranged on request. Contact Name: Caroline Johnson, Project ManagerJob Summary
Job Description
- recruit and manage volunteers, with a target of 100 volunteer hours
- organise and support four pilot activities: a Songhaven concert and afternoon tea for local over 55s; craft and T-shirt making workshops for children, exploring Gothic architectural features; and an Open Day in May 2027
- develop a Children's Heritage Trail and a labelled floor plan of the church, consulting the local primary school
- consult a sample of local primary schools on how the church's heritage can support curriculum learning
- review feedback from the pilot activities and make recommendations for a future learning and engagement programmeJob Requirements
- a proven track record of working on similar projects supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund
- excellent communication and engagement skills, written and verbal, with people of all ages and abilities
- a track record of working collaboratively as part of a team.Job Responsibilities
- embed an understanding of the church's heritage across all project strands, briefing the project team and congregation
- recruit and manage volunteers from the congregation and wider local area, matching skills to the project, with a target of 100 volunteer hours
- organise, commission and support four pilot activities: a Songhaven concert and afternoon tea for local over 55s; a craft workshop for a local primary school; a T-shirt making workshop with Hackney Quest; and an Open Day in May 2027
- develop a Children's Heritage Trail and a labelled floor plan of the church, and organise their design and print for the Open Day
consult local primary schools on how the church's heritage can support curriculum learning
- review feedback from the pilot activities and recommend a future learning and engagement programme
- submit monthly updates and work with the project team and evaluation consultants.Useful Links
How to Apply
Quotations must be received by email by 12 noon on Monday 24 August 2026. Late submissions will not be considered. Appointment is expected by Friday 28 August 2026, with an inception meeting in early September.
Contact Email: [email protected]