Families Worker – Places Project with Encounter

Places Project sits within the Manchester Diocese vision and strategy of Growing Younger. We want to see children, young people and their families actively involved in, and sustained in, their faith by our parishes; supported in their discipleship at school; and committed to continuing in their faith as they step forward to become the church leaders – lay and ordained – of the future.

Encounter builds on the work of Places Project and ManDio Growing Faith to create opportunities for children, young people and families to encounter Jesus for themselves, inspired by Luke 24 and the story of the two disciples who encountered Jesus on the road to Emmaus.

Places Project is well established in Bolton, with funding secured until the end of 2028. Encounter is a new strategy being delivered in the Bolton and Salford Archdeaconries, which will be rolled out across the Diocese in 2029, subject to further funding being released.

The project works with 30 Church of England primary schools, 3 Church of England secondary schools, and 33 parishes in Bolton Deanery, as well as supporting parishes with links to community schools.

The Families Worker will work alongside parish teams and primary schools, within an identified cohort of schools and parishes, to develop Christian discipleship pathways for children and their families. As part of their role, the Families Worker will work as part of the wider Places Project team on a range of initiatives, including Family Worship activities, Family Fun Days, family discipleship programmes, holiday clubs, and a Year 6 transition programme.

The Families Worker will have many opportunities for training and development, as well as the creative freedom to launch new initiatives for families. They will work within a highly motivated and supportive team, committed to prayer and to welcoming local families into the life of the church.

The post-holder will have experience of working with children and families. They will be creative and able to lead and support activities in churches and schools across a wide range of ages. They will be excellent communicators with strong interpersonal skills, able to build and maintain effective working relationships, and have a working understanding of safeguarding policies and procedures.

The post-holder should have some experience of children’s and families’ ministry, and of working or volunteering in a church and/or school context. To succeed, they will need to be enthusiastic, relational, self-motivated, and able to lead in a range of different contexts.

Find out more

If you would like an informal conversation about the role or the Encounter Programme, please contact:

• Canon Susie Mapledoram, Director of Children and Young People
  susiemapledoram@manchester.anglican.org 

• Alison Adlum, Encounter Archdeaconry Team Lead – Bolton
  alisonadlum@manchester.anglican.org 

How to apply

Application should be made via a laptop or desktop rather than a mobile device. Please refer to the job description and person specification for further information.

Please send enquiries to jobs@manchester.anglican.org 

Closing Date: Thursday 18 June 2026 at 5pm

Interviews: Thursday 25 June 2026 at St John’s House, 155-163 The Rock, Bury BL9 0ND