Advocacy manager jobs in blackheath, greater london

About HIAS+JCORE

HIAS+JCORE is the UK Jewish voice on refugees and racial justice. Our work is driven by the belief that the Jewish community should play an active part in building a society in which Refugees are able to live in dignity where the UK is a welcoming place free from racism.

Our organisation came into this form through the joining of operations between two organisations: the UK-based JCORE (Jewish Council for Racial Equality) and HIAS, a global humanitarian aid and advocacy organisation. HIAS+JCORE is inspired by Jewish values and history to support those who are displaced, no matter their background.

JUMP is a London-based befriending project for young asylum seekers and refugees who have been separated from their families. The three primary ways in which JUMP supports young people are casework, community, and

befriending.

About the role

We are looking for a self-starting team member who will help coordinate this valuable project in London. You’ll be responsible for the befriending pairs and undertake tasks such as develop and maintain relationships with partner organisations, manage referrals for young people, recruit volunteer befrienders, and setting-up and sustaining pairs. This includes leading an initial training day.

Contact with befrienders is through monthly reporting, and bi-annual supervision (initially after three months for new befrienders); alongside ad-hoc communication on safeguarding or other urgent matters. Contact with young people is more regular and varies depending on their casework support needs.

Community events take place every three months and offer a space for all young people and volunteers to come together and celebrate the work they are doing on JUMP. You will need to attend these events, which can take place on the

weekend, and liaise with your cohort of befriending pairs to ensure everyone has the correct information.

JUMP also has Hardship Fund (HSF) available to young people who need financial support with travel, clothing, food vouchers, and phone contracts. We also have a small budget for miscellaneous payments, which in the past has included paying for emergency accommodation for young people facing homelessness.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Supporting the running of our JUMP project in London, and overseeing and supporting up to 15 pairs, by:

Supporting young people and the JUMP Community

· Managing a caseload of young people;

· Offering casework support (e.g., related to housing, education; day-to-day needs; arranging legal intervention etc.);

· Where necessary arranging and attending appointments with the young person (GP, Home Office, Job Centre, and Legal appointments);

· Signposting young people to available support and intervening where necessary.

· Assisting in the planning and organising of group trips and events every 2- 3 months;

· Conducting initial assessments with young people to understand their needs, and once paired with a volunteer, hosting befriending initial meetings;

· Facilitating Hardship Fund payments to young people, including applications and approvals.

Supervising and supporting volunteers

· Organising and delivering JUMP core training to new and existing befrienders;

· Recruiting, interviewing and onboarding new befrienders;

· Supporting befriending volunteers through regular supervisions, meetings, emails and phone calls;

· Responding to applications from new volunteers and actively recruiting volunteers as required;

· Ensuring that volunteers uphold JUMP’s policies and boundaries for

befriending;

· Responding promptly to safeguarding concerns raised by volunteers.

Publicising JUMP, and engaging with key stakeholders

· Publicising the project to existing and potential referral agencies working with young asylum seekers and refugees who have been separated from their families;

· Establishing and maintaining excellent close working relationships with referral organisations;

· Representing HIAS+JCORE and JUMP in the refugee sector as required, for example at the Refugee and Migrant Forum meetings..

Project monitoring, evaluation and record keeping

· Working with experts and the Frontline Support Manager on supporting the project and its evaluation;

· Keeping accurate records in the JUMP database, including for safeguarding and impact evaluation purposes.

Other Duties

· Ensuring that JUMP informs our campaigns, communications and education work. As the project develops, there will be opportunities for the post- holder to contribute to and support these areas of our work;

· Undertaking any other related tasks as required.

ABOUT YOU

· Ability to support, develop rapport and trust with, and motivate both young people and volunteers from a range of backgrounds and ages in challenging circumstances, including the ability to facilitate and engage in cross cultural communication;

· Knowledge of issues facing separated asylum seeking and refugee children and young people, and the rights and entitlements of ‘Looked After’ children and young people;

· Understanding of the current context surrounding immigration, asylum and welfare issues facing children and young people in the UK today;

· Understanding of Child Protection and Vulnerable Adult Safeguarding, and ability to communicate this to volunteers;

· Understanding of youth work principles and methods, including the benefits and challenges of befriending and other participatory methods;

· Ability to network in the refugee sector and develop strong working relationships;

· Ability to work independently and to self-motivate;

· Commitment to HIAS+JCORE values, social justice and antiracism;

· The ability to communicate in languages other than English, in particular Arabic, Spanish and French (desirable).

Necessary Experience

· A track record of working directly with asylum seeking and refugee children and young people;

· Experience of social work, youth work, or other relevant methods of supporting people in challenging circumstances;

· Experience of training, coordinating and supporting volunteers;

· Experience of juggling commitments and responding to relevant stressful situations.

Desirable Experience

· Educated to at least undergraduate degree level, or equivalent background or experience;

· Working knowledge of Local Authorities’ responsibilities for Looked After

Children and Care Leavers;

· Experience of project management including administration, monitoring, evaluation and report writing.

Applicants must be UK based either in London or be willing to relocate. We are only able to consider applicants who have the right to work in the UK. HIAS+JCORE is unable to sponsor working visas to the UK.

We particularly encourage applicants from people with lived experience of the asylum system.

Do you have the skills to develop clear, impactful policy that helps drive meaningful change? We’re looking for a Policy Officer to play a vital role in shaping Shelter’s policy agenda and strengthening our voice in the fight for home.

About the role

This is a great opportunity for someone who wants to use their policy skills to help end homelessness and improve housing in England. Working as part of Shelter’s Policy Team, you will be responsible for helping to develop Shelter’s policy and responding to government initiatives on a range of housing policy areas. It includes helping to develop innovative and workable proactive policy solutions to fix the housing emergency.

Role specifics

You’ll bring strong knowledge of social or economic policy and the ability to analyse complex issues in a wider context. You’ll have experience working with both quantitative and qualitative evidence to identify trends and develop clear, evidence-based solutions to structural social problems. You’ll also be confident in producing policy analysis that supports communications, campaign goals and the wider political landscape. A passion for tackling inequality and insight into the challenges faced by people experiencing homelessness, and an anti-racist approach to your work would all be valuable. 

Apply to be part of our team and be the change you want to see in society. 

Benefits 

We offer a wide range of benefits, including 30 days of annual leave, enhanced family friendly policies, pension and interest free travel loans. Our employees also have access to a tenancy deposit loan, payroll giving, cycle to work scheme and an employee assistance programme.

We are happy to talk about flexible working, personal growth, and to promote a workplace where you can be yourself and achieve success based only on your merit.

About the team 

The team is seven people strong and sits within the Advocacy and Activism branch of the Communications, Policy and Campaigns division.  Using the latest data, research and intelligence from our services, and working with people with lived experience, we analyse the problems in our housing system and identify effective and creative solutions. 

About Shelter

Home is a human right. It’s our foundation and where we thrive. Yet everyday millions of people engaged in the housing emergency.

We exist to defend the right to a safe home. Because home is everything.

We need ambitious, passionate people to join us. This is your chance to play a part in the fundamental change we are striving to achieve.

Our enemy is the social injustice at the core of the escalating housing emergency. To win this fight, we must be representative of the people we are here to help and those who support our movement. In all our people decisions, we take pride in being inclusive, equitable and transparent. We are committed to combating racism both within and outside Shelter. We welcome you on our journey to becoming truly anti-racist.

Safeguarding statement 

Safeguarding is everyone's business. Shelter is committed to protecting the health, wellbeing and human rights of those we support, and enabling them to live free from harm, abuse and neglect. All our staff will be expected to observe professional standards of behaviour and conduct their work in line with our Safeguarding Policies. 

Shelter does not accept unsolicited CVs from external recruitment agencies nor accept the fees associated with them. 

Location: South West London (Central Office is based in Mortlake – 12 mins from Clapham Junction and 23 mins from Waterloo)
Contract: Permanent
Hours: Part time 20 hrs per week, Monday to Friday. 5 shifts 10.00 - 14.00
Salary: Salary £32,140 per annum pro rata (£18,365 actual)

Benefits:28 days annual leave per annum/pro rata plus statutory holidays on appointment. Additional annual leave days awarded on length of service* • Company pension contribution • Life insurance (3 x salary)* • Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) including 24/7 support helpline • Interest-free Season Ticket Loans* • Additional maternity pay and leave* •Additional paternity pay* • Additional sick pay* *available after probation period passed

Job Summary

When someone goes missing, Missing People provides help to families, friends and professional carers who wish to publicise their appeal. This can be through the charity’s website resources, appeals and opportunities for publicity in the media.

You will support families, friends and professional carers to make appeals when someone has officially been reported as missing. The role will involve communicating in a timely, compassionate and knowledgeable manner with people experiencing the trauma of missing someone and managing families’ initial expectations of the service. You will assess the most appropriate activities to safeguard and reconnect the missing person and be responsible for police liaison and updates. You will assess with families the use of public display publicity which may begin after 3 days and help families to understand what they can do themselves. You will work closely with the Communications team, providing them with accurate and timely information if publicity is the appropriate choice. You will also access and process 'Urgent missing’ requests and work with the Communications team to make the alert happen.

You will understand the needs of longer-term families who still want to publicise their missing person, and you will advocate on their behalf to help make sure their voice is heard.

You will work collaboratively with specialists in Family Support, Publicity, Helpline and Fundraising & Communications teams to support the families and missing people we are here to help.

Key Accountabilities:

Service delivery

• Assess and process incoming requests from, family members, friends and professional carers and agree the most suitable support and publicity actions. Manage requests with high standards of accuracy, risk and criteria management, data management, and confidentiality;
• Risk assess all contacts to ensure any safeguarding issues in relation to the missing person or their family members are dealt with effectively. Participate in safeguarding decision making and implement safeguarding procedures.
• Handle sensitive interactions, deal with crisis intervention situations, assess risk within Missing People policy and consult where appropriate

Team Working and external communications

• Ensure families are aware of all the services on offer to them, working collaboratively with other members of the team to provide a smooth transition into Family Support and Publicity
• Work closely with IT, Impact, Family Support, Publicity and helpline teams identifying data issues,
• Communicate updates and signpost into Missing People’s services, initiatives, engagement opportunities, events and activities to family members and other people affected by a disappearance

Volunteer supervision and support

• Train volunteers on shift in identified tasks. Provide clear written instructions and demonstrate the task through examples and shadowing.
• Monitor volunteer work on shift to ensure good record keeping, professional communication, appropriate safeguarding and accuracy

About you

You must have the right to work in the UK. The person specification in the job description provides full details of what we are looking for, and this includes:

• Experience of working in a frontline service delivering advice, help or support to vulnerable people by phone or digitally;
• Experience and/or demonstrable understanding of safeguarding vulnerable adults and/or young people;
• Experience of working with a range of internal and external stakeholders including volunteers, other teams and the police or other statutory services.

Abilities, Skills and Knowledge:

• Ability to risk assess, make welfare and needs assessment and take appropriate safeguarding and contact care actions.
• Knowledge of the issues surrounding missing children and vulnerable adults;
• Aware of and sensitive to the impact of class, gender and race and to be willing to act appropriately;
• An ability to navigate the issues and nuances of working with people experiencing trauma in a way that centers their needs with an expert but open approach.

About Missing People

Somebody goes missing in the UK every 90 seconds. Missing People exists to ease the heartache experienced by those missing someone, and to help people who are away from home find their way back to safety. Our vision is for every missing child, adult and family left behind to find help, hope and a safe way to reconnect. We are a non-judgemental, highly skilled team of staff and volunteers working for everyone who needs us. We provide free, confidential support, help and advice by phone, email, text and live chat. We coordinate a UK-wide network of people, businesses and media to join the search for the estimated 170,000 people who go missing each year. Missing People aims to put people with lived experience at the heart of our work, amplifying their voices to achieve change. Working for Missing People means living our values. It’s a place where people are encouraged to ‘let fly’ so you can ‘make things happen’. We know you’re more than just a job title, and ‘be human’ is an important value here. Missing People is an independent charity that relies on donations.

Closing date: 12:00 on 2 January 2026. 
Interviews: 7/9 January 2026
Start: ASAP

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Are you looking for a dynamic and rewarding role working for an organisation with the feminist agenda at the core of its ethos? Then Advance Charity could be the career choice for you!

We are looking for a Community Key Worker

Salary: £23,000 - £27,000

Location: Hertfordshire

Contract: Fixed Term until 31st March 2027

Hours p/w: 35 Hours per week

This post is open to female applicants only as being female is deemed to be a genuine occupational requirement under Schedule 9, Paragraph 1 of the Equality Act 2010.

Please note: Any offer of employment will be made subject to references, confirmation of the right to work in the UK, and satisfactory enhanced DBS check. This role is also subject to Police Vetting.

About us

Advance is an award-winning and innovative women-only organisation, established in 1998, providing emotional and practical support to women and girls survivors of domestic abuse and supporting women with short-term sentences to reduce offending. We believe in empowering women and girls to lead safe, non-violent, equal lives so that they can flourish and contribute to the community.

We are a community-based organisation who lead in best practice approaches to supporting women in their local community. We achieve this by being available to meet and support women in local settings and at our women’s centres, and by working in close partnership with other agencies.

Our values are to listen and support, to empower and respect, collaboration, innovation, and accountability.

About the role:

Are you an excellent relationship builder who can work with women and a diverse range of delivery partners to ensure that she meets her potential and successfully progresses through and beyond her probation supervision? Can you meet a women wherever she is at in her journey and work with her to create an individualised support package that gives her the best chance of breaking the cycle of offending?

Are you looking for a dynamic and rewarding role working for a feminist organisation who understand that supporting women in the criminal justice system requires a specialist and gendered approach? Do you believe in our values; to listen and support, to empower and respect, collaborate, innovate, and take accountability?

In your role as a Community Keyworker, you will be working with women involved in the Criminal Justice System; those on Probation in the Community and those women being released from Prison as part of their Post Sentence Supervision; providing some in-reach and ‘Through the Gate’ support. You will be working in a team of Community Keyworkers in your region. Each Keyworker will provide holistic one to one community support to women with a variety of needs.

About You:

To be successful as the Community Key Worker you will need the below experience and skills.

You will need to hold a UK driving licence with access to car that can be used for work purposes. A creative self-starter who will support the service and look for innovative solutions to support clients with complex needs. You are confident professional relationship builder with have good awareness of Safeguarding procedures. Strong Administration skills and understanding of compliant behaviours also, experience of supporting. With good knowledge of the criminal justice system and awareness of other support provisions within the Hampshire area.

How to apply:

Please apply with a copy of your CV and a cover letter through our careers site.

Closing date: 21st December 2025

Interviews will take place on a rolling basis.

*Advance reserves the right to close the advert early, or on the appointment of a candidate

What we can offer you - Employee Benefits:

• A 35-hour working week
• An exceptional 30 days of paid holiday per year (pro rata for part time), PLUS public holidays on top (that's nearly 40 days paid holiday per year!)
• Additional days off to celebrate International Women’s Day, and for religious observance and moving home
• Perkbox - an employee discount platform where you can receive free rewards as well as take advantage of savings on clothes, groceries, travel, leisure and more
• Pension scheme
• Enhanced maternity/adoption provision
• Access to our Employee Assistance Programme
• Employee eye-care scheme
• Clinical supervision for front line staff and first line management roles
• Refer a Friend Scheme - £250 for each referral who passes probation
• Organisation wide away days
• Thorough induction and training
• Career development pathways

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Under the Equality Act 2010, we are required to make any reasonable adjustments. If you have a disability as defined under this act and/or have any additional needs please email our talent team and we will aim to make the necessary arrangements to accommodate your needs.

Diversity, Inclusion and Equal Opportunities

We are committed to providing equality of opportunity and actively seek to recruit people from groups underrepresented in our current team. We have policies and processes in place to ensure that all employees are offered an equal opportunity in recruitment and selection, promotion, training, pay and benefits.

Safeguarding

Advance is committed to safeguarding and creating a culture of zero-tolerance of harm and expects all staff, including volunteers to share this commitment. We believe all individuals have the right to live their life free from violence and abuse and the right to feel and be safe. We have a suite of safeguarding policies, procedures and practice guidance, accessible to all staff, which promotes safeguarding and safer working practices across all our services and activities. When we recruit staff, we follow rigorous safer recruitment practices, this involves carrying out pre-employment checks including references, Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks, and identity checks. We ensure all staff undertake mandatory safeguarding training relevant to their role and responsibilities, to empower them to be competent and feel confident in recognising and responding appropriately to safeguarding issues and promote wellbeing.

Hillside Clubhouse is looking for an Executive Director to champion its vision for inclusive, co-produced mental health and employment support.

Applications close at 9 a.m. Wednesday 7th January.

Who we are

Hillside Clubhouse is a co-produced mental health charity supporting people with severe mental illness and more common mental health conditions across Islington. With over half of the staff team bringing lived experience, members play an integral role in shaping the organisation. Hillside provides a wide range of recovery, well-being and employment services, including its Clubhouse activities, commercial kitchen and social enterprises, alongside IPS, Employment Advisors in Talking Therapies and IAG support. They are committed to tackling stigma, promoting equity and creating a community where people’s skills, strengths and aspirations are always recognised and valued.

About the role

The Executive Director will be a values-driven leader, able to guide Hillside Clubhouse through its next phase of development and ensure that co-production, equity and lived experience remain fully embedded in their work. The new Executive Director will refresh Hillside’s strategy, identifying new opportunities for development whilst ensuring that member voices are at the heart of all major decisions. This role requires a balance of visionary leadership and an agile, diplomatic mindset that remains responsive to the evolving needs of members.

A central priority for the incoming Executive Director will be business development. They will have the ability to secure and diversify income streams, strengthening existing partnerships and identifying new opportunities. Hillside is looking for an innovative leader who can find areas for growth that align with their value-driven approach. A key focus area for the incoming Executive Director will be developing a fundraising strategy that ensures the long-term viability of the organisation.

The Executive Director will be responsible for amplifying Hillside’s presence externally, developing strong relationships in Islington and across London. As an outward-facing leader, the post-holder will have a deep understanding of the health and social care landscape, with the ability to develop Hillside’s relationships with key commissioners, funders and partners. Remaining receptive to

the experiences of members and frontline staff, the Executive Director will channel the voice of Hillside’s community, allowing them to shape the services that are delivered within Hillside and beyond.

Hillside is looking for a visible, approachable Executive Director with a strong presence in the Clubhouse environment, a relational leader who can forge connections with members and the wider team. The Director will also have a robust understanding of charity governance and the ability to build a strong relationship with the Board.

Please click 'Redirect to recruiter’ to be redirected to the Peridot Partners website, where you can find full details of the job description and register your interest to apply.

Applications for this role close at 9 a.m. Wednesday 7th January.

These are innovative roles to develop social prescribing in the local NHS. Based in one of the six Primary Care Networks (PCN) you will work in different GP practices across that Network to deliver their specific priorities. You will join a team of ten Social Prescribing Link Workers working in Haringey PCNs and be part of a wider community-based Borough team which offers information, signposting and short-term support across the eight localities in Haringey.

Social prescribing empowers people to take control of their health and wellbeing through referral to non-medical Social Prescribing Link Workers, who give time, focus on ‘what matters to me’ and take a holistic approach, connecting people to community groups and statutory services for practical and emotional support.

Social prescribing can help to strengthen community resilience and personal resilience and reduces health inequalities by addressing the wider determinants of health, such as debt, poor housing and physical inactivity, by increasing people’s active involvement with their local communities. It particularly works for people with long-term conditions (including support for mental health), for people who are lonely or isolated, or have complex social needs which affect their wellbeing.
At the centre of the social prescribing process is the Social Prescribing Link Worker, working with GP Practices in a Primary Care Network, who connects patients who are referred to a range of activities and services in the local area depending on their needs, interests and capacity for engagement. This is a complex role as the SPLW will need to have good interpersonal skills to engage with the patient and have a comprehensive knowledge of the services and activities available in the local area.

Nacro is looking for a committed and politically astute Policy & Public Affairs Officer – Criminal Justice to play a key role in delivering our influencing strategy. You will help shape Nacro’s policy positions on criminal justice issues and deliver proactive and reactive public affairs activity that drives meaningful change for the people we support.

This is an exciting opportunity for someone passionate about social justice, who understands the political landscape and is confident producing high-quality policy materials, engaging with parliamentarians, and representing Nacro externally.

 

Key Responsibilities

Policy Development

• Monitor and analyse political and policy developments in criminal justice to identify trends, opportunities, and risks.
• Work with service users, staff, and research colleagues to develop evidence-based policy positions.
• Produce high-quality policy briefings, reports, and consultation responses.
• Serve as Nacro’s internal expert on criminal justice policy.
   

Public Affairs & Influencing

• Develop and deliver a public affairs plan that advances Nacro’s influencing objectives.
• Build and maintain productive relationships with parliamentarians, policymakers, and regional decision-makers.
• Attend and represent Nacro at APPGs, parliamentary meetings, and external events.
• Produce parliamentary briefings and contribute to legislative engagement.
• Organise and coordinate parliamentary and stakeholder events that support influencing goals.
• Work collaboratively with partners across the sector to strengthen joint advocacy.
   

Communications & Support

• Provide content for media statements, blogs, and external communications.
• Prepare briefings for senior leaders including the Head of Policy & Public Affairs, Director of Engagement & Impact, and CEO.
• Support wider Nacro campaigns and influencing work as required.
   

Professional & Technical Expertise

• Strong knowledge of criminal justice policy.
• In-depth understanding of Westminster, Whitehall, and political processes.
• Experience designing and delivering effective public affairs activity.
• Demonstrated ability to influence decision-makers.
• Experience working with parliamentarians and developing strong relationships.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with experience producing policy and campaign materials.
• Strong political awareness and the ability to anticipate developments.
   

Organisational Performance & Compliance

• Commit to personal learning and development through supervision and appraisal.
• Positively promote Nacro and contribute to an integrated, collaborative team culture focused on supporting service users and students.
• Adhere to safeguarding, data protection, and statutory responsibilities.
• Uphold and promote Nacro’s Equality and Diversity Policy.
• Report any health and safety concerns within your area.
• Demonstrate professional behaviour aligned with Nacro’s values.
  
   

Why Join Nacro?

We believe that everyone deserves a good education, a safe and secure place to live, the right to be heard, and the chance to start again, with support from someone on their side.

That’s why our housing, education, justice, and health and wellbeing services work alongside people to give them the support and skills they need to succeed. And it’s why we fight for their voices to be heard and campaign together to create lasting change.

We see your future, whatever the past.

If you’re passionate about driving change, skilled at navigating political environments, and eager to develop your policy and influencing expertise - we’d love to hear from you.

Apply now and help shape a fairer future.

This is an opportunity to lead a varied and meaningful engagement and volunteering portfolio within a small, supportive charity. You’ll support and develop volunteers, build relationships with community partners, and coordinate public engagement activities to ensure that people’s voices shape local health and care services. If you’re looking for a role where your work has real purpose, where you can grow your skills and where new ideas are genuinely welcomed, we’d love to hear from you.

Policy Specialist (children and young people)

Are you interested in improving the lives of children and young people with a learning disability? Can you turn complex ideas into evidence-based policy? Are you a skilled communicator able to influence decision-makers? If so, we would love to hear from you!

We are currently looking for a Policy Specialist to join Mencap. This position sits within the Policy and Public Affairs teams of Mencap’s Campaigns, Advocacy and Activism Directorate (CAA). You will work closely with our influencing, information and advice, campaigning, and research work, as well as sector partners like the Disabled Children's Partnership.

This is an exciting new role to deliver policy change and enhance the rights of children and young people with a learning disability. At a key time to influence Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) education reform, we are seeking a policy specialist to shape policy work that reflects the needs and experiences of children, young people, and their families. Working within the policy team, you will be responsible for developing evidence-based policy work and influencing decision-makers. 

This is a full time position (37.5 hours per week). We are flexible with your work location, but there may be some occasional travel needed to our London office or Westminster.

You will:

· Translate complex work into clear and persuasive policy briefings, consultation responses and reports.

· Work within wider coalitions of charities, building collaborative relationships and ensuring that the needs and priorities of our community are addressed.

· Develop and expand Mencap’s ‘Policy Shapers’ work, ensuring our work reflects the experiences of children and young people with a learning disability and their families.

· Support our information and advice team, briefing them on important developments, inputting into casework discussions relevant to your areas of work, and supporting the creation of public information resources.

· Represent Mencap at meetings and events, with MPs, civil servants, and sector partners.

· Identify and analyse relevant research to develop evidence-based policy recommendations.

You will bring to this role:

· Experience of working on public policy issues.

· Strong communication skills: experience tailoring your messaging to a variety of different audiences and representing an organisation.

· Experience building positive relationships and working collaboratively to achieve outcomes; able to positively challenge, negotiate and compromise.

· The ability to work on your own initiative while contributing to team priorities and sustain enthusiasm under pressure.

· Experience analysing evidence to develop recommendations.

· Knowledge the issues facing children and young people with a learning disability and/or the SEND system, as well as the wider parliamentary system.

· Passion about making the world a better place for people with a learning disability.

If you're passionate about driving meaningful change for children and young people with a learning disability and you're ready to use your policy expertise to make a real impact, please apply now with an up-to-date CV. This advert has been extended and will now close on Sunday, 4th January, 2026. Interviews are scheduled to take place via Microsoft Teams during the week commencing 12th January 2026.

Benefits

Here at Mencap, we offer an impressive range of benefits designed to support and reward our employees to ensure that our teams feel valued and appreciated.

Our benefits package offers 32 days of paid holiday (including bank holidays, pro rata), along with a range of perks such as discounts at leading high-street retailers, access to health cash plans, interest-free loans, and many more exciting offerings.

For more details on what we have to offer, please see the attached document outlining all the fantastic benefits available to you as a member of our team!

About Mencap

Our vision is for the UK to be the best place in the world for people with a learning disability to live happy and healthy lives.

We're here to support people with a learning disability, their families and their carers. We fight for a kinder, fairer and more inclusive society for people with a learning disability to live in.

At Mencap, everyone works with people with a learning disability either providing support or advice, or alongside one another as colleagues.

Belonging at Mencap is for everyone, every day, everywhere.

· Everyone is expected to treat people well and make Mencap an inclusive organisation.

· Every day we grow and learn. It’s okay to make mistakes but we learn from them and make changes

· Everywhere people will feel respected, valued, and safe to be themselves.

We have Belonging network groups that meet online and are open to all colleagues. The groups include people who identify as Black and Asian, LGBTQIA+, disabled or with a long- term health condition, women, parents and carers, and their allies.

We want to encourage everyone to apply to work at Mencap and we offer a variety of different contract types and working patterns. We’re not looking for specific experience. It is your personality and values that will make you a great colleague. We will train and develop you to succeed in the role you’re applying for.

Why this role exists

We deliver practical legal support that changes lives. To grow responsibly, we need a COO to build operational excellence and keep systems ready to scale.

What you will lead

• Financial leadership — Build, manage and monitor the annual budget; lead forecasting and cashflow; produce reports; oversee accounting, payments, payroll and invoicing; maintain strong controls and compliance; track restricted funds; support grant bids and donor reporting.

• Day-to-day operations — Maintain efficient systems across casework, admin and volunteers; design policies, SOPs and QA; oversee IT, digital tools and case management; ensure GDPR-compliant data handling; lead operational responses to risk and regulation.

• Strategy and organisational development — Work with the Executive Director on strategy; lead service development, scaling projects and national expansion; improve volunteer pathways, client experience and internal processes; provide data-driven insight for the Board.

• People, volunteers and HR — Support recruitment, onboarding and retention; develop clear HR processes and documentation; ensure supervision, wellbeing and safeguarding frameworks.

• Governance, risk and compliance — Manage risk registers and mitigation plans; lead internal audits and quality reviews; prepare Board papers; ensure compliance with legal, regulatory and charity requirements.

You’ll thrive here if you show

• Ownership and follow-through: you take responsibility and land the work.

• Planning under pressure: you bring order, rhythm and clarity.

• Bold, informed judgement: you improve systems based on evidence, not habit.

• Entrepreneurial drive: you simplify, standardise and scale what works.

• Inclusive practice: you design operations that are easier to use and safer to deliver.

• Clear communication: you turn complexity into simple actions and updates.

• Team-building and collaboration: you help staff and volunteers succeed together.

• Constant learning: you refine processes and leave usable documentation.

What you will bring

• Significant operational leadership in a non-profit, legal, community or mission-driven setting.

• Strong financial management across budgeting, forecasting, reporting and controls.

• Ability to build robust systems in a small but scaling organisation.

• Strategic, organised and analytical working style.

• Confident people leadership and clear communication.

• Understanding of governance, safeguarding, risk and regulatory compliance.

• Commitment to trans equality, dignity and client-centred practice.

Helpful extras

• Experience in legal services or legal operations.

• Managing grants or donor-funded programmes.

• Experience scaling an organisation or building new infrastructure.

• Knowledge of trans community needs and support services.

Practicalities

• Hours: part time, with occasional evenings or weekends around live moments.

• Location: Central London base with sensible hybrid flexibility.

• Reporting line: Executive Director.

• Salary: based on experience and time commitment.

The Co-Founders Mindset

We are building a trans rights revolution at the Trans Legal Clinic. We deliver work that changes outcomes for people, case by case and system by system. That calls for a particular mindset. We call it the co-founder mindset. Co-founders take the mission personally, set the pace, turn ideas into working services and campaigns, bring others with them, and make change you can point to. Co-founders are entrepreneurial: they spot openings others miss, move decisively, and create momentum. Co-founders build teams, drawing in volunteers who believe in our mission, care deeply about our clients, enjoy working with us, and keep one another going. Co-founders are bold: they are willing to innovate, to be first, and to change the status quo; they check the source, avoid assumptions, solve problems, make firm, collaborative, evidence-based decisions, and take responsibility for results. Co-founders are pioneers. If you want responsibility, pace, and the chance to pioneer new routes to justice and public impact, this is the place to build your career.

Our Recruitment Criteria

Ownership and follow-through

You are a self-starter who owns tasks and takes responsibility without waiting to be asked. You carry your work through to a tangible result. You define the problem, set a course, keep the right people informed, and deliver what you said you would.

Bold, informed judgement

You are willing to change accepted practice when the evidence supports it. You check primary sources rather than rely on assumptions, weigh real options and risks, make a clear, evidence-based, collaborative decision, and stand behind it.

Entrepreneurial drive

You spot openings other people miss and turn ideas into useful services, processes or campaigns. You move decisively and get others working on the plan alongside you with clear roles and timelines.

Planning under pressure

You keep priorities straight when time is tight. You organise people and tasks, set simple checkpoints, communicate early when plans shift and always deliver.

Inclusive practice

You design work that is easier for others to take part in with people who face barriers in mind. You identify what is getting in the way, make practical changes that remove those barriers, and check the effect with the people involved.

Clear communication

You write and speak in plain English and adjust tone and detail to suit clients, volunteers, partners and the public. You choose the right format for the moment and make it easy for people to act on what you say. You like feedback, don’t get offended and see it as a chance to improve.

Team-building and collaboration

You bring people with you and help groups perform well together. You draw in volunteers who believe in the mission and care about our clients, set shared expectations, handle disagreements well, and leave relationships stronger.

Constant learning

You improve your own practice and the system around you. You reflect honestly on what worked and what did not, learn quickly, and turn that learning into simple tools or habits that make future work better.

• Team-building and collaboration: you lead creatives and volunteers well.

• Constant learning: you test, measure and iterate.

What you will bring

• A strong portfolio showing strategy-led creative across static, motion and copy.

• Three or more years in creative communications or campaigns (agency, newsroom, charity or in-house).

• Confident in Adobe Creative Cloud and either Figma or similar; comfortable with short-form video editing and basic motion.

• Platform literacy across Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok and YouTube, and working knowledge of analytics and paid promotion.

• Clear writing and an ear for tone; calm leadership and useable feedback.

• Sound judgement on reputation, privacy, GDPR and consent.

• Commitment to trans-led practice and the communities we serve.

Helpful extras

• Clinic or not-for-profit experience.

• Familiarity with gender recognition, healthcare advocacy, discrimination, housing and employment.

• Basic SEO and email automation.

Practicalities

• Hours: full time, with occasional evenings or weekends around live moments.

• Location: Central London base with sensible hybrid flexibility.

• Salary: £25,000.

• Reporting line: Executive Director.

The Co-Founders Mindset

We are building a trans rights revolution at the Trans Legal Clinic. We deliver work that changes outcomes for people, case by case and system by system. That calls for a particular mindset. We call it the co-founder mindset. Co-founders take the mission personally, set the pace, turn ideas into working services and campaigns, bring others with them, and make change you can point to. Co-founders are entrepreneurial: they spot openings others miss, move decisively, and create momentum. Co-founders build teams, drawing in volunteers who believe in our mission, care deeply about our clients, enjoy working with us, and keep one another going. Co-founders are bold: they are willing to innovate, to be first, and to change the status quo; they check the source, avoid assumptions, solve problems, make firm, collaborative, evidence-based decisions, and take responsibility for results. Co-founders are pioneers. If you want responsibility, pace, and the chance to pioneer new routes to justice and public impact, this is the place to build your career.

Our Recruitment Criteria

Ownership and follow-through

You are a self-starter who owns tasks and takes responsibility without waiting to be asked. You carry your work through to a tangible result. You define the problem, set a course, keep the right people informed, and deliver what you said you would.

Bold, informed judgement

You are willing to change accepted practice when the evidence supports it. You check primary sources rather than rely on assumptions, weigh real options and risks, make a clear, evidence-based, collaborative decision, and stand behind it.

Entrepreneurial drive

You spot openings other people miss and turn ideas into useful services, processes or campaigns. You move decisively and get others working on the plan alongside you with clear roles and timelines.

Planning under pressure

You keep priorities straight when time is tight. You organise people and tasks, set simple checkpoints, communicate early when plans shift and always deliver.

Inclusive practice

You design work that is easier for others to take part in with people who face barriers in mind. You identify what is getting in the way, make practical changes that remove those barriers, and check the effect with the people involved.

Clear communication

You write and speak in plain English and adjust tone and detail to suit clients, volunteers, partners and the public. You choose the right format for the moment and make it easy for people to act on what you say. You like feedback, don’t get offended and see it as a chance to improve.

Team-building and collaboration

You bring people with you and help groups perform well together. You draw in volunteers who believe in the mission and care about our clients, set shared expectations, handle disagreements well, and leave relationships stronger.

Constant learning

You improve your own practice and the system around you. You reflect honestly on what worked and what did not, learn quickly, and turn that learning into simple tools or habits that make future work better.

READY TO HELP BUILD SOMETHING THAT MAKES A DIFFERENCE?

LOOKING FOR AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN AND GROW WITH A START-UP?

WE’RE RECRUITING AN ASSISTANT TO THE FOUNDER…

Can Do is a start-up using digital technology to create social change. We work across addiction, mental health, homelessness, poverty and justice to help people access the support they need.

We are looking for an assistant to work closely with founder Mark Johnson. This is a hands-on role which could be for someone early in their career who wants a chance to learn, take on real responsibility, and be part of building something meaningful. It will suit someone who is organised, curious, and keen to develop.

This is a varied role in a start-up environment. Things are still being built, processes are developing, and we need someone who brings order, accuracy, and a calm, positive attitude.

We’re looking for someone who:

• Has strong academic ability and can pick things up quickly
• Is organised, meticulous, and takes pride in keeping things in order
• Is interested in social justice and wants to understand our sector
• Has an open, willing attitude to learn and develop
• Can use digital and AI tools to simplify tasks
• Communicates clearly and can write simple, accurate notes and emails
• Is based in the South of England and willing to travel

This role may not be the right fit if:

• You prefer large, structured organisations with established systems
• You are mainly looking for visibility, status, or a defined career track
• You are not comfortable with varied tasks or learning as you go

WHAT YOU’LL DO

• Communication support: Draft emails, prepare short notes, and help keep Mark up to date with actions and priorities
• Organisation: Keep diaries, documents, and information in meticulous order
• Meeting support: Join conversations, take clear notes, track actions, and ensure follow-up happens
• Research: Collect short summaries, stats, and key information about our sector (addiction, mental health, homelessness, poverty, justice)
• Fundraising and bids: Assist with drafting, formatting, and preparing proposals and applications
• Documentation: Prepare simple business cases, summaries, or briefing papers
• Operations: Support basic bookkeeping tasks, receipts, and expense organisation
• Learning and development: Take on a variety of new tasks as skills grow

EQUALITY & DIVERSITY.

Can Do welcomes applications from people with lived experience of social challenges. We are committed to ensuring diversity and inclusion in our recruitment process and workplace culture.

Chief Campaigns and Creative Officer (£25,000)

Central London | 32 Hours Per Week | Reports to Executive Director

Why this role exists

The Trans Legal Clinic turns frontline legal work into change people can feel. We need a senior creative lead to set the look, sound and pace of our public work, run audience-led campaigns and make complex issues clear and actionable.

What you will lead

· Creative direction: Own visual identity, tone of voice and message architecture across print, digital and events.

· Campaigns that move people: Plan and deliver campaigns across our pillars: client rights, systems change, fundraising and recruitment. Turn data and casework insights into creative that lands.

· Social media and content: Own the calendar. Ship platform-specific posts, threads, carousels, short video and email. Moderate comments with care for community safety.

· Rapid response: Prepare toolkits and holding lines for breaking stories. Coordinate with legal and policy colleagues.

· Production: Brief, storyboard, shoot or commission. Edit to deadline. Manage freelancers and suppliers. Keep files, rights and releases in order.

· Accessibility and inclusion: Bake accessibility into everything: captions, alt text, readable layouts and plain language.

· Measurement and learning: Set goals, define KPIs, track performance and share honest learnings. Improve what works, stop what does not.

· Internal enablement: Build a tidy brand kit, templates and guidance so the team can self-serve without diluting quality. Train staff and volunteers.

· Workflow: Keep projects moving with clear briefs, timelines and approvals.

You’ll thrive here if you show

· Entrepreneurial drive: you turn strategy into finished creative and campaigns.

· Ownership and follow-through: you run work end to end and land it.

· Bold, informed judgement: you try new formats and back choices with evidence.

· Clear communication: you write clean copy and match tone to audience.

· Inclusive practice: you build accessibility and safety into content as standard.

· Planning under pressure: you manage live moments without losing quality.

· Team-building and collaboration: you lead creatives and volunteers well.

· Constant learning: you test, measure and iterate.

What you will bring

· A strong portfolio showing strategy-led creative across static, motion and copy.

· Confident in canva or similar. Comfortable with short-form video editing and basic motion.

· Platform literacy across Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok and YouTube. Working knowledge of analytics and paid promotion.

· Clear writing and an ear for tone.

· Calm leadership and useable feedback.

· Sound judgement on reputation, privacy, GDPR and consent.

· Commitment to trans-led practice and the communities we serve.

Helpful extras

• not-for-profit experience
• Familiarity with gender recognition, healthcare advocacy, discrimination, housing and employment
• Basic SEO and email automation.

Practicalities

· Hours: 32 Hours per week

· Location: Central London

· Salary: £25,000.

What We Look For

The Co-founders Mindset

At the Trans Legal Clinic we are building a Trans+ rights revolution; our mission is Trans Liberation. That means access to justice for Trans & Non-binary people everywhere. We deliver work that changes outcomes for people, case by case and system by system. That calls for a particular mindset. We call it the co-founder mindset. Co-founders take the mission personally, set the pace, turn ideas into working services and campaigns, bring others with them, and make change you can point to. Co-founders are entrepreneurial: they spot openings others miss, move decisively, and create momentum. Co-founders build teams, drawing in volunteers who believe in our mission, care deeply about our clients, enjoy working with us, and keep one another going. Co-founders are bold: they are willing to innovate, to be first, and to change the status quo; they check the source, avoid assumptions, solve problems, make firm, collaborative, evidence-based decisions, and take responsibility for results. Co-founders are pioneers. If you want responsibility, pace, and the chance to trailblazer new routes to justice and public impact, this is the place to build your career.

We select candidates based on their performance in 8 areas;

1. Ownership and follow-through

You are a self-starter who owns tasks and takes responsibility without waiting to be asked. You carry your work through to a tangible result. You define the problem, set a course, keep the right people informed, and deliver what you said you would.

2. Bold, informed judgement

You are willing to change accepted practice when the evidence supports it. You check primary sources rather than rely on assumptions, weigh real options and risks, make a clear, evidence-based, collaborative decision, and stand behind it.

3. Entrepreneurial drive

You spot openings other people miss and turn ideas into useful services, processes or campaigns. You move decisively and get others working on the plan alongside you with clear roles and timelines.

4. Planning under pressure

You keep priorities straight when time is tight. You organise people and tasks, set simple checkpoints, communicate early when plans shift and always deliver.

5. Inclusive practice

You strive to make everything you create accessible to others, designing work that is easier for others to take part in, with people who face barriers always in mind. You identify what is getting in the way, make practical changes that remove those barriers, and check the effect with the people involved.

6. Clear communication

You write and speak in plain terms and adjust tone and detail to suit clients, volunteers, partners and the public. You choose the right format for the moment and make it easy for people to act on what you say. You like feedback, don’t get offended and see it as a chance to improve.

7. Team-building and collaboration

You bring people with you and help groups perform well together. You draw in volunteers who believe in the mission and care about our clients, set shared expectations, handle disagreements well, and leave relationships stronger.

8. Constant learning

You improve your own practice and the system around you. You reflect honestly on what worked and what did not, learn quickly, and turn that learning into simple tools or habits that make future work better.

These eight criteria are what we look for. Use them to decide whether this is the right place for you and to shape the examples you share in your application.