Advocate jobs in Islington, greater london
Want more results?
Add job titles:
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
Hours: 37.5 hours per week (negotiable and could be job share).
Contract: Fixed-term until 31.03.27.
Location: Hertfordshire - Working from home with options to work within local authority co-located spaces and expectations that there will be regular travel across the county to SafeLives offices in London & Bristol plus other locations across the UK as required.
Benefits: Travel expenses and subsistence provided for travel away from home, 25 days annual leave + bank holidays, contributory pension scheme, access to Employee Assistance Programme, childcare voucher and cycle to work scheme.
Hertfordshire County Council (hereby, The Council) and the Hertfordshire Domestic Abuse and Violence Against Women and Girls Partnership (hereby, the Partnership) are committed to strengthening the response to domestic abuse across the county. It is their ambition that anyone subjected to domestic abuse has access to right support for them, at the right time. The Council believe that those with lived experience, who may also have experience of using services, should have a say in how they are designed, developed, and commissioned.
The existing Co-Production Panel forms part of the Partnership’s governance structure, acting as a critical friend across the Partnership and supporting the delivery of the County’s Partnership Hertfordshire Domestic Abuse Strategy 2022-2025. The full Hertfordshire Domestic Abuse Strategy and Strategy Plan on a Page are published on the Domestic abuse posters, leaflets and strategy section of the Herts Sunflower Website.
SafeLives have been commissioned to facilitate the Partnership’s Co-Production Panel and support the development of a network of survivors with lived experience of domestic abuse in Hertfordshire, through their Authentic Voice practice model.
Key purpose of role:
- To truly transform the response to domestic abuse, we must place the experience of survivors at the heart of everything we do.
- Supporting the organisational commitment of SafeLives, and that of the Partnership, to Authentic Voice.
- Working within the Innovation team and alongside the Partnership to develop an influential panel, a powerful approach to gathering and amplifying survivor voices, challenging ‘them and us’ attitudes, you will have the skills and values to support and engage with survivors of domestic abuse.
- Coordinating the implementation of the Authentic Voice principles, embedding co-creation throughout the work of the Partnership.
- Establishing creative ways to reach out to survivors across Hertfordshire including those who have increased vulnerability or multiple disadvantage, those who are marginalised and others who have not yet found their voice.
- Ensuring all who want to have their voice heard, are heard and that what we learn from their lived experience shapes the response to domestic abuse in Hertfordshire and nationally.
- Demonstrating the value of expertise by experience to influence all stakeholders, breaking down perceptions of ‘them and us’ and uniting voices of experts by experience to keep families safe and end domestic abuse.
Further information about the role can be found in the Job Description which includes the Person Specification.
If you believe you have the qualities we have described, please take a look over the full job description and submit your 500-word cover letter and CV.
Closing date: 9.00am on 12th January 2026.
Interviews: w/c 12th January 2026.
As part of our commitment to become a Disability Confident Committed employer we are happy to accept alternative applications such as video, voice note etc
Please note that SafeLives reserves the right to close campaigns early if we receive a high volume of applications. To ensure your application is considered, we encourage you to apply as soon as possible, as no further applications will be accepted once the recruitment campaign has closed.
This role is offered on a full-time basis (37.5 hours, 5 days per week), but we’re also open to applications from candidates who would like to work part-time (4 days / 80%).
Start date: We’re hoping for someone who can join us as soon as possible, though we can offer some flexibility for the right candidate.
If you’re passionate about securing justice and protection for the world’s most vulnerable children, thrive in political environment, and have the skills to build powerful advocacy movements, this is your opportunity to lead bold and impactful advocacy at War Child UK.
As our Advocacy Lead, you’ll play a key role in driving for children affected by conflict. This is an opportunity to be at the forefront of influencing the UK Government, ensuring that decision-makers take meaningful action to protect and support children globally affected by war and conflict.
You’ll lead War Child UK’s political engagement, forging influential relationships with MPs, civil servants, think tanks and parliamentary groups, ensuring that children’s voices are heard where it matters most. It’s essential that you’re skilled at building and managing long-term relationships with senior parliamentarians, influencing policymakers, and engaging government officials to drive meaningful policy change. With a strategic approach, you’ll mobilise cross-party support, help shape public campaigns to mobilise public action and support and push for tangible action and increased resources for children in conflict zones.
Working alongside a committed and high-performing team, you’ll ensure that War Child UK’s policy and advocacy priorities resonate across government, parliament, the media, social channels and the wider public.
This role offers an incredible platform to make a tangible difference at a time of unprecedented need. Join us in standing up for children affected by war and help create a future where no child’s life is torn apart by conflict.
Below are some of the experiences and qualities we’re looking for. You can read the full job advert on our website.
- A track record of delivering tangible outcomes in advocacy, public affairs, particularly within the UK Government and Parliament, ideally within an international development and/or humanitarian context.
- Demonstrable examples of building and managing long term relationships with senior parliamentarians and engaging and influencing policymakers, government officials, and other MPs to achieve policy change.
- A record of creating ambitious advocacy strategies that tangibly advance organisational objectives.
- Experience of successfully engaging with Parliamentarians from across the political spectrum to secure speeches in parliament, interventions, oral and written questions, EDMs, secure debates and other parliamentary procedures.
- Strong understanding of UK political systems, parliamentary processes, and key government departments (e.g., FCDO, Home Office, MOD).
- Demonstrated ability to build strategic relationships with civil society organisations, coalitions, and political stakeholders.
- Experience working on public campaigns to further advocacy objectives.
What we can offer you
At War Child, we genuinely value different ways of working. From day one, we’re open to discussing flexible options, including hybrid working and flexible hours. Our goal is to support our employees to do their best work while ensuring we continue to deliver for children affected by conflict. Some of our benefits include:
- Flexible working culture and flexible public holidays 28 days annual leave (pro-rata), plus bank holidays, which increases by one day per year on your work anniversary, up to a maximum of 33 days.
- Pension - 5% employer contribution (increasing to 6% after one year’s service), with minimum employee contribution.
- Health and wellbeing - employees may take advantage of a healthcare cash plan, a GP 24/7 helpline, cancer cover, and a range of wellbeing initiatives and training.
- All employees have access to free, confidential one-to-one wellbeing consultations with trained counsellors.
This role offers an incredible opportunity to make a tangible difference at a time of unprecedented need. Join us in standing up for children affected by war and help create a future where no child’s life is torn apart by conflict.
No child should be a part of war. Ever.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
We are looking for a proactive and compassionate Independent Domestic & Sexual Violence Advocate (IDSVA) to support victims and survivors of domestic abuse within a hospital setting in conjunction with Sexual Health London. This role is full-time to on a temporary contract. The role is based at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital along with some working from the Victim Support office in Old Street and some home working.
What we offer
At Victim Support, we are committed to attracting and retaining the best talent. Our competitive rewards and benefits package includes:
- Flexible Working Options: Including hybrid working.
- Generous Annual Leave: 28 days plus Bank Holidays, increasing to 33 days plus Bank Holidays, with options to buy or sell annual leave.
- Birthday Leave: An extra day off for your birthday.
- Pension Plan: 5% employer contribution.
- Enhanced Allowances: Enhanced sick pay, maternity, and paternity payments.
- Exclusive Discounts: High Street, retail, holiday, gym, entertainment, and leisure discounts.
- Financial Wellbeing: Access to our financial wellbeing hub and salary-deducted finance.
- Wellbeing Support: Employee assistance programme and wellbeing support.
- Inclusive Networks: Access to EDI networks and colleague cafes.
- Sustainable Travel: Cycle to work scheme and season ticket loans.
- Career Development: Ongoing training and support with opportunities for career progression.
About the Role
As an Independent Domestic & Sexual Violence Advocate you will provide pro-active, high quality, frontline service to victims of domestic and sexual abuse through on-going risk assessment, providing individual safety planning, trauma-informed support, guidance, information, and advocacy and enabling victim/survivors to access the services they need in the aftermath of the abuse and trauma they have experienced.
You will work within a hospital setting to support both patients and staff. You will make initial contact with victims of domestic and sexual abuse, explaining our services and assessing the impact of crime, or receive referrals from colleagues, in order to provide on-going support and case management. Support could include empowering the client to report to the police, accessing Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) services, and specialist support such as pretrial therapy and sexual violence counselling.
Key Responsibilities:
- Assess risks and needs using evidence-based checklists.
- Focus on high-risk cases with short to medium-term crisis intervention.
- Assist high-risk victims in accessing safety services.
- Deliver tailored support and information.
- Understand legal frameworks for protecting children and vulnerable adults.
- Provide advocacy on legal, housing, health, and financial options.
- Empower clients to recognize domestic abuse dynamics.
- Participate in Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conferences (MARAC).
- Work with a team to deliver respectful, dignified, and sensitive services.
- Maintain accurate and confidential case records.
- Comply with data protection laws and organizational policies.
- Stay updated with procedures, policies, and professional codes.
About You:
Ideally, you will have knowledge about legal remedies for domestic abuse victims and have experience working with drug, alcohol, and mental health issues. An understanding of benefits, housing, and homelessness would also be beneficial.
You will need:
- Strong understanding of domestic and sexual abuse and its impact.
- Demonstrate proficiency in English, both verbally and in writing.
- Experience in statutory, voluntary, or multi-agency settings.
- Competency in risk and needs assessment frameworks.
- Understanding of safeguarding issues.
- Direct service delivery experience to victims or vulnerable people.
- Ability to manage complex caseloads and prioritize work.
- Strong crisis management skills.
- Effective communication, negotiation, and advisory skills.
- Commitment to equal opportunities and diversity.
About Us:
Victim Support is an independent charity dedicated to supporting people affected by crime and traumatic incidents in England and Wales. We put them at the heart of our organisation and our support and campaigns are informed and shaped by them and their experiences.
Victim Support are committed to recruiting with care and to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Background checks and Disclosed Barring Service checks may be required.
At Victim Support, we're proud to celebrate diversity and create a workplace where everyone feels they belong. We're committed to being an antiracist organisation, and we actively welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, including those from Black and Asian and other minoritised communities.
As a Disability Confident Employer, we will offer an interview to disabled candidates who meet all essential criteria for a job where it is practicable to do so. We are also happy to make reasonable adjustments during the recruitment and selection process.
How to apply:
To apply for this role please follow the link below to the Jobs page on our website and complete the application form demonstrating how you meet the essential shortlisting criteria.
We reserve the right to close this vacancy early, if we receive enough suitable applications to take forward to interview prior to the published closing date. If you have already registered & started an application, then we will contact you to advise of the amended closing date wherever possible.
BACKGROUND
Ashiana started operating in 1989 and specialises in helping young women, aged 16 - 35 years, from South Asian, Middle Eastern & Iranian communities who are at risk of domestic violence and sexual violence.
OUR SERVICES
Ashiana runs three refuges with a total of 29 bed-spaces; specifically for women aged 16-35 fleeing forced marriage. This multi award winning project is the only service of its kind in the UK and is highly innovative in terms of addressing an area of significant need not met in other refuge provision. Within these refuges we designate a number of bedspaces for women with no recourse to public funds. We offer an advice and support service to women and girls who are experiencing VAWG (Violence against Women & Girls), enabling them to make informed decisions and exit abusive relationships. We provide counselling for women and girls affected by domestic violence and sexual violence. We also deliver an immigration service to women who have insecure immigration status with the aim to support them with access to specialist legal advice in order to resolve their immigration status. .. We deliver harmful practices training to professionals from the statutory and voluntary sector in addition to awareness raising workshops for women and girls in the community.
PRIMARY TASK
To be responsible, alongside the Management Committee, the Senior Management Team and other workers for the effective running of the Project, in accordance with Management Policy. Ensuring that it meets the needs of South Asian, Middle Eastern and Turkish women and girls who have been made homeless as a result of VAWG (Violence against Women & Girls).
Please see the attached the full job description
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Please note: this role carries a genuine occupational requirement that the postholder is Black or Minoritised Ethnic (African, Asian or Caribbean heritage). Please confirm this in writing in your application, and we will re-confirm this prior to finalising our shortlist for interview
This is a rare and exciting opportunity to join our sector-leading UK Voice and Influence Team, and work very closely with our brilliant SEEN Programme, as well as our Children's Services across the UK.
What this role will do
This role will have an important role in helping the charity deliver its strategic commitment to listening and responding to the voices and experiences of young people across the UK – and in particular the voices and experiences of Black or Minoritised Ethnic young people, who are often less-heard.
The role will promote a culture of inclusion and belonging by playing a leading role on delivering our ambition to:
build and support an engaged, diverse network of young people from across the UK who represent a broad range of identities and lived experiences, and who can speak out and work alongside Barnardo's.
Key tasks for this role
The role will:
- Lead on the recruitment, coordination and support of young people signed up to our B-Amplified Youth Network.
- Support our SEEN Young Ambassadors, and coordinate their engagement in the wider B-Amplified Network offer
- Act as a subject matter expert in voice and influence practice and anti-racism, working alongside our Children's Services as a critical friend to support the delivery of excellent and inclusive services.
More information is in the Additional Information Sheet attached to this advert.
Who we're looking for
We're looking for someone who has:
- At least five years' experience in a role working directly with children and/or young people in a health, social care, education or youth work setting – a youth and community work (or similar) qualification is desirable but not essential.
- Demonstrable knowledge experience of designing, delivering and evaluating strategic voice and influence activities with young people – particularly in online or virtual contexts.
- Knowledge and understanding of the practical application of anti-racist principles and practice.
- Experience of working across complex structures, hierarchies and partnerships, with experience of working with a range of stakeholders at different levels.
- Ability to plan, deliver and evaluate projects, collaboratively and effectively.
- Excellent collaboration, networking and partnership-working skills.
The successful candidate must also:
- Be of African, Asian, Caribbean heritage – this is a genuine occupational requirement, and an essential requirement, as noted above.
- Be able to travel across the UK on a regular basis, including overnight stays – living close to a national rail station and/or airport will be a significant benefit.
- Be able to work flexibly to accommodate direct work with young people outside of 'normal' hour (i.e. evenings and weekends) – for which TOIL can be claimed, or overtime hours in extraordinary circumstances.
Important to note:
We recognise the inherent power dynamics at play, and that the occupational requirement does not imply that the responsibility to ‘solve' the issue of diversity rests solely with a minoritised individual (or team). Instead, this role forms part of a wider, intentional commitment across the organisation to embed anti-racist and inclusive practice at every level and is why we have proposed a matrix management approach - to ensure the role is not siloed, but meaningfully supported and connected across teams.
A key focus will be to understand and address the structural and cultural barriers that children's services and internal teams may face when engaging with Black or Minoritised Ethnic young people.
When completing your application please refer to your skills knowledge and experience in relation to the Person Specification, Job Description and Additional Information document (if applicable). This should be done with an understanding of the context of the service described
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
AMR Action UK is the United Kingdom patient organisation for people impacted by antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Our legitimacy comes through our small-scale research projects, our engagement with patients and their families, and from our direct support of patients through our information service and peer-support activities.
AMR Action UK seeks to empower patient, families, and carers to have their voices heard on matters that affect their lives and to be able to influence research priorities, policy and implementation changes at government level, and changes in NHS practices across the four nations of the UK.
The Policy and Advocacy lead will ensure that AMR Action UK is both well-informed across the broad-spectrum of topics relating to AMR and is impactful in its influencing work.
To be successful in the role you will need energy and enthusiasm to hit the ground running in order to make an immediate impact on appointment.
Closing date 12th January 2026, with a view to holding interviews week beginning 19th January 2026.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Mind in Croydon is seeking to recruit a full time Independent Mental Health Advocate (IMHA) to join our small, dedicated team of Independent Mental Health Advocates working to provide advocacy services to adults subjected to detention under the Mental Health Act in the London Borough of Croydon to ensure they understand, express and exercise their rights, and to enable them to access essential services. The advocacy team also provides Community Mental Health Advocacy for people who are informal patients in psychiatric hospital or living in the community and provides weekly advocacy service at two InMind Healthcare Group hospitals in Croydon.
This role is suitable for a fully qualified Independent Mental Health Advocate (IMHA) with a proven ability to support people under the Mental Health Act. We are not considering trainee positions at this time.
In December 2024 the team was awarded the Quality Performance Mark in Advocacy, a testament to their quality of service providing safe and life-changing support.
SALARY: £30,404 per annum
plus pension contributions (above 4% by salary sacrifice)
REPORTS TO: Advocate Service Manager
TERM: Permanent, subject to funding, full time (36 hours pw)
BASED AT: Bethlem Royal Hospital, Beckenham BR3 3BX. Advocates are also required to meet clients at different sites throughout Croydon and neighbouring boroughs.
This role supports hybrid working. Other flexible arrangements can be discussed however please note that specific flexible working arrangements such as staggered hours may not be feasible due to operational constraints set by the Hospital.
To apply, please submit an up-to-date copy of your CV and a cover letter no longer than 2 A4 pages, outlining your reasons for applying and demonstrating how you meet the criteria set out in the person specification above.
Mind in Croydon is working to promote good mental health. It seeks to empower people to lead a full life as part of their local community.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Are you fiercely dedicated to Indigenous peoples’ rights, a fluent Spanish speaker, and ready to put your networking, analytical, and strategic skills to use as part of a dynamic international campaign team? Survival International is offering a rare opportunity to join our Research and Advocacy Department, working primarily on our campaigns for the rights of uncontacted Indigenous peoples in Spanish-speaking South America.
This is a chance to join a deeply committed Indigenous rights campaigning organisation that regularly takes on powerful targets and wins. We are looking for a creative, strategic and focused research and policy person to join us at either Officer or Assistant level. You can be part of combating the violent colonialism and land theft that is threatening Indigenous peoples worldwide – one of the most urgent crises of our time.
For further details and how to apply, please see the job description and application form. The application form is downloadable via the 'How to apply' button.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Circa £66,000 per annum
Permanent
Part home/Part office (London) based
UNICEF ensures more of the world’s children are vaccinated, educated and protected than any other organisation. We have done more to influence laws and policies to help protect children than anyone else. We get things done. And we’re not going to stop until the world is a safe place for all our children.
This is a great opportunity to join the UK Committee for UNICEF (UNICEF UK) as Head of UK Policy and Advocacy and shape and lead the direction of our child rights work in the UK.
In this role you will oversee our domestic/UK-facing child rights policy work with an overarching focus on improving early childhood outcomes and reducing disparities between children across the UK. You’ll be joining at an exciting time for the team as it develops the next phase of our cross-organisational Early Moments Matter campaign and deepens its policy influencing work through the production of new evidence, briefings and engagement across the sector and government departments. You will play an active role in the Advocacy Leadership Team, ensuring our work is underpinned by robust strategies and analysis, and is undertaken in a way that reflects our organisational values.
To succeed in this role, you will have an in-depth understanding and experience of policy-making processes and influencing strategies in the UK. You will have an excellent understanding of the policy context of child rights in the UK, and be able to translate that knowledge and expertise into support for team members to deliver ambitious change for children. You will be passionate about centering lived experience, and be able to lead the team in strengthening engagement of rightsholders in the development and delivery of our policy work.
Act now and visit the website via the apply button to apply online.
Closing date: 9am, Monday 19 January 2026.
Interview date: Week beginning 02 February 2026 via video conferencing (MS Teams).
In return, we offer:
· excellent pay and benefits (including flexible working, generous annual leave and pension, big brand discounts and wellbeing tools)
· outstanding training and learning opportunities and the support to flourish in your role
· impressive open plan office space and facilities on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park
· an open culture and workplace with colleagues who share our values, enjoy their work and are motivated to do their utmost for children.
· the opportunity to work in a leading children’s organisation making a difference to children around the world
Our application process: We use a system called "Applied" that anonymises your responses and focuses on your actual skills that are relevant to this role. This benefits you by giving you a greater chance of expressing your skills in this objective selection process.
We are gradually moving back to our offices on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in Stratford, East London and we anticipate most colleagues will work one or two days a week in the office and the rest of the time from home. We will happily discuss other flexible options to suit your circumstances.
We particularly welcome applications from black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates, LGBTQ+ candidates, disabled candidates, and from men, because we would like to increase the representation of these groups at this level at UNICEF UK. We want to do this because we know greater diversity will lead to even greater results for children.
UNICEF UK promotes equality, diversity and inclusion in our workplace. We make employment decisions by matching business needs with skills and experience of candidates, irrespective of age, disability (including hidden disabilities), gender, gender identity or gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, or sexual orientation.
We welcome a conversation about your flexible working requirements, personal growth, and promoting a workplace where you can be yourself and achieve success based only on your merit.
The successful candidate will be required to apply for a criminal records check. A criminal record will not necessarily bar you from working with us. This will depend on the nature of the role and the circumstances of your offences.
We only accept online applications as this saves us money, making more funds available for us to help ensure children’s rights.
If you require support in completing the online form or an application form in an alternative format, please contact the Supporter Care line during office hours.
If you do not hear from us within 14 days of the closing date, please assume your application has been unsuccessful on this occasion. Please note that we only provide feedback to shortlisted candidates.
Registered Charity Nos. 1072612 (England and Wales) SC043677 (Scotland)
The UK Committee for UNICEF (UNICEF UK), a charity funded by supporters, raising funds for UNICEF’s work for children.

We have an exciting opportunity for Independent Witness Advocates to join the Pre-trial witness support service, working 37.5 hours a week.
This role requires working from our Victim Support London office on Tuesday & 4 days home based, however travel to London courts will be required throughout the week to attend Pre-trial visits.
Do you want to make a difference every day? Do you want to contribute to change & improvement for those who need it?
Do you have resilience & adaptability? Can you work effectively with a focus on customer service and care?
If yes, then we'd love to hear from you…
What we offer:
At Victim Support we believe in attracting & retaining the best people and offer a competitive rewards & benefits package including:
- Flexible Working Options: Including hybrid working.
- Generous Annual Leave: 28 days plus Bank Holidays, increasing to 33 days plus Bank Holidays, with options to buy or sell annual leave.
- Birthday Leave: An extra day off for your birthday.
- Welcome Bonus: £500 on successful completion of probation period.
- Pension Plan: 5% employer contribution.
- Enhanced Allowances: Enhanced sick pay, maternity, and paternity payments.
- Exclusive Discounts: High Street, retail, holiday, gym, entertainment, and leisure discounts.
- Financial Wellbeing: Access to our financial wellbeing hub and salary-deducted finance.
- Wellbeing Support: Employee assistance programme and wellbeing support.
- Inclusive Networks: Access to EDI networks and colleague cafes.
- Sustainable Travel: Cycle to work scheme and season ticket loans.
- Career Development: Ongoing training and support with opportunities for career progression.
About the role:
These roles are offered on a hybrid working basis, 1 day per week from our London Singer Street office (every Tuesday). The remaining 4 days per week will be home-based but there will still be the requirement on these days to travel to London courts to deliver pre-trial visits. Therefore, it is essential the travel distance from surrounding counties outside of London is within 30 minutes to London.
As an Independent Witness Advocate you will:
- Lead on providing pre-trial, outreach & post-trial support for witnesses; ensuring their pre and post-trial needs are assessed and a plan for support is put in place so they can attend court to give their best evidence
- Provide advocacy, support in court, and emotional/practical support around their physical, mental, social or financial wellbeing
- Liaise with criminal justice partners to ensure witnesses are kept up to date with arrangements for attendance at court and where applicable, ensure special measures have been granted
- Provide practical and emotional support in a way that is approachable, flexible and caring, showing empathy at all times
- Need to be tenacious in support of your clients and being able to solve problems and surmount the challenges posed by the criminal justice system
Please see attached Job Description and Person Specification for further details.
About Us:
Victim Support is an independent charity dedicated to supporting people affected by crime and traumatic incidents in England and Wales. We put them at the heart of our organisation and our support and campaigns are informed and shaped by them and their experiences.
Victim Support are committed to recruiting with care and to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Background checks and Disclosed Barring Service checks may be required.
At Victim Support, we're proud to celebrate diversity and create a workplace where everyone feels they belong. We're committed to being an antiracist organisation, and we actively welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, including those from Black and Asian and other minoritised communities.
As a Disability Confident Employer, we will offer an interview to disabled candidates who meet all essential criteria for a job where it is practicable to do so. We are also happy to make reasonable adjustments during the recruitment and selection process.
How to apply:
To apply for this role please follow the link below to the Jobs page on our website and complete the application form demonstrating how you meet the essential shortlisting criteria.
We reserve the right to close this vacancy early, if we receive enough suitable applications to take forward to interview prior to the published closing date. If you have already registered & started an application, then we will contact you to advise of the amended closing date wherever possible.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
The Head of Policy and Advocacy will lead the strategic development and delivery of MCF’s policy, advocacy and research agenda.Join the UK’s leading network for Muslim-led charities, strengthening the capacity, voice and impact of nearly 300 organisations.
Job role: Head of Policy and Advocacy
Employer: Muslim Charities Forum
Salary:£42,000 – 45,000 per annum
Hours: Full-time, 35 hours per week (4 days office-based, 1 day hybrid/remote)
Position: Fixed Term Contract, 3 years.
Location: London SE1.Nearest stations Waterloo, Lambeth North
Closing date for applications:16th December 2025, 5.00pm or until a suitable candidate is identified.
About Muslim Charities Forum (MCF)
Muslim Charities Forum (MCF) is the UK’s leading network for Muslim-led charities, strengthening the capacity, voice and impact of nearly 300 organisations. Guided by our pillars of Support, Connect and Represent, we champion excellence, transparency and social justice through resources, capacity-building, research and advocacy.
We work to tackle structural and funding barriers, influence government, policymakers and the wider sector, and build a more sustainable, equitable Muslim-led charitable landscape. Through strategic partnerships and collaborations, we drive systemic change and amplify the contributions of Muslim-led organisations across society.
Role Purpose
The Head of Policy and Advocacy will lead the strategic development and delivery of MCF’s policy, advocacy and research agenda. The role involves shaping long-term strategy, building a robust evidence base, influencing government and policymakers, and representing MCF at senior levels across the charity, public and political sectors.
The postholder will engage proactively with central and local government, devolved authorities, and regional mayors, ensuring that the voices and experiences of Muslim-led organisations are represented in policy development and decision-making.
They will work collaboratively with MCF’s Communications, Partnerships, and Systemic Change and Sector Capacity teams to ensure a coordinated and strategic approach that delivers sustainable, long-term impact.
Key Responsibilities
1. Strategy and Leadership
-
Develop and deliver the next three-year Policy and Advocacy Strategy aligned with MCF’s organisational objectives.
-
Provide strategic advice to the CEO, Senior Leadership Team, and Board on policy opportunities and risks.
-
Lead and develop the Policy and Advocacy team, fostering a high-performing, inclusive and collaborative culture.
2. Policy, Research and Insight
-
Monitor and analyse UK policy and regulatory developments affecting Muslim-led civil society.
-
Oversee research, consultations and data-driven insight to inform MCF’s policy positions.
-
Produce high-quality policy outputs, including reports, consultation responses and position statements.
3. Influencing and Stakeholder Engagement
-
Lead MCF’s engagement with central government, local authorities, devolved administrations and regional mayors, as well as regulators and sector networks.
-
Build and maintain strategic relationships with ministers, parliamentarians, senior officials, think tanks and sector leaders.
-
Coordinate MCF’s public affairs activity, including roundtables, Select Committee and APPG engagement, and representation at high-level external forums.
-
Strengthen MCF’s profile as a credible and influential voice for Muslim-led civil society across all tiers of government and the voluntary sector.
4. Sector Capacity and Member Support
-
Engage MCF’s members and Muslim-led organisations in collective policy development and advocacy.
-
Design and deliver tools, training and resources to build members’ influencing capacity.
-
Identify and advocate for structural solutions to sector-wide challenges, including funding inequality, regulatory barriers and intersectional disadvantage.
5. Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting
-
Develop and implement frameworks to assess the effectiveness and impact of MCF’s policy and advocacy work.
-
Provide regular progress reports to the CEO.
-
Ensure compliance with charity law, lobbying and regulatory requirements.
Person Specification
Essential Criteria
-
Significant experience (5+ years) in senior policy, advocacy or influencing roles within the UK charity or voluntary sector.
-
Demonstrable success influencing government at national, local or devolved levels, achieving measurable policy or funding change.
-
Strong understanding of the UK charity policy, funding and regulatory environment.
-
Knowledge of the UK Muslim-led and/or faith-based civil society landscape.
-
Experience amplifying marginalised voices and embedding lived experience into policy and advocacy work.
-
Proven ability to lead teams and deliver organisational strategy.
-
Excellent analytical, written and verbal communication skills, with strong political acumen.
-
Commitment to social justice, equity and strengthening Muslim-led civil society.
Desirable Criteria
-
Experience working with Muslim-led, faith-based or minority-led organisations.
-
Understanding of intersectionality and its impact on underrepresented communities.
-
Experience of research collaboration with academic institutions or think tanks.
-
Proven track record in building partnerships for policy or advocacy initiatives.
Values and Behaviours
-
Strategic and forward-thinking leadership.
-
Collaborative and inclusive approach to diverse stakeholders.
-
Resilience and adaptability in complex, fast-changing environments.
-
Integrity and credibility in representing MCF and the wider sector.
-
Strong commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion.
-
Excellent communication skills, particularly in amplifying underrepresented voices.
Additional Information
This is a senior leadership position. Occasional evening or parliamentary activities may be required, along with UK-wide travel.
What We Offer
-
The opportunity to lead impactful change within one of the UK’s most dynamic faith-based networks.
-
A collaborative, inclusive, and supportive working environment.
-
Opportunities for professional growth, leadership, and innovation.
Application Information
To apply, please send a CV (no more than 2 pages) and a covering letter (max 1,000 words) explaining how you meet the essential criteria and your motivation and suitability for the post.
We are an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and are particularly keen to hear from candidates with lived experience of marginalisation and an understanding of Islamic ethos.
We reserve the right to withdraw this role once a suitable candidate is identified.
If you have not heard from us concerning your application within 6 weeks, please assume your application has been unsuccessful.
Interviews: Initial online short interview (stage 1), face-to-face in-office interview (stage 2).
No agencies.
UK residents only.Sponsorship is not possible for this post. References will be taken up prior to appointment including relevant ID checks.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Job Purpose:
To support the delivery of WIPs housing programme for unsentenced women, providing trauma-informed specialist support to women in HMP Bronzefield, and going through court processes, with a focus on improving housing outcomes for women affected by the criminal justice system.
Key Responsibility Areas
- To deliver an effective housing intervention for women impacted by the criminal justice system.
- To develop effective relationships with key stakeholders, such as housing departments, court-based and prison teams, to ensure a collaborative approach to women’s accommodation needs.
- To provide expert advice and support to colleagues, including upskilling through information and training sessions, and supporting system change activities.
For the full list of responsibilities, please download the recruitment pack.
Terms & Conditions:
Start date: 2nd February 2026
Salary:£30,640 per annum (including £3,990 London weighting)
Location: Primarily based in HMP Bronzefield with some travel to South London.
Working hours: 35 hours per week
Contract: Permanent
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.




