Apprenticeships communications assistant jobs

Imagine being told that you, or someone you love, is losing their sight. In that moment, two profound questions demand urgent answers:

· Can this be stopped?

· How will I live my life?

Currently, research into preventing and treating sight loss is chronically underfunded, receiving a mere 1.2% of publicly funded health research grants: people who are blind or vision impaired are three times more likely to experience loneliness and isolation than the general population.

We find and fund the brilliant minds and bright ideas that put change in sight. Our researchers are at the forefront, making breakthroughs and discoveries that will prevent, treat and cure eye disease. The partnerships we build and initiatives we support are changing life for blind and vision impaired people.

We are Fight for Sight: we won’t stop until we: Save Sight. Change Lives.

We have a clear ambition, led by our CEO, Keith Valentine, who has valuable lived experience of sight loss. We’ve secured well-respected and highly engaged ambassadors, such as Sir John Major and Frances Segelman.

We are now looking for experienced, committed, and creative individuals to join our dynamic team to help realise a new five-year growth strategy. You’ll be part of something impactful, we’d love to hear from you.                                                                           

As Assistant Donation Hub Manager, your primary purpose is to support the efficient and effective operation of our Donations Hub, ensuring that all incoming stock is sorted, processed, and distributed in line with the needs of our retail and ecommerce operations.

You will work closely with the Operations Manager to manage a complex and varied stock flow coming from multiple sources - including in-store donations, house clearances, home collections, corporate and community events, and direct drop-offs from the public. A key part of your role will be to ensure these donations are processed efficiently, assessed for maximum value, and appropriately segmented to drive income across our 14 shops and online platforms.

This is a highly practical and physical role that requires strong organisational skills and a deep understanding of operational logistics. You’ll be responsible for ensuring timely fulfilment of shop orders, maintaining high standards of stock quality by both sorting incoming donations from shops, allocating corporate donations and supporting the movement and dispatch of goods in a way that maximises efficiency and minimises waste.

You’ll lead day-to-day activities in the hub, supervising volunteers and working collaboratively with drivers to deliver an excellent internal service to shop teams. You will also act as a key support for community-facing donation activity - helping to deliver excellent service during home collections, managing local donor interactions at the warehouse, and assisting with the logistics of house clearances.

Flexibility will be vital, as the role will operate across a seven-day rota and may require you to deputise for the Operations Manager or drivers when needed. Experience in a charity retail setting, excellent customer service and relationship-building skills, and a general understanding of charity retail would be a distinct advantage. A full UK driving licence is also highly desirable.

This role offers the opportunity to play a key part in the growth and success of our retail network and the wider mission of Fight for Sight: to Save Sight. Change Lives.

Responsible to

Operations Manager

Direct reports

None

Working hours and contract

35 hours per week, working across a flexible seven-day rota

Salary

£25,207 per annum (London Living Wage)

Location

Attending to all the shops around London, from Hampton Hill in the West to Crouch End in the north. Our Donations Hub is currently located within West Norwood, with a second small warehouse attached to our West Norwood Shop.

How to Apply 

Please submit your CV and an up to two page supporting statement which evidences the specification with subject header - Assistant Donation Hub Manage

Role Responsibilities

· Support the day-to-day running of the donation hub, ensuring a smooth, accurate and timely flow of donations through the hub

· Oversee and participate in the physical sorting, quality checking, and categorising of stock in line with stock standards and retail priorities

· Prepare and fulfil stock requests from shops and ecommerce channels, ensuring timely and accurate dispatch

· Maintain clear, efficient systems for inventory tracking and stock distribution

· Deputise for the Operations Manager as required, supporting wider operational priorities

· Ensure all machinery and warehouse equipment is fit for purpose, reporting faults and maintaining safety standards

· Coordinate with drivers and retail staff to organise timely deliveries, collections, and transfers between locations

· Step in to cover driving duties as required (subject to driving licence)

· Load vans safely and efficiently, ensuring optimal routing for stock movement

· Maintain roadworthiness and cleanliness of retail vehicles, completing regular checks and liaising on repairs or servicing

· Support waste management processes to reduce landfill and maximise recycling or resale potential

· Supervise, train, and support volunteers in daily warehouse activities, including sorting and logistics

· Create a positive, inclusive environment where volunteers are valued, recognised, and supported

· Define clear volunteer tasks and responsibilities in line with operational needs

· Assist in volunteer recruitment and onboarding in partnership with the Volunteer Engagement Manager

· Deliver excellent internal service to retail shops and ecommerce, responding to stock needs and changes with flexibility

· Provide a professional and friendly experience for public donors during drop-offs, collections, or house clearances

· Support and represent Fight for Sight during home collections and local engagement initiatives

· Promote and encourage donations through strong community-facing presence and service

· Ensure the Donations Hub operates in line with all health and safety standards, including proper manual handling, use of equipment and fire safety

· Carry out regular H&S checks, reporting hazards and ensuring safe working practices

· Adhere to data protection, safeguarding, and secure stock handling procedures

· Ensure all practices within the hub are in line with Fight for Sight’s Safe, Legal & Secure requirements

· Contribute to data tracking on stock volumes, processing times, and donation sources to help drive improvement

· Contribute to achieving KPIs related to stock value, waste reduction, ecommerce contribution, and volunteer hours

· Work with the Operations Manager to identify opportunities to improve donation hub processes, stock handling efficiency, and volunteer engagement

· Provide feedback and insights to the Operations Manager to support continuous improvement

Other

· Keep up to date with developments in the sector and key new initiatives in our field. 

· To work at all times in compliance with the Fundraising Regulator’s Code of Practice and data protection legislation.

Person specification

Desirable skills, knowledge & experience

· Previous experience in a warehouse, stockroom, logistics or charity retail environment

· Demonstrated experience in leading or supervising volunteers or small teams

· Excellent organisational and time management skills

· Ability to prioritise workload in a busy environment with changing demands

· Comfortable with physical work including lifting, sorting and operating equipment

· Strong IT skills (Microsoft Excel, Word, ability to learn existing systems)

· Managing multiple workstreams and deadlines.

Qualifications

· Full UK manual driving licence

· GCSE C or equivalent in Mathematics and English

Personal qualities  

· An understanding of and commitment to the sight loss community

· Strong verbal and written communication skills

· Flexible, motivated, and able to manage a varied workload with a practical, can-do attitude

· Personable, with excellent listening skills

· Calm under pressure and solution-oriented

· Commitment to excellent customer service and volunteer experience

· Excellent accuracy and attention to detail

· Highly organised with ability to plan effectively and allocate resources appropriately. 

Flexibility

The role description is a general outline of duties and responsibilities and may be amended as we grow. The post holder may be required to undertake other duties as may be reasonably required from time to time.

Employee benefits

We value our staff and volunteers and want to make sure that they are supported in their work. Other benefits we also offer are:

· A great team and a supportive culture

· Employer pension contributions matching up to 10%, and death in service cover

· Generous parental leave

· Apprenticeships scheme, study leave and financial support for training & development

· Cycle to work scheme, eye test vouchers, and a staff loan scheme, access to an Employee Assistance Program

· An active Social Committee and staff events

Application & Interview process

See above for How to Apply. Please note that we value the authenticity and individuality of our applicants and believe that your CV and cover letter should reflect your unique skills, experiences, and personality. Therefore, please refrain from using AI tools, including ChatGPT, to produce your application materials. Applications drafted with the assistance of AI will be automatically rejected.

Successfully shortlisted applicants will be invited to interview TBC

The interview process is planned as follows: TBC

· 1st Interview: TBC

· 2nd Interview and an informal meeting with trustees and colleagues: TBC

Accessibility

We believe in fostering an inclusive environment where all individuals, regardless of their abilities or circumstances, feel supported and valued. If you have any accessibility requirements or specific needs that you would like us to accommodate during the application process, please let us know. If you are unfamiliar with MS Teams and would like to familiarise yourself with the platform before the interview, we are more than happy to arrange a tech run-through to ensure your comfort and confidence.

Equal opportunities, diversity & inclusion 

Don’t meet every single requirement? At Fight for Sight and Vision Foundation we are dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive workforce, so if you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every item in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles that we have.

We have an inclusive and accessible recruitment process, including any adjustments required to support people from diverse community groups.

We are currently seeking a Content Marketing Specialist to join our Brand Team. This role is responsible for the delivery of content production through creative development, planning, production, evaluation and measurement of Battersea's content to achieve Brand, Marketing and organisational objectives.

We are looking for someone to:

• Support the Content Manager by implementing our content approach in day-to-day operations – managing production workflows, maintaining quality standards, and reporting on content performance and effectiveness.
• Oversee production processes across the team to support delivery against our content framework and business as usual briefs.
• Support the team in prioritisation and production of content that is strategically aligned and audience focused.
• Support collaboration and ways of working

What we can offer you:

In return for your commitment to our cause and to recognise the value of our employees, Battersea offers a range of benefits to support the wellbeing of our employees. These include:

• 28 days of annual leave (plus 8 days paid public holidays) per year
• Discounted gym memberships and cycle to work schemes
• Employee Assistance Programme and access to Wellbeing Resources
• Generous pension contributions – up to 10% employer contribution
• Free healthcare cash plan, where you can claim for a range of treatment including dental, optical, physiotherapy, chiropody and acupuncture every year
• Annual interest-free season ticket loans

We are also committed to providing learning and development to our employees. During your time with us, we provide support for your professional and career development, including access to digital and in-person training programmes, leadership and management training, mentoring and much more.

Our hybrid working model:

We operate a 50% onsite hybrid working model, with our office-based staff splitting their time between site based and home working. This enables our office-based staff to balance the benefits of home working with onsite collaboration and maintaining a connection to our cause.

Diversity and inclusion:

We are committed to providing a welcoming and inclusive experience for all staff, volunteers and trustees and those hoping to join us. We operate an anonymised shortlisting process and actively seek to ensure our process is fair and equitable for all.

We understand the value of diverse voices, perspectives, and experiences to help us deliver even more for our dogs and cats, and we welcome applicants from all sections of the community.

As a Disability Confident Committed Employer we will ask about any adjustments you may need at application and/or interview stage, and if you are offered a role with us, we’ll talk to you about any workplace adjustments you may need to help you perform at your best.

More about us:

At Battersea, we aim to never turn away a dog or cat in need of help. We give each one lots of love, expert care and get to know their characters and quirks so we can find them a new home that’s just right for them. Join us and help us be here for every dog and cat, wherever they are, for as long as they need us.

Closing date: 12th May 2025

Interview date(s): First Stage Interviews 22nd May 2025; Second Stage Interview 29th May 2025

All applications must be submitted before the closing date advertised. We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if a high volume of applications is received.

We're looking for a kind, compassionate, and resilient Support Worker to join our Learning Disabilities service in Tower Hamlets.

£27,352.00 per annum, working 40 hours per week.

Want to feel like you're making a difference? You'll feel at home here.

Our benefits include:

Annual leave increasing up to 30 days with length of service
Free DBS
Exclusive discounts and cashback via Reward Gateway® and opportunity to buy a Blue Light Card
Fully paid induction programme and further training
ILM courses and Apprenticeship Programmes
Healthcare Cashplan through our partner Healthshield
Cycle to work scheme
Employee Assistance Programme for 24-7 confidential support
Online wellbeing resources
A generous pension - we will contribute up to 4% and life assurance cover up to £10,000 (T&Cs apply)
Quarterly Staff Awards to reward & recognise our amazing staff's commitment and contribution
Support Workers will provide support to customers to help them develop the life skills they require to meet the assessed needs of the customers of the service. In some services, this will include providing physical, domestic, emotional and social care. They will work with customers to promote social inclusion and alongside other members of the team to promote independent living, encouraging customers to maximise their skills and choices.

The shifts for this role are Monday - Friday.

All applicants must be legally eligible to work in the UK by the start of employment as Look Ahead are not able to offer sponsorship.

What you'll do:

If a need arises, deliver all aspects of support to enable a customer to develop independent living skills as appropriate to the individual needs of the customer. In some services, this will include delivering personal and physical care as appropriate
Support customer's practical assistance where they have not yet developed the skills
Participate in the support planning and risk management. Enable customers to make full use of community facilities by providing support as directed
Enable customers to make full use of leisure and learning-based opportunities in the service as well as in the community by providing support as directed e.g. Gym, swimming and visiting various public amenities
Supporting customers in the delivery of their prescribed health, physio, nutritional and sensory routines with guidance from/in partnership with external healthcare professionals
Partnership working with a range of stakeholders including families, healthcare professionals, external personal assistants other support agencies to maximise outcomes for customers
Providing support around personal care and mobility as well as the moving and handling of customers with physical disabilities/wheelchair users

For the full list please see our website.

This is not an exhaustive list of all the duties and responsibilities that may be required from time to time and is subject to change in accordance with the needs of Look Ahead.

About you:

Exudes a warm friendly presence and open behaviour
Prefers working as part of a group or team
Is fundamentally calm and resilient, does not let emotion adversely affect them or obscure their judgement
Flexible
Open to feedback and self development
Has a practical and logical mind and is naturally well organised
Thrives on change and enjoys dynamic diverse environments
Is confident with high levels of self-esteem
Is respectful, articulate and sensitive in style of communication
Is motivated towards excellence and improvement of personal performance with a can do attitude
Enjoys social interaction and the company of others, joins in local activities to encourage customer involvement
Ability to cope positively with challenging and diverse behaviour

What you'll bring:

Essential:

NVQ Level 2 or equivalent or experience within charity/social care sector

Desirable:

Experience in working with people with Learning Disabilities and Autism
Experience in PBS approach
Bengali speaking

About us:

Look Ahead is a leading, not-for-profit care and support provider in London and the South East. Our vision is to build better lives through social care and housing in local communities. As an organisation we deliver over 100 services, providing support to thousands of customers each year. Our mission is to co-design and deliver services that offer innovative social care solutions and support people to thrive. We work across mental health, homelessness and complex needs, young people and care leavers and learning disabilities so there are plenty of opportunities to grow and progress your career with us.

We have a strong social purpose and we live and work by our values:

We focus on Excellence and innovation.
We are Caring and Compassionate.
We are Inclusive and Trusted.
We work in Partnership and are One-Team.
Look Ahead is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults at risk, and expects all employees, workers and volunteers to share this commitment.

If your application for this role is unsuccessful, but we feel that you would be suitable for another role, we may contact you to discuss alternative opportunities. If this occurs you would not need to submit another application for the alternative role.

We reserve the right to close this advert early if we are able to appoint to the vacancy before the advertised closed date.

We are committed to diversity and inclusion at work and are accredited with Silver in the Inclusive Employers Standard 2021. We are a proud member of the Employers Domestic Abuse Covenant and encourage applications from a diverse range of applicants of all backgrounds.