Assistant jobs in Edinburgh

About Help 

Help Counselling is well-established mental health charity. We believe everyone deserves access to quality mental health support, and have been providing affordable, short- and long-term talking therapies for over 50 years.

Whether clients are seeking relief from anxiety, stress, depression or other challenges, we are here to help. We offer counselling services to those over 18, both face-to-face in central and west London and online. Our approach is client-led and holistic with no reliance on algorithms for client allocation. Instead, we take care to achieve the best match possible between client and counsellor. 

We are a placement provider: providing training placements for clinical supervisors, counsellors and psychotherapists who need to gain clinical experience to qualify (or further qualify) and be registered with one of the industry professional bodies such as, BACP or UKCP.

The work undertaken by trainee counsellors and psychotherapists is unpaid - they volunteer their time. This volunteer-driven model enables Help Counselling to fulfil its mission of offering affordable counselling services to those in need. 

We also cater for clients who prefer to engage with a qualified counsellor through our Help Counselling Plus service for quality therapy at a fraction of the cost of private practice fees. This service is typically delivered by newly qualified counsellors and provides a supported transition into private practice. 

We have a small, friendly staff team of 5, a diverse team of circa 100 trainee and qualified counsellors and a team of supervisors and assessors. We support around 200 clients at any time with weekly sessions. 

About the role 

The Clinical Assistant will support the Clinical Manager in the running of our counselling service. The role will primarily involve managing our trainee counsellor placements but extends to all aspects of the clinical service as required.  The role is advertised as 2-3 days per week, to be discussed. The role is primarily remote with requirement to attend occasional meetings and events in west and central London.

Role Responsibilities: 

• Manage the recruitment, onboarding and offboarding of suitable trainee counsellors for volunteer placements in accordance with agreed standards and controls and Help policies and procedures. To include candidate selection, interview, onboarding, induction and training. 

• Manage forecasting to ensure counsellor numbers satisfy client demand and consulting room availability.

• With support from the Administrator, ensure all records and reports are managed appropriately throughout the counsellor placement.

• Keep the Counsellors Online Hub up to date, liaising with Administrator and Clinical Manager as necessary. 

• In conjunction with Clinical Manager, provide clinical support and expertise to the Help CEO and team as required. 

• In conjunction with Clinical Manager, provide support to trainee counsellors throughout their placement as required. 

• Support Clinical Manager with client/counsellor allocations and reallocations as necessary. 

• Support Clinical Manager in managing consulting room bookings and sourcing alternative consulting rooms when required. 

• Support Clinical Manager in relation to client queries arising from assessments or generally. 

• Be the main point of contact for training organisations. Proactively develop and maintain relationships in conjunction with CEO. 

• Support CEO in developing and maintaining relationships with community networks and partners to include attendance at networking events and presentations as required. 

The above is not an exhaustive and you will be expected to perform different tasks in line with the overall business objectives and your skills/experience. 

Candidate profile: 

Essential:

• Counselling or Psychotherapy Qualification. 

• BACP or UKCP professional membership. 

• 3-5 years' post-qualification experience. 

• Excellent facilitation skills. 

• Strong task and time management.

• High standard of verbal and written communication skills. 

• Highly organised.

• Ability to provide challenging feedback to others, managing and responding professionally and appropriately to conflict and risk.  

• Interpersonal and influencing skills, especially the ability to engage with counsellors.

• Stakeholder management. 

• Adaptability. 

• Analytical and problem-solving skills 

• Good IT skills including knowledge of MS Office suite, CRM systems and common IT platforms. Ability to learn new systems quickly.  

Desirable: 

• Experience of working within a training environment within the same industry. 

• Prior experience of working in the charity sector. 

• Working understanding of HR-related policies and procedures including EDI and working with competency frameworks. 

• Location in or around West or Central London would be highly advantageous. 

We're looking for an inspirational people person to join us as an Assistant Shop Manager in our Edinburgh Morningside shop. This is an exciting opportunity, and we'd like you to join us to help raise vital funds for homeless and badly housed people.

You will work closely with the Shop Manager to ensure the shop looks welcoming, visually appealing and the team of volunteers are motivated and keen to engage with customers and maximise sales.

About the role

You will assist the Shop Manager in the recruitment, support and development of a strong community focused shop team and empower them to maximise Shelter's income. Representing Shelter in your local community, ensuring that you and your team share your knowledge of Shelter's cause with customers, volunteers, donors and potential Shelter clients will also be important aspects of the role. You will always ensure a safe, clean, bright and happy environment for your team to work in and for your customers to shop in, in turn attracting potential donors and volunteers.

About you

You are a naturally energetic person with an enthusiasm for managing and empowering people. You know how to recruit and develop a team of volunteers, and your extraordinary motivational skills will enable you to inspire your team to increase sales and control costs. Above all, you are ready to take on a new challenge and have a keen interest in Shelter's cause.

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.

Shelter helps millions of people every year struggling with bad housing or homelessness through our advice, support and legal services. And we campaign to make sure that, one day, no one will have to turn to us for help. We’re here so no one has to fight bad housing or homelessness on their own.

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.

How to apply

Please click ‘Apply for Job’ below. You are required to submit your work and education history and a supporting statement.

Please provide specific examples of how you meet the criteria in the 'About you' section of this advert, following the STAR format, and ensure you demonstrate how you address the behaviours below throughout your responses:

· We prioritise diversity and have an inclusive and open mindset

Any applications submitted without a supporting statement will not be considered

About Shelter Scotland

A home is a fundamental human need, as essential as education or healthcare. Yet over a million people in Scotland struggle on a daily basis with homelessness, bad housing conditions, soaring rents, discrimination and the threat of eviction. So, we are striving for change, with individuals, in communities, across society, and leading the way to a safe home. We need ambitious, best-in-class individuals who are passionate about our cause to join us at this exciting time. This is your chance to play a part in the fundamental change we are striving to achieve.

At Shelter Scotland we are united by our purpose to defend the right to a safe home. Our enemy is the social injustice at the core of the escalating housing emergency. We believe that to win that fight, we must be representative of the people we are here to help and those who support our movement for change. In all our people decisions, we take pride in being inclusive, fair, equitable and transparent.

We have committed to combat racism both within and outside Shelter Scotland and welcome you on our journey to becoming a truly anti-racist organisation.

Shelter Scotland helps over half a million people every year struggling with bad housing or homelessness through our advice, support and legal services. And we campaign to make sure that, one day, no one will have to turn to us for help. We’re here so no one has to fight bad housing or homelessness on their own.

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.

At Shelter Scotland, we welcome and encourage applications from everyone regardless of age, disability, gender, ethnicity, religion and sexual orientation. We also encourage applications from people, who have been homeless or have been at risk of homelessness. We are facing diverse problems, so need diverse people to tackle them. In addition to this, we encourage an approach to involving people with personal insight of housing issues and homelessness in our recruitment processes.

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

Assistant Community Fundraiser

Location: Edinburgh

Salary: £26,807 – £28,324 per annum (pro rata)

Contract Type: Temporary until 31 May 2028; Full-Time – 35 hours per week

Closing Date: 09/06/2026 at 23:59

The Vacancy

We have an exciting opportunity to join our Income Generation and Engagement Team as an Assistant Community Fundraiser!

As an Assistant Community Fundraiser, you will be an integral part of supporting the Community Fundraising team to reach their annual income target. You will oversee the running of the Edinburgh Fundraising Office, including stock management and managing a small team of volunteers. You will help support the team by co-ordinating supporter and volunteer communications and attend fundraising events when required.

About You:

• Experience in an office or customer facing environment.
• Ability to work independently within the role, under your own initiative and cooperatively as part of the Community fundraising team.
• Excellent administration skills with a sound working knowledge of CRM databases, Windows-based software, including Word, Excel and Outlook and Teams.
• Exceptional time management and organisational skills, with experience of managing multiple projects at any given time, prioritising and meeting agreed deadlines.
• Ability to vary communication style (both written and verbal) to reflect the needs of the audience.
• Excellent attention to detail.
• Knowledge and demonstrable experience of adhering to data handling / GDPR laws and codes of conduct.

Why CHAS?

Every week, in Scotland, three children die from an incurable condition, and CHAS provides unwavering care at every step on this hardest of journeys for families facing this devastating reality, in our two hospices, in hospitals and at home.

We have ambitions to reach every family in Scotland who is living with the heart-breaking prognosis that their child is dying and offer them our care and support to empower them to make the most of the short time they have together because no-one should face the death of their child alone. As Assistant Community Fundraiser, you will be instrumental in achieving this vision.

This is a pivotal moment to join CHAS. We’ve just launched More Than A Hospice – a £20 million appeal to change how Scotland cares for children who will die young, and for the families who love them. 

As part of working with CHAS, you will:

• Be able to work flexibly.
• Have access to a range of development opportunities.
• Be encouraged to challenge yourself.
• Have the opportunity to learn from a supportive and high performing team.

The benefits package for working with CHAS include:

• Generous annual leave.
• Membership of the Local Government Pension Scheme.
• Access to wellness support.
• Access to discounts, including the Blue Light Card.
• HSF Health Care Plan.

This role will be based in our Head Office in Edinburgh, with some travel to other CHAS sites required for meetings and for picking up / dropping off materials with supporters.

How to Apply

If this sounds like the opportunity for you, we’d love to hear from you! Click apply and you will be redirected to our careers page to complete your application.

Volunteering Assistant

Bowel Cancer UK is the UK’s leading bowel cancer charity. We’re determined to save lives and improve the quality of life of everyone affected by bowel cancer. We support and fund targeted research, provide expert information and support to patients and their families, educate the public and professionals about the disease and campaign for early diagnosis and access to best treatment and care.

We currently have employees working across four nations in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Thanks to the generosity of our community, we’re in a privileged position to be able to deliver our ambitious new strategy, On a Mission. There are huge challenges facing bowel cancer patients across the UK and our community needs us now more than ever. We’re building a strong and united team to bring us closer to a world where nobody dies of bowel cancer.

Job Summary for Volunteering Assistant

The Volunteering Assistant supports the Head of Volunteering in delivering the organisation’s strategy by strengthening volunteer management, engagement, and development. Working across departments, the role ensures smooth day-to-day volunteering operations, supports both volunteers and role managers, and contributes to projects that enhance the overall volunteer experience.

Key responsibilities

• Provide administrative support to the volunteering function, including managing the volunteering inbox and maintaining accurate data
• Support volunteer recruitment, onboarding, and engagement activities across programmes 
• Assist role managers and volunteers, ensuring compliance with organisational standards and processes 
• Coordinate volunteer events, communications, and recognition initiatives 
• Maintain systems and resources (e.g., intranet/SharePoint) to ensure up-to-date information 
• Monitor engagement metrics and contribute to improvements in volunteer experience 
• Contribute to wider projects, guidance, and best practice across volunteering

For more information on responsibilities and person specification, please refer to the job description attached.

Safeguarding is everyone's responsibility and at Bowel Cancer UK we are committed to safeguarding children, young people and vulnerable adults and we expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

Successful candidates may be subject to either a satisfactory, basic or enhanced disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS - UK), (PVG – Scotland) or Access (NI) dependent upon the role. There is no cost to you and will be processed on your behalf.

Interim Senior Admin Officer (Part-time, Temporary) £15–£18 per hour | 20 hours per week | Remote or Newcastle upon Tyne

Are you an experienced senior administrator or operations professional who wants to use your skills to support a meaningful cause?

My client is a Black-led charity with a long track record of supporting Black and racialised women and children affected by domestic abuse and Violence Against Women and Girls. They are entering a busy period of growth and transition and are now seeking an Interim Senior Admin Officer to step in quickly, stabilise systems and support the organisation through change.

The role As Interim Senior Admin Officer, you will play a central role in ensuring the organisation runs smoothly, safely and compliantly. You will take stock of existing systems, put clear processes in place and provide practical support to staff and trustees during a period of onboarding and recruitment.

You will also work closely with the Admin Officer and Receptionist, offering day-to-day guidance, support and coaching to help them deliver to a high standard.
Key responsibilities include

• Reviewing and improving operational systems across administration, record-keeping, filing, archiving and IT
• Leading supplier and contract management, including reviewing value for money and setting up clear contract processes
• Supporting recruitment activity and onboarding of new staff and trustees, including inductions, equipment and access
• Developing, reviewing and updating organisational and HR policies in line with UK employment law and best practice
• Advising on employment matters such as contracts, grievance and disciplinary procedures and staff entitlements
• Ensuring strong governance and compliance, including Charity Commission and Companies House requirements
• Overseeing GDPR compliance, health and safety and statutory obligations
• Supporting facilities management, including getting the reception area fully operational
• Providing hands-on support and coaching to the admin team
• Producing a clear written recommendations report by the three-month point to support continuity

About you You will bring:

• Strong experience in senior administration, operations or office management, ideally within the charity or third sector
• Experience or knowledge of organisational and HR policies
• Knowledge of UK employment rights and employment law
• Hands-on understanding of charity governance and regulatory compliance
• Working knowledge of GDPR and health and safety
• Experience managing suppliers and contracts
• Confidence supporting recruitment, onboarding and HR processes
• A supportive, coaching-style approach to working with others
• The ability to prioritise, work at pace and get things done
• Strong cultural competence and commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion

Key details

• Role: Interim Senior Admin Officer
• Organisation type: Black-led charity supporting Black and racialised women and children affected by domestic abuse and VAWG
• Rate: £15–£18 per hour, depending on experience
• Hours: 20 hours per week, Monday to Friday
• Location: Newcastle upon Tyne (NE4), with on-site or remote working
• Contract type: Temporary
• Duration: 6 months

Eligibility: This role is open to women only under the Equality Act 2010, Schedule 9, Part 1, due to the nature of the services provided.

As a Black-led organisation, my client strongly encourages applications from Black women and women from racially minoritised backgrounds, who are under-represented in senior operational roles.
Why apply? This is a rare opportunity to step into a trusted interim role within a values-driven organisation doing vital, life-changing work. You will have the space to make meaningful improvements, support people to succeed and help shape a stronger future for the organisation.

We want you to have every opportunity to demonstrate your skills, ability and potential; please contact us if you require any assistance or adjustment so that we can help with making the application process work for you.

We want you to have every opportunity to demonstrate your skills, ability and potential; please contact us if you require any assistance or adjustment so that we can help with making the application process work for you.

Challenge Events Assistant

Location: Edinburgh or Stepps (Hybrid)

Salary: £26,807 - £28,324 per annum, pro rata

Contract Type: Temporary for 12 months, Full time 35 hours per week

Closing Date: 03/06/2026 23:59

The Vacancy

This is a really exciting time to join Children’s Hospices Across Scotland – better known as CHAS. A fantastic opportunity has arisen for a Challenge Events Assistant to join the fundraising team to play a key role in CHAS’ More Than a Hospice Appeal - an ambitious, once‑in‑a‑generation campaign to change the future of care for children who will die young.

Challenge events are some of the most exciting and fast-paced fundraising activities at CHAS – from running events and virtual challenges to adrenaline-fuelled experiences. This role is hands-on and varied. One day you might be supporting participants preparing for their first marathon, and the next you could be at an event pit stop, setting up, welcoming supporters, and keeping energy high throughout the day with a team of volunteers.

During event season, you’ll often be out and about, attending events, working occasional weekends, and being part of the buzz that comes with live events. At the same time, there’s a strong administrative and planning side – coordinating logistics, managing data, responding to supporter queries, and helping ensure every event runs smoothly behind the scenes. It’s a role for someone who enjoys being busy, can adapt quickly, and is just as comfortable with spreadsheets and emails as they are cheering participants across a finish line.

Key Responsibilities

Working within the culture, ethos and philosophy of CHAS, you will assist the Mass Participation Events Manager with the management and evaluation of challenge events and the recruitment and stewardship of supporters. Key responsibilities include:

• Assisting with the management of in-person challenge events, including liaising with third party event organisers, suppliers and attendance on the day
• Assisting with the development of the virtual events programme, stewarding participants through social media and answering queries
• Producing copy to promote events for website, social media, press and email
• Assisting with the recruitment of supporters for events in the challenge event calendar, and stewarding them to raise as much as possible for CHAS
• Assisting with event research
• Administration

About You

In order to help CHAS achieve our goal of reaching every family in Scotland that needs us, you will have:

• Experience of fundraising / events or HNC level qualification (or equivalent) in either Public Relations, Marketing, Media, Communications, Event Management, Fundraising or related discipline
• Demonstrable working knowledge of Microsoft Office or similar packages
• Demonstrable experience of keyboard skills and maintaining information databases
• Good communication skills to deal with staff, volunteers and general public in an appropriate and effective manner
• Competent on social media
• High level of accuracy and numeracy skills, as this role requires cash handling
• Demonstrable attention to detail
• Planning and organising skills for effective management of event calendar
• Experience in an office and customer services environment
• Driving licence and access to a vehicle

Why CHAS?

At CHAS, we support families during the toughest of times. We have ambitions to reach every family in Scotland who is living with the heart-breaking prognosis that their child is dying and offer them our care and support to empower them to make the most of the short time they have together. The skill, determination and creative flair of our Fundraising Teams makes this possible. 

This is a pivotal moment to join CHAS. We’ve just launched More Than A Hospice - a £20 million appeal to change how Scotland cares for children who will die young, and for the families who love them. Every week, three children in Scotland die from an incurable illness, and advances in medicine mean more children are living longer with complex, life‑shortening conditions - a gift, but one that demands change.

Right now, too many families don’t have real choice throughout their child’s life, or at the end of it - and are sometimes forced into decisions because the care they need isn’t always there when it’s needed. We believe Scotland can - and must - do better. Joining CHAS now means being part of an ambitious appeal that aims to ensure care follows the child - at home, in hospital, or in a hospice so no family faces that moment alone

We offer

• Flexible Working: our teams work flexibly and in a hybrid manner with time split between at home and onsite in Edinburgh and Glasgow.
• Development Opportunities: exposure to a variety of fundraising activities
• Professional Growth: Work with industry leaders in a high-performing team where you will be encouraged and supported to excel and develop your skills.
• Comprehensive Benefits: Including generous annual leave and pension, incremental salary progression, access to Blue Light discounts, and health and wellbeing support.

How to Apply

If this sounds like the opportunity for you, we’d love to hear from you! Click apply and you will be redirected to our careers page to complete your application.

Community Fundraising Assistant - North 

Are you ready to take on a new challenge with a leading charity making a real difference in brain tumour research?

Brain Tumour Research is an exciting, innovative, and ambitious charity. We are passionate about finding a cure for brain tumours through the establishment of dedicated Brain Tumour Research Centres of Excellence around the UK.​

After a successful 2025, we’re building on our momentum and looking ahead with ambition. As our work continues to expand, so does our impact. We are now looking for passionate people to join us on the next stage of our journey!

It is a fantastic time to be joining us and we are keen to share this with likeminded and talented individuals. We currently have an opening for a Community Fundraising Assistant - North, to join our Community and Digital Fundraising team.

• Do you want to make a difference in one of the most innovative and exciting medical research fundraising charities in the UK?
• Are you able to provide friendly and professional support to fundraisers and supporters?   
• Do you have experience in supporting events or community activities?
• Do you live in either Scotland, North East England, North West England or the East Midlands? 

​

Have you answered Yes to these questions?

Does this sound like the opportunity to really take the next step in your career?

Excited to learn more about this position? Then please take a read through our recruitment pack which is included within this advert.​​​

If you have the skills and ambition that we are looking for we are excited to receive your application.  We are really looking forward to welcoming a new member to our team!​

We are asking for a CV as the first step but applicants may be asked to provide a targeted covering letter as part of the selection process.  Interviews will be conducted during the application window as appropriate, and will consist of a first interview via MS Teams, progressing, if successful to a face to face second interview, held at our offices in Milton Keynes.

​

We reserve the right to close the application window early and advise candidates to apply in good time to avoid disappointment.​

We are looking for people who share our passion for finding a cure for brain tumours and who have the skills and experience to make a difference. We welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds, cultures, genders, sexual orientations, abilities, and ages. We believe that diversity enriches our organisation and helps us achieve our mission. We are committed to providing an inclusive and supportive environment where everyone can be themselves and contribute to our vision.

​