Bid support manager jobs

Job Title: Individual Giving Manager Department: Income Generation and Partnership Development

Reports to: Director of Income Generation and Partnership Development

Hours: Full time, (part time and flexible arrangements considered)

Salary: £30k-£38k (pro-rata if part time and dependent on experience)

Contract: Fixed term for 2 years, potential to extend depending on funding

Location: Largely home based / with occasional visits to the Oxford office. Must be able to attend two all staff meetings in Oxford per annum 

Role purpose:

To develop and deliver an Earthwatch individual giving programme. The role will focus on identifying opportunities to engage supporters, implementing activities to cultivate, solicit, and steward donors, and increasing financial contributions from new and existing supporters. The role will also assist in the delivery of major donor cultivation events alongside senior staff. 

Key deliverables:

Strategy & Income Growth

• Develop and implement a multi-year individual giving strategy, including regular giving, one-off donations and legacy giving

• Set and monitor income and engagement targets, using data insights to refine and improve approaches. 

Campaigns & Appeals

• To project manage multiple appeals delivering accurate campaigns across digital, print, and telephone on time, to inspire and convert supporters, on budget to a high standard and meeting agreed targets.

• To manage the relationship with external fundraising agencies, ensuring they are briefed and provided with the information they need.

• Collaborate with the communications team to ensure campaigns align with brand and messaging guidelines.

• Undertaking all activities in line with best practice standards and processes as set out by the Institute of Fundraising, Fundraising Regulator and any other bodies as prompted by the Director. 

Donor Engagement & Stewardship

• Deliver high-quality donor communications, including impact reports, appeals, and tailored updates.

• Support donor journeys that build loyalty and increase lifetime value through a range of fundraising products

• Attend events as required to meet donors.

Data Management & Reporting

• Ensure all materials produced are accurate and compliant with relevant data protection and gift aid legislation (where applicable).

• Use the database to track donor engagement and manage contact strategies.

• Produce reports and analysis on giving trends, campaign performance, and donor behaviour to inform decision-making.

Collaboration & Support

• Work closely with colleagues across Income Generation, Communications, Programmes, and senior leadership to maximise donor opportunities and engagement.

In undertaking these roles, the postholder should also have regard to: -

• Acting as an ambassador for the work, vision and values of Earthwatch Europe.

• Ensuring continuous development of skills and knowledge required for the post, undergoing training and performance review as required.

• Working within all the policies and procedures of Earthwatch Europe, ensuring compliance with health & safety policies and all legal and contractual obligations associated with the post.

• Collaborating with other Earthwatch teams to ensure effective delivery of partnership programmes.

• Carrying out any other reasonable duties commensurate with the level of responsibility of the post, as requested by the post holders line manager. 

Please find attached the full job description and person specification.

Description 

We are seeking an experienced and motivated Head of Fundraising to lead and further develop our fundraising activity at a pivotal time for the Cathedral. This is a strategic and hands on role, working closely with the Chief Operating Officer and Senior Management Team to secure the resources needed to sustain and grow the Cathedral’s mission, ministry and buildings. 

You will take the lead on generating fundraising income, primarily through trusts and foundations, while also developing appeals, legacy giving, regular giving and new fundraising income streams. You will build on the strong foundations already in place, bringing creativity, rigour and collaboration to everything you do. 

The role 

As Head of Fundraising, you will: 

• Lead relationships with trusts and foundations, identifying opportunities, writing compelling applications and managing reporting and compliance 

• Drive major fundraising bids to support the Cathedral’s Estates Masterplan and strategic priorities 

• Develop and deliver fundraising appeals and pilot new initiatives to diversify income 

• Grow legacy and regular giving, building a sustainable pipeline of long-term supporters 

• Lead supporter care, engagement and fundraising events 

• Oversee fundraising communications and profile raising activity 

• Work collaboratively across the Cathedral to develop fundable projects and shared ownership of fundraising 

• Manage the fundraising budget and report progress to the Senior Management Team and Finance Committee 

• Act as Line Manager for the Development Officer 

This role combines strategic thinking with practical delivery and will suit someone who enjoys working in a small, committed team where no two days are the same. 

What we're looking for 

• Proven experience in fundraising, particularly trusts and foundations 

• A strong track record of writing successful funding applications generating over £250,000pa 

• Excellent relationship building and communication skills 

• The ability to work collaboratively with colleagues, volunteers and external partners 

• Empathy with the values, mission and worshipping life of a Christian cathedral 

• A calm, organised and proactive approach, with strong attention to detail 

• A clear commitment to safeguarding, inclusion and best practice 

Experience in cathedral, church, heritage or charity settings is welcome but not essential — we are keen to hear from candidates with transferable skills from other sectors. 

Why join us? 

You will be part of a warm, committed community, working in a unique historic setting and helping ensure Portsmouth Cathedral continues to thrive for generations to come. 

 
Benefits 

• Generous annual leave allowance of 25 days per annum (FTE) plus public holidays and 2 'given' days over Christmas. Pro rata for this part-time role. 

• Employer pension contributions of 7% plus 1% employee contribution. 

• Commitment to professional development and training 

• Cash health plan 

Portsmouth Cathedral is an Equal Opportunities Employer and a member of Inclusive Church.   

Interviews in person Tuesday 5 May 2026

Help secure the future of a 120-year-old youth charity At The Shewsy, we support over 100 children and young people every day in one of the most deprived communities in the UK. Founded in 1903, we provide meals, mentoring, and a safe space, but more importantly, we build relationships that change lives. Our motto is “People Matter More Than Things".

We are now looking for a brilliant Fundraising & Engagement Manager to help us take the next step in building a stronger, more sustainable funding base so we can reach even more young people.

Salary: £40,000 per annum 

Hours: 37 hours per week (flexible working available and could offer 0.8) 

Contract type: Permanent

Benefits:  

• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)

• NEST Pension 

• Benefits & Discount Portal 

• 22 days annual leave plus Bank Holidays 

• Professional Training & Development

The Role (and why it matters) This isn’t just about writing bids behind a desk. It’s about being a visible, energetic advocate for The Shewsy. You will champion our work face-to-face, engaging our local Everton community while nurturing our historic, vital ties with Shrewsbury School and the Old Salopian network. You will balance persuasive in-person communication with high-quality grant writing to unlock new opportunities and bring ideas to life.

What you’ll be doing

Building Relationships & Community Engagement

• Actively network and build face-to-face relationships with local businesses, community members, and potential corporate partners.

• Nurture and expand our vital relationship with the Shrewsbury School community and Old Salopians to encourage legacy giving, regular donations, and matched-giving support.

• Champion and support community fundraising events and campaigns, including our highly successful Big Give Christmas Challenge.

Securing Grant Funding

• Build and manage a £200,000+ annual funding pipeline by researching and applying for grants from trusts and foundations.

• Write high-quality, compelling, and tailored funding applications.

• Maintain a live pipeline of funders, tracking applications, success rates, and deadlines.

Telling Our Story Powerfully

• Turn powerful frontline youth work into compelling narratives for both written bids and in-person presentations.

• Work with staff to capture impact, stories, and data to strengthen how we evidence our outcomes.

What success looks like (Year 1)

• Strong, active relationships established with the Shrewsbury School community, Old Salopians, and local Everton stakeholders.

• A £200k+ funding pipeline established and actively managed.

• Consistent monthly/quarterly bid submissions balancing quick wins with strategic applications.

• Increased repeat funding, multi-year grants, and diversified community income.

Who we’re looking for You might already be a community fundraiser, a bid writer looking to step out from behind the screen, or someone ready to step up.

Essential

• Exceptional in-person communication and presentation skills, with the ability to engage diverse audiences from local residents to major donors.

• Experience writing successful grant applications in the charity sector.

• A track record of securing funding from trusts, foundations, or major donors.

• Highly organised, able to balance desk-based bid writing with out-and-about relationship building.

• Ability to work independently and make things happen.

Desirable

• Experience in youth, community, or social impact organisations.

• Knowledge of the Liverpool funding landscape.

• Experience with community campaigns or matched-funding appeals (e.g., the Big Give).

The kind of person who thrives here

• You care deeply about young people and social impact.

• You are proactive, outgoing, and don’t wait to be told what to do.

• You spot opportunities others miss and can turn a conversation into a compelling bid or a new partnership.

• You want your work to actually make a difference.

CRM and Supporter Care Lead

37 hours per week.
Salary: £30,984

Treetops is entering one of the most exciting periods in its history.

With a bold new hospice strategy, we’re creating a future model of care that’s innovative, sustainable and centred around the people we support. This transformation will enable more nursing in our community and stronger end‑of‑life support across the UK. To help drive this forward, we’re investing in our Marketing Team.

We’re looking for a talented and proactive CRM and Supporter Care Lead to take ownership of our CRM system and elevate the way we engage with our supporters. You’ll play a vital role in ensuring every supporter feels valued, appreciated and connected to the impact they make.

Reporting directly to the Head of Marketing, you’ll be the charity’s go‑to expert for CRM and supporter care. You’ll champion data quality across all departments, shape supporter journeys, and set the standards that ensure Treetops delivers exceptional supporter experiences at every touchpoint.

This is a fantastic opportunity for a passionate, analytical professional to shape a role with real influence, putting Treetops at the forefront of supporter data and supporter care.

Key Responsibilities

· Take full ownership of the primary CRM database, ensuring it is used effectively and consistently across the organisation
 

· Lead on supporter data management, ensuring information is accurate, up to date and handled correctly by all departments
 

· Ensure the primary CRM holds all relevant supporter data from every source and database
 

· Champion supporter care at Treetops, setting standards that ensure supporters receive timely, meaningful and personalised communication
 

· Lead on supporter journeys, including thanking processes, ensuring they are well‑designed, functioning and regularly reviewed

What we’re looking for

An organised, analytical professional with excellent data skills and the confidence to lead our CRM and Supporter Care strategy. You’ll bring:

· Experience managing CRM databases
 

· Strong Excel skills, including data manipulation and transfer
 

· Experience developing supporter or customer relationships
 

· Experience handling and processing large datasets
 

· Knowledge of database queries, reports and imports
 

· The ability to communicate technical information clearly to non‑experts

How to apply

For an informal conversation about the role, contact Michael Younger, Head of Marketing, on 0 1 1 5 8 6 5 6 0 3 8.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and shortlisted candidates will be invited to interview.

Treetops Hospice welcomes applications from all who meet the criteria, regardless of age, race, gender, disability, belief, sexual orientation or socio‑economic background.

Thank you for your interest in joining Treetops Hospice. Applicants must already have the legal right to work in the UK.

The Development Manager (Grants) leads on bid-writing and relationship building with grantmakers (Trusts/Foundations/Public). The candidate will be a key player in the Grants team alongside the Director of Development (Grants/Major Gifts) and Development Officer. Create has seen its fundraising increase significantly in recent years, as it fulfils its ambitious plans to double its reach by its 25th anniversary in 2028. The Grants team is responsible for securing over 50% of the charity’s income, managing an extensive portfolio of T/F/Public funders, approaching a well-researched pipeline of potential funders, and researching prospects. The successful candidate will share Create’s commitment to the transformative power of the creative arts within community settings, with exceptional written and verbal communication, research, organisational and IT skills, and meticulous attention to detail.

Play a leading role in ending food poverty across the South Cotswolds by growing essential fundraising and community partnerships. This is a chance to shape meaningful change through storytelling, relationship‑building and strategic income generation.

About our Charity

South Cotswolds Foodbank supports people across more than 210 square miles, providing emergency food and compassion while working towards long‑term solutions to the root causes of poverty. We are now seeking a Fundraising & Community Relations Manager to help us build the resources, relationships and community awareness we need to meet rising demand and to drive our mission forward.

Location

This role is based at our Cirencester office, with opportunities for some home working. The post will involve some local travel across the South Cotswolds to meet supporters, partners, and community groups. 

Role and Responsibilities

As a key member of our small, friendly staff team, you will lead the development of fundraising from individuals, businesses, trusts and foundations, and community groups. You will identify new funding opportunities, craft compelling bids, and nurture long‑term partnerships that help sustain our annual running costs and strengthen our future resilience.

You will also take a leading role in shaping how we share our story. Working closely with the Head of Foodbank and colleagues, you will create marketing materials, digital and print content, fundraising campaigns, and communications that bring our mission and our clients’ experiences to life. This includes producing newsletters, fundraising appeals, social media content, and materials for events and outreach activities.

A central part of this role is inspiring and stewarding supporters, whether that’s someone making a one‑off donation, a local business exploring a partnership, or a trust considering a grant application. You’ll design ways to keep supporters engaged, informed and appreciated, ensuring communications reflect our values and priorities and are consistent with our brand and tone.

You will represent the Foodbank at community events across the region, building relationships with schools, churches, associations, local groups and businesses. This outward‑facing work helps raise awareness of the causes of food poverty, increases support, and strengthens our reach into communities who want to take action. You’ll also coordinate volunteers who contribute to these events.

Working closely with colleagues, you’ll help capture stories and case studies from people with lived experience of food poverty (with sensitivity and respect) to illustrate the realities facing local families and to strengthen our fundraising, communications, and advocacy work. You will maintain our CRM system, ensuring accurate donor and engagement data, and produce regular reports for monitoring and oversight.

Person Specification

This is an exciting opportunity for someone who is proactive, organised and able to work independently. You will need excellent communication skills, creativity, strong relationship‑building ability, and a proven track record in fundraising or partnership‑driven roles. You’ll work with purpose and empathy, always championing those affected by hardship.

Working at South Cotswolds Foodbank

We offer a supportive and collaborative environment. Our staff benefits include:

• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays, pro rata
• Employee Assistance Programme (BHSF) available to you 
• Four weeks full pay + four weeks half pay sickness provision (after probation)
• Pension scheme with 3% employer contribution (auto‑enrolment conditions apply) 

You’ll join a dedicated team of staff and volunteers who are committed to ensuring no one in our community goes hungry, and who believe that alongside emergency support, we must work on root‑cause solutions that make long‑term change possible.

If you want a role that blends strategic fundraising, community connection, and creative communication, and you want your work to make a tangible difference every day, this could be the perfect next step.

Volunteer Centre Hackney is a thriving charity (annual income circa £1.1m, with 29 paid staff) providing volunteering infrastructure to the voluntary sector across the City of London and the London borough of Hackney. We support over 1500 residents a year to realise their skills and passions through volunteering and social action, and to share these for the benefit of others. We also provide volunteering resource, and advice and guidance on best practice in volunteer management, to hundreds of charities and community organisations.

Through our specialist programmes, our impact on the lives of residents is huge. We match volunteers to housebound residents to help them engage with communities and leave their homes; we provide long term personalised support to people with mental health conditions and learning disabilities to help them volunteer and find paid jobs; we support patients to deliver hundreds of their own activities and peer support groups at GP practices across City and Hackney; and in partnership with Public Health, we support over 250 Community Health Champions to share vital health messaging with their own diverse communities.  

This is a hands-on and strategic role for an experienced fundraiser who thrives in a small to medium sized charity environment. You will have autonomy to develop a whole new fundraising strategy, utilising diverse fundraising methods, and building and developing new project ideas and partnerships. You will lead on income generation primarily through sourcing and applying to multiple trusts and foundations, but diversified by building new corporate partnerships, community campaigns and individual giving. You will build authentic relationships with funders and supporters, and together with VCH colleagues, will identify new programme models as ways to generate income. You will contribute to the development and production of compelling stories, evidence and marketing and build and maintain the infrastructure needed to track and achieve progress against annual income targets.

Post holders need to have excellent communication skills, to represent the charity in writing and in person. You must be enthusiastic, self-motivating and confident to work primarily alone, but also able to engage and collaborate with staff from across the organisation to share information and impact evidence to support your role. If you are successful in securing funding there will be the potential to recruit additional support, and for you to become the Head of Fundraising of a small team.

The Role

SERT is re-organising our structure geographically into three Catchment Clusters (CCs) in the South East (defined as South London, East and West). Having conducted a successful pilot in the East, we are now expanding this approach to the new South London and West Catchment Clusters.

The South London Catchment Cluster (SLCC) requires an individual with proven leadership experience who can lead this newly formed team and strategically maximise SERT’s impact in the London, urbanised, catchments of the rivers Wandle, Hogsmill, Beverley Brook and Cray.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

• Help to establish and enhance a ‘one-team’ ethos across the Catchment Cluster, whilst also ensuring it is embedded within the wider organisation.
• Lead SLCC’s prioritisation on the key activities (including restoration and engagement) that we wish to undertake in our London Catchments.
• Leadership of the team ensuring a supportive, collaborative, inquisitive and ambitious culture.
• Direct line management of three roles (this may increase in the future):

i) Working with the Monitoring and Evidence Lead to develop and embed a new Monitoring and Evidence Strategy.

ii) Supporting our Nature Finance Lead to secure new ecosystem-service related payments to fund our work and drive impact.

iii) Managing the Senior Catchment Manager to ensure our Catchment Partnerships are effective convening spaces and action based.

• Identify and directly support new business development and project funding opportunities from a range of sources to grow our impact.
• Ensure SLCC is at the right tables where decisions affecting its rivers are being made and has an important and respected voice in those decisions.

What We Are Looking For

This role is an exciting challenge and will require you to build on the foundations of what has already been achieved within these catchments. You will maximise our impact by collaborating with our Specialist Teams to prioritise SERT’s activities.  Central to this is the need to deliver effective catchment management through our Catchment Partnerships. You will also work strategically with the Restoring Rivers and Catchments team (RRC) to identify and prioritise projects which drive impact, whilst working closely with our Working With Communities team (WWC) to further increase engagement with the communities who live along the CC’s rivers. It is desirable if you have a good overview of monitoring and evidence-based approaches (including citizen science), alongside knowledge of nature-based solutions, ecosystem services and emerging nature investment opportunities.

About You

Besides having a passion for rivers, we need an individual who can confidently develop, grow and lead a team, whilst seeking new opportunities for impact. You will be adept at business development and will be comfortable supporting strategic relationships with catchment partners, local government, regulators, water companies, local businesses and environmental organisations. You will require a good overview of Health and Safety best practise, empowering our RRC team to undertake effective project delivery and risk management in the field.

Interested? Apply now via our website.

Application process

• Closing date for applications: Tuesday 14th April 2026 at 11:59pm.
• Interviews: Monday 20th April - Friday 1st May 2026

The Role

SERT is re-organising our structure geographically into three Catchment Clusters in the South East (defined as South London, East and West). Having conducted a successful pilot in the East, we are now expanding this approach to the new South London and West Catchment Clusters.

The West Catchment Cluster (WCC) requires an individual with proven leadership experience who can lead this newly formed team and strategically maximise SERT’s impact in the predominantly Surrey-based catchments of the Loddon, Wey and Mole.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

• Help to establish and enhance a ‘one-team’ ethos across the CC, whilst also ensuring it is embedded within the wider organisation
• Lead WCC’s prioritisation on the key activities (both restoration and engagement) that we wish to undertake in our Surrey Catchments.
• Direct line management of two roles (this may increase in the future):

i)Working with the Natural Flood Management Lead to grow the opportunities of using nature to hold back water in the landscape 

ii) Managing the Catchment Manager to ensure our Catchment Partnerships are action-based.

• Identify and directly support new project funding opportunities from a range of sources to grow our impact.
• Ensure WCC is at the right tables where decisions affecting its rivers are being made and has an important and respected voice in those decisions.

What We Are Looking For

This role is an exciting challenge and will require you to build on the foundations of what has already been achieved within these catchments. You will need to maximise impact by working with our Specialist Teams to priorities SERT’s activities and strategically guide river restoration projects.  You will also work closely with our Working With Communities team (WWC) to improve engagement with the communities who live along these rivers. It is desirable if you have a good overview of river catchments, data monitoring and the role that nature-based solutions (such as Natural Flood Management) play in providing multiple benefits.

About You

Besides having a passion for rivers, we require an individual who can confidently develop and grow a new team, whilst seeking new opportunities for impact. You will be adept at business development and will be comfortable supporting strategic relationships with catchment partners, local government, water companies, local businesses and environmental NGOs. You will need a good overview of Health and Safety best practise, empowering our Restoring River Catchments (RRC) team to undertake effective project delivery and risk management in the field.

Interested? Apply now via our website.

Application process

• Closing date for applications: Tuesday 14th April 2026 at 11:59pm.
• Interviews: Monday 20th April - Friday 1st May 2026

Join the Ategi Team

Short-Term Role making a Long-Term Impact

We are Recruiting an Interim Engagement, Marketing & Fundraising Manager

Salary Circa 32K - 36K per annum depending on experience & qualifications

This is an interesting & rewarding opportunity for a committed individual who is looking to take on a new challenge.

Even if you don’t meet all the criteria, your unique skills and perspective could be exactly what we’re looking for

Own the Challenge, Deliver the Difference

Job details:

• Full Time (36.5 hours) or Part time Job Share – Monday to Friday
• Fixed Tern Contract - 12 months maternity cover
• Flexible working options, including Hybrid/Remote Working
• At least 2 years Management/Senior experience with experience in or Engagement and Communications Marketing and/or Service Development & Fundraising
• Ability to travel across offices in Wales, Amersham and Bristol (occasional with one monthly visit to Cardiff)

Ategi is a friendly not-for-profit organisation providing support services across Wales and England. It offers three main services for adults with additional needs: Shared Lives, Supported Living, and Community Support. Working alongside people to build independence, connection and meaningful lives.

As the Interim Engagement, Marketing and Fundraising Manager, you will be responsible to ensure Ategi’s impact is clearly evidenced and communicated whilst supporting with it’s Strategic Marketing, Communications and Engagement objectives and providing assistance with all communication related to resources, including fundraising and tender applications.

This role leads the organisation’s communications, engagement, and brand strategy, delivering impactful campaigns that raise awareness, enhance reputation, and support fundraising objectives.

We are looking for a highly motivated self starter who can generate ideas and take ownership, creating engaging and effective communications.  Additionally, the role involves proactive involvement in fundraising, tenders and income generation, with responsibility for monitoring performance against targets and managing budgets.

We are a people focused organisation, with a great range of benefits. 

Interested in joining us?

· Discover the full Job Description and Person Specification here

· Apply online or send us your full CV and cover letter telling us why you are interested in the role and what we should  consider

· Closing date for applications 20th April 2026

· A full driving licence and use of a car is essential

Women’s Work is a National Award Winning Charity founded in 2003. We aim to deliver a holistic, person centred support service to vulnerable and disadvantaged women with complex health and social needs. We do this by ensuring they can access support, education and information to raise self-esteem and confidence, empowering them to make positive life choices resulting in improved health and wellbeing.

We are seeking a talented, motivated and highly organised Business Development Manager to join our Senior Management Team and play a key role in supporting the organisation’s growth, sustainability and financial resilience.

The Role

This is predominantly an office-based role working closely with the Finance Manager and under the guidance of the CEO, with a strong focus on:

• Bid writing, tender submissions, commissioning applications and grant funding
• Identifying, securing and managing new funding opportunities
• Supporting financial planning, allocation to funded projects
• Fundraising and promoting the charity in the local community

You will lead on the development and continuation of the project-specific funding, ensuring bids and applications align with Women’s Work’s strategic objectives and future expansion plans.

Working collaboratively with the Finance Manager, you will review funding streams, develop robust applications and contribute to the effective financial management of funded activities. You will liaise with businesses, statutory bodies, organisations, community groups and charities to identify and secure new income opportunities, partnerships and sponsorships.

Key Responsibilities

• Research, identify and secure new funding opportunities, grants and tenders
• Lead and co-ordinate high-quality bid writing, commissioning and tender submissions
• Support the Finance Manager with funding reviews, budgets and financial monitoring
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with funders, partners and stakeholders
• Contribute to organisational planning, sustainability and income diversification
• Ensure funding requirements, reporting and compliance are met
• Event planning/identify and co-ordinate fundraising opportunities

About You

The successful applicant will be self-motivated, detail-focused and high organized, with strong project management and communication skills. You will be able to work collaboratively while also managing competing priorities independently.

You will also be able to demonstrate:

• Proven experience in bid writing, tenders and/or commissioning
• A track record of pro-active business development, ideally within the charity or voluntary sector
• Strong relationship-building skills across multiple sectors
• Empathy and a clear commitment to Women’s Work values, aims and objectives

Additional Information
An Enhanced DBS check will be required.
Ref: BDM

SMART CJS – Trust and Foundations Bid Writer

Role Overview

Are you committed to supporting people who are homeless or rough sleeping?

Are you proactive with a positive attitude?

Job Title: Trust and Foundations Bid Writer (with some responsibility for corporate fundraising)

Hours: 37 hours per week

Location: Working from our office in central Bedford, with some provision for remote working.

About SMART CJS

Founded in 1997, we are a charity that provides safe spaces for people who are facing or experiencing homelessness, are rough sleeping or have fallen on tough times. As times have changed, our services have adapted and grown, but we’ve always kept the people we support at the centre of all that we do. We believe that everyone needs a little help sometimes and, with trust, respect and honesty, people can make incredible changes. Our vision is to transform communities so that everyone has the opportunity to achieve their fullest potential, participate in and contribute to all aspects of life. Our mission is to provide safe spaces to work with vulnerable people within our communities, empowering them to make positive changes and take control of their lives.

Why Join Us?

We believe in diversity and inclusion. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds.

Benefits include:

• 27 days Annual Leave (rising to 30 after 3 years) + Bank Holidays (pro rata)
• Generous Pension scheme (after successfully completing a probation period)
• Excellent Development and Growth Opportunities
• Access to a Charity Worker Discount scheme
• Access to the company health and wellbeing service including support with mental health, legal advice and more
• Access to an online GP service

We require all staff and volunteers to be committed to safeguarding and to respond proactively to safeguarding concerns. Successful applicants are required to undertake an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). This job description will be supplemented by annual objectives which will be developed in conjunction with the post holder.

The Role

SMART CJS is looking to recruit a Trusts and Foundations Bid Writer. The successful candidate will also have some responsibility for corporate fundraising with businesses based in Bedford and beyond; this responsibility will be shared with our Community and Corporate Fundraiser.

The main responsibility, though, will be to generate income by writing bids to charitable trusts and foundations, and to statutory funders.

The role will include researching and identifying charity trusts and similar bodies which are able to make an award to SMART. It will also include keeping abreast of developments in fundraising in the charity sector as a whole, especially in the field of grant awarding and, to a lesser extent, of corporate giving.

There will be a probationary period for the role. As it generally takes six months for a grant to be awarded (though some arrive more quickly), the probationary period will need to be for a minimum of seven months, though its precise duration can be negotiated with the successful candidate.

Training will be given; the scope of the training will depend on the candidate’s previous experience.

This is an exciting opportunity to join SMART’s friendly and dedicated team. You’ll need to be able to manage your time effectively; the role is primarily self-directed. We envisage that you’ll be working primarily from our offices in Prebend Street, Bedford, though you'll be able to work from home for some of the time as well. Given the nature of our work, personal resilience is important; some of the stories we use when applying for funding can be emotionally challenging.

Our fundraising comes from regular gifts, donations from the community (individuals and groups), and corporate bodies (businesses). The majority of our fundraising income comes from grants. There will be a realistic target for the amount you need to raise; this will reflect the performance for grant applications in the charity sector as a whole and it will not be unrealistic. Fundraising is not an exact science; the assessment of performance against the targets will be fair and reasonable. The final responsibility for SMART’s fundraising rests with the trustees; they appreciate and understand the complexity of the issues involved.

Main Purpose of the Role

You will work closely with the CEO, the Chair of Trustees, the Head of Business and the fundraising team. The post involves gathering information, writing the bids, tracking the progress of submissions, and reporting back to grant awarders on how their money has been spent, if they require this.

There will also be a responsibility for corporate fundraising. This will involve building relationships with businesses in and beyond the Bedford area. The responsibility for this will be shared with our Community and Corporate Fundraiser.

Key Responsibilities

Fundraising and Bid Writing

• Research and identify suitable grant and funding opportunities from charitable trusts, foundations, and statutory bodies.
• Write and submit high-quality funding applications and proposals in line with SMART’s strategic priorities.
• Work collaboratively with service leads and front line teams to gather accurate, up-to-date data and service information for applications.
• Tailor the applications to the funder’s criteria, using storytelling effectively.
• Manage a pipeline of applications and submissions, ensuring deadlines are met and income targets are tracked.
• Maintain and build relationships with key funders, providing timely reports and updates on grant-funded work.
• Work to realistic targets and be able to provide feedback on these.
• Organisational Development and Support
• Contribute to the strategic development of SMART’s income generation plans.
• Support development of strong internal bid and grant management systems.
• Monitor success rates and provide monthly reporting on funding performance to the Head of Business and to the Chair of Trustees.
• Represent SMART CJS at funding briefings, webinars, and networking opportunities where appropriate.

Other Responsibilities

• Participate in SMART’s performance management and appraisal process.
• Attend the monthly meetings of the Fundraising Committee (a sub‑committee of the Board of Trustees).
• Comply with health and safety policies and procedures.
• Undertake any other duties commensurate with the role, as required by the CEO, the Head of Business or the Chair of Trustees.

Person Specification

Whether you’re already an experienced bid-writer, or whether you think this is something that you could learn to do effectively, we’d like to hear from you. You need to have excellent skills in written English and be able to write in prose that’s clear and readily understandable to the general reader. The criteria for each grant awarder are different; you need to be able to match your bid to what they would like to fund (homelessness, mental health, relief of poverty, women’s issues and so on). You need, then, to tell SMART’s story in a way which appeals to each funder.

You need to have excellent inter-personal skills and be able to work as part of a team. While there is a strong element of self-direction in the role, you need to be able to work closely with senior management and also with the trustees; the trustees have the final responsibility for fundraising in the charity.

You will need, too, to have a commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion, and to have a genuine interest in homelessness and the work of the charity, and a commitment to improving our clients’ lives and wellbeing.

We are looking for an inspiring Support Services Manager to lead our supported housing schemes, ensuring high‑quality, person‑centred support for women and children across our services.

If you are passionate about transforming lives, improving service quality and leading dedicated teams — we’d love to hear from you.

About the Role

As Support Services Manager, you will:

Lead and develop high‑quality support services

• Provide operational leadership across supported housing schemes
• Ensure trauma‑informed, person‑centred support plans and risk assessments
• Monitor KPIs, contractual compliance and service performance
• Drive service improvement and co‑production with clients

Manage, motivate and develop staff

• Line manage Support Workers and Volunteers
• Ensure supervision, training and performance management
• Support recruitment and staff development across the region
• Build a strong, motivated and skilled team

Champion safeguarding & risk management

• Act as a safeguarding champion across supported housing
• Ensure robust risk assessments, incident reporting and GDPR‑compliant records
• Support staff to maintain the highest safeguarding standards

Ensure housing & compliance excellence

• Work closely with Estates teams to maintain safe, compliant accommodation
• Support quality improvements across physical properties and service delivery

Build impactful partnerships

• Liaise with local authorities, commissioners, health partners and referral agencies
• Represent Life at case conferences, multi‑agency meetings and contract reviews
• Identify and respond to new referral opportunities

Drive quality, governance & reporting

• Produce performance reports and maintain audit readiness
• Support strategic growth and contribute to the department’s business plan
• Promote Life Charity within local communities and public forums

Manage budgets & resources

• Monitor expenditure and support resource planning
• Support with funding bids and service redesign
• Work with finance teams to ensure clients receive appropriate financial support

We’d love to hear from you if you have:

Essential experience & skills

• Experience managing or delivering support and/or care services
• Understanding of supported housing and estates management
• Strong knowledge of support planning, risk assessment and safeguarding
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to engage at all levels
• Strong organisational, leadership and problem‑solving abilities
• Ability to work independently, handle pressure and prioritise workloads
• Commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion
• Full UK driving licence

Desirable

• Relevant housing qualification (e.g., CIH Level 4)
• Experience working in a charity environment
• Experience in troubleshooting or service improvement roles
• Good strategic awareness

About Life: 

Life is a national pregnancy support charity that helps over 60,000 people a year. Through our services, we help people – whoever they are – to meet pregnancy or pregnancy loss with courage and dignity so they can flourish. 

Our services include:  

• Supported housing and community support   
• Counselling and skilled listening   
• Free pregnancy tests and baby supplies  

Our values :

All our work is underpinned by the following universal human values: 

• Humanity – All people are special and equal 
• Solidarity – We’re with you and for you 
• Community – We’re better together 
• Charity – Doing good for one another 
• Common good – Building a better world 

Information about the role: 

For further information, please see the attached job description. 

Salary: £34,000 per annum

Hours: 35 hours per week over 5 days

Location: Home Based with Extensive Travel across the Midlands and South East England

Benefits:  

At Life we are passionate about providing our employees with a supportive and engaging environment. As well as ongoing development and training, we offer our:  

• Generous holiday allowance, starting at 25 days per year, plus 8 Bank Holidays (pro rata for part time hours) 
• Birthday Leave  (applicable after 1 years service)
• Additional annual leave for long term service  
• Company Pension Scheme  
• Signed member of the Menopause Workplace Pledge 

Safeguarding and Equality: 

Life is committed to protecting all staff, volunteers and service users from harm of any kind. Life expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment through our code of conduct.   

We are committed to ensuring diversity and equality within our organisation by encouraging applications from all backgrounds.  

All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks. Life takes its obligation to protect the rights of children and vulnerable people very seriously; therefore, the successful candidate for this post will be also subject to extensive background checking, including an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check (DBS) which is paid for by the Charity.  

At Rethink Mental Illness, we believe everyone should be able to live a fulfilling life, regardless of how severely mental illness affects them. Our services are growing — and so is our ambition. That’s why we’re looking for a passionate and skilled Business Development Manager to help us shape the future of our charity and the support we provide.

About the role

As our Business Development Manager, you’ll play a key role in sustaining and expanding the services that make a real difference to people severely affected by mental illness. You’ll bring teams together, write with clarity and purpose, and lead the end‑to‑end bid development process — ensuring we continue to deliver high‑quality, impactful support where it’s needed most.

You’ll champion collaboration, draw on the expertise of colleagues across the charity, and craft compelling, evidence‑based proposals that reflect who we are and what we stand for. From early development to final submission, you’ll help us win and retain contracts that directly improve lives.

What you’ll be doing

• Leading the end‑to‑end development of bids, retenders, and proposals in line with internal quality standards.
• Working collaboratively with teams across Rethink Mental Illness, building strong relationships and creating connected ways of working.
• Supporting and managing Bid Development Officers.
• Contributing to regional business development plans and helping shape sustainable, innovative service models.
• Writing high‑quality, insightful submissions that articulate our strengths, capabilities, and lived‑experience approach.
• Developing early-stage budget models and working with Finance and HR to finalise financials ahead of submission.
• Generating insight through data, evidence, and internal expertise to create winning proposals.
• Researching competitors and identifying what makes Rethink Mental Illness stand out.
• Supporting successful bids through structured handovers and mobilisation.
• Contributing to continuous improvement through feedback, learning, and maintaining our Bid Library.

What you’ll bring

Essential

• A strong track record of writing successful competitive bids or proposals.
• Excellent writing, critical thinking, and communication skills.
• The ability to interpret complex tender documents and understand commissioner expectations.
• Strong relationship-building skills and the ability to unite diverse teams.
• Knowledge of commissioning, current legislation, and best practice in mental health and social care.
• Experience constructing budgets and modelling service assumptions.
• Strong organisational and project‑management abilities, with flexibility to meet deadlines.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and excellent general IT skills.
• A values‑driven approach consistent with Rethink Mental Illness’ ethos.

Desirable

• Experience working within mental health, health, or social care sectors.
• Lived or professional experience related to mental health and wellbeing.

Why Rethink Mental Illness?

When you join us, you’re not just taking on a role — you’re becoming part of a movement.
A movement committed to improving the lives of people severely affected by mental illness through high‑quality services, innovation, and compassionate support.

You’ll be part of a collaborative, supportive team where your growth and wellbeing matter, and where your work has a clear, direct impact.