Blind jobs in manchester, greater manchester

We are looking for an Engagement Manager (East of England) to join us on a fixed term contract, for 12-months, to cover maternity leave.

About the role

The key purpose of the Engagement Manager role is to deliver regional Sight Loss Councils across the East of England and to engage with blind and partially sighted people across the region.  We currently have two Sight Loss Councils (SLCs) in this region, so the postholder will be expected to care-take and develop both SLCs, focusing on the retention of the volunteers engaged and making sure the projects and work they are involved in, continue with success. You will also be managing and developing stakeholder relationships across all the areas in which we work including transport and health sectors, as well with local authorities and arts and culture venues in the region.

About you

You will have the passion and ability to use your lived experience or experience to influence change, for the benefit of blind and partially sighted people. As an experienced volunteer manager, you will engage and lead Sight Loss Council members in the implementation of the region’s business plans to bring about change across transport, health and the built environment, as well as areas of local interest such as arts and culture or retail.

You will be a self-starter and work well on your own but will also enjoy being a part of a team of other Engagement Managers across the country, with whom you can learn from, as well as share good practice with.

About us

At Thomas Pocklington Trust, we’re promoting equality and inclusion blind and partially sighted people in every aspect of society. One of our many missions is to establish Sight Loss Councils across the UK, to tackle local issues and work with businesses and service providers to improve the accessibility of their services.

£36,348 per year (£45,435 full time equivalent)
28 hours per week
Remote
Fixed term maternity cover

What we're looking for

As our Research and Insight Manager, you'll lead a dynamic research program that informs our strategic direction and drives impactful change. Your insights will contribute to building a deeper understanding the lives of blind partially sighted people, along with the external factors that influence them, and will shape RNIB's activities across all areas of our business.

What you'll be doing

With extensive experience of conducting qualitative and quantitative research studies, you will be producing actionable insights and recommendations resulting from research with a variety of audiences. You'll be collaborating with stakeholders to plan the research and working with internal teams and external suppliers to deliver a range of high quality, complex research studies to guide decision-making.

You'll also be responsible for line managing a team of researchers, developing and nurturing them to build their skills and experience in a variety of research methodologies and related subjects.

What you'll need to succeed

You'll have substantial experience of conducting and commissioning a wide variety of research studies. You'll also have strong analytical skills with the ability to understand a wide range of data sources and to express complex information in a clear, concise, and compelling way.

You'll be comfortable leading cross functional project teams and using agile methodologies to achieve project goals. You'll also demonstrate a strong ability to build effective stakeholder relationships and influence decisions.

This maternity cover role will lead a passionate team that champions the voices of blind and partially sighted people and puts the lived experience of sight loss at the heart of everything we do. You will be ale to contribute to this, perhaps through experience in the healthcare or not for profit sectors, and will ideally have a mix of research agency and client-side experience.

What We Offer

RNIB prides itself on being a great place to work with a positive, progressive culture. We offer a wide range of benefits including 26 days of holiday per year (plus bank holidays) which rises with service, enhanced family friendly benefits, a contributory pension scheme with an employer contribution of up to 11% and a rewards platform with employee discounts across over 800 retailers.

For more information on our available benefits, please visit our .

How to Apply

If you'd like to apply for this opportunity, please apply online, uploading your CV and supporting statement, telling us how you meet the essential criteria in the person specification.

Title: Trusts & Foundations Advisor

Location: UK / Remote

Contract: Permanent

Salary: £40,000 per annum 

About the role

Sightsavers’ Trusts and Corporate Partnerships team is excited to be expanding its team in response to growing demands and opportunities in the trusts & foundation sector. We are recruiting for two additional Trusts & Foundations Advisors to be key contributors to the development of Sightsavers trusts and foundations programme. They will play a crucial role in the successful recruitment and cultivation of new business, while also managing a portfolio of existing trust and foundation donors primarily based in the UK, U.S and Europe.

In this role, the Advisor will be instrumental in contributing towards the team’s annual income target and supporting additional planned growth in the coming years. 

Responsibilities

• Manage and cultivate relationships with a portfolio of key trust and foundation donors for Sightsavers (up to 7-figure funding agreements) via proposals, mailings, reports, telephone or face-to-face meetings as appropriate, and coordinate donor visits, dealing with CEOs, Directors, and Trustees.
• Develop key external and internal relationships and donor engagement activities for the achievement of planned objectives with these donors.
• Research, identify, prioritise, and develop personalised engagement plans and donor strategies to cultivate new trust prospects in targeted global markets. Lead on cultivating relationships with CEOs, Directors, and Trustees, with the aim of establishing additional high-value funding relationships.
• Work proactively across the organisation, including cross-culturally, to coordinate, develop, and deliver a high standard of compelling project proposals and reports ready for submission to donors whilst ensuring excellent grant/contract management to existing donor relationships.
• Actively participate in the networks surrounding trusts and foundations, sharing information, insights, opportunities, and fundraising materials produced.
• Represent Sightsavers and/or support staff delegations at conferences and networks to engage with and cultivate new donor relationships.
• Contribute to team, departmental, and wider organisational systems development and initiatives.

This is a highly varied and involved role and the above is not an exhaustive list of duties or required professional skills. Please see the Job Description for full details.

Jobholder Requirements

Essential

• Relevant experience working in the charity sector, ideally in international development.
• Experience of long-term grant/contract management of significant funders/clients.
• Proven success in personally cultivating new relationships with prospective donors/clients and maintaining relationships with existing donors/clients.
• Demonstrative experience of excellent written skills, including proposals, bids, and reports for external audiences.
• Proven success in creating successful funding proposals.
• Knowledge of good fundraising practice.
• Experience of in-person networking at conferences or face-to-face meetings with senior trusts and foundations staff/board.
• Understanding of and interest in charity sector and international development issues.
• First-class presentation and writing skills, including preparation of proposals, project budgets, and reports with excellent attention to detail.
• Excellent IT skills, including Word and Excel, and experience of using fundraising databases.
• Capable of relating well to a wide range of people.
• Strong listening and negotiating skills.
• Research experience, including the development of engagement plans.
• Experience of in-person networking at conferences.
• Self-confidence with the ability to take the initiative, manage time effectively, and work to deadlines.
• Good analytical skills – can prioritise and plan opportunities based on available information.
• Highly collaborative approach.

Desirable

• Experience of Fundraising from the US market.
• Experience of writing for the US market.

Next Steps

To apply for this exciting new opportunity, please complete an application via our recruitment portal. We are particularly interested in learning of your motivations for applying.

Successful candidates will be invited to participate in a virtual interview via Microsoft Teams, and we will also ask all candidates to complete a short task related to the responsibilities of the Trusts & Foundations Advisor role.

As an equal opportunity employer, we actively encourage applications from all sections of the community. Sightsavers is a Disability Confident Leader and qualified people living with a disability are particularly encouraged to apply.

Due to project deadlines, we are keen to fill this role as quickly as possible. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and considered as soon as they are received. The closing date for applications is 1 June 2025. We encourage you to submit your application as early as possible, as early submissions will be reviewed promptly.

·Overseethe setting up and management Sight for Life’s new Client Relationship Management (CRM) system.

·Ensure timely donor acknowledgments in line with stewardship policies.

·Track, monitor, and maintain regular engagement with donors.

·Lead donor recruitment and retention efforts to secure long-term support.

·Develop compelling fundraising campaigns and cases for support.

·Manage applications for external funding from Trusts & Foundations, ensuring strong stewardship from inception to renewal.

·Convert one-time donors into regular direct debit contributors.

·Increase legacy donations (sometimes also x referred to as Sadaqah Jariah).

·Provide periodic fundraising activity reports to the executive committee to enhance internal processes and return on investment (ROI).

·Stay updated on fundraising best practices and emerging trends, sharing insights across teams.

We are currently hiring for a new Trusts, Foundations and Corporates Manager, who will be responsible for managing income streams and maintaining a high standard of applications, reporting and stewardship for our trusted partners.

You will be joining a friendly team and your hard work will make an immediate, real impact for our inherited sight loss community.

Key responsibilities:

* Secure funding from Trusts, Foundations and Corporates sources to meet annual income targets and key performance indicators.

* Maintain existing relationships with Trusts, Foundations and Corporates and deliver growth opportunities by identifying new funding opportunities and monitor external trends regularly.

* Secure Corporate sponsorship for key events and projects including our Annual and Professionals’ conferences, our upcoming gala dinner and our Look Forward magazines.

* Write compelling cases for support and proposals, refreshing our case studies, impact and messaging regularly.

* Schedule, write and submit donor reports as part of our requirements and stewardship.

* Work with the Communications Manager and Head of Income Generation to create relevant case studies, news stories and social media content relevant to Trusts, Foundations and Corporates.

* Identify and cultivate new Corporate prospects and ensure that our database is kept up to date.

* Lead an exemplary stewardship programme for existing Corporate supporters and sponsors, to maximise income and establish donor loyalty.

* Collaborate with other internal teams to engage colleagues on the importance of Trusts, Foundations and Corporates by sharing successes and ways for colleagues to support these areas.

* Regularly measure the success of our outreach with pharmaceutical companies and Corporate prospects.

* Attend relevant networking events to grow our presence in the Corporate space and maintain an engaging post-event stewardship with all new contacts.

* Research and prepare applications and presentations for Charity of the Year partnerships and grow this area year-on-year.

* Create high quality, inspiring proposals, pitches, copy and other material for new opportunities, ensuring that all communications are on brand.

SPECIFICATION (E = essential, D = desirable):

Skills & Experience

Minimum of 1 year working in a similar role - E                                   

Working in a small team - D                                                                 

Educated to ‘A’ level standard or commensurate experience - E       

IT literate and highly adept in the use of MS Office Suite - E                   

Familiar with email and internet - E                                                     

High standard of written and verbal English and grammar - E           

Database experience - E                                                                     

Personal Attributes

Confident, polite and cheerful telephone manner  - E                           

Quick learner able to act on initiative and in the absence of managers - E                                                                                                   

An eye for detail and a flair for organisation - E                                 

Ability to empathise with people with disabilities (particularly visual impairment) - E                                                                               

Able to manage a busy workload - E                                                   

Commitment

Empathy with Retina UK’s aims and objectives - E                           

Willing to live Retina UK’s values - E     

KEY INFORMATION

Location: Manchester, Bristol, Newcastle, Nottingham, or London

Hours: 37.5 hours per week (Hybrid - minimum of 2 days per week in the office)

Start date: July 2025 (we are happy to work with you and your notice period)

Duration: Permanent

Salary: £29,150 per annum if based in London. £26,575 per annum if based in Manchester, Nottingham, Newcastle or Bristol, plus a £312 yearly tax-free work from home allowance.

Application deadline: 12 noon, Friday 23rd May 2025

ABOUT UPREACH

Do you think that your socio-economic background should determine your career prospects?

upReach’s vision is of a society in which everybody has an equal opportunity to realise their full career potential. Our work is important because right now a student from disadvantaged background who gains a first-class degree from a top university is less likely to secure an elite job than a more privileged student with a 2.2. 

We are an award-winning charity employer working to address this issue in partnership with employers and universities. We help undergraduates from lower socioeconomic backgrounds achieve their career potential by providing an intensive programme of support that addresses socio-economic barriers to graduate employment. 

To find out more about how we support our students, visit our website and read our Annual Report, and Impact Report. 

ROLE SUMMARY

The Student Administration Officer will work with the Associate facing Programmes team to support the successful delivery of the upReach programme, focused on the programme operations of onboarding new Associates.

CORE RESPONSIBILITIES

You will contribute to upReach's mission by working with our programme team to facilitate the onboarding of new Associates.  You will be responsible for key processes and tasks on the Associate Tracking System, to enable upReach to deliver effectively and to meet objectives and key results (OKRs). These include:

• Associate Tracking System: steward applicants through the pipeline; confirm student eligibility; answering applicant and Programme Coordinator queries; track and report on pipeline progress; help Programme Coordinators with reporting on programme application progress;

• Ensuring our communications to applicants and prospective applicants are accurate and effective including email templates and call scripts;

• Assisting the student attraction team to deliver effective campaigns promoting our programmes;

• Assisting with other programme delivery activities as needed;

• Researching process improvement projects as needed.

Please note it is not possible for the job description to cover the exhaustive list of responsibilities of your role due to the varied nature of the role. The job description aims to provide an overview of your remit.

COLLABORATION AREAS

Collaboration is a key part of upReach’s culture, and as a Student Administration Officer you’ll have the opportunity to work with a range of teams across our organisation, including: 

• Programme Coordinators - coordinating the onboarding of each Associate. 

• Fundraising & Partnerships - meeting the onboarding expectations of our funder / partner relationships.

VALUES 

At upReach we uphold the following values for our team and volunteers, and will be looking for candidates who display these in our application process:

• Advocacy: We expect those involved with upReach to be advocates for everyone realising their full potential, regardless of social background.

• Aspiration: We empower our Associates to aim high and achieve their ambitions. 

• Integrity: We expect everyone involved with upReach to work collaboratively and with honesty, and to fulfil their commitments.

• Perseverance: We are adaptable when overcoming challenges, and encourage Associates to persevere similarly.

• Proactivity: We are proactive in our work, and inspire Associates to demonstrate this too.

SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

The ideal candidate for Student Administration Officer will bring with them the following skills:  

• Attention to detail

• Planning and organising

• Proactivity and Perseverance

• Communication 

• Collaboration

To be successful in this role you will bring with you the following experience: 

• Strong organisational skills with attention to detail and the ability to manage a varied workload;

• Solid communication skills with the ability to communicate with students, team members and partners either in writing or verbally;

• The ability to learn quickly how to utilise a range of tools, including Excel and Google suite;

• Comfortable working in a fast-paced environment and working independently to find solutions to problems; 

• Self-motivation and an ability to work in a small team as well as independently;

• Commitment to social mobility - Knowledge of the UK social mobility landscape, and demonstrates a willingness to deepen their knowledge.

Desirable:

• Experienced in confidently contacting applicants and resolving their queries over the phone.

TEAM CULTURE AND BENEFITS

By joining the upReach team, you will be joining a team who are committed to supporting you in your career journey and fostering an inclusive culture. 

We offer: 

• Flexible and hybrid working.

• Statutory Holiday Entitlement of 25 days and bank holidays. This increases to 2 additional days after 2.5 years and then to 3 additional days after 5 years of working with us. 

• Birthday leave and volunteer leave

• Enhanced Parental Leave beyond statutory requirements for all team members. 

• 3% Pension Contribution, this increases to 5% after 5 years of working with us. 

• Cycle-to-work and tech buying schemes.

• Monthly socials.

• Dedication to Staff Wellbeing through our Employee Assistance Programme and Mental Health First Aid Training and annual Wellbeing Days

• Personal Development Budget, activated after 6 months in the role.

• The opportunity to participate in our fantastic staff networks: 

  • Disability and Inclusion Network

  • Diverse Roots Network 

  • Green Network 

  • LGBTQ+ Network

  • Mindfulness Network

  • Parents and Carers Network 

  • Socio-economic Background Network

READY TO APPLY

We are committed to making our recruitment process inclusive. All applications will be blind screened, and our job packs are available in Braille, large text or another format upon request. We can provide reasonable adjustments throughout our recruitment application process and on the job, and we'll always endeavour to be as accommodating as possible.

Applications close at 12 noon, Friday 23rd May  Early applications are encouraged as we will be scheduling interviews on an ongoing basis. 

Equal Opportunities

At upReach, we are committed to being an equal opportunities employer and do not discriminate in employment matters on the basis of race, ethnicity, religion, gender, age, disability, social background or any other protected class. We celebrate and value the diverse perspectives that people from all backgrounds bring to our team. We are passionate about creating a workplace that is inclusive and reflects the diversity of communities across the UK. Diversity in the workplace creates dynamic and effective organisations and we are actively working to build a more inclusive workforce by continuously improving our recruitment, retention, and development practices. We  encourage applications from individuals from underrepresented groups, including Black, Asian and other ethnic minority backgrounds, those with disabilities , those who are care-experienced, those from low socio-economic backgrounds, and those who are LGBTQIA+.

We seek individuals deeply committed to supporting children and young people who are driven by intrinsic motivation and unwavering standards for themselves and others. If you resonate with this, we invite you to join our team in Leigh/Atherton/Greater Wigan!

AllChild (formerly West London Zone) is a non-profit organisation that proactively works with children and their families to flourish socially, emotionally and academically through our tailored Impact Programme.

Working with schools, we identify and support children and young people before the need for crisis intervention, connecting them to the help they need through our trusted adult, the Link Worker.

Joining us as an Associate Link Worker/Link Worker, you will be based in the school with the children and young people you’ll be working with on our programme. Working directly with the children, their families, their teachers and our partners, you will design and facilitate a two-year Impact Programme of support and champion the children and young people along the way.

Since our launch in 2016, our Impact Programme has helped thousands of children and young people at the tipping point of need. 75% are no longer at risk in their emotional and mental wellbeing; two-thirds improved their grades, and 90% of schools renew after the first programme, noting ‘transformational or significant positive impact’ for the children and the wider school environment.

We are proud to be an employer that puts equity, diversity and inclusion at the core of all that we do, for the benefit of our employees, our partners, and the community that we work with. We are proud of our diversity and are therefore keen to receive applications from people who may be underrepresented in our AllChild community.

For further information and to apply, please visit our website via the Apply button.

Closing date: 6 June 2025.