About Us
Down Syndrome UK (DSUK) is a national parent led charity, actively supporting over 5,000 families with a child or young person with Down syndrome. Our mission is to empower individuals to lead fulfilling lives, ensuring they reach their full potential.
Through our flagship initiative, Positive About Down Syndrome (PADS), we provide comprehensive support from prenatal care through adulthood. We equip healthcare providers and educators with essential training and resources, including our renowned #pants4school program, which helps children achieve independence in toilet training.
At DSUK, we are committed to advocating for equality and inclusion, and driving impactful change through education and campaigning.
We are growing our team to strengthen our fundraising operations and diversify our income. This is an exciting opportunity to play a key role in shaping our income generation strategy and building meaningful relationships with funders and corporate partners.
Role Overview
We are seeking a proactive, strategic, and driven individual to lead our grant and bid writing function while also developing and managing relationships with corporate donors and partners. You will work closely with senior leadership to secure vital income through trusts, foundations, and businesses that align with our mission.
Key Responsibilities
Grant & Bid Writing (50%)
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Research and identify suitable funding opportunities from trusts, foundations, and statutory bodies.
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Write compelling, evidence-based grant applications and funding proposals.
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Manage a pipeline of funding opportunities, ensuring deadlines are met.
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Develop and implement an impact reporting strategy for grant and bid writing.
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Monitor and report on funded projects in collaboration (using Salesforce) with delivery teams.
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Maintain relationships with funders through regular updates, impact reports, and renewal applications.
Corporate Fundraising & Partnerships (50%)
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Implement our corporate fundraising strategy to increase income from businesses.
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Identify and approach potential corporate partners, managing outreach and engagement.
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Manage and cultivate existing partnerships with companies and organisations.
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Create tailored proposals, sponsorship packages, and partnership materials.
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Collaborate with the marketing team to promote partnerships and joint campaigns.
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Organise and support corporate fundraising events and staff engagement opportunities.
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To maintain excellent supporter stewardship and cultivation including thanking supporters and supporter development communications.
Person Specification
Essential
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Proven experience in writing successful funding bids and managing grant applications.
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Strong communication and relationship-building skills.
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Ability to write persuasively and tailor messaging for different audiences.
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Organised, self-motivated, and able to manage multiple projects and deadlines.
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Passion for the mission of Down Syndrome UK and a commitment to inclusion.
Desirable
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Experience working in a small charity or growing organisation.
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Knowledge of disability or education-related sectors.
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Familiarity with CRM systems (such as Salesforce for non-profits) and impact reporting.
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Experience in corporate fundraising, CSR, or business development.
What We Offer
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Working from home.
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Flexible working arrangements.
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Supportive and inclusive working environment.
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Opportunity to make a real impact in a growing, ambitious charity.
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Training and professional development opportunities.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Our passionate Regional Casework Coordinators are SSAFA’s front line of support for members of the armed forces community in need. They are the first point of contact for all beneficiaries into the Regional Office, assessing needs and allocating the case to one of our volunteer caseworkers.
You will sometimes handle complex problems from individuals who may be distressed, identifying the presenting and potential underlying needs to determine the best way to support the beneficiary. You will have ownership of cases from beginning to end, coordinating the casework process in a timely manner and ensure that the beneficiary journey is at the centre of the Service. You will have the opportunity to shape processes and procedures within the office which will lead to improvements in the service offered to clients.
To help you establish yourself in this new post you will receive excellent training and induction to SSAFA.
Whilst the post is homebased, to be eligible for this role you are required to live in the North East England or Yorkshire region, which includes North, South, East and West Yorkshire, Teesside, County Durham, Tyne & Wear and Northumberland. There will be occasional travel around these areas, and you may be required to travel at short notice for face-to-face meetings.
About the team
The team work remotely and pride themselves in maintaining a close working bond which ensures the smooth operation of the office. You will work closely with volunteers from the eight SSAFA branches in the Northeast and Yorkshire, supporting them to administer casework for SSAFA beneficiaries. The successful candidate will work as part of a team 8, which includes a Regional Casework Manager and a Regional Manager for Casework and Community Engagement.
About you
To carry out this role successfully you will have a track record of providing welfare advice in key areas such as housing, benefits, debt, disability, mobility or immigration issues. You will have knowledge of safeguarding and GDPR and experience in dealing with sensitive information and people in vulnerable situations. You will be able to provide excellent customer service by telephone, e-mail and face to face. You will have used Microsoft Office 365 to a high standard. It is important that you have experience of planning and managing your own workload, with minimal supervision.
It would be advantageous if you have an understanding of the way of life for today’s Armed Forces, veterans and their families and if you have experience of recruiting and supporting volunteers. An understanding of the voluntary sector and preferably the military charity sector landscape across the Northeast and Yorkshire would be valuable.
About SSAFA
SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity, has been providing practical, emotional, and financial support to our Forces and their families since 1885. SSAFA, is a trusted source of support for the Armed Forces community in their time of need; last year our trained teams of volunteers and employees helped more than 53,000 people in need, including veterans, serving personnel (regulars and reserves) and their families.
SSAFA understands that behind every uniform is a person. We are here for that person and their family – any time they need us, in any way they need us, for as long as they need us.
Diversity and Inclusion at SSAFA
SSAFA exists to support a diverse range of beneficiaries within the armed forces community, and we believe diversity within our teams is key to ensuring we can deliver our services effectively. We thrive on differences and believe it is critical to our success as a worldwide charity. SSAFA is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace that seeks to recruit, develop and retain the most talented people from a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. We therefore encourage applications from all genders, races, religions, ages and sexual orientations, as well as parents, veterans, people living with disabilities, and any other groups that could bring diverse perspectives to our business.
SSAFA is committed to using the Disclosure & Barring Service to ensure we, as an employer, safeguard those we serve.
No agencies please. Any unsolicited submissions from agencies will be accepted as a direct application from the candidate and no fees will be payable.
Closing date: Midnight on Monday 23 June 2025.
Interviews: 30 June 2025
Our vision A society in which the Armed Forces, veterans and their families can thrive.

We are looking for a Finance Officer to join our team to administer the financial affairs of the District. This role will include working closely with the District Secretary and Treasurer to implement financial policies and controls, assisting with preparing budgets and accounts, managing payroll, processing receipts and payments and maintaining appropriate accounting records.
Role Purpose and Objectives
To administer the financial affairs of the District including preparing budgets and accounts, managing payroll, processing receipts and payments and maintaining appropriate accounting records.
Responsibilities
Financial Controls and Policies
- Support the District Treasurer to implement proper financial policies and controls, ensuring appropriate accounting codes for churches and charities are complied with.
Budgets and Accounts
- Assist the District Secretary, Treasurer and Resourcing Mission Committee to prepare budget and circuit assessments for the District with reference to the District Mission Plan.
- Work with the District Secretary and Treasurer to prepare annual accounts for the District, including liaising with the auditors and helping to draft the Trustees’ Annual Report, particularly with regard to accounting practice and policies.
- Support the District Secretary as needed to ensure compliance with the Methodist Church and Charity Commission requirements, including supplying the information for HMRC P11D forms.
Payroll
- Ensure District employees’ and ministers’ payroll information is correct and liaise with the central Methodist payroll bureau so that staff are paid on time.
Administration of Bank Accounts
- Monitor cash flow and administer transfers between bank accounts.
- Set up approved payments in online banking and liaise with signatories to authorise these for payment.
- Liaise with the Treasurer and/or District Secretary on transactions with the Central Finance Board and Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes, preparing paperwork to facilitate drawdown of funds.
- Administer changes to banking mandates.
- Administer changes to Direct Debits and Standing Order instructions.
Receipts and Payments/Book-keeping
- Check invoices and expenses claims for accuracy, before sending to authorised persons for approval.
- Record all bank transactions for all bank accounts on a monthly basis.
- Produce monthly fund summaries, with detailed analyses.
- Provide monthly ‘sub-accounts’, where required, for specific projects
Other key tasks
- Manage the District’s Financial Record systems, including archiving information as necessary
- With the District Secretary, review and renew the District’s Insurance Policies.
- Maintain the District’s Asset Register.
- Other duties commensurate with the role as agreed with the District Secretary.
For an informal conversation about the role please contact Lisa Murphy, District Secretary. To apply, please complete the application form and submit by the closing date and time. CVs will not be accepted.
Interviews to take place during the week beginning 7th July 2025.
A growing, evangelistic, justice-seeking and inclusive church without walls.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.