Child support officer jobs

This is a grant funded role, fixed term for two years, with the opportunity for conversion to a permanent role should funding allow.

Main Purpose of the Role:

To provide proactive, emotional, and practical support to families and individuals affected by Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) across Scotland. The role will focus on early engagement, wellbeing assessment, community building, and delivery of workshops and events, while ensuring accurate tracking of support outcomes and data.  
 
The successful candidate will also lead on support for young people living with Duchenne during 2 key transition points (primary to secondary school stage and moving into adulthood). They will work closely with the England-based Transitions Coordinator to deliver a joined-up programme of support across the UK. 

Specific Tasks:

1. Proactive Family Support 

• Initiate contact with newly registered families within agreed timeframes (email within 3 working days, call within 7–10 working days) 

• Contact to be made to all registered Action Duchenne members, knows to us in Scotland, to ensure the current support offer is clear  

• Provide ongoing support tailored to individual needs, including emotional wellbeing, physical health, housing, financial security, self-esteem and respect, decision-making, social engagement, quality of life, and access to care 

• Use the Action Duchenne Assessment Form and Action Plan to identify and respond to areas of concern 

2. Transitions Support 

· Lead transition support across all nations, with a focus on Scotland, for children and young people facing key life changes, including: 

· Moving between educational settings such as primary to secondary 

· Transitioning from paediatric to adult health services 

· Changes in mobility and independence (e.g. transitioning to using powerchairs)

· You will lead, but expected to work collaboratively with the England-based Transition Coordinator to ensure consistency and continuity of support across the UK 

· Develop resources, guidance, and workshops to support families through transitions 

3. Wellbeing Tracking and Outcome Measurement 

· Administer wellbeing questionnaires and record scores across key domains (e.g. physical health, emotional wellbeing, financial security) 

· Collaborate with families to co-create action plans and track progress 

· Ensure all data is entered into CRM (E-Tapestry or similar) within the allotted timeframe, i.e. immediately after or during the call. 

4. Community Engagement and Event Delivery 

· Organise and deliver regional meetups (minimum one per quarter) 

· Facilitate support groups (virtual and in-person) for parents, young people, and extended family 

· Support delivery of workshops and events aligned with programme schedule (e.g. music, life skills, employability) 

5. Stakeholder Collaboration 

· Liaise with external organisations including NHS care advisors and clinics, local authorities, counselling services, and other charities 

· Represent Action Duchenne in Scotland and build relationships with local networks 

6. Administration and Reporting 

· Maintain accurate records of all interactions and support provided 

· Contribute to quarterly reporting on activity delivery, capacity utilisation, and family impact 

· Support development of CRM processes and service delivery improvements 

7. Key Performance Indicators (KPIs): 

· New contact acknowledgement email: within 3 working days 

· New contact follow-up call: within 7–10 working days 

· Families contacted per week: 12–15 hours of direct contact 

· Regional meetups: 1 per quarter 

· Support groups delivered: 9–12 per year 

· CRM data entry: within 24 hours of interaction 

· Family outcomes tracked: via wellbeing questionnaire and action plan 

· Transition support delivered: tracked through engagement, resources, and feedback 

NB This is not an exhaustive list, the role holder will be asked to carry out additional tasks as required for the Team’s successful service delivery. Such tasks will always be reasonable and broadly in line with current knowledge levels and skill sets.

Please find below the job specification, including required skills and qualifications.

About Action Duchenne 
Action Duchenne supports, empowers and equips every DMD community in their journey from diagnosis and beyond.

Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) is a muscle wasting condition for which there is no cure, but we journey alongside communities to empower them and provide information for them to make informed decisions. Action Duchenne has a team of passionate, supportive staff who are keen to do more for families living with Duchenne and has a number of staff with direct lived experience. 

At Action Duchenne, values are more than words—they shape how we work and interact every day. For this role, we are looking for a team member who can reflect our values: 

• Supportive – Actively assist colleagues and stakeholders, fostering a culture of collaboration and reliability. 

• Empathetic – Approach challenges with understanding, considering the impact on people internally and externally. 

• Respectful – Ensure all communications and decisions uphold dignity and fairness, especially when handling sensitive matters. 

• Community Focused – Make decisions that strengthen our community, ensuring all activity supports inclusive engagement and shared purpose. 

• Inclusive – Promote accessibility and equity, ensuring everyone feels valued and heard. 

The Events Officer will embody these values in every aspect of planning, delivering and evaluating events. 

What we offer: 

• 24-hour confidential Employee Assistance helpline 

• Private health insurance 

• Flexible hours 

• 5% employer pension contribution 

Main Purpose of the Role 
This new role aims to support the design, coordination and delivery of Action Duchenne’s events portfolio, including the Annual Community Summit, regional meetups, workshops, and online events. The role will ensure smooth operational delivery, high‑ quality participant experiences, accessible information, and effective logistics‑ and supplier coordination. 

This role contributes directly to our organisational impact by ensuring families, young people, professionals and partners have access to engaging, supportive and well managed events. This is a brilliant opportunity for someone who enjoys a challenge, is incredibly organised with excellent project management skills, close attention to detail, creativity and a passion for supporting every DMD community. 

 Specific Tasks 

1. Event Coordination and Logistics 

• Support the planning and delivery of the Annual Community Summit, working closely with the Chief Scientific Officer, Director of Fundraising and Communications, and wider team. 

• Coordinate logistics for in‑person and online events, including venue liaison, catering, accessibility arrangements, equipment, travel, accommodation and schedules. 

• Ensure event details are accurately published and updated across relevant platforms (website, CRM, communications channels). 

• Manage registration processes for all events and ensure attendees receive timely, accurate joining information. 

• Support the organisation of regional meet‑ups and workshops, ensuring venues, facilitators and resources are in place. 

2. Administration and Operational Delivery 

• Maintain clear and accurate administrative systems, including event checklists, timelines, risk assessments and evaluation forms. 

• Track planned expenditure and ensure costs align with budgets, escalating issues where necessary. 

• Prepare and maintain event collateral (slides, handouts, resources, signage), ensuring accessibility and brand consistency. 

• Provide administrative and practical support during events (both online and in person), including setting up webinar sessions and coordinating pre and post event meetings internally. 

3. Stakeholder and Supplier Management 

• Liaise with venues, suppliers, speakers, exhibitors and partners to ensure high quality event delivery. 

• Develop positive working relationships with internal colleagues to ensure a joined-up programme across support, communications and scientific teams. 

• Provide excellent customer service to participants, responding promptly and sensitively to enquiries, access requirements and logistical questions. 

4. Community and Engagement Support 

• Collaborate with Support Team colleagues to ensure events reflect community needs and priorities. 

• Support the promotion of events through the Communications Officer, ensuring timely provision of copy, event information and updates. 

• Encourage and support attendance from families, young people, professionals and community partners. 

5. Data Management, Monitoring and Evaluation 

• Ensure accurate data entry in CRM systems (eTapestry or similar) for attendee lists, engagement tracking and follow up actions. 

• Collect and analyse feedback, producing short evaluation summaries to inform future planning. 

• Track attendance, trends and logistical improvements, contributing to quarterly reporting. 

6. Risk, Compliance and Quality Assurance 

• Support event risk assessments and ensure compliance with safeguarding, accessibility and GDPR guidance. 

• Ensure that content and delivery meet Action Duchenne’s quality standards and reflect the needs of families affected by Duchenne. 

NB This is not an exhaustive list, the role holder will be asked to carry out additional tasks as required for the Team’s successful service delivery. Such tasks will always be reasonable and broadly in line with current knowledge levels and skill sets. 

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) 

• Event logistics prepared within agreed timelines 

• Accurate event information published and updated within required timeframes 

• Participant satisfaction and engagement measured through surveys 

• Conference and event attendance targets met 

• CRM data entry completed within 2 working days of events 

• Budget expenditure tracked monthly with minimal variance 

• Effective delivery of regional and online events aligned with pre-agreed schedule 

Person Specification 

Knowledge & Experience 

Essential

• Experience organising in person events from start to finish for over 300 attendees. 

• Experience liaising with suppliers, venues and speakers. 

• Experience with CRM/data entry, with close attention to detail. 

• Experience organising and hosting remote events. 

• Understanding of hybrid events. 

Desirable

• Experience in the charity sector. 

• Knowledge of Duchenne or similar life-limiting conditions. 

Skills & Abilities 

Essential

• Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to build trust, motivate teams and develop positive relationships with beneficiaries, staff, volunteers and external partners. 

• Understanding of the importance of safeguarding around events. 

• Exceptional communication skills. 

• Excellent organisational and time management skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities and meet deadlines. 

• Analytical and data literate, able to interpret performance data, identify trends, and use insight to drive improvement. 

• Skilled in problem solving, with a proactive, solutions focused approach. 

• Ability to be assertive while maintaining empathy, particularly when supporting teams dealing with emotionally complex situations. 

• Digital proficiency including Microsoft Office, CRM systems and digital communication tools. 

Attributes 

Essential

• Emotionally intelligent, reflective and able to manage sensitive issues with empathy and professionalism. 

• Values driven, compassionate and committed to improving the lives of individuals and families affected by long term or life-limiting conditions. 

• Resilient and adaptable, able to navigate complexity. 

• Creative, dynamic and innovative, with the ability to take ideas from concept to delivery. 

• Demonstrable commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion. 

• Personally, and professionally, responsible with high standards of integrity and accountability. 

• A sense of humour and the ability to bring warmth and humanity to the role. 

Closing date: 25 May 2026 at 9am, with first round, online interviews aiming to take place in week commencing 8th June. 

We have an exciting opportunity for an experienced Senior Communications Officer to come and join our team in Redcar & Cleveland. 

Location – This role is both community-based in Redcar & Cleveland, with the ability to work from home as agreed with your manager. There may also be occasional travel to other programme sites (currently Middlesbrough, Stoke-On-Trent and Scotland) or travel to our London office.  

Salary – Up to £35,000 DOE 

Employment Type – Permanent

Team – Communications team

About you

We are looking for someone who can demonstrate the following: 

• Significant experience in a communications role, including experience with copywriting and content creation. 
• Experience producing high quality, clear, compelling and audience appropriate content for a range of platforms. 
• The ability to clearly demonstrate our impact and inspire collaboration among our partners and stakeholders by sharing compelling and meaningful stories.
• Demonstrable knowledge and understanding of the local community, including its strengths, needs, and challenges. 
• Strong knowledge and skills in Adobe Creative Suite such as Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop or Canva. 

About the role

The responsibilities of this role include: 

• Actively identify opportunities where communications can strengthen programme delivery, support parent outreach and increase engagement with families and communities. 
• Develop the local stakeholder engagement approach in line with agreed objectives, proactively identifying opportunities to strengthen relationships and using data and team insight to increase engagement.
• Support effective communications with stakeholders across sectors including community, health, education and local organisations. 
• Develop and produce compelling, audience focused content for a range of channels, including newsletters, case studies and promotional materials. 
• Work closely with the Head of Communications, Programme Leads and colleagues across the organisation to align communications priorities with programme and organisational objectives. 

About us

Thrive at Five is a national charity focused on giving every child the best possible start in life. We know the foundations for life and learning are built in the earliest years, from pregnancy to five. By working alongside families, communities and local partners, we help build stronger, more connected support for parents, so more children get what they need to thrive and reach a good level of development by age five.
 

Thrive at Five is a relatively young organisation but with an already strong national and political profile, having been called out in Parliament for our ways of working in Stoke-on-Trent and invited to be interviewed at the 2025 Civil Society Summit by the Secretary of State for Education. We have grown rapidly in our first four years, with a growing team of nearly 40 across the country. 2026 will be a year of further growth and milestones for the charity as we celebrate our fifth-year anniversary and expand into our third and fourth regions. This will involve recruiting for a new teams, establishing our programmes and beginning to co-design and implement our work in partnership with communities. 

About our benefits

• Pension contributions – We will contribute 3% and you can contribute 5% towards your pension through NEST. 
• 25 annual leave days per year plus bank holidays.
• £100 contribution towards your professional body membership.

Please note that as this role is subject to a successful Basic Level Disclosure check through the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). If you have any unspent convictions, but wish to apply for this role, please advise us in your application. The successful candidate will also need to provide satisfactory references and current right to work in the UK. 

To apply for this role, please submit your cover letter and CV by following the Apply Now button. Closing date for applications is midnight on Friday 8th May 2026.

WHO WE ARE

We are Zarach, the children’s bed charity, and we’re on a mission to end child bed poverty, helping children get a good night's sleep, and the chance to thrive at school.

In our nearly seven years as a registered charity, we’ve captured the hearts and attention of many individuals, community groups, businesses and funders who want to support us on our mission. We’ve also been given an incredible media platform from which we have raised awareness of child bed poverty at local, regional and national levels. This support and awareness has seen us deliver over 17,000 bed bundles to children to date. 

WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR

As we grow, we are looking to recruit a Communications Officer to join the Communications team.

As our ideal candidate you will need to be in commuting distance to our Leeds warehouse, meaning you can travel regularly to meet with the team. This is a hybrid role based between the Leeds warehouse and home, with at least one day per week at the warehouse. Some travel to other locations may be required occasionally for events.

You will be someone who has good experience of the broad range of day-to-day communications admin and management activities that working in a small team brings and someone who enjoys the busyness and variety of this.

Alongside your Communications Officer-related skills and experience, we’ll be looking to see that you have a genuine care for our mission and, as such, are self-motivated to do a great job and be a values-led member of our team.

Ideally, you’ll have experience of engaging and growing audiences in the charity sector, due to some of the specialities that come with this, such as understanding the donor experience as opposed to commercial endeavours. But charity experience is not essential if you can demonstrate an appetite and track record for continual learning and development across your working life to date. 

WHAT WE OFFER

• Starting at £26,000 with progression up to £30,000 p/a (FTE) 

• 28 days annual leave, plus Bank Holidays (prorated for part-time work)

• Healthcare Cash Plan

• Quarterly Staff Recognition Award

• A great working environment! One of our colleagues described us as- “Zarach is a wonderful place to work with the mission at the core of all that we do” 

To decide if you’d like to bring your skills and experience to bear in the pursuit of our mission, please have a look at the job description, our website and the coverage of us across social media.

Please note that we may close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of applications. Therefore, we encourage you to submit your CV and cover letter as soon as possible.

Shine supports a community of over 15,000 members living with spina bifida and/or hydrocephalus, including 5,000 children and young people (0–25).

You will be delivering high-quality support and creating opportunities for children and young people living with spina bifida and/or hydrocephalus and their families/carers. Supporting Shine members to lead healthy, independent, and fulfilling lives by improving condition management and fostering connections within the Shine community. 

This role will focus on children and young people (0–25), you will be primarily working within the Children, Young People and Families team. However, there will be occasions when you will work across age groups to ensure the best outcomes for our members. 

The role is home-based but you will be required to attend regular clinics in London including GOSH (Great Ormond Street Hospital). Other travel across Southern England including Bristol, Devon and Hampshire may be required. There will be occasional travel required across wider areas and nationally including attendance at events, conferences and meetings at our head office in Peterborough. 

Benefits: 

• Competitive salary: Review due April 2027 

• Regular working hours, and no shift work (some very occasional weekends or evenings)   

• 3% pension contribution 

• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays, with additional discretionary leave between Christmas and New Year 

• Additional annual leave awarded for ‘long service’ 

• Opportunity to purchase additional annual leave 

• Broadband allowance for home-based roles 

• Life insurance after 12 months’ employment   

• Access to our Employee Support Programme and Mental Health First Aiders  

• Support to learn and develop  

How to apply  

Shine is a Disability Confident employer and will offer guaranteed interviews if a disabled applicant meets the minimum criteria for the job.  

If you would like to discuss the role please email Gill Valentine, Deputy CEO, to arrange a convenient time for a call.  

To apply please submit your CV and supporting statement, which should outline your interest and explain how you meet the role criteria.

*Please note applications without a supporting statement will not be accepted* 

We understand that you may wish to use AI tools to help you with some aspects of your application, but we do expect tailored applications which are personalised to your experiences and not generic applications which are completely AI generated. We encourage candidates to be transparent about AI usage in their applications.  

Closing date:  Monday 17th May 2026 at 11pm  

Interviews:  Tuesday 26th May 2026  (Virtual) 

Please note: we reserve the right to interview suitable candidates before the closing date, therefore we encourage applications as soon as possible.  

Please see full details on the Job Description and Person Specification document below and on our website.

Barnardo's is seeking an empathetic and child led individual who can work within a dynamic and fast-paced environment using their strong organisational, communication and time management skills to support children in the secure estate.

This part-time position (Independent Children's Rights and Advocacy Worker – Project Worker 2) is based within HMYOI Parc, which accommodates children aged between 15-18 years, who are in custody, either sentenced or on remand.  Barnardo's refers to Young Offender Institutions (YOI) and Secure Training Centres (STC) as the ‘Secure Estate'.

Barnardo's is commissioned by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) to provide an Independent Children's Rights and Advocacy (ICRAS) Service to children accommodated in a secure setting. The service is known to children as Barnardo's: Your Rights, Your Voice, and currently works within  four Young Offender Institutes and  one Secure Training Centre. The ICRAS service is child led and independent of the secure estate; our service is delivered within HMYOI Parc to ensure children can freely access support for a range of issues linked to their needs, rights & experiences of custody, resettlement, and safeguarding.  As such this is a child-facing service, and at times involves lone working in the establishments, so we are seeking someone who can see the child, not the offence.

We hold ‘voice' at the heart of all we do, therefore we feel the role is best described by someone who is currently working in this sector: “The role is an Independent Children's Rights and Advocacy role, which means it is our job to empower the children we work with and help them to understand that what they think, what they feel and what they want, really matters. We can speak on behalf of children to ensure their voice is heard and we also have the opportunity to help them to find the tools and confidence to raise their voices for themselves.  Advocacy and Children's Rights support is particularly crucial in the secure estate because children are away from home, family and natural advocates, and also because children in secure estate are some of the most vulnerable children in society; they have often faced considerable adversity, disadvantage and discrimination prior to arriving into custody and they might not, therefore, be equipped with the skills needed to articulate their concerns. Through the work you do with a child such as  simply helping them make contact with friends or family on the outside, to helping them with concerns they may have in relation todiscrimination, resettlement or safeguarding issues, you  may be the one person telling them that  they matter for the very first time.”

The position (Independent Children's Rights and Advocacy Worker – Project Worker 2) is line managed by a Team Manager, reporting to an off-site manager. The post holder will need to be able to work autonomously, working to the requirements of the contract and the regime of the YOI. The secure estate is a highly structured environment; as a Barnardo's service we deliver independent advocacy and support for a range of issues, whilst still having to follow and adhere to this structure.

This role includes lone working in this challenging secure environment. It is, therefore, critical that the successful candidate can follow guidance and policy and is able to take proactive and individual responsibility to understand and access the service support mechanisms.  This role requires the worker to be onsite for their contracted hours, working remotely only for occasional training or meetings. The advocacy team work on a rota system with set hours each week, which includes weekends and bank holidays. Applicants should also be aware, that due to the nature of working within secure estate, the vetting and induction process can take several months to complete.

When completing your application please refer to your skills, knowledge and experience in relation to the Additional Information, Person Specification and Job Description document. This should be done with an understanding of the context of the service described, including advocacy and safeguarding.  

This is a part-time vacancy with 18.5 hours available per week.

Please note due to the high volume of applications for some posts, this advert might close before the displayed closing date. We recommend that you apply for this role as soon as possible.

Youth Outreach Practitioner – Glasgow  

Salary: Up to £32k 

Hours: Full time 

Location: Glasgow  

Contract: Permanent  

WE STAND FOR CHILDREN, THEIR CHILDHOODS AND THEIR FUTURES - WILL YOU? 

Around the world hundreds of thousands of children struggle to survive on the streets. In many countries, they have become an accepted issue in society, deprived of access to the most basic services and they experience extreme harm before and during their time on the streets.

Wherever they may be in the world, they face violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation. 

Founded in 1996, Railway Children has dedicated over a quarter of a century to developing outstanding practice and services for street connected children. With projects in the UK, India and Tanzania, we aim to reach these children as soon as they are in danger and intervene before an abuser can.  As we embark on our new strategy to 2030, we have ambitious plans to ensure no child is left behind, wherever we work. 

The role 
We are looking for a Youth Outreach Practitioner for our Glasgow team and are keen to receive applications from those living in and around the City of Glasgow.  You’ll be part of a dynamic team delivering Railway Children’s programme in the UK, in partnership with British Transport Police (BTP).  

As a Youth Outreach Practitioner, you’ll play a key role in keeping children safe from harm by engaging in patrols to identify and safeguard young people (aged 10-17) at risk of criminal and sexual exploitation, county lines, missing from home, homelessness or family breakdown.  

You will also work closely with our Youth Practitioner, supporting a number of young people who have been identified or referred for 1-1 direct support.

Both aspects of the role will involve working directly with young people and their families to reduce risks, as well as building strong relationships other social care, Police, third sector agencies and local services in the area.  

Your base would be near to Glasgow Central Station with regular travel between the station and working in the boroughs of North Lanarkshire, South Lanarkshire, Glasgow and Renfrewshire. This role involves some evenings and weekend hours.   

About you 

You will have experience of successfully engaging and supporting young people and families as well as working in an outreach or similar setting, in a creative and engaging way with young people with a range of needs and vulnerabilities.   

A relevant qualification in an appropriate discipline in working with children and families, community or youth work or equivalent experience is desirable. Alongside this relevant training in safeguarding and/or issues relevant to vulnerable young people and families is essential.

You will need to have experience of providing front line support to safeguard some of the most vulnerable young people in the UK.

Experience of developing productive relationships/partnerships with a variety of organisations such as 3rd sector group, local services and statutory services such a social care to support the needs of vulnerable young people and families is a must.

A full person specification can be found in the job pack.  

For further information about this post and working for Railway Children, including how to apply, please visit our website.

We welcome and encourage applications from candidates with a diverse range of backgrounds and lived experience. 

Railway Children is committed to safeguarding anyone who comes into contact with us and implements a range of policies to ensure only those suitable to work with vulnerable groups are employed. 

Closing Date: Sunday 10th May at 5pm 

1st interviews are scheduled to take place on Thursday 21st May 2026

2nd interviews are scheduled to take place on Tuesday 2nd June 2026 

Barnardo's is seeking an empathetic and child led individual who can work within a dynamic and fast-paced environment using their strong organisational, communication and time management skills to support children in the secure estate.

This part-time position (Independent Children's Rights and Advocacy Worker – Project Worker 2) is based within HMYOI Werrington, which accommodates children aged between 15-18 years, who are in custody, either sentenced or on remand.  Barnardo's refers to Young Offender Institutions (YOI) and Secure Training Centres (STC) as the ‘Secure Estate'.

Barnardo's is commissioned by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) to provide an Independent Children's Rights and Advocacy (ICRAS) Service to children accommodated in a secure setting. The service is known to children as Barnardo's: Your Rights, Your Voice, and currently works within  four Young Offender Institutes,  one Secure Training Centre.  The ICRAS service is child led and independent of the secure estate; our service is delivered within HMYOI Werrington to ensure children can freely access support for a range of issues linked to their needs, rights & experiences of custody, resettlement, and safeguarding.  As such this is a child-facing service, and at times involves lone working in the establishments, so we are seeking someone who can see the child, not the offence.

We hold ‘voice' at the heart of all we do, therefore we feel the role is best described by someone who is currently working in this sector: “The role is a Children's Rights and Advocacy role, which means it is our job to empower the children we work with and help them to understand that what they think, what they feel and what they want, really matters. We can speak on behalf of children to ensure their voice is heard and we also have the opportunity to help them to find the tools and confidence to raise their voices for themselves.  Advocacy and Children's Rights support is particularly crucial in the secure estate because children are away from home, family and natural advocates, and also because children in secure estate are some of the most vulnerable children in society; they have often faced considerable adversity, disadvantage and discrimination prior to arriving into custody and they might not, therefore, be equipped with the skills needed to articulate their concerns. Through the work you do with a child such as  simply helping them make contact with friends or family on the outside, to helping them with concerns they may have in relation todiscrimination, resettlement or safeguarding issues, you  may be the one person telling them that  they matter for the very first time.”

The position (Independant Children's Rights and Advocacy Worker – Project Worker 2) is line managed by a Team Manager, reporting to an off-site manager. The post holder will need to be able to work autonomously, working to the requirements of the contract and the regime of the establishment. The secure estate is a highly structured environment; as a Barnardo's service we deliver independent advocacy and support for a range of issues, whilst still having to follow and adhere to this structure.

This role includes lone working in this challenging secure environment. It is, therefore, critical that the successful candidate can follow guidance and policy and is able to take proactive and individual responsibility to understand and access the service support mechanisms.  This role requires the worker to be onsite for their contracted hours, working remotely only for occasional training or meetings. The advocacy team work on a rota system with set hours each week, which includes weekends and bank holidays. Applicants should also be aware, that due to the nature of working within the secure estate, the vetting and induction process can take several months to complete.

When completing your application please refer to your skills, knowledge and experience in relation to the Additional Information, Person Specification and Job Description document. This should be done with an understanding of the context of the service described, including advocacy and safeguarding.  

This is a part-time vacancy with 18.5 hours available per week.

Please note due to the high volume of applications for some posts, this advert might close before the displayed closing date. We recommend that you apply for this role as soon as possible.

Barnardo's is seeking an empathetic and child led individual who can work within a dynamic and fast-paced environment using their strong organisational, communication and time management skills to support children in the secure estate.

This part-time position (Children's Rights and Advocacy Worker – Project Worker 2) is based within Oakhill Secure Training Centre, which accommodates children aged between 12-18 years, who are in custody, either sentenced or on remand.  Barnardo's refers to Young Offender Institutions (YOI) and Secure Training Centres (STC) as the ‘Secure Estate'.

Barnardo's is commissioned by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) to provide an Independent Children's Rights and Advocacy (ICRAS) Service to children accommodated in a secure setting. The service is known to children as Barnardo's: Your Rights, Your Voice, and currently works within  four Young Offender Institutes,  one Secure Training Centre and one  Secure Children's home. The ICRAS service is child led and independent of the secure estate; our service is delivered within Oakhill STC to ensure children can freely access support for a range of issues linked to their needs, rights & experiences of custody, resettlement, and safeguarding.  As such this is a child-facing service, and at times involves lone working in the establishments, so we are seeking someone who can see the child, not the offence.

We hold ‘voice' at the heart of all we do, therefore we feel the role is best described by someone who is currently working in this sector: “The role is a Children's Rights and Advocacy role, which means it is our job to empower the children we work with and help them to understand that what they think, what they feel and what they want, really matters. We can speak on behalf of children to ensure their voice is heard and we also have the opportunity to help them to find the tools and confidence to raise their voices for themselves.  Advocacy and Children's Rights support is particularly crucial in the secure estate because children are away from home, family and champions, and also because children in secure estate are some of the most vulnerable children in society; they have often faced considerable adversity, disadvantage and discrimination prior to arriving into custody and they might not, therefore, be equipped with the skills needed to articulate their concerns. Through the work you do with a child such as  simply helping them make contact with friends or family on the outside, to helping them with concerns they may have in relation todiscrimination, resettlement or safeguarding issues, you  may be the one person telling them that  they matter for the very first time.”

The position (Children's Rights and Advocacy Worker – Project Worker 2) is line managed by a Team Manager, reporting to an off-site manager. The post holder will need to be able to work autonomously, working to the requirements of the contract and the regime of the STC. The secure estate is a highly structured environment; as a Barnardo's service we deliver independent advocacy and support for a range of issues, whilst still having to follow and adhere to this structure.

This role includes lone working in this challenging secure environment. It is, therefore, critical that the successful candidate can follow guidance and policy and is able to take proactive and individual responsibility to understand and access the service support mechanisms.  This role requires the worker to be onsite for their contracted hours, working remotely only for occasional training or meetings. The advocacy team work on a rota system with set hours each week, which includes weekends and bank holidays. Applicants should also be aware, that due to the nature of working within secure estate, the vetting and induction process can take several months to complete.

When completing your application please refer to your skills, knowledge and experience in relation to the Additional Information, Person Specification and Job Description document. This should be done with an understanding of the context of the service described, including advocacy and safeguarding.  

This is a part-time vacancy with 25.5 hours available per week.

Please note due to the high volume of applications for some posts, this advert might close before the displayed closing date. We recommend that you apply for this role as soon as possible.

Pay & Reward Framework

We know that our colleagues go above and beyond in delivering our vital work, driven by their passion and commitment to Barnardo's values.  We also know that we can only realise our ambitions and achieve better outcomes for more children, thanks to the talent, hard work and creativity of our people. 

For all these reasons, we are committed to a new approach to pay and reward, to ensure it is fair, attractive and progressive, which was rolled out in April 2023. This is a positive change for the charity, and a part of our People & Culture Strategy. It will assist us in supporting colleagues to belong, thrive and grow in their colleague journey at Barnardo's and in time will offer clear routes of progression for colleagues in both their career and their pay. 

Whilst the full pay band and salary range is advertised, our approach to starting salaries is to appoint between the minimum to mid-point of the pay band – this ensures that pay steps are available to reward our colleagues annually based on their contribution to excellence and alignment to our values and behaviours.  More details on Barnardo's pay framework can be found upon application. 

Are you passionate about connecting young people with nature? Do you believe nature is for everyone? Do you genuinely want to make a difference?

Environmental Education School Support Officer
Salary: £ 28,365 per annum FTE (£19,855.50 per annum for 26.25 hours per week) + travel costs
Contract: Contract (fully funded until August 2027 with potential to extend)
Hours: Part time, 26.25 hours a week
Location: Based at London Wetland Centre, SW13, with frequent travel to schools in the area

About The Role

We have a fantastic opportunity for someone with the drive, skills and experience to support schools taking part in Generation Wild, our nature connection programme for primary schools, children and families in disadvantaged areas. This ground-breaking project uses story, music, art, performance and puppetry to create a sense of magic and adventure, engaging a wide range of children irrespective of their background or ability.

You will be joining us at an exciting moment, as we launch in-person support for the first time - bringing an inspiring programme of nature‑connection activities to school grounds and local nature spaces.

70,000 children have already taken part in Generation Wild and together they’ve completed over 270,000 nature activities. Your work will help us reach even more young people and take this work to the next level.

Generation Wild has been running for five years and is currently fully funded until August 2027.

Join us as we inspire a new generation of nature lovers.

About Us

WWT is the UK’s leading wetland restoration charity. Our wetland centres engage a million visitors every year. Generation Wild forms an important part of our wider learning programmes which inspire over 55,000 learners per year.

About You

You will need:

• Teaching qualification (or equivalent) or substantial relevant experience
• Current driving license as the post holder will need to travel regularly to schools within a one-hour travel distance of our London Wetland Centre
• A passion for connecting young people and families with nature and to opening up nature for all, irrespective of background
• Experience of working with children (ideally either in a school or informal learning setting)
• Ability to design and deliver inspiring nature-connection activities for primary age children and their families
• Ability to coordinate and enthuse volunteers in support of your work
• Ability to use IT (particularly Word/PowerPoint/Excel) effectively in support of your work
• A good understanding of the way schools work and the pressures teachers currently face

About Us

We’re WWT, and we’re on a mission to restore the super-powered ecosystems we call wetlands. There’s never been a more important moment for our work, and we’ve got some phenomenal people on the case.

Whether they’re taking a new visitor under their wing, or conducting ground-breaking research further afield, our team are second to none. And there’s nothing we love more than watching them soar.

Whatever you do here, you’ll be helping to restore wetlands and unlock their power. So, the only question left is, what role will you play?

Why you’ll love working at WWT

• Wake up every day knowing your work is helping to restore wetlands, and our world
• Be surrounded and inspired by our team of passionate, dedicated people
• 33 days annual leave (which goes up to 38 days after 5 years of service) – this includes bank holidays and you have flexibility to take those days whenever you want
• Free entry to all our wetland centres, including your family
• Free car parking and secure bike storage areas
• Colleague discount on shopping and memberships
• Cycle to work scheme
• Contributory pension scheme
• Life Assurance of three times your salary, for peace of mind for your loved ones
• Independent personal, workplace and financial advice from our Employee Assistance Programme

Further details

• This post will be based at our London Wetland Centre but will require frequent travel to schools within a one-hour travel distance. Your travel costs for visits to schools will be reimbursed.
• This is initially a one-year contract but we are currently in talks with our funder with a view to extending both the Generation Wild programme and this post.
• Appointment to this position is subject to the successful candidate receiving an enhanced disclosure and barred list check (child).

We have a passion for engaging disadvantaged communities with nature and have a strong track record of working with young people from these areas. We would welcome applicants from a range of backgrounds. If this is a role that excites you, we want to hear from you.

Closing Date: Monday 11th May 2026

Interested?

If you would like to find out more, please click the apply button. You will be directed to our website to complete your application for this position.

WWT is an equal opportunities employer and all applications will be considered solely on merit.

No agencies please.

Youth Outreach Practitioner – South Yorkshire  

Salary: Up to £32k 

Hours: Full time 

Location: Sheffield or Doncaster

Contract: Permanent 

WE STAND FOR CHILDREN, THEIR CHILDHOODS AND THEIR FUTURES - WILL YOU? 

Around the world hundreds of thousands of children struggle to survive on the streets. In many countries, they have become an accepted issue in society, deprived of access to the most basic services and they experience extreme harm before and during their time on the streets.

Wherever they may be in the world, they face violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation. 

Founded in 1996, Railway Children has dedicated over a quarter of a century to developing outstanding practice and services for street connected children. With projects in the UK, India and Tanzania, we aim to reach these children as soon as they are in danger and intervene before an abuser can.  As we embark on our new strategy to 2030, we have ambitious plans to ensure no child is left behind, wherever we work. 

The role 
We are looking for a Youth Outreach Practitioner for our South Yorkshire team and are keen to receive applications from those living in and around Sheffield or Doncaster.  You’ll be part of a dynamic team delivering Railway Children’s programme in the UK, in partnership with British Transport Police (BTP).  

As a Youth Outreach Practitioner, you’ll play a key role in keeping children safe from harm by engaging in patrols to identify and safeguard young people (aged 10-17) at risk of criminal and sexual exploitation, county lines, missing from home, homelessness or family breakdown.  

You will also work closely with our Youth Practitioner, supporting a number of young people who have been identified or referred for 1-1 direct support.

Both aspects of the role will involve working directly with young people and their families to reduce risks, as well as building strong relationships other social care, Police, third sector agencies and local services in the area.  

Your base would be at Sheffield or Doncaster Railway Station with regular travel between these stations plus Barnsley and Rotherham stations and working across these boroughs. This role does involve working regular unsociable hours including evenings and weekends.   

 About you 

You will have experience of successfully engaging and supporting young people and families as well as working in an outreach or similar setting, in a creative and engaging way with young people with a range of needs and vulnerabilities.    

A relevant qualification in an appropriate discipline in working with children and families, community or youth work or equivalent experience is desirable. Alongside this relevant training in safeguarding and/or issues relevant to vulnerable young people and families is essential.    

You will need to have experience of providing front line support to safeguard some of the most vulnerable young people in the UK.   

Experience of developing productive relationships/partnerships with a variety of organisations such as 3rd sector group, local services and statutory services such a social care to support the needs of vulnerable young people and families is a must.   

A full person specification can be found in the job pack.  

For further information about this post and working for Railway Children, including how to apply, please visit our website.

We welcome and encourage applications from candidates with a diverse range of backgrounds and lived experience. 

Railway Children is committed to safeguarding anyone who comes into contact with us and implements a range of policies to ensure only those suitable to work with vulnerable groups are employed. 

Closing Date: Sunday 10th May at 5pm 
 
1st interviews are scheduled to take place on Wednesday 20th May 2026 
2nd interviews are scheduled to take place on Tuesday 2nd June 2026 

Do you have a sharp eye for detail and want to help deliver programmes that change lives?

Project Support Officer (Northern Futures)
Salary: £25,887 - £27,385 per annum
Hours: Full time, 37 hours per week
Contract: Fixed Term until 31 March 2027
Location: Lobley Hill Community Centre, Gateshead NE11

About us

Groundwork NE & Cumbria is a long‑established environmental and community charity with over 30 years of experience creating greener, healthier and more resilient places across the region. Our mission centres on Creating Better Places, Improving People’s Prospects, and Promoting Greener Living, helping communities thrive no matter the challenges they face.

We deliver hundreds of locally‑led projects each year, including initiatives that support young people into education, training and employment, helping them overcome barriers, build life skills, and reach their full potential.

About the Role

We are looking for a highly organised and detail focused Project Support Officer to join our Northern Futures team. This role is central to ensuring the smooth administration, financial accuracy and compliance of a large, funded programme delivered across the North East.

Job Purpose

Working closely with the Project Manager, you will coordinate and process funding claims, manage programme documentation, and liaise with prime funding organisations to ensure deadlines, quality standards and contractual requirements are consistently met. Northern Futures is funded by the North East Combined Authority as part of Trailblazer funding.

Key Responsibilities

• Compile, process and submit accurate funding claims in line with programme guidelines
• Collect, check and quality assure funding documentation from delivery staff
• Maintain secure manual and electronic filing and archiving systems
• Train delivery staff on funding documentation requirements and deadlines
• Manage internal and external databases to track submissions and performance
• Reconcile historic claims and support financial monitoring and forecasting
• Liaise with Prime Funders on invoicing, MI, compliance and payment schedules
• Produce reports, meeting minutes and management information as required
• Prepare documentation for audits and support resolution of non compliance
• Manage petty cash in line with organisational financial procedures
• Support delivery teams with resources, inductions and ongoing administration

What We’re Looking For

We are looking for an enthusiastic individual with experience of managing a varied workload of administrative and financial tasks prioritising to meet target deadlines, and dealing with external clients. Excellent IT skills are essential as well as having effective verbal, written and presentation communications skills

You’ll thrive working in a busy and friendly environment and have the ability to maintain confidentiality as required. You will also have the ability to work on your own initiative as well as part of a team.

Closing date: Thursday 14th May 2026
Please note, should we receive a high volume of applications, we may look to close the role early, therefore we recommend an early application.

Interested?

If you would like to find out more, please click the apply button. You will be directed to our website to complete your application for this position.

This role is subject to an Enhanced Disclosure endorsed by the Disclosure and Barring Service.

We want you to be yourself at Groundwork and we value everything that makes you unique. We recognise and celebrate your difference and together we make Groundwork a special and great place to work. As a Disability Confident employer, we offer a guaranteed interview to applicants with a disability who meet the essential criteria for the role.

At Groundwork we ensure that we provide a safe environment for adults, children and young people to take part in any activity or service that we organise. We are committed to creating a culture that promotes safeguarding and the welfare of all children, young people and adults at risk. Our safer recruitment practices support this by ensuring that there is a consistent and comprehensive process of obtaining, collating, analysing and evaluating information from and about candidates to ensure that all the people we appoint are suitable to work with our children, young people and adult

This role is not eligible for UK Visa Sponsorship – the successful applicant will need to have a pre-existing Right to Work in the UK in order to be offered an employment contract.

No agencies please.

Job Title: Marketing Officer

Reporting To: Senior Marketing Officer

Salary: £26,846 – £31,439

Hours: 37.5 hours per week*

Location: Alder Hey Children’s Charity, Liverpool/Hybrid working

Job Purpose:

The purpose of this role is to help to shape, support and deliver marketing plans for Alder Hey Children’s Charity for a wide range of stakeholders, reporting to the Senior Marketing Officer This is a broad and varied marketing role which requires creativity, excellent communication and project management skills to help the charity plan and execute its marketing, fundraising and brand campaigns.

Main Duties/Tasks

Marketing Planning, Campaign Delivery & Performance:

• Support the Senior Marketing Officer and Marketing & Communications Manager to implement marketing plans and campaign strategies.
• Ensure campaigns across fundraising teams align with brand, audience insight and organisational priorities.
• Collaborate with fundraising teams to plan, create and implement integrated marketing campaigns across multi channels that meet brand and fundraising goals.
• Identify opportunities to grow audiences, engagement and income through innovative marketing approaches.
• Use market research and data to drive continuous improvement in marketing activity.
• Evaluate and share actionable learnings to optimise future campaigns.
• Analysis of campaign performance and audience insights to inform future marketing decisions.

Content, Channels & Brand:

• Creative and powerful copywriting skills aligned to the values of the Charity. Adapting copy to suit differing audiences and publications, and including digital, DM, print appeals, email, magazines, brochures, scripts and social media.
• Creation of powerful stewardship content in partnership with fundraising teams.
• Collaboration within the marketing team across branded social channels to drive growth and engagement.
• Collaborate with the Trust Comms team for campaign and content capture in line with Trust Policy.
• Upholding of brand positioning to always agreed deadlines.

Stakeholder Management, Delivery & Operations:

• Manage the production and distribution of marketing materials across external suppliers as required.
• Liaising and networking with a range of internal and external stakeholders including families, donors, our colleagues (including those within the Trust), suppliers (including agencies) and partner organisations.
• Assisting the Marketing & Communications Manager to work within project budgets using appropriate systems and controls.
• Attending and participating in events, team meetings, compulsory training etc.

Other Duties

• Be an outstanding advocate for Alder Hey Children’s Charity in line with the core values of the organisation.
• Be an active and supportive member of the Alder Hey Children’s Charity team, contributing to team development and working collaboratively with colleagues and volunteers.
• Attend and support events run by fundraising teams where required, including occasional out-of-hours working.
• Gain and maintain an in-depth knowledge and understanding of the charity’s work, priorities and future plans.
• Any other reasonable duties as required by your line manager

Our Values

Here at Alder Hey Children’s Charity, our values guide the way in which we work. By being courageous, working together, being passionate about our work, and making sure that we are creative in what we do, helps us to deliver the support necessary so that our Hospital can continue to deliver the very best care for our young patients and their families.

Our values are:

Courage: we try new things and take risks to innovate and drive forward new ideas. We have the courage to speak up and take a stance. We are accountable, responsive and responsible. We are unstoppable.

Together: we work together as one team, sharing our knowledge and learning. We work in partnership with patients, families, supporters and colleagues. We are respectful, celebrate diversity and empower each other to achieve our aims.

Passion: we are passionate about what we do and why we do it. We work together to share and grow. We inspire others.

Magic: we are fun, creative and child led. We create special moments, provide little extras and go further for our brave young patients.

____

*In April 2025, the charity adopted a four-day working week policy, meaning staff previously working

37.5 hours a week are now working 30 hours a week to enable a four-day working week. We are confident that by embracing a more flexible and balanced approach to work, we can continue to create a thriving and fulfilling work environment while driving growth and success for our charity.

Note: This job description is intended to outline the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this role. It is not exhaustive and may be subject to change or modification as required by the needs of Alder Hey Children’s Charity.

Alder Hey Children’s Charity will make every endeavour to make any reasonable adjustments for applicants who require assistance in carrying out their duties due to a disability. Alder Hey Children’s Charity is committed to equal opportunities and positively welcomes applications from all sections of the community. Alder Hey Children’s Charity is committed to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults.

The post holder may be required to complete an enhanced DBS disclosure check.

Closing date: Monday 5th May

Interviews: Tuesday 13th May

The Noah’s Ark Charity supports the Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospital for Wales in providing world class care, helping to ensure the best outcome and experience possible for children and their families.

Scope of role

The data entry officer role plays a vital part in the Noah’s Ark Charity’s supporter experience.The charity’s database, Donorflex, is used to manage relationships and contacts with many thousands of supporters. The system is critical to ensure that we hold and look after all the data that supporters have given us compliantly; that we maximise use of this data to inform decision making and that our colleagues have the training and support necessary to use the system in the most efficient and effective way.

Person specification

We are seeking a data officer with broad experience of using computerised management information systems. The candidate will have strong Microsoft excel skills, good knowledge of databases, excellent numeracy and data analysis skills.

This is a great opportunity to join a small but highly motivated team.