Children and families jobs in Edinburgh

Partnerships and Best Practice Lead

Salary: £42,000
Contract: 36 hours per week, fixed term (12 months initially, with potential to extend subject to funding)
Location: Home-based, with travel for meetings, collaboration, and partnership work. You’ll be expected to spend time in person with colleagues and partners across locations including London, Sutton Coldfield and Hull.
Reports to: Director of Strategy, Partnerships and Advocacy

About the Role

Too many young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) face a sharp drop in support as they transition into adulthood. This role sits within an ambitious new programme, Ending the Cliff Edge, designed to change that.

As Partnerships and Best Practice Lead, you will play a central role in building a national, cross-sector alliance of young people, families, practitioners, organisations and service providers. Together, this alliance will drive meaningful reform and create better pathways into adulthood for disabled young people.

This is an opportunity to help shape a new initiative from the ground up—spreading best practice, testing innovative approaches, and building strong evidence of what works.

Key Responsibilities

• Build and maintain a broad collaborative partnership of cross‑sector organisations, providers, and experts to achieve collective ambition of driving improvement in transitions support.
• Refine, capture and share best‑practice models for supporting disabled young people into adulthood, ensuring they are evidence‑informed and accessible.
• Support partner organisations to design, adapt and deliver pilots that test innovative approaches and generate strong evidence of impact.
• Expand Kids’ national reach by growing the number of young people supported through improved transitions pathways, and increasing the number of businesses and providers engaged.
• Act as the central link between Kids’ direct delivery and wider national partners, ensuring learning is shared widely and consistently.
• Represent Kids externally as a champion for high‑quality transitions support, contributing to sector learning, collaboration and thought leadership.

About You

You are a confident relationship builder with experience of working across sectors and bringing people together around a shared goal. You’re comfortable working in a developing programme environment, able to take initiative, manage ambiguity, and turn ideas into action.

You are motivated by improving outcomes for disabled young people and have a strong understanding of the barriers they face.

Essential Criteria

• Proven experience of partnership development and cross-sector collaboration
• Experience identifying and sharing best practice, and translating learning into practical resources
• Ability to coordinate and support pilot projects, including stakeholder engagement and evaluation
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills across a wide range of stakeholders
• Strong understanding of challenges faced by disabled young people transitioning to adulthood
• Ability to communicate complex ideas clearly to diverse audiences
• Experience supporting funder relationships and understanding funding environments
• Strong organisational and project management skills
• Ability to work independently, manage multiple priorities, and sustain partnerships
• Experience using data and insight to inform practice and demonstrate impact

Desirable

• Experience in disability, SEND, education, employment or youth sectors
• Knowledge of policy and practice related to transitions into adulthood
• Experience facilitating training, workshops or communities of practice
• Familiarity with co-production approaches
• Experience evaluating programmes and capturing outcomes

Why Apply?

This is a unique opportunity to help shape a national movement for change—working collaboratively to ensure disabled young people have the support, opportunities and outcomes they deserve as they move into adulthood.

Interviews will take place on 21st and 22nd May 2026

For further details, please see the full Job Description attached.

About the role

We’re seeking a PPIE Manager to lead and strengthen patient involvement across mitochondrial disease research. As an equal partner in the LifeArc Centre for Rare Mitochondrial Diseases, The Lily Foundation leads the programme’s patient and public involvement strategy.

While the initial priority for this role is delivering the PPIE strategy for the LifeArc Centre, as a permanent member of the team, you’ll be responsible for building a sustainable involvement infrastructure that extends across all Lily Foundation research workstreams.

You’ll become a ‘patient expert’ who can bridge the gap between the patient community and the scientific world. You’ll be proactive in upskilling and empowering both patients and researchers, ensuring that lived experience remains the compass for future research.

Key responsibilities

• Lead LifeArc Centre delivery: Work closely with LifeArc leadership and researchers to embed meaningful patient involvement across research activities and work packages.
• Develop the IMPACT network: Grow and support our national patient involvement network, identifying opportunities for families to contribute to research design and documentation.
• Deliver training and capacity building: Develop and deliver training, guidance and workshops to upskill patients, families and researchers in effective PPIE practices.
• Translate and communicate research: Work with our Marketing Team to provide content for the promotion of research news and medical information through social platforms and web-based materials.
• Facilitate focus groups and webinars: Organise patient focus groups to develop a strong knowledge of community needs and lead our quarterly online ‘Zoom Room’ sessions.
• Evaluate and report impact: Measure and share the ‘real world’ impact of PPIE activity to demonstrate its value to LifeArc partners and funders.
• Shape future strategy: Support the development of the UK Mitochondrial Disease Research Institute, ensuring lived experience remains central to the future direction of mitochondrial research.

Person specification

We’re looking for someone who blends a professional background with a genuine heart for our cause.

Essential knowledge and skills

• Professional background: A background in science, nursing or research, with the proven ability to digest complex medical concepts and ‘translate’ them into accessible, jargon-free content.
• PPIE expertise: A deep understanding of Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement best practices and the different stages of the research cycle.
• Training and facilitation: Confidence in designing and delivering workshops or capacity-building activities for audiences ranging from families to senior researchers.
• Exceptional communication: Confidence in building relationships with families, senior academic leads and industry partners.
• Organisational drive: High levels of organisation and the ability to work independently to manage multiple priorities within a ‘small but mighty’ remote team.

Essential experience

• Direct engagement: Substantial experience working directly with patients, families or the public within a charity, research or healthcare setting.
• Delivering PPIE: A proven track record of delivering involvement activities that have influenced research or service design.
• Impact reporting: Experience in measuring and demonstrating the ‘real world’ value of patient engagement to stakeholders and funders.

We reserve the right to close the application window early and advise candidates to apply in good time to avoid disappointment. We particularly welcome applications from people with lived experience of mitochondrial disease or other rare conditions.

Closing date: Monday 11th May 2026

Interviews: W/c 18th May 2026

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.

About Us:

Stephen’s Children UK is a Christian charity dedicated to providing financial support to the existing and well developed Stephen’s Children ministries in Egypt’s garbage slums outside of Cairo.

These programs are staffed by over 1,500 dedicated and compassionate individuals ready to make a difference. Over 20% of Stephen’s Children staff members grew up in these same impoverished communities. They come back with the hope to break the cycle of poverty for others, instilling a culture of hope by nurturing hearts, training minds, and teaching our families the strength of God’s love, though the provision of schools, healthcare, home visits, summer camps and much more.

As part of our ongoing growth and efforts to expand our reach in the UK, we are looking for a dynamic, passionate, and experienced Charity Fundraiser with strong social media and digital marketing skills.

Role Overview:

As a Charity Fundraiser with Social Media and Digital Marketing experience, you will play a pivotal role in raising awareness and funds for our cause. You will leverage your expertise in fundraising, social media strategy, and digital marketing to develop and execute innovative campaigns that inspire individuals and organisations to engage and contribute. This is an exciting opportunity to make a tangible impact through creative and strategic digital campaigns.

We are in early discussions with a potential Patron which would significantly boost our profile, and we are in particular looking to develop partnerships with large corporate donors in line with their CSR obligations.

You will be reporting to the UK Trustees.

Key Responsibilities:

Although mostly working autonomously, you will be working with, and representing SCUK on the international Marketing and Communications Advisory Group to ensure a cohesive approach (the Communications and fund raising teams from the various Stephen’s Children entities in other nations): 

• Fundraising Strategy & Campaigns:
  • Develop and implement fundraising strategies that align with the charity’s mission and goals.
  • Manage and grow fundraising campaigns across multiple platforms, including social media, email, and digital channels, as well as occasionally organising and attending fund raising events.
  • Identify and engage potential donors, sponsors, and corporate CSR partners to grow the charity’s financial support base.
  • Organize and manage online and occasional in person fundraising events, appeals, and virtual initiatives.
• Social Media & Digital Marketing:
  • Create and manage engaging content across various social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram, X (Twitter), LinkedIn, etc.) to promote fundraising efforts, events, and the charity's mission.
  • Develop and execute digital marketing campaigns, including email marketing, paid ads, and influencer collaborations.
  • Build a strong online community of supporters and engage with followers through comments, messages, and interactive posts.
  • Ensure consistent messaging and branding across all digital channels.
• Donor Relationship Management:
  • Maintain and nurture relationships with current and prospective donors through regular communication, updates, and stewardship.
  • Coordinate and distribute newsletters [?] and reports for donors, showcasing the impact of their contributions.
• Content Creation & Storytelling:
  • Collaborate with the global content team to create compelling communications to a UK audience that showcase the charity’s impact and inspire action.
  • Write fundraising appeals, success stories, and content that resonates with various audiences.
• Analytics & Reporting:
  • Use digital analytics tools to measure the success of campaigns and track fundraising progress.
  • Provide regular reports on social media performance, campaign effectiveness, and donor engagement.

Key Requirements:

• Proven experience in fundraising, particularly within the charity sector or a related field.
• Demonstrated ability to engage and grow online communities and donor bases.
• Strong understanding of digital marketing, with a focus on social media and online campaigns.
• Excellent communication and writing skills, with the ability to craft compelling content for different digital platforms.
• Excellent interpersonal and presentation skills to effectively communicate when speaking in person to supporters and potential supporters, including Trust and Corporate grant applications.
• Creative mindset with the ability to think outside the box to drive engagement and fundraising results.
• Proficiency in social media management tools and digital advertising platforms.
• Familiarity with fundraising platforms (e.g., JustGiving, GoFundMe, Virgin Giving etc) and donor management tools (e.g. Raiser’s Edge etc.)
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to track, measure, and report on campaign performance.

• Strong organisational and project management skills with the ability to manage multiple campaigns at once.
• Passionate about the charity’s mission and Christian values, and committed to making a difference.
• Availability to visit the work in Cairo at least once per year (funded by the Charity).

• Ability to work independently and as part of a collaborative international team.
• Knowledge of GDPR and data protection regulations as they pertain to online fundraising and social media.

Desirable Skills:

• Previous experience working with corporate donors, Trusts or high-net-worth individuals.
• Knowledge of current fundraising trends and best practices.
• A network of contacts in the fundraising or charity sector.
• Previous experience in organizing virtual or hybrid fundraising events.
• Understanding of the UK charity landscape and fundraising regulations.

Why Join Us?

• Be part of a passionate and dedicated organisation making a real difference in people’s lives.
• Work with international counterparts in a dynamic, creative environment where your ideas and contributions will be valued.
• Flexible working hours, mostly remote.

If you are an innovative, results-driven fundraiser with a passion for social media and digital marketing, we would love to hear from you. Apply today and help us create a brighter future for those in need!

How to Apply:

Please send your CV and a cover letter detailing your relevant experience to the email shown. 

Please ensure your cover letter highlights your fundraising experience and examples of successful digital marketing campaigns and corporate sponsorship initiatives that you have led or contributed to.

ID: 1782 Operational Manager, Northeast

Service: Stockton on Tees Family Time, Stockton Family Outreach & Volunteer service and South Tees Perinatal service

Salary: Grade 4 Point 34-38: £42,562 – £46,703 FTE (£34,049.60 - £37,362.40 per annum, pro rata for 29.6 hours per week)

- Additionally, £480 home-based allowance FTE per annum

Location: Home based

Hours: Part-time (up to 29.6 hours per week)

We offer flexible working arrangements - please see below for more details.

Contract: Permanent

Family Action & the Role’s Impact:

At Family Action we support people through change, challenge or crisis. It’s what we’ve done for over 150 years. We protect children, support young people and adults and offer direct, practical help to families and communities.

We see first-hand the power of family to shape lives, for better or worse, so we speak up for the

importance of family in national and local policymaking, amplify family voices and represent the changing needs of families in the UK today.

This is an exciting opportunity to lead the operational delivery of services across Stockton on Tees and South Tees (Recar & Middlesbrough) area.  The Operational Manager will provide strategic and operational management to our services in the Northeast and line management of 2 - 3 service managers.

Stockton services are delivered under our successful strategic partnership with Stockton Borough Council. This unique partnership was formed nearly 5 years ago with the aim of transforming service provision using a collaborative approach to service development and innovation. Our South Tees Perinatal service operates over Redcar and Middlesborough and are just entering a 3 year extension to our current contract.

Main Responsibilities:

· Provide leadership, management and supervision to operational services that provide Family Time sessions, Family Outreach support and Volunteering support, plus perinatal support to families.

· Ensure that services are delivered to a good quality standard in relation to practice and performance and that services can demonstrate their impact using evidence based outcomes tools.

Main Requirements (for details check the job description and person specification):

· Experience of providing effective management, leadership and safeguarding oversight of case work and group work based support services, which overall improve the lives of  service users.

· Experience of setting up and/or managing innovative projects.

· Strong interpersonal skills, with the confidence and ability to present and communicate information effectively both in person and using a range of mediums to internal and external stakeholders, including children and young people, parents and carers, and funders.

· Appointments are subject to Family Action receiving a satisfactory disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service –Enhanced

Benefits:

- an annual paid leave entitlement that commences at 25 working days, rising each April by one day, subject to a maximum of 30 working days plus bank holiday pro rata

- up to 6% matched-pension contributions

- flexible working arrangements and new starters have the right to make flexible working requests from day one of employment

- enhanced paid sick leave and paid family leave provisions

- eye care and winter flu jabs vouchers

- cycle to work scheme

- investing in your professional development with ongoing quality training and career development opportunities

We are forward looking, ambitious and committed to continuous improvement. We are a people focused, can-do organisation, which strives for excellence in all we do and operates with mutual respect.

To Apply:

· Click the “Apply Now” link below and fill out our digital application form

· Closing Date: Sunday 10th May 2026 at 23:59

Interviews are scheduled to take place on: 20th May 2026

For direct queries or if you would like to discuss any aspect of the selection process or flexible working requests, please email: Claire Meek (email address available on advert document).

Our commitment to Equality, Diversity & Inclusion:

We are happy to consider any reasonable adjustments that candidates may need during the recruitment process and you will be asked whether you require any adjustments if shortlisted for interview. We also make reasonable adjustments on the job, where required.

We are committed to Equality, Diversity & Inclusion in all that we do and welcome applications from all sections of the community. Intersectionality is important to us and we particularly welcome applications from ethnically diverse communities, LGBTQIA+ candidates and disabled candidates because we are committed to increasing the representation of these groups at Family Action. We know that greater diversity will lead to even greater results for families and children and strive for our workforce to be truly representative of the diverse communities we support.

All candidates with a disability are welcome to apply under the Disability Confident Scheme and request priority consideration for an interview, provided they meet the essential criteria for the role.

To help remove financial barriers to working with us, we will reimburse reasonable travel costs if you are invited to attend an interview in person.

*Ordinarily Family Action appoints new starters at the starting point of the salary scale (with subsequent annual pay progression), unless you have experience that would justify appointment further up the salary scale or there are any other exceptional reasons.

Location: Hybrid working – Royal Hospital for Children & Young People and from Home

Today, 12 children and young people will be diagnosed with cancer. We’ll stop at nothing to make sure they get the right care and support at the right time.  

Change lives in a life-changing career

When a child or young person is diagnosed with cancer, their whole world can feel like it’s falling apart. Independence is taken and confidence is stolen. Stability no longer exists. The future suddenly feels uncertain.

The impact of cancer on young lives is more than medical. That’s why we exist. Our specialist social workers help children and young people with cancer and their families navigate the emotional and practical impact of cancer. We remove barriers, solve problems and prioritise wellbeing. And we stop at nothing to make sure they get the right care and support at the right time.

We challenge the systems and policies that surround children and young people, we highlight gaps and campaign for change. Because we know what a better future could look like. And we know what we need to do to make that future a reality. We need to push harder, reach further and work smarter. And we need the right people on our team to help us get there. People like you.

About the role

We’re looking for a Social Worker to support children and young people diagnosed with cancer in our Scotland Team. 

We pride ourselves on delivering the highest quality support tailored to the needs of the children and young people and their families using a needs based assessment framework. The work we do is rewarding but also complex and demanding. You will be part of a close-knit Young Lives vs Cancer social work team, working with an established NHS multi-disciplinary team and services in the community.

This role is part home, part site-based. Your contractual base will be both Home and Hospital.

This role is subject to a criminal record check. In the event of a successful application, an enhanced criminal record check will be completed. A previous conviction is not necessarily a barrier to employment. We encourage qualified applicants to apply, and we will consider each case individually.

This role is also subject to a Social Work Registration, with Social Work Scotland.

What do I need? 

The key skills we’re looking for in this role are:

• A recognised Social Worker qualification and current registration with Social Work England/ Scottish Social Services Council/Social Care Wales/Northern Ireland Social Care Council
• Experience working with children, young people and their families/carers in a social care setting.
• Experience of working in a multi-disciplinary environment, ideally in an NHS setting.
• Sound knowledge of child and young people development.
• An understanding of the impact of serious illness for children, young people and their families.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.

What will I gain?

For people to reach their full potential, they need the right environment. As a member of Team Young Lives, you’ll be made to feel supported, valued and appreciated. Here’s how we do it:

• Flexible working: we’re open to working hours outside of 9 - 5 and we can talk through your flexibility requirements at interview stage
• Wellbeing days: four days a year to do what works for you – from catching up on training to going for a walk
• Generous annual leave allowance
• Great family/caring leave entitlements
• Enhanced pension
• Access to our employee savings scheme

To find out more about our benefits package, have a look on our website.

Our commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging

At Young Lives vs Cancer, we recognise that opportunities for too many people remain a condition of their sex, ethnicity, class, gender identity, disability, sexual orientation – or a combination. This has never been acceptable to us as an organisation. We don’t just accept difference, we value it, celebrate it, nurture it and we thrive because of it.

We’re on a journey to be reflective of the diverse children, young people and families we support. We know we aren’t there yet, and we’re passionately committed to taking actions and making changes to be a truly diverse, inclusive and equitable organisation. This includes taking anti-oppressive action and removing barriers in our recruitment practices. We particularly welcome applications from members of minoritised communities. Our Diversity, Inclusion, Equity and Belonging strategy will tell you more.

To ensure fairness and consistency to select the best candidate for this role, all our applications are anonymised up until an interview has been confirmed. We recognise the benefits of AI, but if you're considering using it to submit your application, we encourage you to reflect on the value AI adds. AI tools often lack the personal touch and authenticity that set candidates apart. We want to hear your unique perspective, experiences, and skills, so we encourage you to tell us about your skills and experiences in your own voice.

Accessibility

We’re committed to providing reasonable adjustments throughout our recruitment process and we’ll always aim to be as accommodating as possible.Please let us know in your application form of any adjustments or access requirements we could make to help you with the application process and interview.

To arrange an informal chat, please contact Louise Dolphin.

Closing date: 25.05.26

Interview date: 11.06.26

#ShowTheSalary

Together for Short Lives is looking for a driven and creative Business Development Manager to develop and secure high‑value corporate partnerships that will help transform the lives of children living with serious illness and their families. You’ll lead our business development strategy, build a strong pipeline of opportunities, and develop lasting relationships with prospective and existing supporters.

If you’re collaborative, tenacious and passionate about making a real impact in children’s palliative care, we’d love to hear from you.

Together for Short Lives is the leading UK-wide charity for children living with serious illness, their families and the services that provide them with palliative care.

Every child deserves many moments of happiness together with their loved ones. But it's hard for them to thrive when services don't fully meet their needs, leaving parents and siblings feeling isolated and alone.

That’s why we’re here. To make sure that every family can thrive as they navigate their child's life, death, bereavement and beyond.

Together we support families to live their lives, through the ups and downs, offering practical, emotional and financial help.

Together we unite our sector by prioritising and sharing crucial research, leading guidance and standards, connecting professionals and raising vital funds for children’s hospice and palliative care services.

Together we campaign to make sure that children with serious illness and their families get the care and support they need, when and where they need it.

Supporting, uniting, campaigning, together.
We are Together for Short Lives.

Purpose of role

The Business Development Manager will lead our efforts to secure high-profile, high-value partnerships with corporate organisations  that will generate vital income for children's palliative care. Securing new partnerships and growing our income requires exceptional collaboration skills; a driven, tenacious and resourceful nature; innovation and creativity; and a passionate determination to make a difference to the lives of children and families across the UK.

The main objectives are as follows:

1. Secure new corporate partnerships raising funds to support Together for Short Lives’ direct work, and our National Fundraising Scheme (raising funds on behalf of the UK’s children’s hospices).
2. Develop and deliver a business development strategy, including  prospect research, managing  a robust pipeline of opportunities, and developing a diverse range of business development products. 
3. Manage and develop relationships with a portfolio of individual contacts and organisations, including prospective and existing supporters.

Follow the link to our website to apply and find out more about the role. 

JOB TITLE:                      Parent Partner

RESPONSIBLE TO:Peer Services Lead for England

HOURS OF WORK:As per individual terms

GRADE/SALARY:Grade 2.4/ £24,479

LOCATION:Home based 

TYPE OF CONTRACT:Permanent

MAIN PURPOSE OF THE JOB

Provide peer support services via the transition service for One Adoption. You will support individual families with peer to peer goal-based intervention servicedeliverable via 6 sessions of support (1-1).

Provide peer support services via dedicated support phone line, bookable sessions & email cover. This will be delivered via rota’dsessions for the Eastern Region Peer Support Line.

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Direct 1-1 support

•To work with families to achieve agreed goal-based outcomes.

•To work to a plan for transition.

•To signpost families to relevant support.

•To provide 6 online support sessions of 1 hour via TEAMS covering the programme topics agreed within timescale.

•To follow a programme of support and monitor progress regularly.

•To empower families to work closely with schools, settings and relevant professionals encouraging them to build and strengthen relationships. 

•To complete admin and paperwork relevant to the family including evaluation paperwork. 

Support Line

•Following a scheduled work pattern, respond to adopters calling in to alive phone line, providing a listening ear & signposting to relevant resources/information.

•Following a rota ensuring bookable sessions are responded to, listening & signposting where required

•Monitor & respond to emails within your scheduled shifts.

•Ensure feedback texts are sent at the end of each interaction with a caller.

General

•Retain accurate records in accordance with Adoption UK policy and practice, complying with GDPR legislation.

•To ensure compliance with appropriate Adoption UK policies and procedures 

•To carry out such other duties as may be deemed necessary.

•Ensure all admin tasks are carried out within a timely manner, Evide updated.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

EXPERIENCE, EDUCATION, QUALIFICATIONS & KNOWLEDGE

•Personal experience of adoption. (essential)

•Sound knowledge of current adoption issues, or a strong interest in developing such knowledge (essential)

•Experience within the education setting (desirable)

•Experienced mentor or similar support role. (essential)

•Experience of supporting families in group settings as well as 1:1 (desirable)

•A good understanding of One adoption RAA(s) systems and adoption landscape (desirable)

•Safeguarding – understanding of safeguarding policies and procedures (essential)

•Good working knowledge of how to use social media and a range of online platforms with confidence. (essential)

SKILLS AND ABILITIES

•Work and act on own initiative (essential)

•Work to deadlines and tight timescales and reporting around progress (essential)

•Flexible and able to work purposefully from home (essential)

•Excellent communication skills or verbally and written (essential)

•        Group facilitation skills (essential)

•Good empathic listening skills, able to deal with issues in relation to significant trauma and loss (essential)

•Ability to organise and hold meetings, including by telephone and online (essential)

•Excellent IT skills including Teams, Outlook and Zoom or a willingness to learn (desirable)

•Ability to maintain confidentiality at all times. Aware of GDPR, particularly around holding information at home (essential)

•Ensure that internal policies and procedures are complied with. (essential) 

BEHAVIOURS 

•Supports, encourages and motivates adopters and families (essential)

•Values transparency and consistency (essential)

•Understands the role of individual and collective accountability (essential)

•Has a clear understanding of other colleagues’ roles and responsibilities (essential)

•Approachable and friendly (essential)

•Confident in 1:1 and group settings (desirable)

•Ability to empower and work in partnership with families (essential)

•Shares skills and knowledge appropriately (essential)

•Offers outstanding service to service users (essential)

•Takes pride in Adoption UK and promotes its values in all interactions with external stakeholders (essential)

•Willingness to learn new skills (essential)

NCT is a charity with a clear mission: to support people as they become parents, through pregnancy, birth, and early parenthood.

With a 65-year history of transformative change, we are a vibrant community of volunteers, practitioners, peer supporters, members and advocates. We are the largest parenting charity in the country and over the decades we’ve supported millions of people on their unique journey into parenthood.

While many know us for our antenatal classes, we also do much more. We campaign on issues that matter to parents, provide infant feeding support, and run thousands of free community events and activities led by our amazing volunteers. We also support families facing challenges like social isolation, feeding difficulties, and poor mental health. We offer support in communities, in hospitals and online.

About the role 

Are you a connector, a builder, and a champion for community?

We're looking for a bold and driven Volunteering and Community Manager to join our team and shape the future of postnatal support across the UK - leading a thriving network of 4,000+ volunteers who show up every day to transform the lives of parents and families.

What you'll be doing: 

• Lead and grow a volunteer movement - take ownership of our national volunteer network across the UK and Channel Islands, building the systems, processes and communications that keep 4,000+ passionate people engaged, supported and inspired to make a difference. 
• Build something that lasts - redesign and streamline how volunteering works at NCT, removing duplication and fragmentation to create a scalable, self-service model that makes it easier than ever for volunteers to show up and stay. 
• Put the volunteer experience front and centre - craft communications and support journeys that motivate and retain volunteers, ensuring every person who gives their time feels valued, informed and connected to our mission. 
• Grow our community footprint - partner with the Fundraising and Strategic Partnerships team to expand Baby Cafés and postnatal drop-ins, and identify creative community fundraising campaigns that extend our reach to more families. 
• Develop and manage - line manage the Volunteer Administrator, champion safeguarding and safe operating procedures, and lead the rollout of digital tools (Eventbrite and iPlicit) that will transform how our volunteer community operates. 

Our Benefits – What we offer you 

We value our team and offer fantastic benefits to support your well-being and professional growth: 

• 30 days annual leave (excluding Bank Holidays) 
• Pension matched up to 5% 
• Flexible working options to suite your lifestyle
• Employee Assistance Programme, including 24/7 GP access, personalised counselling, legal advice and more 
• Cycle to work scheme to support sustainable commuting 
• Life Assurance for peace of mind 
• Free eye test for all staff, with further discounts 
• Blue Light discount card 

At NCT, we’re committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workforce. If you need reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process or within your role, please let us know—we’re here to support you.Ready to make a difference? Apply now and be part of something truly special. 

To apply visit our NCT Website and complete the application process. 

Do you want to change the world for vulnerable children?

The Consortium of Voluntary Adoption Agencies UK (CVAA) aims to improve adoption policy and practice across the UK for the benefit of children, challenging the adoption system to deliver for children and work in their best interests. Alongside advocating for system change, CVAA works to support our member voluntary adoption agencies (VAAs) across the four nations of the UK, stimulating innovation and ensuring they stay at the leading edge of practice. The active engagement of members and the building of collaborative alliances with others who seek positive change for children are essential to the effectiveness of our work.

The Head of Policy is a vital member of the small CVAA team, working closely with the CEO and Board of Trustees to champion the voluntary adoption sector and put children at the heart of everything we do. Due to maternity leave we have an exceptional and unique opportunity for someone who shares our passion to change the world for children, to gain valuable experience working at national level with senior stakeholders to contribute to system change, advocating for the power of adoption to change lives.

You will need strong people skills, experience of developing policy in consultation with stakeholders and using data to transform services and strengthen lobbying work. Most of all you need a cast iron commitment to change the world for vulnerable children.

CVAA works to challenge discrimination and disadvantage and welcomes applications from all communities, particularly those who are underrepresented in our sector, which includes but is not limited to people from Global Majority backgrounds, adoptees, men and those who identify as LGBTQ.

Key information

• Maternity Cover 1 year from July 2026
• Location - remote contract with occasional travel
• £40 – 45K depending on experience
• An enhanced DBS check is required for this role.

Applications

Please send a CV and letter of application, outlining your motivation for applying and the skills you offer, to Satwinder Sandhu (CEO) by 5pm on Friday 8th May 2026.

Both Satwinder (CEO) and Alice (Director of Strategy and Policy) are happy to have an informal chat about the role. Please email to arrange a convenient time to speak.

Initial online interviews via Microsoft Teams will be on Monday 18th and Tuesday 19th May, with final in-person interviews scheduled for Thursday 28th May 2026 in London. Please let us know whether you cannot make any of these dates in your application.

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.

An exciting opportunity to help turn a new national initiative into reality as it moves from planning into delivery. Over the next year, we will launch a new national Foundation Degree while building the foundations of a wider programme of work. In the initial phase, this role will focus on working locally with partners and participants in one or more locations to support recruitment, onboarding and preparation for launch, while also contributing to the wider programme build-out alongside a national team. As delivery begins, the role will transition into ongoing programme management across a cluster of delivery centres, leading high-quality delivery, participant experience and programme quality, and helping to build strong, sustainable centres over time.

Little Village makes a big difference to families with babies and young children living in poverty across London. Via its network of baby banks and partners such as Family Hubs, community organisations and all of London’s maternity units, the charity passes on pre-loved goods from one family to another – clothes, toys and equipment – so that many more children have the essential things they need to thrive.

Families are supported through welcoming hubs or home deliveries, and connected into a wider network of support in community settings, while Little Village also raises its voice to highlight the realities of child poverty.

Little Village is entering an exciting new phase as it approaches its 10-year milestone and prepares to launch its next strategy. QuarterFive are partneruing with Little Villag to find a Director of Fundraising, Marketing & Communications to play a central role in shaping its future – leading how the organisation grows income, strengthens its brand and amplifies its voice. Sitting on the Senior Leadership Team, you will lead a newly integrated fundraising, marketing and communications department, driving a cohesive, high-performing function and building on strong foundations to deliver a more strategic, scalable and insight-led approach.

With an income base with high potential for growth and particular strength in high-value fundraising, there is significant opportunity to grow and diversify income further, while also increasing visibility and influence at a time when public awareness of child poverty is rising.

We are looking for a strategic and hands-on leader with a track record in delivering income growth. You will be motivated by impact and excited to help drive Little Village’s next phase, strengthening long-term income and increasing its influence.

This role is home-based with regular travel to Little Village hubs across London. Core hours: 09:30-15:00. Weekly or fortnightly team and SLT meetings in London plus other meetings as needed.

As Director of Fundraising, Marketing & Communications, you will:

• Lead and deliver an integrated fundraising, marketing and communications strategy aligned to organisational priorities
• Set and achieve ambitious income targets across multiple streams, including high-value philanthropy and partnerships
• Develop a more structured, data-informed approach to fundraising, including pipelines, forecasting and performance management
• Oversee brand and communications, ensuring a clear, compelling and consistent narrative
• Build and steward relationships with major donors, partners and senior stakeholders
• Act as a senior ambassador, raising Little Village’s profile and influence
• Lead and develop a high-performing, collaborative team

Essential skills and experience:

• A strong track record of developing and delivering successful multi-stream fundraising strategies, weighted towards high value income streams including major donors, corporates, and trusts and foundations
• Proven success in securing significant and multi-year funding
• Experience leading and developing high-performing teams
• Exposure to or interest in mass fundraising
• Strong financial, forecasting and pipeline management skills
• Expertise in working with senior stakeholders/volunteers, ideally including reporting to Committees and Trustee boards
• A successful track record of involvement in launching, managing, and evaluating campaigns
• Strong understanding of brand management, digital engagement, and integrated campaigns across multiple channels
• Understanding of digital transformation, including CRM/data integration, marketing automation, and analytics
• A data-informed approach, with experience using insight and systems to drive performance
• Excellent influencing, relationship-building and storytelling skills

Desirable:

• Experience leading an integrated fundraising and communications function within a frontline charity
• Experience of using Beacon CRM
• Lived or personal experience of the issues faced by the families Little Village supports

Diversity and Inclusion:

Little Village operates in London, one of the most diverse cities in the world. The charity are working towards a goal where their team fully reflects that diversity and difference in lived experiences and strongly encourage applications from under-represented groups including: people from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic backgrounds, LGBTQ+ people, people with disabilities, people with lived experience of poverty either personally or through family, experience of the care system, non-graduates and first-in-family graduates. As part of their commitment to fairer recruitment, all applications will be assessed without names and any protected characteristics.

As part of our commitment to increasing representation of people from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic backgrounds, we are piloting a Guaranteed Interview Scheme (GIS) for this role, as a new approach to make our recruitment more equitable. If you identify as Black, Asian or other Minority Ethnic backgrounds and meet the essential criteria for the role, you can choose to opt in to the GIS. We will be aiming to offer everyone who opts into the scheme and meets the essential criteria a first stage interview/ assessment. See the applicant pack for further details.

Employee benefits include:

• 25 days per year annual leave plus bank holidays (pro rata for those working fewer than 35 hours per week)
• Team members are usually given time off between Christmas and New Year, which doesn’t come off your allowance
• Pension contributions matched by 3%
• A period of sick leave at full pay regardless of length of service
• Enhanced family friendly policies including Maternity, Paternity, Shared Parental Leave and Adoption pay, with a Fertility Policy designed to support employees during fertility investigations and treatment
• Death in Service benefit (x3 annual salary)
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Rewards Gateway and Tickets for Good

We are Gingerbread. We’re here to fight for single parents and their families.

We campaign against the injustices that single parents face every single day, and we challenge the stigmas around being a single parent. We provide information to support all single parents so that they have the tools to support their children and themselves. And we provide a support network so that, with Gingerbread, no single parent is ever alone.

Join us today. Together, we can create a world where all single parents and their children don’t just survive but thrive.

Why join Gingerbread?

The work we do has a real impact. We make a difference in the lives of single parents. We do this through collaborative, focused working. We care passionately about the work we do, and we care for each other.

Overview of Job

The Fundraising Manager will play a key role in developing and delivering Gingerbread’s fundraising plans. The role leads our trusts and grants programme, producing strong, well‑evidenced proposals, building positive relationships with funders and ensuring our reporting clearly reflects our impact. Working closely with colleagues across the organisation, they will help ensure fundraising is embedded in our work and aligned with Gingerbread’s strategic goals.

For more information about the role, please see the Advert Pack.