Children Jobs in Islington, Greater London
Corporate Partnership Development Manager.
Salary: up to £42,533 per annum (this includes Inner London Allowance of £3,333) Subject to location and experience.
Location: Holborn, London. We are also open to flexible working, if you are interested in this role but outside of London, please get in touch. If based outside of London, you will not be entitled to the London allowance.
Contract: Fixed Term Contract - 12 months, 35 hours per week.
Benefits:
- A generous annual leave entitlement of 29 days PLUS bank holidays.
- Gain professional qualifications with excellent training, and development opportunities.
- A pension with a up to a 7% employer contribution rate. Plus, if you pay in to the pension you will receive life assurance cover.
- Staff discount portal with your favourite brands.
- Blue Light Card eligibility with 15,000 discounts from national retailers.
Why Action for Children?
Working here is more than a job. Everyone in the Action for Children family is passionate about protecting and supporting children. It is the sense of purpose that drives us every single day. Because we know that, when we work together, we can make a huge difference to bring lasting improvements to vulnerable children's lives.
A bit about the role
This is a really exciting opportunity to join Action for Children as a Partnership Development Manager. With an enthusiastic approach and excellent communication and influencing skills, you will build relationships with corporates resulting in long-term, high-value corporate partnerships that raise both significant income and brand visibility for Action for Children.
How you'll help to create brighter futures
- Lead on identification, creation and securing of strategic multi-year corporate partnerships across a range of sectors.
- Work with teams across Action for Children to ensure a collaborative approach to partnership development.
- Deliver increased brand visibility and significant new income through a variety of partnership types (over £100,000 each).
Let's talk about you
- Tenacious, self-motivated, high achiever with a passion for new business.
- Experience of securing partnerships involving a range of activity, including sales promotions and employee fundraising.
- Experience of building relationships with high-level stakeholders, internally and externally.
- Ability to think creatively and strategically when prospecting, using a solution focused approach.
- Line management experience would be advantageous but not necessary.
- Willingness to work flexibly and travel the UK when necessary.
Please see the Job Description for the full list of accountabilities and requirements.
Please note we are unable to offer visa sponsorship for this role.
Diversity, equality, and inclusion
At Action for Children, we're dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace. We actively encourage applications from Black, Asian & Minority Ethnic, and disabled candidates as they are under-represented within Action for Children. We want to take deliberate and purposeful action to ensure equal opportunity to all groups in society and for Action for Children.
Don't meet every single requirement?
If you're excited about this role but your experience doesn't align perfectly with the job description, we'd love you to apply anyway. You might just be the perfect person for this role, or another role within the Action for Children family.
Want to know more about Action for Children? Find us on X, LinkedIn, Facebook, or YouTube to get to know us better.
Closing Date: Wednesday 8th May 2024.
Interviews are scheduled for week commencing 13th May 2024.
Home based, covering Buckinghamshire and surrounding areas
18.5 hours per week – fixed term appointment to the end of March 2026 with the possibility of extension
Full Time Equivalent Salary in the range £32,743- £40,019 (£16,372 – £20,010 pro rata per annum for 18.5 hours)
Are you a skilled and dedicated social worker eager to apply your expertise and experience to a new role? Do you want to be part of a supportive and collaborative team at one of the UK’s most successful adoption charities, rated outstanding by Ofsted since 2014?
We have been at the forefront of adoption services for more than 60 years, working with local authorities across the country. We offer a flexible and innovative work environment, and we are proud of our three successive outstanding ratings with Ofsted.
With your social work experience with children and families, you will support birth relatives whose children have a plan for adoption or have been placed for adoption. Working closely with colleagues in Buckinghamshire Council who will refer the relatives to PACT, you will provide support through individual sessions, support groups and drop-in sessions.
This role will include supporting birth relatives to meet with adoptive parents and to help birth relatives understand the importance for children, to keep connected to their relatives and significant people from their past.
Ideally, you will have previous experience of working with birth relatives whose children have been placed for adoption and you will have a good understanding of the adoption process. You will work with relatives from a range of diverse backgrounds, lived experiences and those who may be neuro diverse and you will need to demonstrate understanding, respectfulness and adaptability to your social work practice.
If you are looking for a rewarding career where you can make a real difference in the lives of children and families, we would love to hear from you.
Please visit our website for more information, how to apply and contact details for an informal chat about the role.
Closing date: Tuesday, 7th May 2024 at 5pm
Interviews will take place at our Head Office in Reading on Tuesday, 14th May 2024
We look forward to hearing from you!
PACT is a supportive and respectful place where people are passionate about making a positive difference to the lives of women, children and families from many different backgrounds. We continuously look to progress the ways in which we create families and bring people together and encourage applications from people across all communities. We are committed to ensuring that our people and our services reflect the diversity of the communities we serve and applications from people from under-represented groups are particularly welcomed.
PACT is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. Anyone joining our team is subject to PACT’s Safer Recruitment pre-appointment enquiries. These include the provision of documentation of the right to work in the UK, Disclosure Barring Service (DBS) check, overseas police check where applicable and references covering a minimum 5-year period. All opportunities are based in the UK.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as the applications come in. Don’t miss your opportunity, apply now!
PACT is one of the UK’s leading voluntary adoption agencies, rated Outstanding by Ofsted, and has been at the forefront of adoption services for over 60 years.
We are currently looking for Independent Social Workers based in the following areas to undertake adoption assessments:
· Devon and Cornwall
· Milton Keynes, Peterborough and Cambridge
· Coventry and South Birmingham
· London
Caseloads are flexible and can be arranged to fit around other commitments. We can offer a competitive rate for each assignment.
You must be SWE registered and have at least three years’ post qualifying experience, preferably in adoption or fostering, and have solid assessment skills. It is also important that you are willing to travel, and that you hold your own professional indemnity and public liability insurance.
For further details and information on how to apply, please visit our website.
We look forward to hearing from you!
PACT is a supportive and respectful place where people are passionate about making a positive difference to the lives of women, children and families from many different backgrounds. We continuously look to progress the ways in which we create families and bring people together and encourage applications from people across all communities. We are committed to ensuring that our people and our services reflect the diversity of the communities we serve and applications from people from under-represented groups are particularly welcomed.
PACT is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. Anyone joining our team is subject to PACT’s Safer Recruitment pre-appointment enquiries. These include the provision of documentation of the right to work in the UK, Disclosure Barring Service (DBS) check, overseas police check where applicable and references covering a minimum 5 year period. All opportunities are based in the UK.
No agencies please.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as the applications come in. Don’t miss your opportunity, apply now!
The Winch is a dynamic children and young persons’ charity in north Camden which delivers a cradle to community pipeline of opportunity, through family support, play, youth-led, sports and social action programmes, working alongside children, young people and parents to develop their strengths, skills and sense of belonging of purpose. We want to appoint a dynamic Community Library Manager to run the library and grow our provision, based on the three key themes that reflect our aspirations; Belsize Reads, Belsize Creates and Belsize Connects. They will be a friendly and welcoming face to a wide range of library visitors, be opportunity-focussed and keen to take the initiative. They will champion the power of reading and creative arts for all
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
ABOUT ASYLUM AID
For over thirty years, Asylum Aid has been providing legal representation to some of the most vulnerable people seeking asylum. We have built an expert service, delivering vital and life-saving services in some of the most complex legal cases, with a particular speciality working with unaccompanied children, Survivors of trafficking, torture or other forms of human cruelty, and stateless people. Our vision is that all those in need of protection from persecution and other forms of human cruelty in the UK can obtain it, and are treated fairly and with dignity.
ABOUT THE ROLE
As Children and Young People’s Solicitor and Senior Caseworker at Asylum Aid, you will primarily work with unaccompanied asylum-seeking child (UASC) and young people (under 25), providing end to end representation on their asylum, human rights and trafficking claims. You may also undertake age dispute challenges and other judicial review work on behalf of your clients. You will combine this work, which will account for approximately 70% of your time, with conducting other immigration matters, including adult asylum claims, family reunion applications and statelessness applications. You will also have the opportunity to contribute to the wider work of the Asylum Aid team, delivering high quality legal services on the full range of protection and trafficking issues that affect migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers. You will conduct asylum casework under legal aid funding, with a specialist focus on representing unaccompanied asylum-seeking children and young people, and contribute to policy and strategic legal work to promote the rights of children and young people in the asylum system.
You will be a qualified solicitor or Immigration caseworker with IAAS Level 2/Senior Caseworker accreditation and have significant experience in publicly funded immigration work under a Legal Aid Agency Contract. You should have, or be able to obtain, Level 2 Children Safeguarding.
As is the nature of this sector, the role will be exposed to a high volume of traumatic and distressing material and, whilst they will be supported by the Asylum Aid Director, supervisors and the surrounding team, they should also be able to demonstrate knowledge of good self-care principles in an intense work environment.
Equal Opportunities
The Foundation and Asylum Aid is an equal opportunities and Living Wage employer. We are committed to attracting and recruiting diverse candidates as we are keen to make sure that our staff, trustees, volunteers and ambassadors reflect the communities we serve and the wider community we work in at every level within the organisation. We particularly welcome applications from those with BAME backgrounds and with lived experience of the UK immigration system.
Please note you must have the right to work in the UK as we are unable to provide visa sponsorship.
Please note that the successful candidate will be offered the job subject to suitable references and an enhanced DBS check.
If appointed you will be required to give your consent to Asylum Aid to receive regular updates on your criminal records status throughout your employment.
Please submit an up to date CV and covering letter by 9am on 25 April 2024. Your application should outline your relevant skills and experience, as well as how your previous experience matches the listed responsibilities and person specification. Please state in your covering letter when you would be available to start the role. In setting the salary regard has been had to the NCJ payscales.
Interviews are scheduled to be held during the week commencing 6 May 2024 at our offices in central London. For any queries, please contact Monika Nollet, Director of Legal Casework at Asylum Aid.
We regret that we can only respond to applicants who make it to the interview stage. No agencies.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as the applications come in. Don’t miss your opportunity, apply now!
In this varied and rewarding role you will engage, motivate and support young carers and in doing so you will make a real difference to young carers within Surrey.
You will be based at our offices in Burpham, Guildford for approximately one day a fortnight, with access to hotdesking at any time. Your remaining working hours will be spent engaging with young carers within youth settings, schools or other settings or undertaking planning/recording work from home. You will be need to be available during times that children and young people are available, and this includes planned evening and weekend work.
We are a Surrey wide service, our team work collaboratively to cover the county and for efficiency, your work will be focused in a specific geographical area. This is a fixed term role to cover a maternity leave.
Key responsibilities
- To complete an assessment of need with young carers and provide signposting advocacy and support.
- To work in schools/colleges to increase the identification and support of young carers.
- To provide regular and on-going time out and fun club sessions for young carers to meet others in similar situations and have a break from their caring role.
- To update the database and SYC webpages– for example to update young carers records and update details of planned youth clubs.
- To provide signposting and advocacy to Young Carers and their families.
- To facilitate bespoke sessions for 16-17 year olds.
- To facilitate a program of on-line activities (i.e. via zoom) to young carers.
About you
You must:
- Be confident in encouraging children, young people and their parents/carers to engage with our activities.
- Have experience of working with children, young people and families. e.g. in youth services /voluntary sector / social work settings.
- Have awareness of issues surrounding Young Carers.
- Have a flexible approach to working hours, as regular planned weekend and evening work is required.
- Have an ability to form good working relationships with young people and their families.
- Have experience recording case notes and information about children and young people. Have a good professional knowledge of standard Microsoft packages and databases
- Have a driving license and use of own vehicle. Mileage expenses are paid.
The successful applicants will be DBS checked to an Enhanced level.
About us
Action for Carers Surrey has a vision ‘that every unpaid carer in Surrey is heard, valued and supported.’ We are a committed, local charity determined to make a difference to young and adult carers across Surrey.
Our values are Focus, Inclusion, Respect and Excellence. By keeping to our values, we are able to provide an innovative, high quality and compassionate service to carers in every community in Surrey, making a real difference to their wellbeing.
We offer our staff a friendly, supportive, flexible workplace and are committed to welcoming applicants from a wide range of backgrounds as well as supporting staff who have their own caring responsibilities. To this end, we offer staff a weeks paid carers leave. We also provide a generous holiday entitlement, starting at 28 days plus bank holidays, an employee assistance programme, pension and opportunities for development and training.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Please note, due to the nature of the service, it is an occupational requirement that the post holder is female and the post is therefore exempt from the provisions of the Equality Act 2010 in terms of Schedule 9, Part 1, and Paragraph 1 of the Act.
ABOUT THE ROLE
We're looking for a Children and Family Worker to join the team in our West London Women's refuge. The service is a refuge accommodation for women and children surviving domestic abuse many of whom are living with trauma. we are looking for someone who really cares about the rights of women and their children.
As a Children and Family worker, you will support in providing a much needed safe and nurturing environment for children and their mother's, providing pathways, support and appropriate interventions to enable resettlement. You will support various teams to co-produce a tailored support plan which is altered to the individual's needs through a recovery model providing trauma informed and enabling environments to achieve this.
Shift Pattern: 37.5 hours per week, working on a rota which is over 7 days including evenings. You will be based on site within the service.
ABOUT YOU
We're looking for someone who can demonstrate compassion, empathy, empowerment and support to our residents in a trauma informed approach, able to communicate effectively with others and build purposeful relationships. You will be comfortable with the environment in which you will be working, with a passion to support women and their families rebuild confidents, relationships, and work towards their personal goals. You will be comfortable with lone and group working and have a passion to provide high quality care and support to others.
Benefits, including Non-Contractual Perks
- 25 days annual leave, increasing with the length of service
- Training and Development, including access to courses, upskilling, and progression plans
- Medicash includes discount gym memberships, routine optometry care, dental treatments, and physiotherapy treatments
- Employee Assistance Programme, including counselling
- Reflective Practice regular sessions with a therapist provided by an external provider to support Mental Health and Wellbeing.
- Life Assurance Scheme
- Cycle-to-work scheme
- Annual Staff Awards
If you have the passion, creativity, and tenacity to make a real difference in people's lives, challenge stigma and make our communities safer, we would love to hear from you!
OVERVIEW OF KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Children and Family Relationships
- Provide parenting advice to support mothers and their families.
- Provide stimulating play opportunities to encourage children from all backgrounds to develop and express themselves, as well as support the children with their general learning, homework, and literacy.
- Support with early learning development, supporting mothers through advice and activity packs which aid their children’s learning and development.
- Deliver family sessions to support contract orders by social services and other organisations, as well as to help rebuild relationships, life skills, confidence, reliance, self-esteem and manage trauma.
- Offer age-appropriate sessions to children to provide a safe, encouraging, and development led environment which provides meaningful and memorable experiences.
- Work with residents and their keyworkers to understand complex needs to help build children’s and their families lives.
Support Working
- Build and sustain trusting and respectful relationships with our residents, including children.
- Create a safe, stable, psychologically informed environment which is nurturing to children and families.
- Provide support for residents, contributing to the development of support plans, risk assessments, reviews, regular support sessions and other personal development activities.
- Support with reducing barriers to reintegrating into communities, and re-developing confidence, skills, and coping mechanisms to support those with previous trauma.
- Develop and sustain therapeutic relationships with our residents, providing practical and emotional support with a trauma informed approach to ensure they are always treated with respect and dignity. Deal with sensitive information in a professional manner.
Additional Responsibilities
- Attend appointments as and when required in support of residents.
- Undertake shift lead responsibilities on rotation, taking responsibility for ensuring day-to-day support delivery is effective, with staff carrying out their designated responsibilities, alongside ensuring resident and service-specific follow up actions are completed.
- Housing Management responsibilities, ensure residents and staff are safe, and the surroundings are kept clean and well maintained.
Other responsibilities than those described above may be required to be undertaken from time to time and will be expected to be performed to as long as it is within the capability and level of the position.
KEY CRITERIA
What we are looking for:
- Understanding and/or experience of working with people of complex backgrounds
- Previous experience and/or in-depth knowledge about working with children who have experienced trauma
- IT Proficiency, ability to learn new software programs, basic Microsoft experience
- Understanding of the trauma children and families may go through due to domestic violence and other previous experiences
- Understanding of the social needs and support required for people with multiple and complex needs
- Understanding and/or practical knowledge of the social and societal marginalisation that can be attached to people with various challenging backgrounds, mental health, addiction, exploitation, homelessness, and previous convictions
What we would like, but not essential:
- Previous experience creating co-produced support plans, key working, and care planning, providing appropriate interventions for service users
- Previous experience providing housing support and practical assistance within a residential support role
- Appropriate Professional Qualification in: Social Care, Early years Education, Certificate in Childcare or other relevant
- Understanding and/or practical application of key legislation regarding social care, housing, criminal justice, and mental health
- Ability to Recognise signs of deteriorating mental health and initiate appropriate interventions to prevent crisis
Please refer to the JDPS attached for more details on the vacancy and our requirements/key criteria.
WORKING FOR US
ABOUT US
Social Interest Group (SIG) believes good care and support improve lives. Our values of ambition, empowerment, transparency, and inclusivity drive everything we do. Our mission is to empower people who are marginalised by building powerful partnerships and creative solutions that bridge gaps in provision and aid recovery, reablement and resettlement.
SIG is a not-for-profit organisation providing thousands of people with good-quality support and care in residential, drop-in centres, community floating support settings (including people's own homes), probation settings, and hospitals awaiting discharge. We do so across London, Brighton, Bedfordshire, Luton, and Kent. We believe in the power of well-planned, well-managed services to make a difference. We work with high standards and external and internal regulatory frameworks.
Want to know how we work? Watch our short Theory of Change video to see how we support people towards a brighter future: Theory of Change
Further details can be found on our website here: Theory of Change - Social Interest Group - Social Interest Group.
Our Values
Ambition – Eager to succeed and to accomplish as much as possible for our people
Empowerment – Giving staff and the people we support the tools, training, and information they need to achieve their potential
Transparency – Upfront and visible about our actions and open to scrutiny from stakeholders, service users, and staff
Inclusivity – Listening to, understanding, and including all our stakeholders to ensure we make a difference and get things right
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Please note that this job advert may close early due to screening applications on an ongoing basis. We advise applying as soon as possible for your application to be taken into consideration at the early stages.
Additional information on our company policies including Gender Pay, Equality and Diversity, Company Benefits and our Candidate Privacy Policy can be found on our website.
Closing Date: 5 May 2024
Ref 6622
In this Senior Technical Lead - Entrepreneurship role, you will use your deep expertise in innovative finance and enterprise development to lead and support the delivery of enterprise development programmes, both existing and upcoming, across various countries.
You will help shape SCUK's commercial strategies by providing strategic and commercial insights, guide existing initiatives, and sharing through best practice.
You will be instrumental to achieve the Innovation Hive's system change goals for entrepreneurship as a means to delivering impact, influencing not just the Save the Children movement, but also the broader NGO sector and beyond.
The Innovation Hive are a team focussed on achieving transformative, systemic, change for children, for our organisation, for our sector and beyond. To do this we run a corporate venturing function at SCUK backing innovation projects that will help us maximise the impact potential of existing and new resources, and increase funding directed towards Save the Children's mission. Our purpose is clear: to transform, build and champion new growth opportunities and business models, moving at pace and collaborating inside and outside of or organisation to do this.
Key Accountabilities include:
Technical
- Use deep technical expertise and proven experience on innovative finance and delivering enterprise development programmes to lead on the delivery and/or support of existing (eg. 3 Ukraine, Kumwe Hub) and upcoming (eg Turkey, Nigeria, Ethiopia) Enterprise Development programmes to exit point.
- Use proven commercial experience to support the development and delivery of the strategy to explore SCUK's commercial opportunities such as shared value partnerships.
- Provide guidance and advice on existing SCUK commercial initiatives.
- Work on the development of a “best-practice” advisory service for SCUK to support Enterprise Development programmes for local contexts.
- Working collaboratively across SCUK, Save the Children International, LIFT Lab, Save the Children Global Ventures, Kumwe Hub and Country Offices and others to design and support the implementation of those projects.
- Lead all aspects of an end-to-end opportunity, including origination, due diligence, design, committee approval, go-to-market strategy and oversight of delivery.
- Contribute commercial acumen to project design, delivery and evaluation.
- Provide strategic and analytical insight through the generation of accurate and compelling reports and presentations, including for internal and external stakeholders.
Thought Leadership
- Achieve the Innovation Hive's system change goals for entrepreneurship, influencing not just the Save the Children movement, but also the broader NGO sector and beyond.
- Influence and engage senior leaders with gravitas to build high-level buy-in for and understanding of your work.
- Be an active leader in relevant community of practices (or creating those that not yet exist) that bring together stakeholders, including donors, investors, and beneficiaries, to drive the adoption of enterprise development and innovative finance mechanisms.
- Lead and build essential partnerships with organisations and industry experts to ensure the delivery of strategic projects. Including specifically in the impact finance and social enterprise space, confidently representing Save the Children at key external events and building our presence.
Learning and Organisational Development
- Responsible for bringing best practice into Save the Children – and embedding your technical knowledge and learning across the organisation, specifically regarding innovative finance and enterprise development, to build organisational capacity.
- Draft and preparation of proposals, pitch decks, and associated materials to engage diverse client groups (e.g. the Innovation Hive's Investment Committee and relevant board steering committees) to ensure the Hive's activities are communicated highly effectively and strategically.
About You
To be successful, it is important that you have the following skills and experience:
- Knowledge and proven multi-year experience on the strategic implementation and operationalization of Enterprise Development programmes.
- In-depth knowledge of current best practices in enterprise development and innovative finance, combined with established connections with industry experts and relevant networks, enabling the leveraging of these relationships for strategic advantage and collaborative opportunities.
- Demonstrated commercial expertise with a strong ability to guide and enhance commercial initiatives, leveraging a comprehensive understanding of market trends and business strategies to maximize impact and sustainability.
- Experience in senior leadership roles within a development, management consulting environment or equivalent.
- Significant experience with impact measurement, and management frameworks.
- An excellent stakeholder manager with demonstrated networking and influencing skills at all levels.
- Ability to adapt financial mechanisms to humanitarian and/or development contexts.
- Proven track record of project delivery.
- Creative and strategic in problem-solving, effectively involving multiple stakeholders with empathy and open-mindedness.
- Capable of handling complexity and uncertainty with a clear and organized thought process.
- Organized self-starter with an entrepreneurial mindset, eager to challenge the status quo.
- Quick at understanding new markets/products and passionate about impact, technology, and entrepreneurship, with a strong drive for personal and organizational growth.
- Focused on achieving targets aligned with organizational strategies and appreciative of the complexities in a global international organization.
Please note: To avoid disappointment, you are advised to submit your application as soon as possible as we reserve the right to close the vacancy early if a high volume of applications are received. This is to ensure that we can manage application levels whilst maintaining a positive candidate experience. Unfortunately, once a vacancy has closed, we are unable to consider further applications.
Ways of Working:
The majority of our roles can be performed remotely in the UK, but there are likely to be times when you will be required to come to your contracted office (up to 2-4 days per month or 6-8 days per quarter). This will be agreed with your Line Manager and team and is intended to be time spent on collaborating with colleagues and relationship building.
Please note: travel costs to your contracted office will be at your own expense.
Flexible Working - We are happy to discuss flexible working options at interview.
Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion:
Save the Children UK believes in a world that is fair, inclusive and equitable where all children have the opportunity to change their world. We apply this to our workforce and we are committed to developing and supporting a diverse, equitable, and inclusive organisation where all employees have a sense of belonging and feel that they can be "Free to Be Me". We are not looking for just one type of person - we want to recruit people who can add fresh perspectives, innovative ideas or challenge that disrupts the risk of group think.
We are especially interested in people whose childhood experiences - of life on a low income, of migration, of being in a racialised community, of the care system, of being LGBT+ or in an LGBT+ family or living with (or with someone with) a disability - help us to see things we might otherwise miss. Whatever your story is we want to hear it because we know that different voices, ideas, perspectives and knowledge, working together will enable us to better the lives of children around the world. This is the reason why we are all here.
Closing Date: 1 May 2024
Ref 6681
Save the Children UK has an exciting opportunity for a driven individual to join us as our Senior Philanthropy and Partnership Manager - Africa. This is an opportunity for a motivated individual who is passionate about driving positive change in Africa through philanthropy and strategic partnerships. You will build meaningful relationships with high-net-worth individuals and corporate partners and manage high-value philanthropic partnerships aimed at transforming the lives of children worldwide.
About Us
Save the Children UK believes every child deserves a future. In the UK and around the world, we work every day to give children a healthy start in life, the opportunity to learn and protection from harm. When crisis strikes, and children are most vulnerable, we are always among the first to respond and the last to leave. We ensure children's unique needs are met and their voices are heard. We deliver lasting results for millions of children, including those hardest to reach.
About you
As our Senior Philanthropy and Partnership Manager-Africa, you will be responsible for cultivating and stewarding relationships with Africa-based donors, including corporates, foundations, and high-net-worth individuals. Working closely with our Partnership and Philanthropy Team, as well as regional and country offices across Africa, you will drive new business opportunities and secure significant six to seven figure gifts.
As part of the Africa Philanthropy team, you will play a pivotal role in advancing the Africa Philanthropy Initiative (API) and our mission to raise funds and develop strategic partnerships that benefit children across the African continent.
In this role, day -to- day, you will:
- Collaborate with country offices to progress existing opportunities and develop proposals for new business, leveraging local philanthropic trends.
- Work alongside the Head of Africa Philanthropy to implement strategic corporate and philanthropy aspirations, driving forward directly funded new funding models.
- Network and attend external events to raise visibility for Save the Children's Africa Philanthropy Initiative.
- Develop and implement strategic donor plans and stewardship events, tailored to engage and steward donors from Africa.
- Manage the Africa Advisory Board, identify potential donors, and ensure effective approaches are made to secure funds.
To be successful, it is important that you have:
- Experience in working or living in Africa, with a passion for African philanthropy and its potential for transformative change.
- Demonstrated ability to build and manage relationships with high-level stakeholders in the charity or private sector.
- Proven track record of securing six to seven figure gifts from high-net-worth individuals or experience in securing new business in a commercial environment.
- Exceptional proposal writing skills and experience in developing high-quality proposals for business and/or philanthropy partners.
- Familiarity with emerging markets, preferably in Africa, and a knack for identifying and cultivating new business opportunities.
- Excellent interpersonal, communication, and relationship-building skills.
- Commitment to Save the Children's values and mission to improve the lives of children and families worldwide.
What we offer you:
- Working for a charity provides one of the best benefits there is – a sense of purpose and reward for helping others. However, we understand the importance of giving back to our employees to ensure a happy and healthy working environment and work/life balance.
- To have the best (and happiest) employees we focus on flexibility, inclusion, collaboration, and health and wellbeing both in and outside of work.
- We provide a wide range of benefits which will reward your hard work, motivate you, and inspire you to work to improve the lives of children every day.
Closing Date: May 1, 2024
Please note: To avoid disappointment, you are advised to submit your application as soon as possible as we reserve the right to close the vacancy early if a high volume of applications are received. This is to ensure that we can manage application levels whilst maintaining a positive candidate experience. Unfortunately once a vacancy has closed, we are unable to consider further applications.
Ways of Working:
The majority of our roles can be performed remotely in the UK, but there are likely to be times when you will be required to come to your contracted office (up to 2-4 days per month or 6-8 days per quarter). This will be agreed with your Line Manager and team and is intended to be time spent on collaborating with colleagues and relationship building.
Please note: travel costs to your contracted office will be at your own expense.
Flexible Working - We are happy to discuss flexible working options at interview.
Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion:
Save the Children UK believes in a world that is fair, inclusive and equitable where all children have the opportunity to change their world. We apply this to our workforce and we are committed to developing and supporting a diverse, equitable, and inclusive organisation where all employees have a sense of belonging and feel that they can be "Free to Be Me". We are not looking for just one type of person - we want to recruit people who can add fresh perspectives, innovative ideas or challenge that disrupts the risk of group think.
We are especially interested in people whose childhood experiences - of life on a low income, of migration, of being in a racialised community, of the care system, of being LGBT+ or in an LGBT+ family or living with (or with someone with) a disability - help us to see things we might otherwise miss. Whatever your story is we want to hear it because we know that different voices, ideas, perspectives and knowledge, working together will enable us to better the lives of children around the world. This is the reason why we are all here.
Salary: £15,593 per annum + £450 Home Working Allowance per annum
Hours - 21 Hours per week - 3 days
Contract:- Permanent Role
Location: Home-based in the North-East, able to travel throughout the region to visit and offer support to children and families in Teesside, Darlington, County Durham, Sunderland, Tyneside and Northumberland.
As a ‘not for profit’ organisation, TACT puts the needs of our children and carers first and looks to appoint individuals who are as passionate about fostering as we are. We are a homeworking organisation, and we pride ourselves on our flexible working opportunities, available from day one, an extensive wellbeing programme and our benefits package, all curated to nurture a healthy work-life balance for all our employees so they can give an excellent service to our carers and the young people and children we care for.
As a foster care charity, TACT invests all surplus income into services, staff, carers, and child development. This means that we have been able to invest in unique projects like TACT Connect, our unique and ground-breaking scheme for TACT care experienced young people and adults, as well as our expanding TACT Education Service and our new Health Service. All our activities are built on our commitment to becoming a fully trauma-informed organisation, in line with our key values and ethos.
TACT achieved 16th place in the UK Best Companies Work For survey results in 2023, with 91% of employees acknowledging that the organisation is run on strong values and principles and 94% stating they feel proud to work for this organisation.
If you want to be valued as a professional, be appreciated at work and contribute to better outcomes for the children and young people connected with TACT, apply now.
Overall Duties of the role will include:
- Being an accessible point of contact for the children living with our carers and to our young people, keeping them up to date with the facilities and opportunities available with TACT
- Providing support to children with emotional welfare and mental health needs
- Supporting interventions and activities to ensure stable placement arrangements
- Being able to transport children and young people to events, appointments and meetings (mileage reimbursed)
- Organising and participating in virtual and face-to-face events and occasional residential meet-ups
- Managing all paperwork associated with events and activities
- Willingness to work flexibly, according to deadlines and needs of our families which may include some after-school, evening and weekend work
- Undertaking trauma-informed direct work with children and young people
The successful candidate must also be willing and able to travel to the Yorkshire area quarterly for face-to-face team meetings, training, and wellbeing events with the potential for occasional travel to other areas around the UK to facilitate children's residential stays.
The TACT Yorkshire and North East team are also currently recruiting for a part-time (14 hours per week) Family Finder position, which is advertised separately. We would welcome applications from candidates who feel able to meet the requirements of both posts and would be interested in full-time employment (35 hours per week) with a combined role comprising both posts.
TACT offer an excellent employee benefits package including:
- 31 days paid holiday plus bank holidays.
- Flexible working arrangements (including compressed hours, flexibility around core hours, volunteer days policy).
- Family friendly policies.
- Homeworking ‘bundle’ including annual allowance, IT equipment and a loan for home office set up.
- Perkbox – retail discount scheme.
- Stakeholder pension scheme (salary sacrifice).
- Fantastic learning and development opportunities.
- Employee Assistance Programme (including CBT counselling, remote GP appointments, physiotherapy, mental health support and second opinions).
- TACT is a home based workforce. We recognise the benefits that flexible home working creates for both the employer and the employee.
As a remote working organisation, we are committed to working with our staff to enable consistent inclusion and engagement across the organisation to ensure the optimum standards of service for our carers and children.
An Enhanced DBS clearance is required for this role and will be processed by TACT on your behalf.
Closing Date: Friday, 26th April 2024
Interview Date: Thursday 9th May 2024 (via teams)
Safeguarding is everyone’s business and TACT believes that only the people with the right skills and values should work in social work. As part of TACT’s commitment to safeguarding, we properly examine the skills, experience, qualifications, and values of potential staff in relation to our work with vulnerable young children. We use rigorous and consistent recruitment approaches to help safeguard TACT’s young people. All our staff are expected to work in line with TACT’s safeguarding policies.
We reserve the right to close a vacancy earlier than advertised if the volume of applications is excessive, you are therefore advised to apply at your earliest convenience.
TACT does not accept unsolicited CVs from external recruitment agencies, nor the fees associated with them.
Closing Date: 12 May 2024
Ref 6713
Save the Children UK has an exciting opportunity for a creative and tenacious individual with extensive media communications experience to join us as our Senior PR Manager. The successful candidate will work with a variety of internal and external stakeholders working across brand and advocacy campaigns - specifically leading on our Christmas Jumper Day fundraiser.
Please note: This role requires 1-2 days minimum in the office each week.
About Us
Save the Children UK believes every child deserves a future. In the UK and around the world, we work every day to give children a healthy start in life, the opportunity to learn and protection from harm. When crisis strikes, and children are most vulnerable, we are always among the first to respond and the last to leave. We ensure children's unique needs are met and their voices are heard. We deliver lasting results for millions of children, including those hardest to reach.
About the role
As Senior PR Manager, you will play a crucial role in raising the profile of Save the Children UK amongst key target audiences, by developing and delivering projects that command media attention and coverage. As a member of the PR, Artist & Broadcast team, you will be able to apply your experience working with the media to shape major fundraising and influencing campaigns and build our brand. Some stakeholders you will work with include high profile ambassadors, influencers, and partners. To be successful in this role you will lean on your excellent verbal and written communications skills and have a strong network of contacts to help share the work of Save the Children UK.
In this role, you will:
- Work closely with team members in other departments within Save the Children to provide excellent PR support for delivering Save the Children's objectives
- Develop and execute mass-market PR plans that amplify key strategic campaigns and initiatives across the calendar year, including brand, fundraising and advocacy priorities
- Identify and maximise opportunities to generate reactive media coverage, responding effectively to external events, news and the cultural conversation
- Write, co-ordinate and issue media releases, statements, briefing materials and Q&As, including for high-profile spokespeople and corporate partners, if required
- Develop and nurture close working relationships with journalists (especially those on features, women's, lifestyle, showbiz outlets) across print, digital and broadcast media - including a diverse range of outlets beyond mainstream media
- Represent Save the Children as spokesperson externally, networking and building relationships that support brand building activity in the media.
About you
To be successful, it is important that you have:
- Significant operational experience in mass-market PR, as a print or broadcast journalist, or equivalent professional media communications experience
- Excellent communication skills with the ability to work collaboratively with colleagues and external contacts across diverse cultures, disciplines and time zones
- Solid experience developing and implementing PR campaigns for corporate clients, including cause-related events, co-branded marketing activity, global campaigns
- Excellent working knowledge of the media landscape – including national broadcast and press, women's, showbiz, tabloid and digital media – with a network of journalistic contacts.
- Excellent writing skills, including the ability to write and edit engaging copy for a range of audiences, across traditional and new mediums
- Ability to do ‘on call' rota work at weekends and out of hours
- Commitment to Save the Children's vision, mission and values.
What we offer you:
Working for a charity provides one of the best benefits there is – a sense of purpose and reward for helping others. However, we understand the importance of giving back to our employees to ensure a happy and healthy working environment and work/life balance.
- We focus on flexibility, inclusion, collaboration, health and wellbeing both in and outside of work.
- We provide a wide range of benefits which will reward your hard work, motivate you, and inspire you to work to improve the lives of children every day.
Closing date: Sunday 12th May
Please note: To avoid disappointment, you are advised to submit your application as soon as possible as we reserve the right to close the vacancy early if a high volume of applications are received. This is to ensure that we can manage application levels whilst maintaining a positive candidate experience. Unfortunately once a vacancy has closed, we are unable to consider further applications.
Ways of Working:
The majority of our roles can be performed remotely in the UK, but there are likely to be times when you will be required to come to your contracted office (up to 2-4 days per month or 6-8 days per quarter). This will be agreed with your Line Manager and team and is intended to be time spent on collaborating with colleagues and relationship building.
Please note: travel costs to your contracted office will be at your own expense.
Flexible Working - We are happy to discuss flexible working options at interview.
Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion:
Save the Children UK believes in a world that is fair, inclusive and equitable where all children have the opportunity to change their world. We apply this to our workforce and we are committed to developing and supporting a diverse, equitable, and inclusive organisation where all employees have a sense of belonging and feel that they can be "Free to Be Me". We are not looking for just one type of person - we want to recruit people who can add fresh perspectives, innovative ideas or challenge that disrupts the risk of group think.
We are especially interested in people whose childhood experiences - of life on a low income, of migration, of being in a racialised community, of the care system, of being LGBT+ or in an LGBT+ family or living with (or with someone with) a disability - help us to see things we might otherwise miss. Whatever your story is we want to hear it because we know that different voices, ideas, perspectives and knowledge, working together will enable us to better the lives of children around the world. This is the reason why we are all here.
Anna Freud is a world-leading mental health charity for children, young people and their families. Our mission is to close the gap in wellbeing and mental health by advancing, translating, delivering, and sharing the best science and practice with everyone who impacts the lives of children, young people and their families. More information about Anna Freud is available on our website.
We value diversity and aim to have diverse workforce that reflects the community and our service users, in line with our vision, values and inclusion commitments. We encourage applications from all sections of the community.
The PG Dip CAPNiP programme is an exciting distance learning programme from Anna Freud and UCL. The programme is targeted towards professionals working with children and young people, to support their understanding and application of the latest psychological research and practice to their working lives. The programme is delivered entirely remotely to the global cohort, using a range of online learning tools and strategies to support networking and connection amongst students; it brings together a diverse range of views and expertise from academics, experts by experience and clinicians, to support students understanding of a range of topics relevant to the wellbeing of young people.
The programme holds a particular focus on trauma and trauma-informed practice, including a specialist module on working with the impact of trauma, and on trauma-informed practice in education. The programme runs for one year full-time, or two years part-time.
More details about the programme are available to view on our website.
The PG Dip CAPNiP programme started running in September 2023, and the post-holder will therefore have the opportunity to contribute to the programme at an exciting point in its development. We have a brilliant global group of students, who are working across countries and cultures to support children, young people and their families. The programme team are a welcoming group, united in their commitment to supporting the dissemination of psychological and neuroscientific principles with a diverse student group.
Please email Recruitment with any job enquiries, or if you require assistance or experience difficulties when applying. Please note that successful candidate(s) will be asked to evidence their Right to Work in the UK post-job offer – we do not hold a sponsor licence therefore we are unable to provide Visa sponsorship.
Location
The role can be undertaken remotely, due to the remote learning model of the programme and seminar delivery.
Contract duration
Permanent
Closing date for applications
Midday (12pm), Monday 13 May 2024.
Notification of interview
Shortlisted applicants will be notified no later than Wednesday 15 May 2024. During shortlisting, applicants are anonymously assessed using the criteria visible in the Job Profile. Please note: due to the high volume of applications received, we will not be able to provide feedback to unsuccessful applicants.
Interviews
Interviews will likely be held on Tuesday 21 May 2024.
How to apply
Please visit our Careers page to register and apply online. We are unable to accept CVs and kindly request no contact from agencies.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
The Woolwich Centre, 35 Wellington Street, Greater London, SE18 6HQ
Ref CFC-241
Are you a proactive, compassionate and collaborative individual with a proven record of supporting and engaging positively with vulnerable adults and young people in a community setting? Do you have sound experience of working with Children and Family Services and supporting volunteers in a community setting?
If so, join St Giles Trust as our Children and Families Caseworker where, as part of our Greenwich Gangs team, you will provide both face-to-face and virtual/remote one-to-one case working to children and families at risk or on the periphery of gangs and serious youth violence, plus play a central role in deterring young people from offending and safeguarding families who may be at risk.
About St Giles Trust
An ambitious, well-established charity that helps people facing adversity to find jobs, homes and the right support they need. Central to our ethos is our belief that people with first-hand experience of successfully overcoming issues such as an offending background, homelessness, addictions and gang involvement, hold the key to positive change in others.
About this key role
As our Children and Families Caseworker, you will support individuals who are affected by domestic violence, C.S.E, Mental health, grooming and exploitation, and gang and serious youth violence, all of which will include working with both victims and perpetrators. You will carry and review thorough risk management plans with young people and their family, ensuring each family member has an age-appropriate safety plan, and provide a client-led support service that responds to each individual’s needs, including supporting with housing, finances, schooling, parenting, health, ETE and criminal justice. We will rely on you to deliver the service in a timely and targeted manner and to close cases effectively and positively, identifying a survival plan for the client that can be used for ongoing support and agencies that can be used if serious problems develop in the future. Providing social support to children and family members, including identification of need, liaison and referral to specialist agencies, is also a key element of this role.
What we are looking for
- To have lived experience similar to that of the client group or to have worked on an offender-led/ social care service with a commitment to utilising a peer-led approach
- Proven record of working with and supporting volunteers in a community setting
- The ability to recruit, engage and keep the target client group motivated
- Experience of calculating risk and implementing safety procedures for vulnerable clients
- Experience of supporting and mentoring young people and adults, including socially excluded children
- Mentoring Level 3 qualification (or be willing to work towards this)
- Excellent interpersonal, relationship-building and communication skills, both verbal and written.
Please note this role requires that successful candidates must undergo an Enhanced DBS check, on the basis that the post involves contact with vulnerable participants and colleagues.
In return, you can expect a competitive salary, generous leave allowance, staff pension, flexible working, a mentoring programme, an advice and counselling service, clinical therapist sessions, life insurance (4 x annual salary), duvet days, season ticket loan, employee perks programme, eye care voucher and much more.
We are an equity and inclusion confident employer. We welcome all applications and we particularly encourage applications from people of the global majority (black, brown, multi-heritage) and those who identify as disabled, neuroexpansive, neurodiverse, with any protected characteristics and/or social barriers or challenges. We value the empowering and informative impact that all lived experiences and diversity of thought can offer the organisation.
St Giles will guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria set out in the Job Description for the vacancy.
To apply please visit our website via the apply button.
Closing date: 25th April 2024 23:45pm Interview date: 30th April 2024
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as the applications come in. Don’t miss your opportunity, apply now!
We are delighted to be working in partnership with Kingsley Hall Church and Community Centre (KHCCC) to secure their brand-new Director of Development (Children and Families).
KHCCC has been a cornerstone of Barking and Dagenham for nearly a century, serving as a vibrant community hub where people gather for worship, celebration, and companionship. Since its establishment in 1929, it has been a place of solace and connection, remaining a vital part of the borough to this day. Their flagship site is renowned for its role as a local leader, offering a range of amenities such as the Street Kitchen café, Social Supermarket, diverse activities, preschool, and church gatherings, attracting hundreds of visitors weekly.
KHCCC are embarking on an exciting chapter, creating the new role of Director of Development (Children and Families). With their Christian values driving transformation, this role is pivotal. KHCCC are seeking an innovative leader to join their executive leadership team and help steer change.
This opportunity will involve leading the transformation of their established Pre-school into a thriving year-round nursery. Furthermore, it includes launching a new childcare service at their second church site, enriching family and children's initiatives, and strengthening ties with borough leaders and funding bodies. This role will be instrumental in establishing connections between KHCCC and other services, enabling the comprehensive development in a unified approach.
The successful candidate must be able to demonstrate:
- Experience in creating and implementing operational strategies and overseeing changes.
- Ability to build relationships with a range of stakeholders.
- Experience in management, including overseeing teams and coordinating organisational tasks and responsibilities.
- A passion for family support and children's development.
This is a wonderful opportunity to join a nurturing and ambitious staff team that has daily devotions together. Including a weekly team meeting that is centred in prayer and envisioning.
Please note: Joining one of KHCCC’s church congregations is not compulsory, open to applicants who are members of other churches.
Please see the candidate pack for more details.
For an informal chat, please contact Nick Thomas, Recruitment Consultant, Charisma Charity Recruitment. Your application should be submitted through the Charisma website and include your CV and supporting statement.
We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. We do not discriminate on the basis of disability, race, colour, ethnicity, gender, religion*, sexual orientation, age, veteran status or other category protected by law.
*In accordance with the equality act 2010 it is a genuine occupational requirement that the post holder is a practicing Christian and in agreement with the KHCCC statement of faith.
Closing date for applications: 28th April 2024
Charisma vetting interviews must be completed by midday on 1 May prior to shortlisting on the 3 May.
First stage interviews with Kingsley Hall: w/c 13 May
Second stage interviews with Kingsley Hall: w/c 20 May
A note from Charisma
Don’t feel like you meet all of the requirements? We’d still love to chat, we’re a people first recruitment partner. We specialise in charity recruitment with over 22 years’ experience working as a consultancy who support inspiring professionals find the perfect roles in transformational organisations.
Closing Date:28 April 2024
Ref 6683
Save the Children UK has an exciting opportunity for a dynamic and driven individual with impressive relationship building skills and a proven record of working in a fundraising environment to join us as our Philanthropy Manager (Trusts)
In this role you will work with trust and foundation partners and prospects to build strong relationships helping us to secure income, and help us to achieve positive change for, and with children and families.
About Us
Save the Children UK believes every child deserves a future. In the UK and around the world, we work every day to give children a healthy start in life, the opportunity to learn and protection from harm. When crisis strikes, and children are most vulnerable, we are always among the first to respond and the last to leave. We ensure children's unique needs are met and their voices are heard. We deliver lasting results for millions of children, including those hardest to reach.
About You
As our Philanthropy Manager (Trusts) you will play a pivotal role in cultivating, nurturing, and growing relationships with Trusts and Foundations. This role involves working collaboratively across Save the Children teams to develop compelling proposals, secure support, and create sustainable partnerships.
You will also be responsible for independently providing expert stewardship and management of a portfolio of donors as well as actively driving new business creating and securing partnerships that create lasting impact for children.
In this role, you will:
- Independently managing a portfolio of existing and new donors through a variety of personalised and creative approaches ensuring excellent stewardship and translating into increased income for Save the Children
- Actively driving new business, working closely with key members of Save the Children's programming teams, the Trusts & Foundations Lead and other colleagues to identify and assess new prospects and to identify the most appropriate and impactful proposition to secure partnerships that create impact for children.
- Developing networks amongst donors and prospects to promote Save the Children's work and grow opportunities for philanthropic gifts.
- Working cross-departmentally to produce high quality written proposals, bids, concept notes and applications for donors.
- Working in collaboration with other colleagues to identify, design and execute new engagement events, opportunities, and products for potential and existing donors.
To be successful, it is important that you have:
- Experience of working in a fundraising environment or similar experience where comparable skills can be used to work with potential high-level funders and supporters.
- Excellent interpersonal skills with an ability to build relationships with, engage and influence a wide range of donors, and stakeholders (internal and external)
- Independent worker with the ability to plan, prioritise and manage a varied workload to meet deadlines, and pro-actively identify and pursue new opportunities.
- Project or partnership management skills including reporting, budgeting, meeting deadlines and working across multiple teams.
- Problem solving skills and a flexible, creative and positive approach.
- Strong communication skills – both written and oral – with the ability to develop and deliver compelling propositions and stewardship communications.
- A commitment to Save the Children's vision, mission and values.
What we offer you:
- Working for a charity provides one of the best benefits there is – a sense of purpose and reward for helping others. However, we understand the importance of giving back to our employees to ensure a happy and healthy working environment and work/life balance.
- To have the best (and happiest) employees we focus on flexibility, inclusion, collaboration, health and wellbeing both in and outside of work.
- We provide a wide range of benefits which will reward your hard work, motivate you, and inspire you to work to improve the lives of children every day.
Please note: To avoid disappointment, you are advised to submit your application as soon as possible as we reserve the right to close the vacancy early if a high volume of applications are received. This is to ensure that we can manage application levels whilst maintaining a positive candidate experience. Unfortunately once a vacancy has closed, we are unable to consider further applications.
Ways of Working:
The majority of our roles can be performed remotely in the UK, but there are likely to be times when you will be required to come to your contracted office (up to 2-4 days per month or 6-8 days per quarter). This will be agreed with your Line Manager and team and is intended to be time spent on collaborating with colleagues and relationship building.
Please note: travel costs to your contracted office will be at your own expense.
Flexible Working - We are happy to discuss flexible working options at interview.
Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion:
Save the Children UK believes in a world that is fair, inclusive and equitable where all children have the opportunity to change their world. We apply this to our workforce and we are committed to developing and supporting a diverse, equitable, and inclusive organisation where all employees have a sense of belonging and feel that they can be "Free to Be Me". We are not looking for just one type of person - we want to recruit people who can add fresh perspectives, innovative ideas or challenge that disrupts the risk of group think.
We are especially interested in people whose childhood experiences - of life on a low income, of migration, of being in a racialised community, of the care system, of being LGBT+ or in an LGBT+ family or living with (or with someone with) a disability - help us to see things we might otherwise miss. Whatever your story is we want to hear it because we know that different voices, ideas, perspectives and knowledge, working together will enable us to better the lives of children around the world. This is the reason why we are all here.