Communication coordinator jobs in Manchester

Volunteer and community involvement is a core part of what we do here at Sands. From Sands United Teams, Support Groups, knitters, Parent Speakers and event volunteer, volunteers are at the heart of Sands delivering peer support, and building a local community for bereaved parents.

Sands Groups are volunteer led, and community driven.  

Sands has a vision to grow community-based peer support, community activity and volunteer involvement across the organisation. This requires an investment in enabling, innovation in peer support and volunteer involvement and partnership working.At the heart of this is our Befrienders.

Befrienders are in every Group across the UK and enable online support groups too.

This post is all about developing, delivering and managing our fantastic volunteer befriender programme across Sands. Ensuring that Sands befrienders are enabled to provide warm, supportive, evidence-based and values-driven peer support to bereaved families across the UK.

This maternity cover post will have two key focus areas

- Maintaining key components of the befriender programme, including regular communications and meeting with Befrienders, driving recruitment opportunities, supporting innovation in Befriending and troubleshooting in partnership with volunteers.

- Deliver a fixed timeline project focused on developing the Befriender programme.

Responsibilities

Best practice in peer support and befriender programmes

• Manage the direction and growth of the Befriender programme
• Work with the Development Leads and Community Development Officers to create plans for regions to support existing Befrienders and grow the peer support offer across the UK

· To engage, inspire and support existing Sands befrienders, providing a positive volunteer experience from recruitment to saying goodbye

• Be the point of contact for Befriender safeguarding issues. Be proactive in addressing and be an escalation point for challenges, risks and safeguarding issues.

• Practice and support excellent standards in all aspects of inclusion and diversity, particularly in reaching marginalised groups in recruitment and enabling volunteers to provide inclusive support spaces. 
• Lead on development of processes, guidance and resources, ensuring good governance and risk management of the Befriender Programme
• Work with the Volunteering Coordinator to ensure delivery of key processes, process development and improvement to enhance the volunteer experience. 

· To identify learning and development opportunities for befrienders and create a culture of continued learning for all Befrienders

Develop and innovate

• Be an opportunity spotter, picking up innovation opportunities to grow and develop the Befriender programme, alongside relevant Sands’ staff teams. 

• Manage short- and long-term projects and where appropriate join cross organisational working groups to represent the Community and Volunteering Team. Including projects that may have budgets.

• Advocate the voices and needs of Befrienders, bringing in knowledge and feedback to enable good decision making and volunteer participation in new ways of working

• Through supporting approaches to recruitment and partnerships, ensure that individuals with a wide range of bereavement experiences are at the heart of Sands’ volunteering 

· Build a data driven understanding of gaps in service and representation, and make promotion and recruitment decisions to support growth for under-represented towns/regions/groups

· Support continuous improvement and accurate delivery of processes in the welcome journey for new befrienders, including in recruitment, on-boarding and off-boarding processes in partnership with the Volunteer Coordinator

· Use the CRM to record accurate information and help make data informed decisions

Internal and external partnerships 

• Work with the Bereavement Support Services Team (BSS) to ensure collaboration across the Befriender programme and national BSS support groups and ensure the Befriender programme continues to be rooted in trauma-informed practice.
• Work with the Training Team to ensure that training and learning experiences for Befrienders are up to date, relevant and accessible.

• Work with the Philanthropy and Partnerships team and the Head of Community and Volunteering to maximise compelling cases for support, storytelling and funding opportunities at a national and local level.

· Work with the Engagement Team to ensure Sands befriending is represented in an engaging and positive way across Sands social media and the media

Key information

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

Hours: 37.5 hours per week (full time)

Start date: ASAP (we are happy to work with notice periods)

Duration: Permanent

Salary: £31,825 - £35,280 per annum if based in London, £29,175 - £32,630 per annum if based in Bristol, Nottingham, Manchester, Newcastle, plus a £312 yearly tax-free work from home allowance.

Application deadline: Friday 22nd May, 12pm

This application process will consist of 3 stages: Written application, Telephone interview and Assessment Centre (interview & written task).

Role Summary

The Exclusive Opportunities Senior Officer will be responsible for ensuring that upReach’s Exclusive Opportunities (internships and short-term work experience) programmes operate smoothly and effectively, and will report to the Exclusive Opportunities Manager. You will work alongside Programme Coordinators, Partnership Managers and Programme Managers to ensure the successful implementation of exclusive work experience and internship opportunities, which provide upReach Associates with the experiences, networks, commercial awareness and skills needed to secure top roles upon graduating.

Core Responsibilities

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

The Core responsibilities include:

SUPPORTING THE SMOOTH RUNNING OF EXCLUSIVE OPPORTUNITIES PROGRAMMES:

• Lead the logistical and operational planning and delivery of Exclusive Opportunities, ensuring successful implementation and high-quality support for programme participants and partners.

• Develop engaging promotion of new opportunities to Associates to increase the number and diversity of applicants.

• Manage the application and allocation processes for programmes, working with members of the Programmes Team and partner contacts to ensure smooth processes are in place throughout.

• Monitor, evaluate and report on the effectiveness of the programmes, and identify/make improvements based on this.

• Act as the primary point of contact for day-to-day partnership requests, and students accessing Exclusive Opportunities, and take action to respond to any issues raised.

SUPPORTING PARTNERSHIPS AND PROGRAMMES TEAMS:

• Ensure the wider Programmes Team is kept informed of the internship and work experience programme content and timelines, and enabled to best support Associates taking part.

• Collaborate with the Sector Programme Managers to design application assessment materials (where required) and applicant support resources for Programme Coordinators, and run their own Exclusive Opportunities.

• Work with the Programmes team to encourage Associates to apply for and participate in the Exclusive Opportunities programmes.

EXCLUSIVES OPPORTUNITIES PARTNERSHIPS MANAGEMENT:

• Take ownership of a small portfolio of upReach's existing exclusive opportunities partnerships, managing day-to-day relationships with support and guidance from the Exclusives Programmes and Partnerships Manager.

• Support the Exclusives PM in managing their broader portfolio, including relationship stewardship, partner communications, and coordination of activity.

• Collaborate with Partnerships Managers to review and renew employer partners collaborating with upReach on work experience and internship programmes.

• Assist the Exclusives Programmes and Partnerships Manager in high-quality prospecting and relationship-building activity, contributing to income-generating partnerships that also deliver high-impact opportunities for Associates.

• Collaborate closely with the Exclusives Programmes and Partnerships Manager and the Marketing & Communications team to co-create high-quality content and campaigns that showcase our partnerships - including case studies and social media promotion.

• Contribute to impact reporting for the partnership portfolio by gathering data and stories that demonstrate partnership outcomes and drive continued engagement.

Skills and Experience

The ideal candidate for Exclusive Opportunities Senior Officer should display these skills:

• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal

• Excellent organisational skills and the ability to prioritise a varied workload, manage competing demands and deliver to tight deadlines

• Strong problem-solving skills

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

• Ability to engage and communicate confidently with stakeholders, such as beneficiaries, upReach partners and all levels of employees across the organisation.

To be successful, it is anticipated that you would have experience in:

• Communicating with a variety of stakeholders, through written and verbal communication

• Managing and prioritising a varied workload

• Some project management experience would be beneficial.

Team Culture & Benefits: 

We offer: 

• Flexible and hybrid working.

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

• Birthday leave and Volunteering leave

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

• 3% Pension Contribution, which increased to 5% after 5 years of working with us. 

• Cycle-to-work scheme.

• Monthly socials and annual wellbeing days

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

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

• The opportunity to participate in our fantastic staff networks: 

  • Disability and Inclusion Network

  • Diverse Roots Network 

  • Green Network 

  • LGBTQ+ Network

  • Mindfulness Network

  • Parents and Carers Network

  • (Im)Migrants Network 

Ready to apply?

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

Applications close on Friday 22nd May at 12pm

EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES

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

Job Title: Head of Insight and Impact
Reporting To: Assistant Director of Network Development and Impact 
Manages: Data Analyst (direct management), Data Coordinator (dotted line)
Contract: Permanent
Hours: Full time (36 hours per week, flexible)
Salary: £49,440 - £55,620 per annum (appointments are typically made at the lower end of the salary range)
Location: Remote (occasional travel to Leicester office & other UK locations as necessary)

About Home-Start UK

Home-Start is a federated charity consisting of a central national office – Home-Start UK - and over 170 geographically dispersed local Home-Start organisations, all working together under the same identity.

We recognise that being a parent has never been easy. Every Home-Start volunteer is trained to work alongside parents to overcome the challenges they are facing. We work with parents to build on their strengths and give them the support that they tell us they need. We offer no judgement – just compassionate, confidential help and expert support. This peer-to-peer support is key to the difference Home-Start makes and often our volunteers have lived experience of the challenges their families are facing themselves.

About The Role

Head of Insight and Impact is an exciting new leadership role for Home-Start UK at a critical time as we develop and prepare to launch our new, federation-wide strategy in early 2027. You will ensure we make best use of the data and evidence that we already hold and build the insight-led culture we need to deliver on our mission.

Your key responsibilities will be to:

• Lead the development of a shared, federation-wide approach to impact measurement, transforming how we understand, evidence and communicate the difference that Home-Start makes to babies, children and families.
• Develop and embed data systems, tools and capabilities at Home-Start UK and across our federation, aligning with and enabling delivery of our new strategy.
• Design and lead a consistent approach to monitoring and evaluating the support we provide at Home-Start UK to our federation, ensuring outcomes and learning are captured and shared.
• Lead Home-Start UK’s Impact Team and work collaboratively with colleagues across the organisation and with local Home-Start teams, leveraging collective skills and expertise.
• In this busy and varied role, you will put insight and impact at the heart of our work. In a typical day you could be working with our data analyst to visualise and present the results of our latest National Data Return to the Executive Leadership Team, running a feedback session with local Home-Start teams piloting new outcome measures, and/or ensuring colleagues in our Fundraising Team have the insight they need for proposal development.

Ultimately, your efforts will help ensure that our movement can reach and support more families with babies and children facing their toughest times.

The people at Home-Start are its most important resource. Home-Start UK has been accredited with Investors in People since March 2005, which recognises the commitment we give to developing our staff.

Benefits of working for Home-Start

• Flexible working
• Family friendly policy
• PayCare health cash plan
• Enhanced employer contribution pension
• Learning and development
• DAS Employee Assistance

If this sounds like your kind of opportunity, then we want to hear from you!

The closing date for applications is Tuesday 19th May at 4pm.
First stage interviews will take place virtually on week commencing 1st June.
Second stage interviews will take place in-person at our Leicester Office on week commencing 8th June.

Interested?

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

Home-Start UK is committed to Equality of Opportunity and Diversity. We wish to encourage applications from all parts of the community irrespective of gender, race, colour, age, sexual orientation or disability. 

No agencies please.

Hours: Full time with 20% study time

Pay: £22,380 per annum

Duration: 20 months

Location: UK-Med Office, Manchester (Hybrid working available)

Are you a capable individual with a passion for HR and making a difference in the world?

UK-Med is a frontline medical aid charity. Born of the NHS, we’ve been working for over 30 years towards a world where everyone has the healthcare they need when crises or disasters hit.

Our HR and Membership Team ensure we have the right people with the right expertise available at the right time. We work with around 50 core staff members and the UK-Med Register, a group of over 850 health and humanitarian professionals who are ready to deploy international in our emergency responses. We maintain the capability to staff any emergency response required, including being able to provide a team of 60 health professionals to staff a fully functional field hospital anywhere in the world within 72 hours.

We are recruiting for an HR Apprentice who will support all HR processes with a particular focus on the end-to-end recruitment and vetting of health professionals and key support roles. This apprenticeship will provide you with hands-on experience and the opportunity to learn and grow within an international humanitarian context.

Our ideal candidate will be eager to learn, able to work at pace, manage multiple priorities simultaneously, and have a passion for building a career in HR. You will have strong planning and interpersonal skills and be able to demonstrate excellent attention to detail.

We offer a competitive apprenticeship salary and benefits along with a friendly working environment and the opportunity to make a real difference through an important role in our humanitarian programming.

How to apply

We strongly recommend that you read the Candidate Information Pack – HR Apprentice - May 2026 before applying for this role.

To apply, please submit a current CV and a supporting letter (2 pages) through our online jobs portal.

Response to the following question:

• A detailed explanation of your suitability for this post with specific reference to the essential criteria in the person specification

Please apply as soon as possible and no later than Tuesday 19th May 2026.

Applications for work in the UK can only be accepted from people with an existing right to work in the UK.

Apply if in a Different Field or Higher Level, Especially for Those Without Related Experience or Qualifications

UK-Med is committed to safeguarding of our personnel and beneficiaries and has a zero-tolerance approach to sexual exploitation and abuse. We conduct thorough vetting before any appointment is confirmed.

UK-Med is committed to the principles of diversity, equality, and inclusion. We strive to provide an inclusive and supportive environment where employees feel respected and supported to be able to fulfil their potential.

Lloyds Bank Foundation 

Regional Public Affairs Manager 

Starting Salary: £50,582 (if based outside London); £53,777 (if based in London) 

Contract: Full-time, permanent contract (we are open to conversations about different ways of working - so please ask) 

Location: Remote role - can be based anywhere in England or Wales with an expectation of frequent travel across England and Wales 

About Lloyds Bank Foundation 

Lloyds Bank Foundation for England and Wales is an independent charitable foundation, backed by Lloyds Banking Group and the people within it. We want everyone to be in a good place - personally, in a home that’s a good place to live, and in a community that’s a good place to belong. 

We play our role by connecting and catalysing community-led change, providing the money, time, tools and connections that build organisations’ capacity and capability, to make people’s lives better and their communities stronger. 

We back people and communities across England and Wales, to make that happen, because when you back brilliant people, brilliant things happen. Our communities are full of ambitious, energetic and determined people stepping up to make their neighbours’ lives better and their communities grow stronger. Day in, day out. 

About the Role 

This is an exciting opportunity to support the delivery of impactful public affairs and influencing activity, strengthening regional voice and national impact. 

As Regional Public Affairs Manager, you will work closely with colleagues to support influencing activity across England and Wales, helping to build confidence, capability, and effectiveness. You will support engagement with decision-makers, campaigns, and partnerships, ensuring activity is aligned and impactful. 

You will play a key role in connecting local insight to national influencing, identifying emerging themes and helping to shape wider organisational priorities. You will also build relationships with external stakeholders, supporting activity that raises the Foundation’s profile and impact. 

About You

We’re looking for someone with experience in public affairs, policy, or influencing, particularly at local or regional level. You will have experience of supporting or delivering influencing activity and working with a range of stakeholders. 

You will be a strong relationship builder who combines practical delivery with the ability to use insight and evidence to inform work. A good understanding of the UK political landscape and a commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging is essential. 

How to Apply 

Please click ‘Apply’ to be redirected to our website, where you can download the Candidate Information Pack and find details of how to apply. 

For an informal conversation about the role and application process, please contact our recruitment partner, Atkinson HR via the information in the candidate pack.

Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion 

We hold Disability Confident Employer status (Level 2) and are working towards full status by 2027. This means that if you're a disabled applicant and your CV and application answers clearly demonstrate that you meet the essential criteria for the role, we will invite you to interview. 

More broadly, we are committed to building a diverse team that reflects the communities and people we work with. We believe that diversity of background, experience and perspective makes us stronger and helps us make better decisions. We actively welcome applications from people who are under-represented in the charity sector, including people from Black, Asian and minoritised ethnic communities, disabled people, and those with experience of the issues our funded charities work to address. 

Key Dates 

Closing Date: Wednesday 13th May 2026 

Optional Q&A Session: Wednesday 6th May 2026 at 09:00-10:00 

First Interview: Friday 22nd May 2026 

Second Interview: Wednesday 3rd June 2026