Communication manager jobs in barnard castle, county durham

An exciting opportunity to be involved in the development of a growing adult literacy charity as it expands across Central England

One in 20 adults in the UK has never learnt to read at all. This can have a serious impact on their confidence and wellbeing, limiting access to training, employment, and everyday opportunities that many take for granted. Being unable to read as an adult can be isolating and dangerous, reinforces social inequality, restricts economic growth, and worsens intergenerational disadvantage - but it is never too late to learn.

Read Easy helps adults transform their lives by learning to read. It does this by supporting its growing network of locally run, volunteer-led affiliated groups that offer free, confidential, one-to-one reading coaching—both in person and online to adults - aged from 18-88. 

With its free, flexible, confidential approach, Read Easy encourages people who are too embarrassed to join a class to come forward for one-to-one support. Each new reader is provided with their own personal Reading Coach, so that they can learn in private and at their own pace. Learning to read transforms their lives in many other ways as well, including enabling them to support their children’s and grandchildren’s reading, and so transfers the benefits to the next generation.

There are currently 80 affiliated Read Easy groups across England, together involving more than a thousand volunteers. Read Easy UK is the registered charity and umbrella organisation which supports this network of affiliated volunteer groups and provides the structure, training and support to enable volunteers to establish groups in new areas.

As our Central Regional Adviser, your role would be to provide strategic leadership, guidance, and oversight to ensure that all volunteer groups consistently deliver high-quality services aligned with Read Easy UK’s strategy.

You will support local volunteer leaders to strengthen group performance, and foster collaboration across affiliated groups, so that that they deliver coaching to Readers with consistent quality, and a positive and worthwhile experience is had by all.

You will also find volunteers to ‘pioneer’ three new groups in the counties where there is no Read Easy presence in the East and West Midlands and East of England and provide them and our 29 existing groups and pioneers in the region, with high-quality support. Your quality support will ensure that they provide the same for their volunteers and new Readers. From meeting (mostly online) with Team Leaders to provide one to one support, and hosting online and annual in-person volunteer forums, to delivering presentations and occaisonal training for small groups of volunteers, this is a dynamic and rewarding role.

This is a home-based post requiring flexibility, some early evening working and occaisional travel to visit groups. The role is available on either a full or part time basis (min 32 hours p/w, 85% of 37.5 hours p/w FTE).

The successful candidate will be expected to:

• Live within one of the following areas: West Midlands (Defined as the 7 metropolitan boroughs of Birmingham, Coventry, Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull, Walsall, and Wolverhampton), Warwickshire, Oxfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Northamptonshire, Leicestershire or Rutland;
• have been employed to work with volunteers for at least two years;
• have strong people management and interpersonal skills; excellent communication skills; and the confidence to run meetings and deliver presentations.

Salary & Benefits 

• Annual Salary £25,075 (85% FTE) -£29,500 (100% FTE)
• 25 days holiday plus bank holidays and Christmas closing and 2 days volunteering leave – pro-rata for part time roles
• Company sick pay to financially support you when you are unwell (above statutory upon completion of probationary period) 
• Support when extending your family – company parental and adoption pay (above statutory after 12 months service) 
• Access to RewardHub – which gives retail discounts and has a ‘Wellbeing Centre’ with tools, tips, recipes, workout videos and guides which will help you to reach your own wellbeing goals 
• Training and Development opportunities and resources – we are developing personal plans in this area to enhance employee experience and opportunity 
• A collaborative, creative and inspiring working environment full of committed and passionate employees and inspirational volunteers 

We strive to ensure our recruitment practices are fair, open, easy to access and as inclusive as possible. We aim to recruit a team which broadly reflect the local communities which we serve; to work with and learn from each other to continually improve the service we deliver to our Readers. Our Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Group is actively promoting and advancing diversity and inclusion, ensuring a culture where everyone can be themselves and thrive. We welcome you to apply and be your authentic self.

When applying for a job with us, if an applicant has a disability covered by the definition outlined within the Equality Act 2010 and can show that they meet the ‘essential criteria’ described in the person specification for the role being applied for, they are guaranteed an interview for the job for which they are applying through our Disability Confident scheme.

If you need any support with your application, please contact us,

The closing date for this post is 10:00 Tuesday 15th July 2025. Should you be shortlisted, the first round of interviews will take place online on Wednesday 23rd July, with in-person interviews, being held in Gloucestershire or West Midlands, on Tuesday 29th July 2025. 

The successful candidate will be invited to meet the team on 31st July in Birmingham, should they be able to do so.

Play a key role in protecting parrots and their habitats worldwide.
We’re looking for a motivated and organised Grants Officer to coordinate grant fundraising efforts at the World Parrot Trust.

This is a unique opportunity for someone who thrives on coordination and collaboration to contribute meaningfully to global conservation. You’ll manage timelines, gather information, and support the delivery of successful grant proposals and reports—helping unlock vital funding for the World Parrot Trust.

We are seeking a new Finance and Administration Officer following the upcoming retirement of a long-serving team member. A key member of the SLA central office team, the Finance and Administration Officer plays a vital role in ensuring smooth financial operations and providing essential administrative support for our membership. In addition to administration support, this role is responsible for maintaining accurate financial records, book-keeping and effective day-to-day financial operations, producing financial reports using XERO and our CRM.

You will be experienced in financial and administration operations of a charity or similar , with an AAT qualification or matching worked experience. Familiarity with XERO will be an advantage. You will be able to bring understanding of cashflow and financial analysis of figure, working with accountants as required.

You will also have excellent customer service skills and be able to work effectively with all stakeholders from our members, to funders to suppliers. You will be determined and have an excellent eye for financial and administrative detail. Your duties will include general administration and:

Financial operations and record-keeping

• Manage day-to-day financial transactions and maintain accurate records of all SLA accounts and petty cash; book-keeping
• Process and record all incoming payments, including foreign cheques (into bank account)
• Monitor cashflow and expenditure, keeping track of spending
• Pay invoices upon approval and ensure timely monthly payments (e.g. pensions, HMRC)
• Handle creditor and supplier communications and resolve related issues
• Monitor and follow up on overdue payments with a focus on membership payments

Invoicing and income tracking

• Issue and track membership and subscriber invoices and reminders
• Keep office team informed of payment statuses
• Prepare sales, cost, and profit reports for SLA publications
• Conduct annual publications stock take

Payroll and reporting

• Liaise with the accountant on salary payments; process salary BACS payments
• Support year-end financial reporting by providing necessary documentation to accountants
• Produce regular financial reports and analysis as required
• Supporting preparation of budgets, working with accountants as required

 Event financial administration

• Manage financial aspects of SLA events, particularly the annual conference (e.g., exhibitors, sponsors, and delegates)
• Process and record staff/trustee expense claims
• Support with bookings accommodation and travel for Board meetings

To be successful in this role you should demonstrate:

• Strong experience in financial and office administration
• Knowledge of accounting principles  
• Experience of working with XERO or similar
• Experience of using CRM systems (ideally IMIS)
• Experience of working for a small charity and / or membership association
• Accuracy, numeracy, attention to detail
• Ability to manage own workload, prioritise and meet competing deadlines
• Excellent customer service manner
• Being a team player

The Association is a UK wide organisation, working mostly remotely. Working patterns can be negotiated and we welcome applicants from all over the UK. We strongly encourage candidates of all different backgrounds and identities to apply. Each new role provides us with an opportunity for us to bring in a different perspective, and we are always eager to diversify our team. The SLA is committed to building an inclusive, supportive place, where you can do brilliant and rewarding work.

To apply please send a one page covering letter and CV with the job title in the subject line by 11th July.  Applications without a covering letter will not be considered. No agencies please.

Due to the volume of applications we cannot provide individual feedback. We really appreciate your interest. If you haven’t heard from us within one week of the deadline, it means we’ve moved forward with other candidates on this occasion. We encourage you to apply again in the future. Please note we may close recruitment early should the right candidate be identified.

Interim Head of Finance & Operations

Career Ready is a social mobility charity that believes that every young person deserves the opportunity to enjoy a rewarding future.

We were founded in 2002 by leading business figures with a mission: to boost social mobility by empowering young people and giving their talents a platform from which to flourish. Since then, we’ve grown in England and Scotland to support young people in areas of need.

We have an exciting opportunity for an experienced, qualified Finance professional to lead our Finance & Operations function.

About the Role

Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer the Interim Head of Finance & Operations leads on and assumes day to day responsibility for providing high quality, strategic financial management for Career Ready.

You will lead on business operations to ensure the ongoing effective functioning of the charity and drive sustainable growth.

The Interim Head of Finance and Operations plays a key role in leading greater organisational efficiency and simplifying processes and will continue the delivery of a project plan reflecting the 2025-30 strategy.

You will play a critical role in driving the increased quality of Career Ready’s offer to our stakeholders in line with our strategy, vision and values.

Member of our SMT, comprising of the CEO, Director for Scotland, Director of Programme and Partnerships and Heads of functions.

This is an interim role to cover a period of maternity leave.

Main responsibilities and accountabilities

· Lead, direct and manage the finance and operations functions, overseeing two direct reports, ensuring they deliver a high-quality service to all internal and external stakeholders and are seen as adding value, in enabling Career Ready to achieve its vision and strategic objectives through its people. 

· Continue the delivery of a project plan reflecting the 2025-30 strategy, ensuring that activities happen at pace, are deadline-driven and achieve a high level of impact.

· Assume overall responsibility for the financial management of Career Ready, working with the SMT to ensure high quality and effective use of charitable funds.

· Input into and review the financial elements of funding applications and ensure that fund accounting processes align with funders’ requirements for project reporting.

· Produce financial reports for various stakeholders, as well as leading on financial modelling.

· Have oversight of all financial and accountancy matters including month end reports, management accounts, cash flow management, compliance, tax liability, presentation of management information and KPIs. Ensure that the CEO and Trustees are provided with accurate, timely information and analysis. 

· Oversee and coordinate the fully managed payroll services with the external bureau for all Career Ready employees and for some internship students (Jun to Aug during the Summer)

· Administration of the Staff Opt-In Pension Scheme, including onboarding new staff (Royal London)

· Act as a role model in our ‘one team’ culture. Lead in the development of efficient working practices across the charity, creating momentum and supporting motivation within the charity. 

· Lead risk management strategies and internal control procedures to minimise the risk of loss, or damage to, Career Ready’s assets. 

· Prepare and submit annual operational budgets and annual accounts to the CEO for review and approval.

· Draft and deliver papers for Trustees and Finance and Fundraising Committee (F&FC) meetings. 

· Attend Board and F&FC meetings to present papers and answer questions related to areas of expertise. 

· Provide day to day line management of the Senior Finance Officers and support their ongoing growth and development.

· Management of organisational governance and compliance activities, including policy management.

· Oversee and manage the organisation’s risk management register and process, with input from SMT.

· Oversee reviews and renewals of all insurance policies that affect the organisation.

· Lead on the compliance of statutory and charity regulatory reporting, giving guidance to colleagues where required.

· Ensure any changes to processes and procedures across the function are clearly documented.

Person Specification

Essential skills and experience

•  Belief and commitment to Career Ready’s mission and values
• Qualified (ACA/ACCA/CIMA/AAT) accountant with at least 5 years’ experience in financial management including budgeting, preferably in the charity sector.
• Significant experience in producing management and financial accounts
• Skilled in financial reporting and producing VAT returns
• Preparing for and ensuring a successful year-end audit, and demonstrable knowledge of UK Charities SORP and other reporting standards
• Experience in budgeting to support strategic decision making.
• Financial dexterity and strong analytical skills.
• Strong IT skills, including advanced MS Excel skills and extensive of using an accounting software, preferably Xero
• Excellent organisational and prioritising skills and ability to work independently and with autonomy
• Strong starter finisher with ability to lead and drive projects
• Knowledge of charity governance and compliance requirements
• Ability to build excellent relationships and have effective engagement with stakeholders
• Good communication skills and ability to communicate financial concepts to non-finance staff
• Attention to detail
• Ability to present financial information to various audiences
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and sensitivity of financial information
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment
• Ability to cope with competing demands to deadlines
• Honest and dependable

Desirable skills and experience

• Experience of leading a team, strong team building skills
• Line management experience
• Experience of using MS Planner or other project management tools
• Genuine interest in the work done by the Charity
• Experience of using a CRM (Salesforce)
• Degree in financial management or accounting

Full details are provided in the candidate pack

Salary and Benefits

Salary: £52,000 to £54,000 FTE (salary will be pro-rata for part time hours)

28-35 hours per week.  Career Ready is committed to supporting condensed/flexible working patterns.

Permanent and remote.  Travel to London required on an occasional basis

You will be rewarded with the following benefits:

· 6% contribution to personal pension plan, subject to 3% employee contribution.

· Annual leave: 27 days per annum plus bank/public holidays (pro rata for part time). The charity is also closed between Christmas and New Year. Career Ready also allows flexible use of some Bank & Public Holidays

· Cycle to Work Scheme

· Access to both our Reward Gateway Portal and an Employee Assistance Programme.

· Flexible working

· Work from home allowance and paid travel expenses.

We regret that Career Ready is unable to offer visa sponsorship and candidates must be able to demonstrate their right to work in the UK. In accordance with our commitment to safeguarding, offers of employment are subject to completion of a DBS check. 

Timetable

Applications close at 9am on Monday 21 July 2025 

Please note that the closing date may be brought forward if we receive strong applications.

This is an interim role to cover a period of maternity leave, with a provisional start date of late September for a handover period.

This is a brand new role with Action Duchenne, leading our Support team.

Applications close at 9am on Monday 7th July 2025, with interviews likely to take place on 18th July and in the week commencing 21st July 2025. To apply, please click 'Apply', where you will be redirected to our application form.

Action Duchenne is committed to having a team that is made up of diverse skills and experiences. We encourage applicants from all sectors of the community and are especially keen to encourage candidates with relevant lived experiences and those from under-represented groups to apply.

Main Purpose of the Role:

To lead the Support Team to provide emotional and practical support to families and individuals living with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. It includes leading the support team to provide 1-2-1 and group support provided in person or virtually, and creating and growing support networks for the wider Duchenne community which includes Duchenne parents/caregivers; young people and adults living with Duchenne; extended family and friends; and professionals in environments such as schools, local authorities and clinics. 

Specific Tasks:

The focus areas and key deliverables of this role are as follows:

• Develop a clear process for identifying case loads and capacity for the Support Team.

• Identify opportunities, alongside the team, for cross team working - including residentials; family events; Science Educations workshops with regional meetups and education visits to schools and local authorities.

• Obtain, decipher and provide training to the Support Team on new updates relevant to Duchenne families, such as DLA, EHCP and more.

• Work closely with your team, to ensure that each family receives the best support possible, and that long-term support is provided.

• Lead on the development and delivery of monthly reporting of engagement and support contact, which will feed into the wider All Through Support journey. 

• To work with the Head of Operations and Events to contribute to Agenda topics and speakers from the community; assign roles for the conference to the Support Team.

• Establish a database for external stakeholders also supporting those living with Duchenne on a national basis, fed in to from the Support Team.

• To develop a triaging and caseload process for the Support Team, and how best to regularly monitor this.

• Be involved in the recruitment, selection, and induction of volunteers appropriate to your area of work.

• To maintain the contact database, keeping it up to date and accurate.

• Coordinate cover for the Support Team when there is sickness or leave.

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.

Person Specification Criteria (essential, except those noted specifically as desirable) 

Education and Qualifications

• Experience leading a team (either through line management or mentoring)

Knowledge and Experience

• A proven track record of providing support to those in need in a professional setting. 

• Experience of safeguarding reporting.

• Experience of reporting on services and development of monitoring dashboards.

• Knowledge of current legislation around either accessibility, equal opportunities, Disability Living Allowance, or Education Health Care Plan.

• Knowledge of networks and signposting for those living with a life-limiting condition.

• An understanding of and commitment to Equal Opportunities and the ability to promote this in the day-to-day work of the post.

• Experience working in the health sector or at a patient-led charity. [Desirable]

• Experience of a CRM system. [Desirable]

Skills and Aptitude

• Passionate about improving the lives of young people, adults and their families living with Duchenne.

• Ability to communicate effectively, both in writing and verbally.

• Excellent organisational and time management skills, ability to work as part of a team and work on own initiative and to deadlines.

• Ability to be assertive but also have empathy and the ability to be sensitive with the families and young adults we support.

• Interest in networking and continued learning about new areas of support for those living with Duchenne. 

Civitas Recruitment are delighted to be working with a great charity focused on developing a thriving Muslim community within the UK. This is an innovative charity which aims to help Muslims calculate and give Zakat to those in need across the UK. An exciting opportunity exists for a Governance Officer to join the team. As Governance Officer, you will be tracking, collating and recording essential performance information; providing administrative support for the Board meetings, sub-committees, working groups, senior leadership meetings and team meetings maintaining governance procedures and ensuring their adherence. This is a full-time, fixed term contract (4 months) remote working within the UK.

Who are we looking for?

Ideal candidates will have at least 5 years’ experience of providing support to senior management within a risk and/or governance environment. Candidates will have a qualification or demonstrative understanding of risk and governance. You will be experienced in working in partnership and building credibility with people at all levels. An understanding of Zakat within the context of the five pillars of Islam as well as excellent written and verbal communication skills is essential for this role. Knowledge of charity legislative, regulatory and governance landscape would be a bonus however, it is not essential for the role.

If the above role description sounds of interest and you feel like you meet the criteria; please apply immediately or for further information, please contact Syed at Civitas Recruitment for a full JD and informal discussion. Early applications are encouraged as we will be reviewing on a rolling basis and roles may closer earlier than initially indicated.

Are you a passionate communicator with experience in the charity sector? Do you thrive in a fast-paced digital environment and love crafting compelling content that makes a difference? If so, we want to hear from you! Looking for an Interim Social Media & Media Officer to join a leading UK charity supporting autistic people and their families. This fully remote role is a fantastic opportunity to make a real impact while working with a dynamic and supportive team.

Main Duties Social Media

• Manage day-to-day activity across the charity's social media platforms.
• Create engaging, inclusive, and accessible content tailored to a diverse audience.
• Use tools like Sprout Social to schedule posts and monitor engagement.
• Respond to comments and messages in line with safeguarding and brand guidelines.
• Track performance using analytics tools and contribute to content planning.
• Collaborate with teams across the charity to source and share impactful stories.

Media & PR

• Support a busy press office by handling media enquiries and arranging interviews.
• Identify and pitch newsworthy stories to promote the charity's mission.
• Draft social media copy for news stories and monitor media coverage.
• Produce daily updates on media trends and autism-related news.
• Participate in the out-of-hours PR and social media rota (additional pay provided).
• Support the Head of PR and Social Media and Media Manager with ad hoc tasks.

The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate the below: -

• Experience of sprout social and Cision
• Proven experience in a social media /media role within a charity.
• Excellent writing skills with a flair for storytelling and audience engagement.
• Confident using social media management and analytics tools.
• Strong understanding of accessibility and inclusive communication.
• Proactive, organised, and comfortable working independently in a remote setting.
• If this role is of interest, please apply ASAP with an up-to-date word version of your CV highlighting all your relevant experience or get in contact for more information.

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About Compassion

Compassion is a Christian child development charity that sees beyond poverty to the incredible potential God has placed in every child and family. Partnering with more than 8,900 local churches in 29 countries, we work to release children from poverty in Jesus’ name.

About the role

We are looking for a Head of Strategic Partnerships (Church of England) to join our Church Partnerships Team at Compassion UK. In this pivotal role, you will shape and lead our strategy to engage with Church of England leaders, events, and networks across the UK.

Your work will help us achieve ambitious growth targets in child sponsorship and transformational giving.

 Home-based, within a commutable distance to central London
⏰ Hours  Full-time, 35 hours per week with flexible working pattern 

You need to have

• Strong knowledge and experience of the Church of England including leadership structures, networks, theology, and mission culture
• Proven success in building strategic relationships, ideally within a church, ministry, or mission organisation
• Confidence and clarity as a public communicator with experience preaching or speaking at events
• Demonstrated ability to lead growth strategies and manage complex partnerships
• Experience in sales or fundraising, with the ability to manage full partnership development cycles
• Excellent self-motivation and organisation, with the ability to work independently in a dispersed team
• Personally committed to the Christian faith.  You can read more about this in our Policy on Posts to be Held by Christians.

This is a unique opportunity to use your gifts and play a vital role in strengthening Compassion UK’s mission. By cultivating meaningful partnerships within the Church of England, you will help release more children from poverty in Jesus’ name.

If you’re passionate about the Church of England and want to see children released from poverty in Jesus’ name, this could be your calling.

In return, you will get

• Flexible and sociable working environment
• Time in Lieu offered
• Pension scheme with 10% employer contribution
• Income Protection & Group Life cover
• Private Medical & Dental cover
• Celebrating life milestones such as, birthdays, newcomers, weddings, babies etc
• Weekly team prayers and devotionals
• Compassion updates and worship events

We encourage you to read the full job description to see if this role aligns with your skills and aspirations!

Role: Freelance Bookkeeper / Accountant

Location: Student Minds, Leeds - remote working contract. Some in person work may be required approximately 2 to 3 times per year.

Hours: 15 - 20 hours per week; flexible working Mon - Fri, to suit your availability

Fee: £20 per hour, inclusive of VAT if applicable (open to discussion – please include your rates in your application)

Contract: 6 to 12 months, reviewable

Start Date: July 2025, exact start date to be agreed

About Us

Student Minds is the UK’s student mental health charity. We have a clear vision: No student should be held back by their mental health. We empower students to build their own mental health toolkit to support themselves and their peers through university life and beyond. We challenge the higher education sector, health sector, and government to make student mental health a priority. 

We are looking for a detail-oriented and reliable bookkeeper or accountant to join our friendly team, help manage our financial records efficiently and support day-to-day financial administration.

The Opportunity

We’re looking for a friendly and reliable freelance bookkeeper or accountant to join our extended team and help keep our finances running smoothly. You’ll play a key behind-the-scenes role, working with the Senior Finance Manager to support our charity’s sustainability and activities. Student Minds is a medium sized charity (turnover approx £1m and 27 staff) and we need to make every penny work to support our student communities.

This role would suit someone who enjoys working with purpose-led organisations, and who values flexibility, collaborative working and community impact.

Your Key Responsibilities

• Maintain accurate financial records and ledgers.

• Process accounts payable and receivable.

• Support the invoicing process.

• Reconcile bank accounts, control accounts and company payment cards.

• Reconcile income reports.

• Prepare draft monthly management accounts.

• Prepare financial reports.

• Manage routine credit control.

• Manage the central finance email inbox.

• Ensure financial data integrity and confidentiality.

What We’re Looking For - Minimum Criteria

• Proven experience (at least 2 years) as a bookkeeper or in a similar role, ideally with charities or community organisations

• Proficiency and experience in Xero accounting software.

• AAT Level 3 qualification or equivalent.

• Strong attention to detail and organisational skills.

• Knowledge of financial regulations and tax procedures.

• Proficient with Microsoft Office packages, with advanced knowledge of Excel

• Grade C and above / Grade 5 and above in GCSE Maths or equivalent.

• Excellent communication skills.

We can only accept applicants who are residents of the UK with a valid right to work.

What You'll Gain

• A flexible freelance role with real community impact

• The chance to work alongside a values-driven team

• An opportunity to support a long-standing charity doing meaningful work supporting positive wellbeing and mental health

How to Apply

If this sounds like a good fit, we’d love to hear from you! Please send us an email (detailed on our BreatheHR site, and in our recruitment pack) outlining:

• your experience and qualifications, telling us how you meet the role requirements

• your freelance rate 

• include your CV

• if you wish to be considered under our priority interview scheme.

Priority Interview Scheme

We recognise that candidates from ethnically-diverse backgrounds may face additional barriers throughout their careers and when applying for charity roles. We are committed to taking positive action to expand the diversity of our staff team by offering a prioritised interview scheme for candidates from ethnically-marginalised backgrounds.

If you meet the minimum criteria for this role and are from an ethnically-diverse background, you'll be prioritised for an interview under our Priority Interview Scheme.

Closing date for applications: Sunday 6th July, 23.59; interviews during mid July, by arrangement.

Student Minds is committed to building an inclusive team and welcomes applicants from all backgrounds and walks of life.

Employer Policy Specialist

Working Hours: 0.6FTE (full-time equivalent 37.5 hours). There is a degree of flexibility surrounding the working hours which will be determined by the demands of the role.

Salary: 0.6FTE: £40,658 (the full-time equivalent salary is: £67,763).

Start Date: 1st September 2025.

Reporting to: Director of Public Affairs & Policy

Deadline for applications: Friday 18th July 2025, 5pm

Interviews: Interviews will be conducted online on Thursday 24th July

Overview

The DfE has nominated CST as the employer representative for academy trusts for specific purposes (for example, the school support staff negotiating body).  The postholder will be required to work directly with the Department for Education at a senior level to undertake the duties associated with this employer representative role.  CST also wishes to strengthen its support to members on wider matters of employer policy. There is significant scope to shape and develop this role.

Key Responsibilities

• Have a detailed understanding of the terms and conditions of employment of teaching and support staff and the workforce issues affecting the education sector, particularly those influencing recruitment and retention of staff.

• The ability to build relationships with key stakeholders (members, senior DfE officials and ministers) and work closely with other employer representative organisations.

• Working closely with the CEO and Deputy CEO, build relationships at senior level with trade unions (leadership, teacher and support staff unions).

• Lead on developing CST’s employer policy and guidance, working with our members and commanding their support and respect, and working closely with the policy team.

• Support the Chief Executive, Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Public Affairs and Policy to influence and respond to government policy in respect of employer policy, including drafting responses to government consultations and being our representative on the DfE’s formally constituted groups.

• Provide professional support and guidance to members on matters relating to employer policy, within the restrictions of what we are insured to do as a professional body.

• Support our HR professional community.

• Speak with authority at events and conferences as CST’s nominated representative on employer policy.

• Offer support to the wider CST policy team in other areas that fall within the postholder’s experience or expertise. This may include occasionally deputising for other team members for example covering for annual leave or sickness absence.

• Any other duties and responsibilities that may be delegated by the Chief Executive, Deputy Chief Executive or Director of Public Affairs and Policy from time to time.

Essential Skills and Experience

• Likely educated to degree level (or holding a similar professional qualification or experience) with significant knowledge and experience of employment matters within the education sector and employer policy.

• The ideal candidate will have experience working at senior level likely within an educational, policy or consultancy setting. Knowledge of schools and the trust sector is essential as is the ability to respond to issues in a way which conveys the practical realities of working in schools.

• A sound understanding of the differences between academy trusts and the maintained sector.

• Secure knowledge of legislation, regulations and policy that affect school trusts.

• Authority and gravitas with the ability to speak up at meetings with senior officials with the required diplomacy and at all times with the members’ interests in mind.

• People-centred, with excellent relational skills, adept at forming and maintaining positive relationships with colleagues, members and senior external stakeholders (including policy makers, employer representative organisations and trade unions).

• Output focused, able to execute a range of communications across channels efficiently.

• Fluent and precise, an excellent communicator who writes well.

• The ability to analyse detail and distil key points, identifying matters of concern or interest to school trusts.

• Highly organised, with the ability to prioritise and work to tight deadlines, including turning around high-quality responses to members and DfE in short timescales.

• Someone who embodies the Nolan Principles and acts with integrity and discretion.

• Aligned with CST’s aims to promote education for public benefit.

• Skilled at working remotely as part of a close-knit team. Whilst this position is remote (home-based) there will be the requirement to attend in person meetings from time to time.

About Resource Futures

We want to create a future where organisations, people and communities can thrive, and rebalance their relationship with material resources.

Resource Futures is an organisation accelerating the shift towards a circular world: putting restorative practices of reuse, repair, recycling at the heart of the fight to address the climate crisis. We help governments, businesses, NGOs and non-profits embrace regenerative change.

We are non-profit-distributing and have a close-knit team of 50+ trusted employees who collaborate across various areas of the business. Our multi-disciplined and connected approach sets us apart from the competition and enables us to build robust solutions that have a meaningful impact in the world.

We are passionate not only about what we do but how we do it, and we’re proud to be a part of the global B Corp movement to use business as a force for good. Employee-owned and independent, we’re all about helping each team member grow, and together striving towards our goal of creating a sustainable world.

The opportunity

The Partnerships Lead will act as Project Manager for the community strand of Together for Tomorrow, a five-year National Lottery-funded programme supporting grassroots climate action across Devon. Working in close partnership with Libraries Unlimited, you will coordinate delivery across libraries and grassroots groups, supporting communities to develop practical climate initiatives and helping libraries become active sustainability hubs.

You will lead on toolkits, training plans, outreach and focus groups, while also supporting monitoring and reporting. The role blends strategic coordination with hands-on delivery, ensuring the programme is inclusive, locally rooted, and aligned across all partners.

This role sits within the CAG (Community Action Groups) Devon team, a network that supports community groups to take action on reuse, repair, food waste, composting, biodiversity and wider sustainability issues. CAG provides the tools groups need to thrive, including training, resources, and opportunities to connect with others.

What you will be doing

Project, people and partnership management

• Acting as project manager for the community strand of Together for Tomorrow, overseeing planning, coordination, and delivery.
• Building and maintaining partnerships with libraries, grassroots groups, and underrepresented communities.
• Recruiting and line managing the Project Officer, who will be supporting project delivery. Working closely with the CAG Devon team to align community support and delivery models across the network.

Community development and delivery

• Helping new community groups to form and supporting existing ones to grow, diversify, or expand their climate action work.
• Facilitating focus groups and community consultations to shape project delivery and ensure activity is insight-led.
• Delivering a targeted promotion and outreach plan, with a focus on ‘deep dive’ areas and engaging underrepresented communities.

Reporting and learning

• Contributing to the development and implementation of the project’s monitoring and evaluation framework.
• You will lead on monitoring and quarterly reporting (including financial), ensuring that CAG team and wider community partners meet agreed targets.
• Acting as an ambassador for the project, sharing insights and learning to support continuous improvement and knowledge exchange across the sector.
• Carrying out any other duties required of the role.

The essentials

• Strong project management skills, able to plan, coordinate and deliver complex work with multiple partners.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills, with the ability to work collaboratively across sectors.
• Experience in community development, supporting new and existing groups.
• Skilled in engagement and facilitation, including focus groups, workshops, or public consultations.
• Strong organisational skills, with experience of balancing coordination with delivery.
• Experience of monitoring and evaluation and producing project reports.
• Comfortable working both independently and as part of a remote team.
• Commitment to inclusive, community-led climate action.
• Able to travel regularly across Devon.

Great to haves

• Familiarity with the CAG Devon network or experience working in community-led climate action in Devon.
• An understanding of the voluntary sector and environmental players across the County, at a strategic and local level.
• Experience developing toolkits, training, or learning resources for community or volunteer use.

Benefits

• Embedded flexi working culture.
• 25 days annual leave, plus bank holidays, each year (pro rata for part-time hours) – flexibility to work or use some bank holidays for annual leave.
• Buying and selling annual leave policy to add further flexibility around how you manage your work/non-work time and give you better control over how much and when you take leave from work.
• Paid volunteer time each year (a full day for those working 19 hours or more per week, and a half day for those working up to 18.75 hours per week).
• Enhanced maternity and paternity pay.
• Enhanced sick pay.
• Scottish Widows pension plan – the company will match up to 7% of your contribution.
• Group life assurance cover.
• Healthcare portal offering 24/7 GP access and prescription service, mental health support, wellbeing advice, financial and legal guidance.
• Mental health and wellbeing group with trained mental health first aiders and responders, maintaining a focus on support for our team.
• A cycle to work scheme for all and on-site showers at the Bristol office.
• Home and tech scheme – costs at Currys and Ikea spread across 12 months, and up to 10% savings.
• On-site charging points for electric vehicles at the Bristol office.
• Paid professional membership such as CIWM or IEMA.
• An opportunity to become a company member, contributing to decision making and the future direction and success of our business.
• Consultative Group – a group of employees providing an anonymous vehicle for employee voice, raising issues, proposing changes and engaging senior management.
• Regular line manager 1:1s and performance reviews, with opportunities to discuss and build targets that inspire and push you professionally.
• Annual training budget to ensure continued progression and development, as well as regular internal ‘Lunchtime Briefs’ and other sessions to share skills and knowledge across all roles.
• Two annual team activity days, each followed by evening socials.
• Green and accessible Bristol office, surrounded by nature, and close to the harbourside.
• Accessible central Glasgow office close to local public transport links.
• An opportunity to join a friendly, fun, professional, challenging, and supportive place to work, and a team that is collectively focused on making a positive impact.

Join us in the next phase of our exciting partnership with Girlguiding in England. We’re looking for a passionate Project Officer to empower girls and young women to connect with nature and take action for birds and the environment. You’ll play a key part in empowering girls and young women to connect with, and take meaningful action for, birds and nature.

Project Officer – Girlguiding Partnership
Reference: JUN20251151
Location: Flexible in South-West England
Salary: £27,123.00 - £28,956.00 per Annum, Pro Rata
Contract: 12 months
Hours: Part-Time, 22.5 hours per week
Benefits: Pension Scheme, Life Assurance Scheme, 26 days' Annual Leave (pro rata)

What's the role about?

You’ll be joining the RSPB England Education, Families and Youth team to support our regional partnerships with Girlguiding. In this role, you’ll contribute to the development and delivery of our key project outputs.

Key tasks:

• Design and deliver youth-focused nature engagement activities, including co-creating a nature and climate youth action toolkit and launching a Youth Nature Ambassador Network for members aged 10-18 to shape initiatives and lead their own projects.
• Design and deliver 'train the trainer' sessions to empower adult and young leaders in youth organisations, to embed nature and climate action into their core programming as well as driving the changes they are most passionate about.
• Coordinate and deliver project activities, ensuring timely, high-quality, and cost-effective outcomes. This includes managing volunteers, collaborating with partners, supporting budget monitoring, maintaining documentation, and helping embed project outcomes into long-term practice.
• Coordinate communications and stakeholder engagement, including facilitating meetings and creating briefings and materials to ensure effective communication and alignment throughout the project lifecycle.
• You will be supported in your role by the England Youth Partnerships team, with opportunities to meet virtually with staff and volunteers, so you feel part of a team and learn about the work of the RSPB and Girlguiding. An induction and relevant training will be provided as well as support to further develop the skills needed for this role.

Essential skills, knowledge and experience:

• Experience in designing and delivering youth engagement sessions, events, workshops, or facilitated discussions for young people, with a focus on fostering learning and development, encouraging collaboration and promoting meaningful participation and decision-making.
• Strong communication skills with both adults and young people, with the ability to convey project goals in a passionate, credible, and persuasive manner to a wide range of audiences.
• Strong time management and organisational skills, with a working knowledge of project management principles and the ability to coordinate tasks across teams and stakeholders.
• Experience in developing, collaborating and working within effective partnerships and project teams, engaging both internal and external stakeholders to achieve shared goals and deliver outcomes.
• Experience in compiling reports and analysing numerical data to monitor progress, evaluate impact, and inform decision-making.
• Experience in developing and delivering engaging training programmes for adults, particularly in a way that builds confidence and practical skills.

Desirable skills, knowledge and experience:

• Experience in managing staff and/or volunteers, including recruitment, supervision, and development, coordinating workloads, nurturing positive relationships, and fostering a collaborative and productive team environment to ensure effective contributions to project outcomes.
• A solid understanding of the natural world, environmental issues, and practical actions that support nature conservation.

Additional Information:

• An England role, flexible on working pattern and part of a remote team.
• The role holder will be a homeworker, ideally be based in or within easy travelling distance of the Girlguiding South West England region (Gloucestershire, Bristol, Dorset, Somerset, Berkshire, Hampshire, Wiltshire).
• Travel may be required between the regions where we have Girlguiding partnerships.
• You will need to be available to run training at weekends and/or evenings.
• This is a 12 month fixed-term role for 22.5 hours per week.
• The RSPB reserves the right to extend or make this role permanent without further advertising dependent on business needs at the end of the contract term.

Closing date: 23:59, Wednesday, 2nd July 2025
We are looking to conduct interviews for this position from Wednesday 16th July.

Interested?

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

This role will require completion of a DBS in addition to the standard pre-employment checks.

We are committed to developing an inclusive and diverse RSPB, in which everyone feels supported, valued, and able to be their full selves. To achieve our vision of creating a world richer in nature, we need more people, and more diverse people, on nature’s side. People of colour and disabled people are currently underrepresented across the environment, climate, sustainability, and conservation sector. If you identify as a person of colour and/or disabled, we are particularly interested in receiving your application.

The RSPB is an equal opportunities employer. This role is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.

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

As part of this application process you will be asked to complete an application form including evidence on how you meet the skills, knowledge, and experience listed above. Contact us to discuss any additional support you may need to complete your application.

No agencies please.

Civitas Recruitment are proud to be partnering with a historic and impactful charity based in East London. Since 1884, the charity has worked alongside people facing poverty, injustice and inequality—providing vital advice and support, and driving systemic change. A fantastic opportunity exists for an HR Business Partner to join the organisation on a fixed-term contract (30–35 hours per week). This is a hybrid role, with flexibility to work from home and from their East London offices. The salary is £40,000–£45,000 FTE and the role is expected to start from 1st July or as soon as possible.

Who are we looking for?

Ideal candidates will have a strong background in employee relations and generalist HR experience, ideally gained in a charity or non-profit setting. You will be confident in advising on HR policies and procedures, managing employee relations cases, and supporting recruitment and retention strategies. A CIPD Level 5 qualification (or equivalent experience of 4+ years) is essential. Strong knowledge of employment legislation, excellent communication skills, and the ability to work both strategically and operationally are key. Experience working independently in a hybrid environment and partnering with managers at all levels will be highly valued.

If the above role description sounds of interest and you feel you meet the criteria, please apply immediately or contact Syed at Civitas Recruitment for a full job description and informal discussion. Early applications are encouraged as we are reviewing on a rolling basis and the position may close earlier than advertised.

PURPOSE OF THE ROLE

To support the Area Manager / Operations Director in ensuring the Charity’s development and growth in ways that are relevant and in line with operational services and charitable objectives.

To ensure the Charity achieves its aims and objectives and fulfils its operational plan effectively by providing high quality intervention, providing person centred support for at-risk young people.

To have key responsibilities in reducing risk and delivery of our Shaping Futures Intervention this is our Short-Term Intervention Programme (STIP) in Buckinghamshire.

This project is funded for the next 18 months, we will be working closely with partners to extend this funding agreement.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Coordinate onboarding of young people, including the initial assessment, and developing 12 individualised sessions bespoke to each young person.
• Ensure a 12-week programme is written and sent to the young person with agreed outcomes after initial meeting.
• Responsible for a case load of young people up to 20 young people at any one time.
• Lead sessions and activities with appropriate resources to empower young people to make more positive choices to reduce violent behaviours, reduce risk of exploitation and other offending behaviours.
• Support the multi-agency network for the young people you are working with. Report any safeguarding concerns to the DSL, with support from your line manager.
• Work in partnership with the Operations team to develop opportunities in line with the intervention if needed.
• Attend stakeholder meetings where needed.
• Uphold Caudwell Youth’s values
• Effectively report to your line manager complaints and compliments relating to the programme
• Build knowledge of local strategies, linking in with network forums.
• Develop relationships and partnerships with local employers, benefit agencies, training establishments to enable opportunities for young people.
• Monitor targets and ensure programme objectives are met.
• Collect outcomes data with tools provided by Caudwell Youth.
• Embed engagement strategy with the young people in your area.
• Coordinate a safe exit of young people effectively, signposting to Caudwell Youth’s mentoring service (if appropriate) or externally.
• Ensure we achieve agreed development objectives, with support from your line manager.
• Be an ambassador for Caudwell Youth in the geographical area you are leading.

​Coordination and Development

• With support from your line manager, ensure the delivery, development of services, community-based activities, and development opportunities are in line with regulatory requirements, our own policies, including safeguarding, social media, health & safety and data protection.
• Develop services and activities and opportunities for inclusion, community engagement and personal development for young people as agreed with your line manager.
• Ensure appropriate planning, risk assessment and evaluation for all activities relating to your area of responsibility is completed, with support from your line manager where appropriate.
• In collaboration with the Operations team, support activities for the needs of the young people across the charity’s wider geographies.

Administration:

• Maintain an excellent standard of administration, record keeping and reporting of all work undertaken in line with data protection and Caudwell Youth’s policies and procedures.
• Monitor all activities for your area against targets and objectives.
• Undertake proactive activities in line with our policies and good practice.

Partnership and Liaison:

• Work closely with the team and the stakeholder steering group to promote good communication and shared focus.
• Ensure effective, relevant and appropriate communication at all times.
• Represent the Charity to other organisations, funders and supporters.
• Establish and develop good relationships with other charities and agencies to increase partnership and effective joint working where appropriate.
• Be a point of contact for referrers and external contacts as regards to activities and service provision.
• Maintain strong working partnership with Thames Valley Police and Buckinghamshire Council to deliver the Shaping Futures Programme.

Team Ethos:

• Work effectively as a team, supporting other team members and be willing to receive support whilst fulfilling your own responsibilities and tasks.
• Express and promote equal opportunities and encourage inclusion and involvement.
• Ensure good communications and relationships within the team at all times.
• Attend team meetings, personal work reviews and task group meetings proactively and as a contributor.

General:

• Demonstrate a high level of professionalism and maintain professional boundaries at all times
• Undertake and identify training as required and take a positive approach to personal development.
• Fulfil the duties and responsibilities of an employee as regards to Health and Safety at Work, including own safety and self-management.
• Undertake any other reasonable tasks deemed necessary.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

On appointment, you are expected to have:

• Previous professional experience and hold most of the necessary skills for the role.
• Excellent knowledge and understanding of young people services in the UK Strong people skills: demonstrates empathy, leads by example, and contributes to building a desirable team culture
• Understanding of young people at-risk Commitment to equality and diversity
• A positive attitude with a proactive and flexible approach to work
• A good understanding of safeguarding and confidentiality
• A full driving licence, with access to a vehicle and have business insurance cover on your policy

Experience:

• Experience of working with statutory services to support at risk young people
• Experience of working to agreed delivery targets, monitoring outcomes, programme evaluation and report writing
• Excellent presentation skills to external stakeholders

Skills:

• Experience of liaising and relationship building with local networks
• Awareness of other local charities
• Use of software such as Office 365 and Better Impact
• Desirable but not essential - hold a certificate in JNC or NYA Youth Work Qualification

ESSENTIAL CRITERIA

Please confirm the following essential criteria. All questions must be answered Yes to meet the essential criteria:

• Do you have a minimum of 1 year’s experience working with young people in a formal or informal setting?
• Do you have experience planning and delivering activities or support services for young people?
• Do you hold a full UK driving licence with no endorsements or convictions, and be eligible to obtain business insurance?
• Do you have basic experience using Microsoft Office (e.g., Word, Excel, Outlook)?
• Do you hold a Certificate in Youth Work and Community Practice? (this can be a qualification from an awarding body JNC, NYA or equivalent).

WHY WORK FOR US: 

We are an experienced team that are dedicated to improving the lives of the young people we support.

Benefits:

• Flexible working
• Hybrid – working from home and in the community
• Westfield Health (including Employee Assistance Programme and extended counselling sessions)
• Group Personal Pension with a 5% employer contribution and Salary Sacrifice Scheme
• 25 days annual leave (FTE) plus bank holidays, plus charity closure between Christmas and New Year
• Extra paid day off on your birthday
• Paid day off for volunteering in your community
• Training opportunities to support your personal development
• Employee discounts on everyday goods and services
• Being part of a passionate and dedicated team

Caudwell Youth is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment. As part of this commitment, we undertake disclosure checks in accordance with the Codes of Practice for all. Having a criminal record will not automatically exclude applicants.