Communications officer jobs in altrincham, greater manchester

This role will play a leadership role in delivering our ambitious policy influencing programme, helping to shape and implement influencing plans to bring about the changes needed to reduce, prevent and eventually end the need for food banks in the UK.  It will provide management and oversight to some of our strategic projects.

Role responsibilities

· Developing and implementing Trussell’s influencing strategy

Working with teams across the organisation to ensure key groups, including our community of food banks, corporate partners, churches and church-related organisations have a clear role in our policy influencing approach.

· Planning and delivering impactful public affairs activity

Ensuring systems are in place to help plan, monitor and evaluate public affairs activity and maximise opportunities to engage with key audiences, including Parliamentarians, advisers, and UK Government Ministers; and support close working with colleagues in all UK nations and regions.  Managing the development and delivery of public affairs activity to support high profile influencing campaigns.

· Building and managing strong relationships with key external stakeholders

Developing relationships, partnerships and networks to help raise the profile, credibility and influence of Trussell and our policy positions, particularly in the UK Parliament.  Representing Trussell and promoting the organisation’s policy position to key audiences, including in meetings and events with Parliamentarians.

· Developing public affairs support to the food bank community

Working closely with a small team of Network Policy and Research Officers and the Organising and Local Mobilisation team to support our community of food banks to build and maintain strong relationships with their local MPs.  Ensuring public affairs activity is well aligned to campaign strategies involving the food bank network.

· Embedding participatory approaches across our public affairs and wider influencing activity

Supporting further development of a participatory approach to policy influencing to ensure it is rooted in the lived experience of individuals affected by poverty.  This includes ensuring an ethical approach in line with our values.

· Providing advice and line management

Have line management responsibility for individuals within the team, providing pastoral and development guidance along with task management on key projects.  This includes regular 1:1s, objective setting and collaborative monitoring, and support with development needs.

Person Specification

Technical skills and minimum knowledge:

· Track record of successfully influencing politicians and key decision-makers to achieve strategic goals at different levels of government.

· Track record of delivering strategic public affairs activity based on robust evidence, from development to evaluation.

· Can explain components of effective policy influencing, including knowledge of the machinery and structure of government (UK, devolved, local) and experience of informing campaigns activity to mobilise support for policy change.

· Demonstrates a good understanding of policies that affect UK poverty and hunger.  Can explain policy motivations of main political parties and can advise on how to influence them most effectively.

· Excellent written and oral communication skills, particularly in demonstrating enthusiasm and experience when communicating complex topics to non-specialist audiences.

· Experience of line managing, including dealing with performance issues and supporting team development.

Behaviours and competencies:

· Works collaboratively, managing challenges in a constructive manner

· Balances competing priorities and work to tight deadlines

· Demonstrates a dedication to the values of Trussell

· Demonstrates empathy for people from disadvantages, marginalised or socially excluded backgrounds

· Role models inclusive behaviour, values and leadership

We are working in partnership with the Church of England who are seeking an Independent Chair for their Racial Justice Panel.

The Racial Justice Panel (RJP) was established by the Archbishops’ Council in December 2024 following the successful conclusion of the work on the Archbishops' Commission for Racial Justice led by the Lord Boateng PC, CVO. The RJP is to provide independent assurance that the work of racial justice is being carried out effectively by the Church, in accordance with agreed plans and wider best practice.

The RJP Panel, albeit a critical friend, maintains its independence, offering rigorous scrutiny and challenge to the Church in its work on racial justice including examining progress against strategic and delivery plans. It shall produce an annual report to be laid before the General Synod. 

The RJP are looking to appoint an experienced independent Chair who will provide excellent leadership, direction and independent scrutiny and challenge to the Church of England and bring external expertise from holding a highly senior role. 

They are looking for an independent chair who:

• Is a gifted leader, who will support the Church of England in further strengthening its safeguarding arrangements and partnerships.
• Is passionate about working collaboratively at all levels, with a proven track record in improvement work at a national level.
• Knows how to hold organisations to account and possesses the skills to support the development of senior leaders.
• Understands through senior level personal experience, the core aspects of racial justice at a national level and in the field of statutory and/or voluntary sector.
• Is empathetic, strategic, emotional and has analytical skills, and able to act as a ‘critical friend’ in supporting and challenging people and institutions to help improve their racial justice focus, practice and arrangements.
• Has a relevant academic or professional qualification.
• Has an understanding of the structure of the Church of England and an appreciation for the role that faith plays in the context of racial justice.

The successful candidate will be a senior leader, with excellent communication, organisational and interpersonal skills.   

Please note: Experience of church structures and practices, either professionally or personally, are neither a barrier nor a qualification required for this role. However, the candidate must be in sympathy with the aims and work of the Church of England.

The AC is due to be replaced by CENS in 2-3 years’ time, and the role of the RJP will be reviewed once CENS is established. 

For more information, please contact Sandra Smith, Associate Director, Charisma Charity Recruitment. Applications should be submitted through the Charisma website and include your CV and supporting statement (each of which should not exceed two A4 pages). 

We welcome and encourage applications from prospective candidates 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.

Closing date for applications: 11 June 2025

Client Interview date: TBC

You will act as the first point of contact for members of the public, taking and triaging enquiries, preparing responses, and referring more complex cases to our network of trained planning volunteers. Your work will directly help people understand and navigate the planning system in Wales.

This is a part-time, home-based role that offers flexibility and purpose. Full training and response templates will be provided.

· Respond to phone and email enquiries to the Planning Aid Wales Helpline.

· Record enquiry details, assess eligibility and decide on next steps.

· Draft email responses to basic enquiries (with training and templates provided).

· Refer eligible cases to volunteers and monitor their progress.

· Close case files and prepare quarterly Helpline activity reports.

 The ability to speak and write in Welsh is highly desirable.

CVs will not be accepted.

Title: Trusts & Foundations Advisor

Location: UK / Remote

Contract: Permanent

Salary: £40,000 per annum 

About the role

Sightsavers’ Trusts and Corporate Partnerships team is excited to be expanding its team in response to growing demands and opportunities in the trusts & foundation sector. We are recruiting for two additional Trusts & Foundations Advisors to be key contributors to the development of Sightsavers trusts and foundations programme. They will play a crucial role in the successful recruitment and cultivation of new business, while also managing a portfolio of existing trust and foundation donors primarily based in the UK, U.S and Europe.

In this role, the Advisor will be instrumental in contributing towards the team’s annual income target and supporting additional planned growth in the coming years. 

Responsibilities

• Manage and cultivate relationships with a portfolio of key trust and foundation donors for Sightsavers (up to 7-figure funding agreements) via proposals, mailings, reports, telephone or face-to-face meetings as appropriate, and coordinate donor visits, dealing with CEOs, Directors, and Trustees.
• Develop key external and internal relationships and donor engagement activities for the achievement of planned objectives with these donors.
• Research, identify, prioritise, and develop personalised engagement plans and donor strategies to cultivate new trust prospects in targeted global markets. Lead on cultivating relationships with CEOs, Directors, and Trustees, with the aim of establishing additional high-value funding relationships.
• Work proactively across the organisation, including cross-culturally, to coordinate, develop, and deliver a high standard of compelling project proposals and reports ready for submission to donors whilst ensuring excellent grant/contract management to existing donor relationships.
• Actively participate in the networks surrounding trusts and foundations, sharing information, insights, opportunities, and fundraising materials produced.
• Represent Sightsavers and/or support staff delegations at conferences and networks to engage with and cultivate new donor relationships.
• Contribute to team, departmental, and wider organisational systems development and initiatives.

This is a highly varied and involved role and the above is not an exhaustive list of duties or required professional skills. Please see the Job Description for full details.

Jobholder Requirements

Essential

• Relevant experience working in the charity sector, ideally in international development.
• Experience of long-term grant/contract management of significant funders/clients.
• Proven success in personally cultivating new relationships with prospective donors/clients and maintaining relationships with existing donors/clients.
• Demonstrative experience of excellent written skills, including proposals, bids, and reports for external audiences.
• Proven success in creating successful funding proposals.
• Knowledge of good fundraising practice.
• Experience of in-person networking at conferences or face-to-face meetings with senior trusts and foundations staff/board.
• Understanding of and interest in charity sector and international development issues.
• First-class presentation and writing skills, including preparation of proposals, project budgets, and reports with excellent attention to detail.
• Excellent IT skills, including Word and Excel, and experience of using fundraising databases.
• Capable of relating well to a wide range of people.
• Strong listening and negotiating skills.
• Research experience, including the development of engagement plans.
• Experience of in-person networking at conferences.
• Self-confidence with the ability to take the initiative, manage time effectively, and work to deadlines.
• Good analytical skills – can prioritise and plan opportunities based on available information.
• Highly collaborative approach.

Desirable

• Experience of Fundraising from the US market.
• Experience of writing for the US market.

Next Steps

To apply for this exciting new opportunity, please complete an application via our recruitment portal. We are particularly interested in learning of your motivations for applying.

Successful candidates will be invited to participate in a virtual interview via Microsoft Teams, and we will also ask all candidates to complete a short task related to the responsibilities of the Trusts & Foundations Advisor role.

As an equal opportunity employer, we actively encourage applications from all sections of the community. Sightsavers is a Disability Confident Leader and qualified people living with a disability are particularly encouraged to apply.

Due to project deadlines, we are keen to fill this role as quickly as possible. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and considered as soon as they are received. The closing date for applications is 1 June 2025. We encourage you to submit your application as early as possible, as early submissions will be reviewed promptly.

Role Context and Purpose

Following recent and projected growth of the organisation, Gaddum is looking to recruit additional resource within the Central team to bolsters its support to the organisation ensuring delivers safe and high quality services.

The post holder, line managed by the Finance and Resources Director will join the finance team and play a crucial role in the day-to-day financial administration of the charity. You will also play a key role in improving our financial systems and process as we continue to grow. This is a 35 hours per week role, working flexibly and hybrid to suit the needs of the organisation and individual.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

General

• Ensure robust financial administration of all supplier payments and funder receipts including all entries into accounting system to relevant programme and project budgets and the subsequent filing of all payment documentation.

• To provide a professional and comprehensive service in dealing with finance queries raised by suppliers, customers and funders Accounts Payable

• Ensure goods and services invoiced have been ordered and charged in accordance with the approved purchase order • Raise regular BACs payments, ensuring all creditors are paid in accordance with internal policies

• Fulfilling orders and booking requests using company credit card on an adhoc basis

• Record all transactions on SAGE

• Reconcile the creditors account on a regular basis Accounts Receivable

• Ensure all invoices are processed in line with requests

• Record all receipts in SAGE

• Manage credit control function, ensuring that all debts are received in line with internal policies and procedures

Cash Management & Bank

• To oversee the distribution of petty cash when required and reconcile receipts

• Perform bank reconciliation on a regular basis and ensure all payment information is updated

• To support the Finance Assistant (Trust and Grants) in periods of absence

Other Duties and Responsibilities

• To meet regularly with Finance & Resources Director for supervisions

• Undertake additional duties within competence of post holds as required by the Finance & Resources Director

• Flexible approach to working patterns and in-office working days.

The details contained in this job description, particularly the principal accountabilities, reflect the content of the job on the date the job description was prepared. It should be remembered, however, that it is inevitable that over time, the nature of individual jobs will change; existing duties may be lost, and other duties may be gained without changing the general character of the duties or the level of responsibility entailed. Consequently, this job description may be revised from time to time.

All staff are expected to work within all Gaddum policies and procedures. This role is subject to a basic DBS check. 

Join the innovative Bolton Listening Lounge, providing adults in Bolton with mental health and wellbeing support. Working in partnership with Greater Manchester Mental Health Foundation Trust and BAND/FAmily Action, the Bolton Listening Lounge is a collaborative approach to providing mental health and wellbeing support from late afternoon into the evening. It provides a safe space for people who are experiencing mental distress or who feel that they are going through a personal crisis. Our staff will offer low level calming interventions and one to one support to identify the cause of the emotional distress and to put in place a plan including signposting and referring on to other organisations and services.

We are looking for someone with knowledge and understanding of Mental Health conditions and their impact on daily living and a strong track-record of working with individuals and their families to deliver positive outcomes.  You will work within the team to prototype new ways of supporting individuals, and contribute to the ongoing development of the team by sharing learning and by listening and responding to feedback from people who use the service.