Community advice jobs in chigwell, essex

ShareAction is an independent charity and an expert on responsible investment. We work to build a world where the financial system serves our planet and its people. We set ambitious standards for how financial institutions, through their investment decisions, can protect our planet and its people and campaign for this approach to become the norm. We convene shareholders to collectively push companies to tackle the climate crisis, protect nature, improve workers’ rights and shape healthier societies. In the UK and EU, we advocate for financial regulation that has society’s best interests at its core.

What you’ll do

Since 2019, we have been building a cross-cutting thematic programme using our investor accountability, corporate engagement and public policy toolkit to build a movement to harness the power of the investment system to address commercial determinants of health.

In 2022, we launched Long-Term Investors in People’s Health (LIPH), a cross-cutting programme of work leveraging our toolkit of investor accountability, corporate engagement and policy advocacy. It is one of ShareAction’s largest programmes. Since the launch of LIPH, we have run high-profile campaigns to get large food manufacturers and retailers to improve their health disclosures and sell healthier products via our Healthy Markets Initiative (HMI); recently set up a Clean Air Initiative (CAI); mobilised investors to engage with corporates, the UK government, and standard-setting bodies on issues such as clean air and sick leave policies; and partnered with academics to grow the evidence base on the financial materiality of health. We have ambitious plans to take this work forward and are looking for a new Head of the team to help us do so.

As Head of Health, you will:

• Oversee and contribute to the successful implementation of ShareAction’s strategy to tackle poor health via its LIPH programme, a cross-cutting programme of work leveraging our toolkit of investor accountability, corporate engagement and policy advocacy.
• Lead and motivate a team of 10 staff members and directly line manage at least three of them.
• Ensure adequate risk management and monitoring, evaluation, and learning processes are in place.
• Together with the Fundraising team and Co-Director of Corporate Engagement, be responsible for securing funding for the LIPH programme, including writing funding bids, supporting with relationship management, supporting the coordination of our Funders’ Governance Group, and helping produce update reports.
• Plan, manage and report on budget for the LIPH programme, delegating workstream and campaign budgets where there are appropriate leads.
• Develop and nurture strategic relationships with senior external stakeholders, including funders, journalists, investors, and civil society organisations.
• Act as one of ShareAction’s subject matter experts on commercial determinants of health, keeping your knowledge up to date with developments across academia, civil society, and public policy.
• Act as a media spokesperson for the team and represent it in internal and external forums.
• Work with peers at the “Head of” level to play a leadership role across ShareAction.

If this role sounds like something that would build on your current skill set and engage you, we’d love to hear from you!

What you’ll bring to the team

• Passionate about harnessing the power of the financial system to address poor health across the commercial determinants of health.
• Excellent organisation and project management skills, with demonstrable experience leading ambitious programmes of work.
• Great team player with experience of building, managing and leading a high-performing team based on mutual trust, respect and inclusion and providing mentoring support to more junior members of staff.
• A strategic mindset.
• Comfortable with working autonomously, setting priorities, managing workload and driving delivery against objectives for yourself and your team.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, and the ability to flex style according to your audience.
• Experience building relationships at a senior level with stakeholders across the private and public sectors, with the ability to understand a range of perspectives and to influence with respect and diplomacy.
• Strong professional knowledge and understanding of the commercial determinants of health and/or of responsible investment.

It would be desirable for you to have:

• Substantial experience leading and/or feeding into an advocacy campaign.
• Previous experience securing philanthropic funding for programmes of work.
• Experience managing budgets.
• Experience speaking directly to the media and representing an organisational position.
• Proficiency with common office software, including Microsoft Office, Outlook, SharePoint, Cascade, and Salesforce.

What we will do for you

We are a fast-paced organisation that has grown substantially over the past few years. We recognise that our people work hard to advocate for responsible investment and drive meaningful engagement with those who have the power to create a brighter future. Every day, they bring their expertise, passion and persistence to build a world where the financial system serves our people and planet. We want to ensure we provide an environment for our colleagues to thrive.

Currently, we are pleased to offer:

• A commitment to flexible working: over 60% of our employees have some sort of flexible working arrangement in place, well above the average for UK workplaces.
• Hybrid working: we are committed to supporting our staff to work in a way that suits their lifestyle and meets the requirements of their role.
• Internal promotion and development opportunities: we offer a range of ways to improve your skills and focus on what you love, including promotion, secondment, or sideways development opportunities. For some levels of roles, we also offer direct progression.
• A unionised work environment: our staff have the opportunity to join the union and are supported by our recognised union, Unite. We regularly consult and negotiate with our employees on workplace matters ranging from working conditions to pay.
• Regular in-person meetings, including all-staff away days, retreats and directorate strategy days to create connected teams.
• An 8% non-contributory pension invested with NEST, who make a range of options available.
• A healthcare cash plan that gives you money back on your healthcare costs.
• An employee assistance programme: advice and support, lifestyle discounts and short-term counselling.
• 25 days’ annual leave plus office closure at the end of the year, ensuring everyone gets time to switch off together.
• Enhanced family leave pay: up to 18 weeks paid at 90% for either parent.
• Enhanced sick pay starting at 5 weeks’ full pay from day 1.
• Season ticket loan and cycle-to-work scheme.

We have a formal hybrid working policy in place. As Head of the team, we expect that you will work from the office at least every Tuesday if you are based in London and at least two Tuesdays a month if you are based outside of London. The team holds its weekly meetings on Tuesday morning.

ShareAction values and respects all differences in people (seen and unseen) and welcomes applications from all backgrounds, communities and industries. We are committed to having a team that is made up of diverse skills, experiences and abilities, and we are working hard to provide an environment where all can bring their authentic selves to work. We know that some people won’t apply for a role unless they meet all the requirements listed in the job description. If this is the case for you, but you think you would excel in this role, we want to hear from you!

For further information and to apply, please visit our website via the Apply button.

Closing date: 9am on Monday, 18 August 2025.
First-round interviews: w/c 25 August 2025.
Second-round interviews: w/c 8 September 2025.
Informal meeting with the team: w/c 15 September 2025. 

To be considered for this post, you must be legally eligible to work in the UK; unfortunately, we are unable to provide visa sponsorship.

The National Youth Agency is looking for Programme Associates

Rate: £325 per day
Remote: Home based (within the UK) with travel
Hours: You will be engaged on a flexible, as-and-when-required basis by the NYA. There is no obligation for the NYA to offer regular work, and no obligation for you to accept any work offered.

About the Role

As the National Body for Youth Work in England, we are ambitious for youth work and for young people and are determined that all young people should have the opportunity to benefit from the life-changing impact of qualified youth workers and trained volunteers.

To support our mission, the National Youth Agency is establishing a framework of Programme Associates to assist with the delivery of our work across England.

Appointment to the framework means you may be invited to contribute to projects that align with your expertise. However, inclusion on the framework does not guarantee work will be offered, nor does it imply a specific volume or frequency of engagements. Opportunities will be offered on a flexible, as-needed basis, depending on programme requirements and your availability.

Our NYA Programme Associates will deliver on key aspect of NYA programmes to external stakeholders, develop and review resources and ensure all activities are in line with both NYA and external expectations of quality and expertise.

The post will require a commitment to continuing engagement across the sector and beyond to ensure the NYA’s work is rooted in the needs of young people and youth work.

The NYA brings structure, expertise, support, and guidance to people working in and with youth work and helps shape professional and voluntary youth work practices in England and beyond.

We operate as an agile and flexible team, working at pace to maximise the opportunities that we have to make a difference to youth work and the lives of young people. We are collaborative in our approaches, engaging partner organisations to widen our knowledge and expertise in our aim to support youth sector across England.

We value diversity and strive to create an inclusive team where we embrace everyone’s unique perspectives and talents.

We are committed to an approach of planning, process and performance to underpin results, yet NYA holds relationships at the heart. We strive to ensure our funders, wider stakeholders, youth workers and young people both see and feel the positive difference that our work makes.

Our ideal Programme Associates should have the following:

• Strong understanding of one or more of the following:
• Quality practice standards
• Safeguarding in Children and Young People
• Youth participation
• Youth provision delivery methods
• Extensive experience working directly with young people across diverse settings, demonstrating a deep understanding of youth development and engagement.
• Demonstrated expertise managing youth work programmes and improving practice standards, including within Local Authority contexts.
• Project Management: Strong organisational and project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously.
• Communication: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to convey information clearly and effectively.
• Attention to Detail: High level of accuracy and attention to detail in all aspects of work.
• Problem solving: Strong problem-solving skills, with the ability to identify issues and implement effective solutions.
• Flexibility: A flexible and agile approach to working across multiple programmes, including attending events and responding to time sensitive deadlines.
• Teamwork: Ability to work collaboratively with team members and stakeholders, fostering a positive and productive work environment.
• Time Management: Effective time management skills, with the ability to prioritise tasks and meet deadlines.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite

Please refer to our Candidate Pack for more information on the role and the requirements.

How to Apply:

Please download our applicant pack to find out more about the role and requirements.

To apply, please submit the following via our online application platform by 11:59pm on Wednesday 13th August 2025 (applications will be reviewed as they are submitted, so early submission is encouraged).

A detailed CV setting out your career history, with responsibilities and achievements in line with the person specification in the About You section.

A covering letter is a vital part of your application and will be assessed alongside your CV. Please use it to clearly demonstrate your suitability for the role, specifically addressing how you meet the criteria outlined in the About You section of the job description. Applicants are strongly encouraged to highlight relevant experience in the key areas listed, so we can easily understand your main skill strengths and how they align with the role.

Diversity monitoring (this is optional) and your data will at no time be connected with you or your application.

Please note: the covering letter is an essential part of the application process and will be assessed as part of your full application. We use AI detector software, so cover letters or CV’s with over 30% AI generated content with be disregarded. We understand that AI tools can offer support to candidates who have learning differences, which is why we will accept applications with some AI assistance. CV’s will not be accepted without a cover letter.

The National Youth Agency is an equal opportunities employer.

At NYA our inclusive culture means that we embrace individual differences and understand that we need a diverse team to achieve our organisations mission.

We wish to recruit candidates from all backgrounds to ensure our team reflects the rich diversity of the communities we serve. We encourage applications from anyone regardless of disability, ethnicity, heritage, gender, sexuality, religion, socio-economic background and political beliefs but we particularly welcome applications from global majority candidates and those from other minoritised ethnic groups in the UK as they are currently underrepresented in our team.

Youth Work changes lives

Which is why we’re committed to ensuring that as many young people as possible get to benefit from it.As the national body for youth work in England, the National Youth Agency (NYA) exists to champion its transformative power. We believe all young people should have the opportunity to benefit from the life-changing impact of extraordinary youth workers and trained volunteers.

We help to grow youth work provision in ways that keep it effective, relevant, safe and engaging, to help millions of young people reach their potential and thrive. We do this by providing guidance, support, advice, training and staff development opportunities for youth workers and youth work organisations. At the heart of everything we do are young people themselves. We work hard to ensure their voices are integrated into all our work, to develop provision that truly meets their needs.

REF-222816

The vacancy

We are seeking to appoint one lay member to sit on our GOC Council.

About the GOC

We are the regulator for the optical professions in the UK. Our purpose is to protect the public by promoting high standards of education, performance and conduct.  For more information about us please visit our website:optical. org.

About the Council

The role of Council is to lead on the GOC’s mission to protect the public by upholding high standards in eye care services.  The Council is composed of six lay members (including the Chair) and six registrant members (i.e. registered optometrists and dispensing opticians).  At least one member of the Council must work wholly or mainly in each of England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.  One Council member acts as a Senior Council Member whose role is to carry out the Chair’s appraisal as well as provide a sounding board for the Chair and serve as an intermediary for Council members, Executive and stakeholders as necessary. 

The successful candidate will contribute to Council by exercising oversight, ensuring effective corporate governance, and making high-level policy decisions. They will be able to operate strategically and impartially; listen, communicate, and influence effectively; exercise judgment; and inspire confidence and support amongst our stakeholders. 

Remuneration and time commitment

Council members are remunerated in accordance with our member fees policy (£13,962 per annum plus reasonable travel and subsistence expenses).  The member fee includes time for reading and preparation.

The appointed member will be expected to commit approximately 2-3 days per month.  Meetings will usually take place via MS Teams but may on occasion be held at the GOC Offices at Level 29, One Canada Square, London, E14 5AA. There are occasional online catch-up meetings - these are currently scheduled on a Tuesday evening every 6-8 weeks, from 5.30pm – 6.30pm.

How to apply:

Please email the the following to appointment@optical. org

· your CV outlining your employment history, any relevant voluntary work, public service or other experience; together with any relevant professional, academic or vocational qualifications;

· the application form, stating how your experience matches the criteria for the vacancy you are applying for; and

· complete the EDI monitoring form linked in the candidate pack (this is an online form and does not need to be included in the email with your CV and application form).

APPLICATION DEADLINE:  midnight on Sunday 10 August 2025.

Online interviews will be held on between Wednesday 15 and Thursday 16 October 2025.

If you have any questions, please email them to appointment@optical. org and we will aim to respond to you within 48 hours. 

We welcome applications from individuals who are disabled and from diverse ethnic backgrounds as these are currently under-represented on our council and committees.

We strive to be as diverse as the public we protect and welcome applications from everyone, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, ethnicity, sex, sexual orientation, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy, maternity and geographical locations outside of London.

This is an exciting opportunity to shape a new senior role within our organisation. The Interim Head of Research and Campaigns will lead our Research function and advocacy efforts, ensuring that evidence-based insights drive our campaigns, policy work, and public engagement.

Recently kicking off our new ‘Creating Positive Change Together’ strategy, coproduced by over 130 staff, volunteers, clients and partners, Groundswell has ambitious plans around influencing more change and amplifying voices to promote healthier lives and a better future for anyone who has experienced homelessness. This role directly aligns with these strategic plans, to refine and use innovative participatory research centring lived experience, share and amplify insight from people with experience of homelessness, and increase our campaigning activities to change systems and break down the barriers that stand in people’s way to a healthier life and more hopeful future.

This role has been created on an interim basis to assess its impact and effectiveness, with a key focus on reviewing the priorities, progression and support of our Research Team and making recommendations for the future regarding this new role. The role will sit within the wider Participation, Progression and Creating Change team. 

We anticipate that some form of Head of Research & Campaigning role will continue beyond this 12-month period, and this interim position will very much shape and inform that longer term role.