Community advice jobs in gateshead, hertfordshire

Mary’s Meals is a global movement supported by people from all walks of life and we are focused on one goal – that every child receives a nutritious daily meal in their place of education. We are currently reaching over 2.6 million children every school day, across 16 countries.

We are recruiting for a dynamic, visionary leader to join us as Director of Strategic Initiatives – a vital role in helping us grow our global movement. Reporting to our Chief Growth Officer, you’ll lead a talented team responsible for designing and delivering bold new strategies to increase revenue and build long-term, sustainable income growth and grow the strength of our National Affiliate network.

You will:

• Drive a programme of high-impact, global initiatives, from new fundraising products and digital solutions to youth and faith engagement strategies.
• Provide expert support and coaching to Executive Directors leading National Affiliates across the world.
• Guide strategic planning and change programmes with measurable outcomes, clear delivery plans and a deep focus on stewardship.
• Lead and inspire a high-performing team of specialists focused on audience insights, product development and market expansion.
• Collaborate closely with senior leadership across our global family to ensure alignment, shared learning and sustainable growth.
• Support the development of effective governance, technology and safeguarding practices across affiliates.
• Act as a trusted advisor to the MMI Executive Leadership Team and contribute regularly at the highest levels of decision-making.

About you:

You will bring significant senior-level experience in strategy, programme leadership, and/or business development – ideally in a global or multi-entity context within the charity sector.

• A strong track record of driving income growth and leading successful change initiatives.
• Experience working across cultures, with the ability to influence, inspire and build trust in diverse settings.
• A sharp focus on what works in fundraising, product innovation and audience engagement – particularly in the context of international development.
• Experience collaborating closely with technology teams to deliver digital and tech-enabled solutions.
• Proven leadership and coaching experience, with the ability to build high-performing teams and work with autonomy, agility and purpose.

Most of all, you’ll be motivated by our mission and ready to play a key role in helping us reach the next child waiting for Mary’s Meals.

About us:

We believe in the innate goodness of people, respect the dignity of every human being and family life and believe in good stewardship of the resources entrusted to us. In line with our values, Mary’s Meals is fully committed to a culture of safeguarding. Mary’s Meals is committed to preventing any type of unwanted behaviour at work and we expect all the Mary's Meals family to share this commitment and work in the best interest of the communities we serve. Our safe recruitment practices ensure that only those that are committed to our high standards join our movement.

Salary advertised is for UK based candidates, our salary philosophy ensures consistency across locations where Mary’s Meals operates, please reach out for more information on salary & benefits if you are based outside the UK. 

To apply:

If you are inspired to join our movement and our vision, mission and values resonate with you, we would love to hear from you. To apply, please click below to send your CV and a short covering note (no more than 1 page) telling us why you are a great fit for this role and why you would like to work for Mary’s Meals International.

The purpose of the Bookkeeper position at Latin American House is to ensure accurate and timely financial administration, supporting the efficient management and smooth operation of the organisation’s financial activities. This includes processing invoices, tracking payments and expenses, managing financial documentation, and ensuring compliance with both internal policies and external regulations.

The Bookkeeper plays a crucial role in maintaining accurate financial records, assisting with financial reporting, audit preparation, and supporting senior management in overseeing budgets, payroll, and compliance.

By providing essential administrative support, the Bookkeeper upholds the integrity, efficiency, and transparency of LAH's financial processes, contributing to the overall success, sustainability, and governance of the organisation.

Main duties and responsibilities:

1. Maintaining accurate and up-to-date financial records by:
● Accurately recording all financial transactions, including income, expenses, invoices, payments, and receipts, ensuring they are categorised correctly in the financial system
● Regularly reconciling bank accounts, credit card statements, and other financial documents to ensure accuracy and identify discrepancies
● Maintaining and organising all financial documentation, including invoices, receipts, contracts, and financial reports, in accordance with internal policies and regulatory requirements
● Ensuring that all financial data is entered into the accounting system in a timely manner and accurately, and keeping records updated as necessary, reflecting any changes or corrections

2. Supporting organisational income and expenditure processes efficiently by:
● Monitoring and tracking income and expenses across various budgets, ensuring all transactions are in alignment with allocated funds and any restrictions on specific funds
● Processing self-generated income from all LAH activities (e.g., Space rental, hall hire, Saturday School, etc.) by preparing related invoices, ensuring accurate record-keeping, and diligently tracking payment status
● Recording and processing utility bills, ensuring proper allocation of recharges where applicable
● Preparing payments on the CAF Bank platform for approval by authorised signatories

3. Assisting organisational financial compliance by:
● Preparing financial records for audits and financial reporting as required, ensuring compliance with tax laws, charity regulations, and other applicable legal standards
● Maintaining and updating the LAH’s inventory by accurately recording purchases, disposals, and changes in assets, such as IT equipment and furniture
● Assisting with payroll enrollment administration for new starters, ensuring accurate processing and compliance with relevant payroll procedures
● Collaborating with senior management to ensure adherence to LAH’s Financial Policy and internal financial procedures
● Supporting the development and implementation of enhanced financial systems and internal controls to improve efficiency and compliance

4. Other accountabilities:
● Attending team meetings and one-to-ones as required 
● Participating in relevant training or professional development to maintain and
improve financial administration skills 
● Carrying out any other bookkeeping-related duties appropriate to the post, as
agreed with your line manager

Role Purpose

This is an exciting opportunity to shape the voice and public profile of one of the UK’s most impactful social justice charities. As Head of Communications, you’ll lead our communications function at a strategic level, inspiring and influencing how we share our story with the world. You’ll craft and deliver bold, creative, and inclusive communications that raise awareness of Pact’s work and help us achieve our ambitious goals. From digital campaigns and media relations to powerful storytelling and brand development, you’ll ensure our voice is clear, compelling, and deeply rooted in the lived experiences of those we serve. As a key member of the Executive Team, you will also play a vital role in shaping the overall strategic direction of the organisation, leading organisation-wide projects and championing a culture of open, values-driven communication.

Key Responsibilities

• You will provide strategic leadership for all communications activity across the charity, working closely with colleagues to develop and deliver multidisciplinary communications plans that support corporate objectives. You will be responsible for evaluating communications performance, reporting against KPIs, and using data to drive improvement. You’ll play a key role in horizon-scanning and forward planning, ensuring our messaging is proactive and responsive to external developments.

• You’ll oversee all of Pact’s digital platforms, including our social media channels and websites, as well as those for the Prisoners’ Families Helpline. You will lead the creation and delivery of compelling content to engage and grow our audiences, ensuring a dynamic and consistent presence across both organic and paid-for channels.

• Marketing and branding will be central to your remit. You’ll lead the development of high-quality, accessible and inclusive marketing materials and publications that inspire and inform stakeholders, staff, volunteers and service users. You’ll ensure the organisation maintains a strong and coherent visual and written identity, and you’ll manage a library of media assets and case studies that bring our work to life. You will also offer trusted support and guidance to colleagues and volunteers promoting Pact’s services locally.

• A core part of the role will involve amplifying the voices of people with lived experience. You’ll oversee the regular generation of powerful case studies and service user stories to be shared across internal and external channels, always ensuring ethical and inclusive storytelling.

• You’ll also contribute to the planning and promotion of key organisational events, including staff and volunteer gatherings, stakeholder roundtables and receptions.

• Ultimately, you will be the guardian of the Pact brand and the leader of our communications culture – someone who empowers others, inspires creativity, and champions clear, compassionate communication at every level.

Person Specification

• You will have significant experience in a senior communications, PR or marketing leadership role, with a proven ability to develop and evaluate impactful strategies. You’ll be an exceptional communicator with a keen eye for storytelling and audience engagement, and you’ll have experience managing digital platforms and growing audiences through content innovation.

• Strong leadership and team management skills are essential, as is a collaborative, facilitative approach that brings out the best in others. You’ll need to be a confident relationship-builder, able to influence at senior levels and build trust with stakeholders, media, and partners.

• Ideally, you will bring experience or understanding of the voluntary, criminal justice or social justice sectors. A strong grasp of inclusive communication and accessibility standards is highly desirable, along with an ethical approach to storytelling that respects and amplifies lived experience.

How to apply:

Please note - interviews will be conducted during the final week of August and the first week of September, 2025.

If you feel that you meet the requirements of this exciting new role please complete an application form by clicking the 'apply now' button.

* We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.

Other information:

Pact (the Prison Advice & Care Trust) is a pioneering national charity that provides caring and life changing services to men and women in prison, to people with convictions on release and in the community, and to their children and families.

As an inclusive employer, we welcome requests for job adverts and descriptions in accessible formats (for e.g. larger text) for candidates with disabilities, including those with neurodiversity. Please contact us if you require any support in engaging in our recruitment process.

Location: Two days a week in Central Office (Wandsworth / Wormwood Scrubs) with regular travel across England & Wales
Department Marketing and Communications
Job Type: Full time, 37.5 hours per week, Monday to Friday
Contract Type: Permanent
Salary: £46,225 per annum £3,000 market supplement
Benefits: Generous Holiday allowance Season Ticket loan Cycle to work scheme Charity worker discounts Enhanced maternity package Wellness, inclusion, and diversity groups EAP scheme Life assurance

You may also have experience in the following: Communications Officer, Media Manager, PR, Public Relations, Public Relations Officer, Communications Manager, Marketing Communications, Campaign Manager, Project Management, Charity, Third Sector, Charities, NFP, Not for Profit, etc.

REF-222 719

At Catch22, we are proud of our reputation as a modern and progressive employer. Our 1,300 colleagues and 300 volunteers work at every stage of the social welfare cycle, supporting over 60,000 individuals, from cradle to career. Our work spans education, social justice and rehabilitation, children's social care, family support, social action, and getting people into work.

Our Young People and Families Hub (YP&F) delivers a wide range of integrated support services that are designed to help resolve complex difficulties experienced by young people and their families/carers. Our Hub works with those in trouble, providing early intervention to those who are in crisis, leaving care, missing from home, or with substance misuse or mental health problems - services support people no matter what their situation, and have demonstrated a high success rate.

Our Merton Risk and Resilience Service is an integrated service, focused on mitigating risk, and promoting resilience, in children and young people (C&YP). Our service aims to reduce the harm to children and young people (aged 18 and under), within the Child Exploitation (CE) and Missing service area, and C&YP (aged 24 and under), within the substance misuse service area.

Job Description

*Permanent, full-time - up to £29,000 per annum
*This role requires access to a car, and a full driving licence.

The role of Young Person's Practitioner (Risk and Resilience) is an excellent opportunity to make a direct and valued difference to the lives of children and young people (C&YP), who are at significant risk of experiencing child exploitation, substance misuse, or going missing from home.

Providing tailored support and guidance to children, young people, and families, this role will actively contribute to achieving high standards of care, quality, and positive outcomes - supporting service users to fulfil their potential, through consistent and meaningful participation.

Main Duties:

• Providing tailored one-to-one support, guidance, and interventions.
• Assessing the needs of children and young people, determining appropriate support plans and pathways, and informing risk reduction plans - supporting access to additional or specialist services where necessary.
• Ensuring that referrals, support, care, and risk management are of a high quality, with ease of transition.
• Developing sustainable joint service work with referring agencies, local authorities, children’s social care, and children and families services (CFS).
• Ensuring timely and appropriate data recording – including tracking, outcome monitoring, KPI monitoring, and assisting with the production of feedback reports.
• Providing consultation, information, training, and presentations, to a wide range of stakeholders, from varied settings (we can help to build your skills in training provision if required).

This role works in partnership with a wide range of partner agencies and commissioners, providing continuous opportunities to build your network and knowledge within the Children’s Social Care Sector.  We will also support you to build service-area specialisms, in the areas of Substance Misuse, Child Exploitation, Missing from Home, or Families work. We are highly invested in supporting the continuous professional development of our staff, and our staff are also encouraged to visit the extensive variety of national services that Catch22 can offer.

The team are dedicated to making a difference in the lives of children and young people, working through a relationship-based approach, that draws on the ethos and values of young people. Integrating a variety of work backgrounds, the team utilise a ‘Think Family’ approach – and all staff are trained in motivational interviewing, trauma informed practice, and brief solution-focused interventions – click here to find out more.

We are also interested in candidates who can demonstrate transferable experience in the following areas:

• Working with children and young people with a range of vulnerabilities.
• Building positive relationships with children and young people, and their families.
• Carrying out assessments, risk management, and care plans, and providing interventions.
• Please click here to view the full Job Description.

Qualifications

• 5 GCSE’s (grade C or above), or equivalent.
• Experience of working with children and young people, with complex needs or vulnerabilities.
• Preferable: Working knowledge of supporting children and young people in one or more of the following areas: substance misuse, child exploitation, missing from home.

Additional information

• Salary: Up to £29,000 per annum (depending on knowledge and experience)
• Hours of work: Full time, 37 hours per week*
• Contract: Permanent
• Location: Ciic Centre, Morden Library, London Road, Town Centre, Morden SM4 5DX
• We have 2 positions available. The Risk and Resilience YP Service requires a ratio of male Practitioners, to ensure that we are able to offer accessible support to young people, and where required or identified, young people have the choice of who they wish to be supported by. For these reasons, one of the positions is open to male applicants only.
• This role requires access to a car, and a full driving licence.
• Catch22 supports flexible working, and we are ambassadors of a positive work-life balance - any hours worked outside of regular contracted hours will be accrued as Toil, and wherever possible, these are taken at the member of staff's convenience.
• This is a community-based role, however we are open to discussing flexibility for remote working days where service delivery allows.

Benefits

• Discounted shopping opportunities, with over 1,400 retailers – through our Rewards Hub.
• Access to a 24/7 GP helpline – including online video consultations, and electronic private prescriptions.
• Employee Assistance Programme – a free, confidential service that offers expert advice, information, and counselling, for all staff and their dependents (24/7, 365 days a year).
• Access to a network of trained Mental Health First Aiders, across the organisation.
• Cycle to work scheme.
• 28 days annual leave (+ 8 public holidays) – increasing to 33 days after five years.
• Matching employer pension contributions of 4%.

About Us

Our vision is for every child and young person to be safe, loved and happy, to achieve their potential and have a bright future.

St Christopher's is a leading charity for children and young people. We are proud of our history of providing fostering, children's homes and innovative leaving care services across the UK & Isle of Man.  We have a passionate commitment to our young people, placing them at the centre of everything we do.  We provide positive life experiences for young people who are unable to sustain a placement in their parental or foster home.

We are an equal-opportunity employer keen to develop an inclusive workforce where people feel they belong.We hope to attract applications from under- represented groups, including people from different cultures, nationalities, socioeconomic backgrounds, ages, disabilities, religions, faith, sex, orientation, childcare responsibilities, and gender-diverse identities.

St Christopher’s Academy

At St Christopher`s we can provide more than just a care job. We can offer you a career where you can develop your skills and knowledge while making a difference to young people’s lives.

When you join St Christopher’s, we will set you up in your career with a tailored development plan. Whether you want to move across to a different service, become a Manager or just explore further your current role, we will support you to map out your career trajectory and help you achieve your professional ambitions. If you want to learn more about St Christopher’s Academy, please visit our website.

We are proud that 84% of all our Team Leaders, Deputies and Managers are internal promotions.

About the role

As an Experienced Practitioner, you will provide direct support and care for our young people who have complex emotional and mental health difficulties (such as trauma and loss) and can struggle to regulate their emotions.

Working within a therapeutic framework, you will develop a direct programme of work aimed at developing authentic relationships with our children and young people (aged 12 – 17 years old), you will also have responsibility for making sure our residents are safe, providing support, liaison with other professionals and completion of support documents to record information.

If applying for the Waking Night role, you will have the additional support of an on-call manager should there be any emergencies. Further to this, you will be involved in monthly team meetings and receive monthly supervision.

Applicants should have

• Level 3 Diploma in Residential Childcare or equivalent (i.e. Level 3 Diploma Children and Young People Workforce with the children's social care pathway) or be willing to achieve the Level 3 Diploma in Residential Childcare within 2 years as per Children’s Homes Regulations 2015 (England).
• Minimum of 1 years’ experience working and supporting children and Young People to achieve their full potential.
• Genuine commitment to working with and supporting children and Young People to achieve their full potential; with the ability to build and promote trusted relationships while maintaining professional boundaries.
• An understanding of the issues facing children and Young People and a basic understanding of safeguarding Regulations and Procedures.
• The ability to cope effectively with challenging behaviour.
• Good communication and team working skills.
• Flexibility to work shifts, including weekends and bank holidays.
• Commitment to undertake any mandatory training (outside of working hours) and continuous learning to ensure a high level of service.
• Creativity, enthusiasm and energy to inspire and encourage young people to achieve their goals.

What you should expect from us

• Salary: £28,912 per annum. Overtime / bank holidays paid time-and-a-half and 2 weekends off per month.
• A friendly working environment, a fun, open and honest culture.
• 25 days holiday rising to 27 days after 3 years’ service, plus Bank Holidays, pro-rata.
• Industry leading training programme including access to level 3 qualifications, children’s right and participation, CSE, empowerment, mental health and social pedagogy.
• Contributory pension scheme, enhanced maternity and company sick scheme.
• UK Life Assurance (Death in service) to the value of 3 times your annual salary.
• BUPA employee assistance programme, offering counselling, financial advice and legal support.
• Cycle to work scheme.
• Bluelight card; discount shopping scheme at hundreds of retailers across the UK.
• Discretionary funded training programs.
• Employee awards based on performance and length of service.
• Fantastic opportunities to develop your career within our range of services.

Recruitment Process

At St Christopher’s we are committed to the safeguarding of all children and young people in our care. During the recruitment process you will be expected to complete an online application form to ensure we capture essential information to meet legislation, best practice and vetting requirements.

Applicants will ideally already be on the DBS Update Service; if this is not the case St Christopher's will carry out a DBS (police) check prior to starting.

First Stage Interview – Tuesdays & Thursdays throughout July and August

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to attend an interview at our Head Office

Second Stage

Successful candidates will then attend the second stage interview at the home they have applied for.

We advise you to apply as soon as possible as applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Please note:

• This post has a minimum age restriction of 21 year for roles working directly with children and young people in our residential and supported accommodation Homes in line with the Equality Act ‘occupational requirement’.
• It is illegal to apply for any role that involves working with children and young people under the age of 18, if you know you are barred from working with children.
• all shortlisted candidates invited to interview will be asked to submit a Self-Declaration and Disclosure form which will need to be returned prior to an interview being booked.

About Us

Our vision is for every child and young person to be safe, loved and happy, to achieve their potential and have a bright future.

St Christopher's is a leading charity for children and young people. We are proud of our history of providing fostering, children's homes and innovative leaving care services across the UK & Isle of Man.  We have a passionate commitment to our young people, placing them at the centre of everything we do.  We provide positive life experiences for young people who are unable to sustain a placement in their parental or foster home.

We are an equal-opportunity employer keen to develop an inclusive workforce where people feel they belong.We hope to attract applications from under- represented groups, including people from different cultures, nationalities, socioeconomic backgrounds, ages, disabilities, religions, faith, sex, orientation, childcare responsibilities, and gender-diverse identities.

About the role

As an Experienced Practitioner, you will provide direct support and care for our young people who have complex emotional and mental health difficulties (such as trauma and loss) and can struggle to regulate their emotions.

Working within a therapeutic framework, you will develop a direct programme of work aimed at developing authentic relationships with our children and young people (aged 12 – 17 years old), you will also have responsibility for making sure our residents are safe, providing support, liaison with other professionals and completion of support documents to record information.

Applicants should have

• Level 3 Diploma in Residential Childcare or equivalent (i.e. Level 3 Diploma Children and Young People Workforce with the children's social care pathway) or be willing to achieve the Level 3 Diploma in Residential Childcare within 2 years as per Children’s Homes Regulations 2015 (England).
• Minimum of 1 years’ experience working and supporting children and Young People to achieve their full potential.
• Genuine commitment to working with and supporting children and Young People to achieve their full potential; with the ability to build and promote trusted relationships while maintaining professional boundaries.
• An understanding of the issues facing children and Young People and a basic understanding of safeguarding Regulations and Procedures.
• The ability to cope effectively with challenging behaviour.
• Good communication and team working skills.
• Flexibility to work shifts, including weekends and bank holidays.
• Commitment to undertake any mandatory training (outside of working hours) and continuous learning to ensure a high level of service.
• Creativity, enthusiasm and energy to inspire and encourage young people to achieve their goals.

What you should expect from us

• Salary: £27,248 per annum
• A friendly working environment, a fun, open and honest culture.
• 25 days holiday rising to 27 days after 3 years’ service, plus Bank Holidays, pro-rata.
• Industry leading training programme including access to level 3 qualifications, children’s right and participation, CSE, empowerment, mental health and social pedagogy.
• Contributory pension scheme, enhanced maternity and company sick scheme.
• UK Life Assurance (Death in service) to the value of 3 times your annual salary.
• BUPA employee assistance programme, offering counselling, financial advice and legal support.
• Cycle to work scheme.
• Bluelight card; discount shopping scheme at hundreds of retailers across the UK.
• Discretionary funded training programs.
• Employee awards based on performance and length of service.
• Fantastic opportunities to develop your career within our range of services.

Recruitment Process

At St Christopher’s we are committed to the safeguarding of all children and young people in our care. During the recruitment process you will be expected to complete an online application form to ensure we capture essential information to meet legislation, best practice and vetting requirements.

Applicants will ideally already be on the DBS Update Service; if this is not the case St Christopher's will carry out a DBS (police) check prior to starting.

First Stage Interview – Tuesdays & Thursdays throughout April and May 2025

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to attend an interview at our Head Office

Second Stage

Successful candidates will then attend the second stage interview at the home they have applied for.

We advise you to apply as soon as possible as applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Please note:

• This post has a minimum age restriction of 21 year for roles working directly with children and young people in our residential and supported accommodation Homes in line with the Equality Act ‘occupational requirement’.
• It is illegal to apply for any role that involves working with children and young people under the age of 18, if you know you are barred from working with children.
• All shortlisted candidates invited to interview will be asked to submit a Self-Declaration and Disclosure form which will need to be returned prior to an interview being booked.

War Child’s mission is to reach, protect, educate, and stand up for the rights of every child living in conflict zones. They want a world that is safer for children to live in. Very sadly, at the moment, 1 in 5 children are living in or fleeing from conflict – that number is too high, and War Child wants to change it.

War Child is looking for an experienced fundraising leader to step into a key senior leadership role during a year of real momentum.

As Interim Director of Philanthropy and Partner Engagement, you’ll lead a high-performing team of around 15, covering major donors, principal giving, trusts and foundations, institutional funding, corporate partnerships, and gaming. Together, the team brings in around £10m of War Child’s £15–16m annual income.

You’ll report to the CEO and sit on the Senior Leadership Team, with shared responsibility for income generation, strategic planning, and organisational leadership. This is an opportunity to guide a strong team through its next phase of growth, support exciting developments already underway, and help shape the future of War Child’s fundraising.

We’re looking for a confident, strategic leader with experience at director level, or someone ready to step up from a senior head role in a complex organisation. You’ll bring a strong track record in high-value fundraising, with the credibility and judgement to operate at executive level and lead a diverse team through a period of delivery and growth.

As Interim Philanthropy and Partner Engagement Director, you will:

• Oversee and support a multi-disciplinary fundraising team spanning major donors, partnerships, gaming, principal giving, institutional funding, and events
• Lead strategic planning and budgeting across the function, ensuring strong performance, income growth and long-term value
• Maximise outcomes from Winter Wassail (December 2025), War Child’s flagship gala event with a £2m target and major stewardship opportunity
• Support and strengthen the corporate partnerships function, working closely with the Head of Partnerships to refine strategy and unlock potential
• Guide the development of the principal gifts function, with a new senior hire expected before the handover
• Shape next steps for gaming and digital partnerships, following an external review
• Take a strategic view of events-based philanthropy, identifying opportunities to evolve and diversify

Ideal skills and experience: 

• Significant experience in corporate partnerships, with the ability to develop strategy, support senior fundraisers and identify long-term opportunities
• Strong knowledge of high-value fundraising, including major donors, principal giving and events-led philanthropy
• Experience leading managers and senior fundraisers across multiple income streams, ideally within a similarly sized or complex organisation
• A strategic mindset, with hands-on involvement in planning, budgeting, forecasting and performance reporting
• A collaborative, emotionally intelligent leadership style that combines high challenge with high support
• The ability to influence across teams and departments; experience in international development is helpful but not essential
• The confidence to represent War Child with major donors, partners, and senior stakeholders, both internally and externally
• Willingness to take ownership of compliance areas, including GDPR, gambling regulation and trademark risk, with support from internal specialists

Benefits include: 

• Flexible working – War Child recognise the considerable benefits that flexible working can bring and are happy to discuss any possible flexible working options with employees from hiring. For most roles, the following types of flexibility are usually possible: flexible hours, an element of working from home, compressed hours.
• Annual leave – 28 days per year (full-time), plus UK bank holidays
• Pension – all eligible employees automatically enrolled into a Group Personal Pension Plan with a 5% employer contribution, with minimum employee contribution on a salary sacrifice basis
• Health & wellbeing – employees may take advantage of a healthcare cash plan and a range of wellbeing initiatives and training. In addition, all employees have access to free, confidential one-to-one wellbeing consultations with trained counsellors.
• Learning & development – dedicated to the investment in learning and continuing professional development for all our employees
• Range of flexible benefits such a Cycle to Work scheme and season ticket loans

Job Title: Duty IDVA

Hours: Part time, 28 hours per week

Salary: £26,000 - £28,000 pro-rata

Location: Hammersmith with some home working

Contract Type: Part-time-4 days per week on a fixed term contract until the end of March 2026

This post is open to female applicants only as this is deemed a genuine occupational requirement under Schedule 9, Paragraph 1 of the Equality Act 2010.

Advance is committed to equality and diversity and strongly encourages applications from women with diverse backgrounds, including those with disabilities, BAME and LBT communities.

Job Summary

The IDVA will work within a dynamic, fast paced, crisis intervention, advocacy and support service to ensure the voice of survivors informs every stage of the process.

They will advise women on criminal justice and civil remedies and related matters, support women to attend court where necessary, and coordinate the provision of multi-agency support.

The post holder will hold a reduced caseload of survivors and will also be required to work as part of Advance’s duty team based in Hammersmith which will involve completing intake assessments and providing crisis intervention support.

The post holder will have an excellent understanding of domestic abuse and its effects on women and children, and of best practice within the domestic abuse sector. As an experienced domestic abuse advocate who has worked with complex and multiple needs, the post holder will be skilled in risk management and safety planning, remaining calm in a crisis and in handling sensitive information on a daily basis.

Experience of direct work with female survivors of domestic abuse and of working within safeguarding procedures is essential for this post, as is the need to adopt and promote a strong partnership approach to service provision.

Key Responsibilities and Duties

• Ensure effective access to the service for women and girls and encourage their engagement with services through multi-agency working and service flexibility.
• To work within the team to conduct comprehensive assessments of needs and risk for women experiencing domestic abuse referred to our services.
• To carry out short- and longer-term risk management, safety planning and support; and identify and refer to services appropriate to their needs, including attendance at specialist/dedicated courts and MARAC as required.
• Develop and deliver safety and support plans that include delivery of high-quality face-to-face or telephone crisis intervention, information, advocacy, and support, in respect to criminal and civil remedies, housing, health, welfare rights, children’s legislation and other appropriate interventions.
• Advise women of their rights and options for seeking help and support from other agencies, making referrals and co-ordinating the provision of multi-agency support where necessary, and proactively advocate ensuring barriers to accessing support and protection are minimised.
• Proactively assess the needs and safety of any children that women using the service may have, ensure that any risks/needs identified are addressed directly with the woman, and take appropriate action to safeguard them.
• If a client is involved in the criminal justice system as a witness, provide them with information, advocacy, and support as cases progress through the criminal justice system, supporting them to apply for special measures and to give impact statements, to maximise their safety to help them give best evidence and accompanying women to court where necessary.
• Work with the management team and Data Insights Analyst to ensure all monitoring and evaluation for the project is accurate and fully maintained, keeping managers informed of any issues and successes.
• Ensure that agreed case recording and monitoring systems are kept up to date and secure, and write internal and external reports where required, including for safeguarding conferences, team meetings, managers and others as required.
• Use appropriate institutional advocacy to maximise positive outcomes and use the appropriate reporting mechanisms to highlight persistent or recurring issues that arise.
• Be responsible for your own personal learning development and keep up to date on research, relevant legislation, policy and practice, and other literature relevant to the role.
• Participate in supervision, training and meetings as required and assist in the development of services in line with agreed development plans.

How to apply

Please submit your up-to-date CV with a supporting statement. Please note that only applications made via the job advert on the Advance careers page, and those that include a cover letter will be considered.

What we can offer you - Employee Benefits

• A 35-hour working week
• An exceptional 30 days of paid holiday per year (pro rata for part time), PLUS public holidays on top (that's nearly 40 days paid holiday per year!)
• Additional days off to celebrate International Women’s Day, and for religious observance and moving home
• Perkbox - an employee discount platform where you can receive free rewards as well as take advantage of savings on clothes, groceries, travel, leisure and more
• Pension scheme
• Enhanced maternity/adoption provision
• Access to our Employee Assistance Programme
• Employee eye-care scheme
• Clinical supervision for front line staff and first line management roles
• Refer a Friend Scheme - £250 for each referral who passes probation
• Organisation wide away days
• Thorough induction and training
• Career development pathways

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Under the Equality Act 2010, we are required to make any reasonable adjustments. If you have a disability as defined under this act and/or have special needs, please email the Talent Acquisition Team via the Advance website and will aim to make the necessary arrangements to accommodate your needs.

Diversity, Inclusion and Equal Opportunities

We are committed to providing equality of opportunity and actively seek to recruit people from groups underrepresented in our current team. We have policies and processes in place to ensure that all employees are offered an equal opportunity in recruitment and selection, promotion, training, pay and benefits.

Safeguarding

Advance is committed to safeguarding and creating a culture of zero-tolerance of harm and expects all staff, including volunteers to share this commitment. We believe all individuals have the right to live their life free from violence and abuse and the right to feel and be safe. We have a suite of safeguarding policies, procedures and practice guidance, accessible to all staff, which promotes safeguarding and safer working practices across all our services and activities. When we recruit staff, we follow rigorous safer recruitment practices, this involves carrying out pre-employment checks including references, Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks, and identity checks. We ensure all staff undertake mandatory safeguarding training relevant to their role and responsibilities, to empower them to be competent and feel confident in recognising and responding appropriately to safeguarding issues and promote wellbeing

Job Title: Refuge Worker

Location: This is an onsite role, located within the London Borough of Hounslow, there may be a requirement to occasionally work in the London Borough of Hillingdon.
Salary: £17,314.27 per annum (Inclusive of London Weighting, which may not be applicable depending on your home location
Contract type: Part Time, Permanent 

Hours: 22.5 hours (days to be discussed)

Are you passionate about supporting women and children escaping domestic abuse? We are looking for a compassionate and dedicated Refuge Worker to join our team, providing vital support in a safe and secure environment for those in crisis. This is an opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of vulnerable individuals when they need it most.

As a Refuge Worker, you will be responsible for delivering practical and emotional support to residents, ensuring their safety and wellbeing while they rebuild their lives. Key duties include conducting risk assessments, safety planning, supporting access to benefits and housing, liaising with external agencies, and maintaining accurate case records. The ideal candidate will be empathetic, resilient, and highly organised, with experience of working in a support or advocacy role, ideally within the domestic abuse or safeguarding sector.

This is a rewarding role where your work has a direct impact every day. In return, we offer a supportive team environment, opportunities for training and development, and the chance to be part of a cause that truly matters.

Closing Date: 09:00am 13 August 2025

Iterview Dates: 18 and 19 August 2025

Refuge is the UK’s largest provider of specialist services, and we are proud to be a leader in our field and an employer of choice, with leading edge systems for supervision, quality management and development.

Refuge offers a variety of exciting opportunities to learn, develop and grow in your career. We recognise the value everyone brings to the organisation to achieve our aims and are dedicated to developing and rewarding our staff. More details of our benefits can be found in Job Information Pack.

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.

Location: Head Office/ Pan-London (Hybrid)

Salary: £31,531 - £33,696 per annum 

(Please note that applicants are usually appointed at the bottom of the relevant band)

Hours: 37.5 hours per week

Contract: Fixed Term Contract (Until 31st January 2027)

Closing Date: Monday 4th August 2025

Closing Time: 00:00am

Are you looking for a rewarding role working for an intersectional feminist organisation? If so, we have an incredible opportunity for you to join our team as a Housing First Multiple Disadvantage Outreach and Advocacy Worker at Solace Women's Aid.

We exist to end the harm done through gender-based violence. Our aim is to work to prevent violence and abuse, as well as providing services to meet the individual needs of survivors, particularly women and children. Our work is holistic and empowering, working alongside survivors to achieve independent lives, free from abuse.

Our core values reflect our history and were developed in consultation with staff and service users. Feminism and intersectionality are key to our work and we are committed to the principles of being survivor-led, trauma-informed, empowering, diverse, anti-racist and anti-discriminatory.

About the Service

Housing First supports the most entrenched, excluded and hard to reach service users. It focuses on finding permanent housing as quickly as possible and then addressing the issues that have contributed to an individual’s homelessness. The Ruby Project, is a specialist Housing First programme supporting women who have experienced VAWG and other difficulties such as, substance misuse, experience of the criminal jusice system, having children removed from their care, mental and physical health issues etc.

‘I want someone who I can do nice things with, too, not someone who just talks about what has gone wrong, or drugs and other things……I think about those negatives all the time anyway and I want a worker who I can feel positive with, happy’ (service user supported by another Housing First Project).

About the Role

Accountabilities

• Provide a high-quality case work support and information service to victims/survivors who have experienced domestic and/or sexual violence.
• Advocate on behalf of clients with external agencies where appropriate, including at the MARAC
• Provide Solution-focused casework interventions with women who have experienced VAWG and Multiple Disadvantage
• Provide emotional support using a trauma informed approach.
• Build and maintain supportive relationships with women.
• Contribute to the completion of outcomes reports and funding returns when required.
• Complete all documents when support work commences and keep up to date with any changing risks to or from the woman.
• Empower women to access benefits and services they need.
• Involve service users in the design, development, and delivery of the service.
• Engage with a wide range of professionals (some of whom may have very different approaches to problem solving) through a multi-agency approach, and advocate to agencies on behalf of the Project and its service users.
• Promote coordinated, joined-up service delivery for service users between violence against women services and drug and alcohol agencies, mental health, housing, health and legal agencies.
• Contribute to a service-wide communications plan and ensure that information about the service is widely available locally to other agencies and is also readily accessible to potential service users.
• Educate a wide range of agencies and stakeholders about the challenges faced by women experiencing multiple disadvantage.
• Contribute to monitoring and evaluation of the Project
• Be self-motivated to research processes and services in order to fully support and advocate for the women.
• Fully engage with the team and all support and team spaces offered, supporting colleagues with the difficulties they face and celebrating positive outcomes.
• Attend regular supervision sessions with your Line Manager
• Attend case review meetings and contribute to effective team communication.
• Ensure that creative and effective relationships are established with other teams and external organisations, particularly those that offer a service to our service users
• Ensure compliance with all legal and contractual reporting requirements in relation to service delivery
• Keep and maintain accurate and confidential records of all work undertaken.
• Contribute to service user feedback and voice in service delivery and service development.
• To ensure that individuals coming into contact with Solace are safeguarded and that appropriate safeguarding action is taken in respect of any concerns.

About You

Values, Behaviours and Competencies

• Committed to the purpose of Solace Women’s Aid, ensuring that the service user is at the heart of service delivery and development
• An intersectional feminist understanding of ‘Violence against Women and Girls’
• Committed to fostering innovation and continuous improvement in working practice
• Flexible and open to new challenges, ideas and experiences, and able to be self-reflective
• Committed to understanding diversity and ensuring anti-discriminatory practice is applied in all forms of our work
• Non-judgemental with a commitment to self-care within the team
• Collaborative, building relationships with internal and external partners.

Knowledge, skills and experience

• Some experience in providing emotional and/or practical support to women who have experienced VAWG, homelessness or multiple disadvantages.
• Knowledge of the particular needs of women from diverse communities and the barriers to accessing support faced by women from a global majority background.
• Experience of working in partnerships with other agencies e.g. signposting, making referrals, supporting with appointments
• An understanding of the impact of trauma on women experiencing abuse
• Awareness of the intersection between severe and multiple disadvantages and VAWG, and an understanding of how the intersection of these issues can make it difficult for people to engage with support.
• A good knowledge of safeguarding practice and procedures
• Ability to provide strengths-based support.
• A resilient and assertive approach to reaching out to and building trust and positive relationships with women who have complex/multiple needs and who may present as reluctant to engage and/or may be presenting in crisis.
• Excellent organisational, ICT, written and verbal communication skills.
• Thorough knowledge and understanding of current safeguarding legislation, frameworks and procedures and practical application.

We understand that you may not have all the knowledge, experience, and skills mentioned in the Job Profile Document. However, your interpersonal skills, passion to have a positive impact, commitment to our purpose, and ability to learn quickly and collaborate effectively will be equally important.

What we can offer you

We provide a comprehensive benefits package to all our employees, including:

• Flexible working
• Focus on learning and development (internal career progression and training)
• Generous holiday entitlement
• Employer pension contribution
• Family-friendly leave and enhanced maternity pay
• Access to Inclusion Networks
• Daily clinical debriefing
• Employee Assistance Programme providing free 24/7 support and advice
• Employee Benefits Platform offering staff discounts, benefits and savings
• Flow & Restore yoga classes
• Meditation sessions
• Cycle to Work Scheme

How to apply

When applying for this role, kindly highlight in your Supporting Statement how your values, knowledge, transferrable skills, and experience align with each point within the following sections of the Job Profile Document:

• Values, Behaviours & Competencies
• Knowledge, Experience and Skills

Solace Women's Aid values diversity, promotes equity, and challenges discrimination. We encourage and welcome applications from candidates of diverse cultures, abilities, perspectives, and lived experiences. We have policies and processes in place to ensure that all employees are offered an equal opportunity in recruitment and selection, promotion, training, pay, and benefits. Our Inclusion Networks support staff with protected characteristics and offer inclusive spaces to connect.

We are a Disability Confident Employer and committed to an inclusive and accessible recruitment process. We anticipate and provide reasonable adjustments as needed and support employees who acquire a disability or long-term health condition, enabling them to stay in work.

This service is run by women for women and is therefore restricted to female applicants under the Equality Act 2010, Schedule 9, and Part 1. Section 7(2) e of the Sex Discrimination Act 1975 apply. The post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act.

As part of safer recruitment practices, we carry out pre-employment checks including references, Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) and right to work in the UK checks.

No agencies.

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.