Community and access learning manager jobs

Join London Legal Support Trust and use your communications skills to champion access to justice. Create engaging content, manage our website and social channels, and promote our programmes and fundraising events. We are looking for an organised, creative communicator with strong writing, digital and content management skills. This permanent, full-time hybrid role is based in Holborn and offers flexible working, generous leave and development opportunities.

Head of Belonging and Support
Create Connection, Belonging and Opportunity for Students. 

At the heart of every great student experience is a sense of belonging - and we're looking for a leader who can help create it.

This is an exciting opportunity to shape how students connect, participate and access support across Exeter Students' Guild As our Head of Belonging and Support, you will lead the systems, services and communities that help students build confidence, develop relationships and make the most of their university experience. You'll oversee student-led activity, communities, volunteering and independent advice services, ensuring they are accessible, inclusive and designed around student needs. As a member of the Senior Leadership Team, you'll play a pivotal role in creating opportunities for all students to engage, thrive and progress into leadership. If you're a strategic leader who is passionate about inclusion, empowerment and creating meaningful student experiences, we'd love to hear from you.

The Role

Role: Head of Belonging and Support
Hours: 35 hours per week (worked flexibly)
Salary: Grade E £52,055.01 - £55,225.18
Contract: Full Time Fixed Term for 2 years
Location: Exeter/Hybrid

Who are we?

Exeter Students’ Guild is the University of Exeter’s students’ union, led by students for students. We’re an independent charity, offering a wide range of opportunities, services and support to help students get the most out of their unique journeys at university. This includes everything from social activities to making sure things are going well on their academic course. We have over 300 student groups and all of our work is led by, and in the best interest of our members.

The Guild is a truly rewarding place to work. Our talented and passionate staff make a real difference to the lives of students every single day, working together to achieve the Guild’s purpose: to shape an excellent student experience for all students at Exeter by empowering them to take their place in the world and make a positive difference. We are looking for people who recognise that the Guild is student-led and share a genuine passion for student engagement and empowerment. If you share a commitment to our values and want to be part of a radically inclusive organisation with a seriously exciting future ahead, we can’t wait to hear from you.

What will you bring?

• You'll have significant experience leading participation, engagement, student support, or community-focused services at a strategic level.
• You'll be able to design and improve systems that make it easy for people to engage, access support and achieve their goals.
• You’ll have a strong understanding of inclusion, belonging and the barriers that can prevent people from participating fully.
• You’ll be confident leading complex services involving safeguarding, risk management and stakeholder partnerships.
• You’ll know how to build strong relationships, influence a range of stakeholders and work collaboratively to achieve shared outcomes.
• You’ll be an empowering leader who develops people through coaching, support and inclusive leadership.
• You'll share our commitment to student empowerment, equitable access and creating opportunities for all students to thrive.

We offer lots of great benefits including enhanced family pay, at least 6-weeks’ holiday, sustainable travel incentives, access to exclusive discounts and perks and a free confidential advice service. We’re committed to helping you achieve a healthy balance between your work and home life through a real commitment to flexible and hybrid working. We also provide access to great development opportunities, including a personal development budget for you to spend on sharpening your skills. We’ll also help you to gain valuable experience, ensuring that you have opportunities to grow your career both here at the Guild and beyond.

Inclusion is central to the Guild. We approach our work collaboratively, empower our people and celebrate our uniqueness. If you’re driven to empower others and achieve great things, you’ll fit right in. Our people are proud of who they are and value each other’s differences, and we are committed to creating a diverse community that is radically inclusive of race, gender, age, religion, identity and experience.

To view the role profile and to find out more about us and how we support our students LOVE Exeter, please visit our website.

For general enquiries, please contact us using the details located on our webiste. 

How to Apply?

NOTE: To apply for this position, you will need to submit your application via our recruitment portal located on our website. 

Application Timeline

• Closing Date: 9am 24 August
• Shortlisting: 25 – 27 August
• Assessment Day: 9-10 September

Please submit your application via our recruitment portal. You will need to provide an up-to-date copy of your CV, and answer the following questions related to the person specification for the role:

• Describe a significant system or service redesign you have led. What changes did you make, what informed your approach, and what was the impact?
• Describe a situation where you had to balance autonomy, empowerment or participation with safety, compliance or organisational risk. What tensions did you need to navigate, how did you approach the challenge, and what impact did your decision have?
• Tell us about a time when you identified and addressed barriers that were preventing people from engaging, participating or accessing opportunities. How did you identify the issue, what action did you take, and what was the impact?

Please note:

• We will contact you to let you know the outcome of your application. This can sometimes take a few days.
• You must be able to provide proof of your right to work in the UK before starting work with us. We are not currently able to sponsor employees requiring a visa.
• Applications received after the above closing date will not be considered.

A message from your new Manager, Alison Chambers, Chief Executive

At the Guild, we know that belonging doesn't happen by accident. It takes intentional design, inclusive communities and effective support systems to help students feel that they have a place where they can be themselves and succeed.

As Head of Belonging and Support, you'll lead that work at a strategic level, shaping how students connect, participate and access support throughout their time at Exeter. You'll join a talented and ambitious team that cares deeply about students and isn't afraid to think differently. If you're a collaborative leader who enjoys creating opportunities for others and turning big ideas into meaningful impact, I would love to hear from you!If you would like an informal chat about this role please get in touch.

Hours: Full-time

Pay: £83,840 - £88,490 GBP gross per annum (dependent on experience)

Duration: Permanent

Location: Manchester, UK (hybrid working available), with an expectation of up to 25% international travel to support UK-Med's international programmes, governance and humanitarian operations. The postholder must be deployable and able to travel internationally at short notice where operationally required)

Are you an exceptional finance leader ready to shape the future of a global humanitarian organisation?

UK-Med is a frontline medical aid charity, born of the NHS and committed for over 30 years to ensuring that everyone can access the healthcare they need when crises and disasters strike. We deploy emergency medical teams and health specialists worldwide, supporting communities affected by conflict, disease outbreaks and natural disasters, whilst strengthening local health systems and preparedness.

Reporting directly to the CEO and serving as a member of the Senior Management Team, the Director of Finance will provide strategic leadership across UK-Med's financial stewardship, sustainability, governance and organisational performance. As the organisation's principal financial adviser to the CEO, Board of Trustees and Board Committees, you will help shape UK-Med's long-term strategy and ensure the organisation remains financially resilient and well positioned to deliver its humanitarian mission.

Working closely with the Associate Director of Finance and colleagues across the organisation, you will lead the finance function and support delivery of UK-Med's Five-Year Strategy by strengthening financial governance, resilience and organisational sustainability across a complex, multi-country organisation.

You will be a fully qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA, CIPFA or equivalent) with substantial experience providing strategic financial leadership at executive level within a complex organisation. You will have a proven track record of advising CEOs, Boards and Audit & Risk Committees, leading organisational change and financial transformation, and overseeing complex budgets, diverse funding streams and robust financial governance. Experience within the humanitarian, international development, healthcare or wider charity sectors is essential, with knowledge of institutional donor funding and grant compliance highly desirable.

This is a unique opportunity to influence the strategic direction of one of the UK's leading humanitarian organisations, helping ensure UK-Med remains financially resilient and ready to respond wherever communities need us most.

Can you help build a world prepared to help?

How to apply

We strongly recommend that you read theCandidate Information Pack - Director of Finance - August 2026before applying for this role.

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

Please apply below, as soon as possible and no later than Monday 31st of August 2026.

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

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

About Hope for the Young

Hope for the Young removes the obstacles to young refugees and asylum-seekers’ education and wellbeing through mentoring, advocacy, and financial support.

The Mentoring Programme supports young refugees and asylum-seekers aged 16-25 by matching them with trained volunteer mentors who provide weekly one-to-one support tailored to the young people's needs. Mentors can help with teaching English, enrolment advice, study skills, confidence and trust building, and can provide emotional and practical support that will help the young people access new services, adapt and settle into their communities.

The Grants and Advocacy Programme supports young people who, due to their immigration status, have no access to student finance or other financial support to enable them to go to college or university. We provide small grants to pay for tuition fees, living allowances and travel expenses, alongside tailored advocacy support to enable young refugees and asylum-seekers to access education in the UK.

About this role

We are recruiting both a full-time and part-time Mentoring Programme Coordinator to manage our high-quality Mentoring Programme that supports young people seeking safety in the UK to achieve goals tailored to their needs. The programme aims to help them access education, improve their English, increase independence skills, build confidence, access appropriate services, reduce isolation, and adapt to life in the UK.

We are looking for an outstanding candidate who is passionate about supporting young people seeking sanctuary to adapt to life in the UK and reach their full potential. You will have volunteer management experience and be enthusiastic about the impact they can have on those in need. You will also have a background in, or strong knowledge of, the needs and common challenges of young refugees and asylum seekers.

You will be responsible for building and maintaining strong partnerships with refugee support organisations, colleges and social services to maintain steady referrals to the programme. You will be required to assess young people’s needs and carefully match them with mentors with the relevant skills and experience. You will simultaneously recruit, train and support volunteers to provide weekly one-to-one support to their mentees and carefully monitor the progress of each relationship. Further to this, you will be responsible for responding to safeguarding concerns and providing casework support for young people when issues arise that are beyond the remit or capacity of the mentor. You will also need to maintain strong professional boundaries.

You will also be required to evaluate and monitor the progress of your mentoring relationships, keeping databases up to date and maintaining accurate reporting. Due to the nature of the programme, flexibility will be key to success and you will be required to travel across London and attend meetings in the early evenings (you can take this time back according to our Time Off In Lieu Policy). We offer a flexible and hybrid working environment, however you will be expected to come to our office in Brixton for a minimum of 1 day per week (on a Wednesday, which is our office team day).

You will also be part of an out-of-hours safeguarding rota, approximately once every six weeks, with time given back in lieu.

You will be one of 8 members of staff working alongside a team of dedicated volunteers. Being part of a small team, you will get the opportunity to contribute ideas and help to shape Hope for the Young as we grow and support more young people than ever before.

Main duties and responsibilities

Volunteer Management and Support

1. To co-ordinate a team of volunteer mentors who will provide targeted practical, educational and emotional support to young refugees and asylum seekers on a weekly basis.

2. To ensure the volunteer mentors support young people to access services and develop skills which lead to increased levels of education and employment and support them in making choices which will help them improve their physical, psychological and social well-being.

3. To facilitate a shared culture of co-operation and joint learning.

4. To increase retention of volunteers by ensuring all mentors feel welcome, valued and part of Hope for the Young.

5. To ensure safeguarding and child protection processes are in place and adhered to at all times, as well as maintaining professional boundaries.

6. To keep mentors and mentees updated regularly with relevant events and opportunities to support their learning and personal development.

Recruitment, Training and Matching

7. To develop relationships with potential sources of volunteer mentors and post role descriptions on various platforms to expand the volunteer base.

8. To recruit a diverse range of volunteer mentors, including those with lived experience. This will include reviewing applications; interviewing candidates; taking up references; processing DBS checks; and inducting and training volunteer mentors into their role.

9. To deliver further training to volunteer mentors, with the support of external organisations, which will support them to deliver effective mentoring sessions to their mentees.

Outreach and Partnerships

10.  To work with refugee community organisations and statutory agencies to create referral and access pathways into and out of the mentoring programme, and to promote the programme as widely as possible.

11.  To ensure that partners are kept up to date with information about the mentoring programme and are supported to make referrals on an ongoing basis.

12.  To report back to referral organisations to highlight progress achieved within the mentoring relationships, as well as any challenges.

13.  To represent Hope for the Young at external networking meetings.

Youth Assessments and Support

14.  To carry out thorough assessments of vulnerable young people referred to Hope for the Young, to understand their support needs in order to provide appropriate support.

15.  To build a relationship of trust with the young people so that they can inform you of any problems arising within their mentoring sessions, and so that you can effectively track their progress.

16.  To provide ad-hoc casework support to young people when issues arise that are beyond the remit or capacity of their mentor; signposting and referring on to other organisations for additional support when necessary.

17.  To keep in contact with young people throughout their mentoring to ensure they are being supported effectively and are happy with their mentoring sessions.

Monitoring and Evaluation

18.  To ensure Salesforce records are up to date and have accurate information, including updating case notes and safeguarding concerns in a timely manner.

19.  To ensure mentors complete session reports after every meeting, and to carry out 3-week, 3-month and 6-month reviews with mentors and mentees.

20.  To monitor and evaluate the service, including gathering and uploading data from evaluation forms and surveys.

21.  To attend regular supervisory sessions with your line manager and produce verbal/written reports on the programme as appropriate.

Other Duties

22.  To help organise and facilitate Hope for the Young’s annual party and quarterly social events to celebrate young people’s achievements and create a sense of community within Hope for the Young.

23.  To process all expenses, invoices and receipts in line with financial management systems and adhere to budgets in line with funding requirements.

24.  To act at all times in compliance with all policies and procedures of HftY, and ensure filing and storage systems are managed in line with GDPR.

25.  To undertake training relevant to the job in order to keep up to date with issues relevant to providing a good service for refugee and asylum-seeking young people.

26.  To undertake any other appropriate duties relevant to the post.

This job description will be reviewed on a regular basis to respond to any changing needs of the post.

Benefits

• 25 days' annual leave (pro rata), excluding bank holidays, plus additional time off over the Christmas period

• Flexible/hybrid working arrangements

• Access to an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) – a confidential counselling/support helpline

• Regular development opportunities to support professional development

• Quarterly wellbeing afternoons – group outings or activities to relax and unwind

Further Information

• You must have the right to work in the UK to apply for this job.

• You must adhere to Hope for the Young’s Equal Opportunities Policy at all times.

• Your employment at Hope for the Young is subject to two satisfactory references and an Enhanced DBS check.

• There is a 3-month probation period for this role

To Apply

We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds, particularly those with lived experience of forced migration. If you think you have the skills and experience to be our new Mentoring Programme Coordinator, we would love to hear from you.

We understand that AI can be a helpful tool when writing job applications. However, our advice is to not over-rely on AI and ensure your application is a true reflection of you and your voice. We can often tell when AI has been over-relied on and, in many cases, this is not giving applicants the best chance of success.

Here are all the details to apply:

• In the application form, please demonstrate how you meet the person specification for this post and explain why you would like to work for Hope for the Young.

• Please also complete our equal opportunities form which will appear once you have submitted your application.

• The deadline to apply is 8am on Tuesday 25th August

• Interviews will be held on 2nd, 3rd and 4th September

JOB OPPORTUNITY

Sessional Farm Education Assistant

Based at Oasis City Farm - Southampton Green Lane, Southampton SO16 9FQ

Hours: Flexible

Contract: Sessional

Hourly Rate: £12.73 per hour

Oasis City Farm – Southampton is a community focused registered charity. We provide a range of supportive, wellbeing boosting, and nature-based activities for our communities, which include young people and adult learners with disabilities and general public

We are looking for sessional farm assistants who will support the Farm team in realising the vision of the farm by supporting the delivery of a variety of activities, including:

 · To deliver youth and children’s education sessions and activities on the farm, supporting young people, to help care for the animals, maintain the farm and garden and learn in the outdoors.

· To deliver birthday parties on weekends to groups of up to 30,

· To deliver animal experiences, giving families the opportunity to meet and greet our rescued and rehomed animals

· To support our adult day service with caring for our animals

· To support with the animal cleaning and feeding rota, alongside groups or individuals.

· To support with the running of our café, which runs on the weekends. Working alongside our youth volunteers to serve refreshments and food.

The successful applicant will need to demonstrate:

· Relevant qualifications or experience in animal management/public sector

· Relevant qualifications or experience in youth work, teaching, or community based projects

· The flexibility to work across the week, including some weekends.

· Excellent verbal communication skills

· Proven ability to work alongside others in projects that work with the public.

· Punctuality, reliability, and honesty.

· Ability to always evidence the Oasis ethos and values.

This is a unique opportunity for a friendly, hardworking and driven individual, who is looking to make a difference in a growing and community focused field of work. In return we offer:

· Flexible working practices which encourage innovation and fresh ideas.

· A supportive network and friendly team in a motivating working environment.

If you are interested, please send your CV and Supporting Statement.  In your supporting statement please address these questions:

1. Expand on your CV to explain how your skills and experience meets the Job Description.  Give specific examples.

2. What personal attributes does a person need to do well in this role? 

3. How do you see the Oasis ethos and 9 Habits being displayed in this role?

Applications will be looked at on a rolling basis with an invite to interview and a trial session.

 We actively encourage applications from people of all ethnic backgrounds and minority and underrepresented groups. If you require any assistance to overcome potential barriers, please let us know. 

Applicants must be able to prove their right to work in the UK. Oasis is committed to making a difference to the lives of the communities it works in, and as such you must show a willingness to demonstrate commitment to the values and behaviours which flow from the Oasis ethos.  We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. We expect all staff to share this commitment and to undergo appropriate checks, including enhanced DBS checks.

Oasis supports Equal Opportunities.  Registered Charity No. 1163889

The Gloucestershire Infrastructure Collaborative is seeking an experienced freelance Convenor to support an exciting partnership of nine Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) organisations working together to strengthen the sector's role within Gloucestershire's health and wellbeing system.

This is a unique opportunity for an independent facilitator, connector and systems thinker who enjoys working in complexity across organisational boundaries, to build trusted relationships, strengthen collective leadership and help partnerships turn ambition into meaningful action.  The Convenor will build trust, psychological safety and shared purpose, helping the group develop collective leadership, navigate complexity, challenge and learning together.

The role is offered on a freelance basis until March 2028, with a fee of £25,000 inclusive of VAT available. We anticipate the work taking 2-3 days p.c.m. worked flexibly. A travel and expenses budget of up to £3,000 per annum has been allocated.

The Alex Project is Spectra's specialist sex worker support service. We provide outreach, advocacy, online engagement, community development and research activity with sex workers across London.

As our team continues to grow, we are looking for a compassionate, strategic and community-minded leader to join Spectra's Senior Management Team as our new Head of Sex Worker Support Services.

This is an exciting opportunity to shape and develop a well-established service that combines frontline support, community engagement, partnership working and research. You'll work alongside a committed team of staff, volunteers, partners and community members to ensure that sex workers across London can access high-quality, accessible and non-judgemental support.

About the role

The Head of Sex Worker Support Services provides strategic leadership for the Alex Project and is responsible for the overall direction and development of the department.

The role includes:

• Leading and supporting a multidisciplinary team delivering outreach, advocacy, online engagement, research and community development activities.
• Developing partnerships with statutory, voluntary and community organisations across London.
• Supporting staff with complex casework, safeguarding and service development.
• Working with colleagues to secure funding and support sustainable growth.
• Overseeing service monitoring, reporting, quality assurance and learning.
• Supporting meaningful community participation and ethically governed research activity.
• Contributing to Spectra's wider organisational leadership as a member of the Senior Management Team.

About you

We're looking for someone who combines strong leadership skills with a commitment to the rights, wellbeing and self-determination of sex workers.

You will have:

• Experience of leading staff, volunteers or services within the voluntary, health or community sector.
• Experience of advice, advocacy, health or education programmes.
• Excellent partnership-building and communication skills.
• A strong understanding of the diversity of sex worker communities and the barriers many people face when accessing support.
• Knowledge of safeguarding, confidentiality and good record keeping.
• A commitment to anti-oppressive, community-led ways of working.

We particularly encourage applications from people with current or previous lived experience of sex work or transactional sex, and from people with experience of peer-led community support.

About Spectra

Spectra is a health and wellbeing organisation with a strong LGBTQ+ heritage. We work with people from marginalised communities across London, including LGBTQ+ communities, sex workers, young people, and people living with or affected by HIV.

Our values are grounded in lived experience and community participation. We aim to be inclusive, accessible, anti-oppressive, supportive, emotionally aware and community-driven in everything we do.

We’re currently recruiting one full-time and one part-time Charity Administrator. The post is office based and offers a great opportunity for a varied role in a forward-facing young people’s mental health charity. The job description in this pack provides a generic overview of the Administrator role. Administrators are based centrally with other support staff. Our Administrators are a vital and valued part of our team supporting and enabling the work of our mental health practitioners and the work of the Charity overall. Administrators report directly to the Service Administration Manager and will work collaboratively within a team of administrators covering different services as needs arise. 

The post holder will be the predominant point of contact for young people and professionals contacting the services and hence a sensitive and professional telephone manner will be of key importance. However, the post holder will NOT be acting as a mental health practitioner and will be expected to maintain clear boundaries between their role and that of the mental health practitioners.

Please read the full Job Description and Person Specification for the Charity Administrator role, attached to the advert, and fill in the application to be considered. 

We understand some candidates may want to use AI tools when applying. Whilst we welcome the use of technology to support clear communication and structure, we also want to learn more about the authentic you, so please ensure that your application reflects your own skills, knowledge and experiences wherever possible. In the spirit of transparency - we also ask that you indicate if you have used AI in your application. 

Decisions about who to invite for interview will be based on how well someone demonstrates that they meet the person specification for the specific post, so please make sure you complete the application form fully and accurately, giving evidence of how you meet each point in the Person Specification and indicating your relevant knowledge, skills and experience. Please note that CVs will not be considered. 

Email applicants will receive a confirmation of receipt and shortlisted candidates will be contacted as soon as possible to arrange interviews. 

Job Title:Freelance Facilitator

Reporting to: Senior Programme Lead

Location:Staffordshire, Nottinghamshire and the North East (particularly Newcastle and Sunderland)

Salary:£120 per day (including travel) plus £25 to attend meetings with a school (if required) and £50 for attending half day training or £100 for full day training. Expenses can also be claimed for programme snacks and travel to training.

One-year contracts might also be available.

Power2 is a fast growing and energetic children and young people’s charity that has supported 30,000 young people since 2001.  We are based in the North West of England and London and deliver early-intervention asset-based programmes to children and young people who have mental wellbeing challenges and are disengaged from school and more widely. We are well-known for our accredited Teens and Toddlers programme.

We believe every child and young person deserves the opportunity to thrive, even when things get tougher. We support young people to get the most out of their education by helping them to improve their mental health and wellbeing and develop their skills. We inspire young people who are at significant risk of school exclusion to re-engage and fulfil their potential at school, at work and in life.

We are seeking Freelance Programme Facilitators to join a pool to deliver our programmes in Staffordshire, Nottinghamshire and the North East. Supported by our Programme Development Manager with training and resources you will help children and young people who are experiencing vulnerabilities and disadvantages improve their wellbeing, re-engage with school and learning, build networks and access opportunities.

Programme Facilitators work with significant autonomy and authority. They must embrace responsibility and are accountable for their work. They work collaboratively alongside young people, operating as a mentor as they empower young people to develop self-esteem, become resilient and engage with school and their own future. They give each young person the time, the confidence and skills to engage with their education.

You will work in schools and community settings to support young people and their families to ensure that at-risk children and young people make the most of their potential and improve their life chances. Work will include 1:1 support and delivery of Power2’s core programmes.

If you are interested in applying for this position, please submit a CV and expression of interest. Your expression of interest should be no longer than two pages of A4 and must cover:

· Where you are based

· How your skills and experience match the role

· Two references

· Your DBS status

The successful applicants will be required to undergo an enhanced DBS check (child workforce) and provide details of two referees.

We’re an award-winning charity running local learning centres in the heart of the communities where the young people we support live. Our centres provide a high-impact education programme which includes practical learning support, pastoral care, and motivational and confidence-building activities for young people aged 7-18. Our aim is to enable students from the least advantaged neighbourhoods to realise their ambitions and achieve their wonderful potential.

As the UK’s leading university access organisation, our staff team is helping over 60,000 young people each year at its 46 learning centres and extension projects across England and Scotland, and we plan to scale-up our provision to 50 centres over the coming years.

We are looking for a high-calibre candidate who will enjoy working each day with young people and who will thrive in a frontline, community-based, fast-paced and rewarding role. You will be taking up a permanent role as Centre Leader at our IntoUniversity centre in East Ham. You will have responsibility for running your IntoUniversity centre, including managing your team, planning and delivering the programme, liaising with external stakeholders and meeting IntoUniversity’s targets for delivery.

A substantial element of this role is delivering our education programme to children and young people aged 7-18, so you will need to have a genuine passion and enthusiasm for working with young people, including leading a class of 30 from the front, working with small teams of children and providing one-to-one support.

The role at a glance 

Contract

Full-time, permanent 

Start date

As soon as possible as agreed with sucessful canididate 

Working hours

Monday and Thursday: 9:30am – 6:00pm
Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday: 9am – 5:30pm

(Some additional weekend & unsocial hours will be required)

Salary

£37,300 per annum

Location

IntoUniversity East Ham

Application deadline

9am Monday 7th September 2026

Interview Day (in-person)

Monday 14th September 2026

Please ensure that you are available on these dates

Are you passionate about making a difference in people's lives? Do you thrive in a dynamic, fast-paced environment? Are you ready to take on a role that impacts your community? We are currently seeking an enthusiastic and dedicated Independent Advocate to join our vibrant team in the bustling heart of Birmingham.

As an Independent Advocate, you will provide crucial support to vulnerable adults facing significant health and social care challenges. You will deliver a range of statutory advocacy services including Independent Mental Capacity Advocacy (IMCA), Independent Mental Health Advocacy (IMHA) and Care Act Advocacy. Your role involves delivering persuasive verbal and written representations on behalf of clients, collaborating with public and voluntary organisations, and taking directed actions to address client issues. This role demands flexibility, excellent communication, and the ability to handle sensitive information confidently.

Hours of Work: Part-Time: 22.2 hours.

Location: Home based with travel around the Birmingham area.
(Applicants must live within the area; have a full driver’s licence and access to their own transport)

Salary: Starting Salary of £25,877.80 per annum (pro-rated to £15,526.88)

Contract type: Permanent

Independent Advocate Requirements:

Strong communication and time management skills to successfully work remotely.
Excellent IT skills, including the use of Microsoft Outlook, Word, and Excel, and the ability to learn software packages such as client management databases.
Attention to detail to ensure accurate recording of records and reporting to meet tight deadlines.

Desirable:

Previous experience in advocacy, information and advice, or a similar role within health, social care, or the voluntary sector.
Demonstrable experience working with vulnerable adults.
Working knowledge of public and voluntary organisations.

Benefits:

25 days annual leave + Bank holiday (Rising to 30 days after 5 years’ service) with the option to buy or sell up to 5 days leave + your birthday off as an additional holiday day after 1 years’ service!
Discretionary shutdown days at Christmas with up to 4 additional days leave.
1 Community Leave Day per annum.
Cash Wellbeing Healthcare Plan which covers Optical/dental/alternative therapy and more!
Auto enrolment Pension plan
Death in service cover.
Bike to work scheme.

Meet the Organisation: Who We Are and What We Do

At POhWER, we are committed to empowering individuals and enabling their voices to be heard. We provide advocacy and information services to support people in making effective decisions about their health and social care. Our team is dedicated to listening, exploring options, and taking action to meet our clients' best interests.

Think you are the perfect fit for this Independent Advocate role? Don't wait, click apply now!

Closing Date: 24th August 2026 (We reserve the right to close this vacancy early)

Interview Date: TBC

An Enhanced DBS check and National Offender Management Service vetting will be conducted for this position.

We're proud to support our colleagues from the armed forces signing the Armed Forces Covenant in August 2024.

Successful applicants will need to obtain business insurance for their own vehicle.

POhWER is committed to equality, diversity, and inclusion. We encourage applications from all backgrounds, cultures, and abilities, and particularly welcome candidates from groups currently underrepresented in our workforce. Our goal is to foster an inclusive environment where everyone feels valued and empowered to contribute. This includes, but is not limited to, people with disabilities, women, men, Black, Asian and other racially minoritised people, LGBTQ+ who are currently under-represented in our workforce.

To help embed inclusion for all, from day one, we offer a range of family friendly, inclusive employment policies, flexible working arrangements and employee networks to support people from different backgrounds.

POhWER is an equal opportunities employer, holder of the Investors in People Silver award, and a member of the MINDFUL EMPLOYER scheme. We are a level 2 Disability confidence scheme employer, and disabled applicants who meet all the essential criteria will be guaranteed an interview.

Could you help transform the way our charity engages with unpaid carers? As the leading Essex charity supporting carers it is vital that what we do is rooted in their voice and lived experience.

We have an exciting opportunity for a Carer Engagement Lead to join our team, in a new role working directly with the CEO to ensure that carers lived experience is heard and understood and that carers, including young carers across Essex, have opportunities to participate and contribute. This is a rewarding and varied role, combining direct engagement with carers alongside analysing data and communicating evidence of need to help effect real and positive change.

You will be an engaging communicator with active listening skills and the ability to interpret and apply lived experience to strategic and policy decisions and planning.  You will ideally have personal experience of unpaid caring responsibilities and may have previously facilitated service user involvement. You'll be passionate about harnessing the voice of local carers to secure improved outcomes for carers of all ages across Essex.

Action for Family Carers is a thriving charity which for over 35 years has been providing support for Adult Carers and Young Carers – people with unpaid caring responsibilities for others. We are a Carers Trust Network Partner and hold the Excellence for Carers quality mark. We provide support including information, coaching, counselling, peer support, respite care, and Young Carer clubs across Essex, working within schools, GP practices and a variety of community settings.

Your responsibilities will include:

       Coordinating participation opportunities that enable adult and young carers to influence local, regional and national policy decisions and help achieve positive change

       Harnessing and amplifying local carer voice and experience and engaging carers in service planning, delivery and review

       Identifying themes and trends and ensuring these are communicated to key stakeholders

       Monitoring and reporting on outcomes.

       You will need to be:

       An excellent communicator with empathy and active listening skills.

       Proactive, highly organised and equally at home analysing data or producing reports as in engaging with carers and senior local decision makers

       Confident in the use of IT including Microsoft 365 and CRMs (databases).

       Passionate about improving outcomes for local carers.

       A driver with access to a vehicle and a willingness to travel across Essex.

We offer:

       Full induction and relevant training

       Contributory pension scheme

       24-hour Confidential Staff Helpline

       An opportunity to help vulnerable families in the local community

    A chance to be part of a supportive and friendly team

Job Title: Youth Employability Service Team Leader

Location:  CXKHastings Base

Salary: £32,019 - £34,661  depending on experience

Hours:  37 hours per week, Full Time

Contract: Permanent

Reports to: Youth Employability ServicesArea Manager

About CXK

CXK empowers people to succeed in employment, education and training. The charity strives for a fairer society where everyone can grow and realise their potential. “The CXK Way” embodies the following core values:

· Ethical – We work with professionalism, honesty and integrity

· Passionate – We reach out enthusiastically to all who need out support

· Innovative – We inspire, enhance and improve

· Collaborative – We engage, support and share with others

You can click here to learn more about us.

The Youth Employability Service

CXK delivers the Youth Employability Service (YES) across East Sussex, commissioned by East Sussex County Council. We offer information, advice, support and guidance to young people in academic years 12 and 13 who are not in education, employment or training (NEET), helping them to explore their options, plan and then take their next steps. We also work with schools supporting young people in year 11 who are at risk of becoming NEET. Liaising with a range of other services, YES is focussed on supporting young people to achieve their potential.

The Team

The YES team support young people from across the county, seeing them at CXK bases, partner venues or in community settings. The team assess and action plan with young people referred to the service, supporting them to understand their options and take steps toward achieving their goals around education, training and /or employment. Working with a wide range of young people, the team approach is focused, creative and persistent, building on young peoples’ confidence and motivation alongside their skills and personal growth.

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced and motivated YES Team Leader to support the delivery of a high-performing Youth Employability Service across East Sussex. You will provide line management and case management support to a team of advisers, ensuring young people achieve positive outcomes in employment, education and training while maintaining high standards of quality and performance.

Working closely with the Area Manager, you will use performance data and service metrics to monitor delivery, identify areas for improvement and contribute to service planning. You will support quality assurance activities including audits, observations and continuous improvement initiatives.

You will oversee referral allocation and caseload management, ensuring service standards and contractual requirements are met. A key part of the role involves managing the service database to support the tracking of young people across East Sussex, working closely with the East Sussex County Council Data Team to ensure data accuracy, compliance and effective reporting

The role also requires effective partnership working, representing YES and CXK at stakeholder meetings, developing positive relationships with external agencies and promoting the needs of young people who are NEET or at risk of becoming NEET. You will support staff with safeguarding, risk management and professional development, while championing youth participation and ensuring young people's voices are heard within the organisation.

About You

This is an excellent opportunity for a confident leader with experience of managing staff within a service supporting young people. You will be committed to achieving positive outcomes for young people, have strong communication and relationship-building skills, and be able to effectively use data to drive service performance and improvement.

Minimum Criteria

• Demonstrable experience of successfully managing teams and monitoring individual targets.
• Experience of developing positive professional relationships with colleagues and external stakeholders.
• Experience of managing performance through the effective use of data and performance information.
• Experience of supporting staff in relation to safeguarding and risk management issues.
• Strong communication and organisational skills.  

Essential Criteria

• Maths and English GCSE Grade C/4 or above (or equivalent).
• Experienced in the use of Microsoft Office products, including Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Teams.
• Ability to use initiative, make decisions and manage competing priorities
• Commitment to professional development and undertaking relevant training.
• Full UK driving licence, access to a vehicle and willingness to travel as required.
• Availability for occasional evening and weekend work.

Desirable Criteria

• Level 3 IAG qualification (or relevant experience) and willingness to work towards further qualifications.
• Knowledge of services supporting young people into education, employment and training.  

Skills and Knowledge

At CXK we are proud to be a disability confident and equal opportunities employer. We actively promote diversity within our workforce and welcome applications from all sections of the community.

Please click here to view the job description and person specification.

Employee Experience

A career with CXK is deeply rewarding and offers the opportunity to make a lasting difference in the lives of young people. As part of the Youth Employability Service (YES) team, this role gives you the chance to empower and motivate your team to support young people to take positive steps into education, employment, or training.

At CXK, we are committed to supporting our staff to grow, thrive, and develop their potential. You’ll be part of a supportive and collaborative team that values inclusion, wellbeing, and continuous learning.

Benefits of working with us

Our employee benefits include:

· 30-33 days holiday, plus bank holidays

· Defined contribution pension scheme (matched by CXK up to 10% depending on length of service criteria)

· Benenden private healthcare cover

· Flexible working

· Enhanced maternity and paternity leave

· Training and development programmes and opportunities

· Mental and physical healthcare initiatives and more

All appointees will be subject to an enhanced DBS Check.

Recruitment Timeline

Vacancy closing date: Tuesday 25th August 2026

Application review date: Wednesday 26th August 2026

Interview dates from: Friday 28th August 2026

This exciting new role sits within REUK’s Education Pathways work which has been in a pilot phase for the last few years and is rapidly growing now that the UK government has made a commitment to expanding safe and legal routes to higher education in the UK for refugee students.

Once a student is selected for participation and offered a university place, this postholder becomes their core anchor and primary REUK point of contact. This role oversees the entire student journey—from pre-departure preparation and arrival orientation to ongoing academic support, psychosocial wellbeing, community building on campus and monitoring of student outcomes.

The postholder will work alongside the newly created Education Pathways Universities Lead. While the Universities Lead focuses on institutional partnerships, you will focus on the student support side of the pathway: equipping university welcome groups to develop integration plans, pairing scholars with academic mentors (with support from REUK’s educational mentoring team), building a vibrant national student network, and providing hands-on casework escalation when complex issues arise.

This is a critical role within a small, high-capacity specialist unit within REUK. Because this is an emerging and new area of work you must be comfortable working with risk and ambiguity, refining and learning rapidly as parameters evolve. You will be a versatile practitioner - equally skilled at designing cohort orientation programmes and delivering student workshops as you are at managing administrative workflows, tracking student outcomes, and delivering compassionate, individual casework support.

Role outcomes

1. Refugee Education Pathway students transition smoothly into UK higher education through comprehensive pre-departure guidance, arrival orientation, and holistic onboarding. To this end, key responsibilities include: 

• Serving as REUK’s primary point of contact for scholars in the months immediately preceding travel, delivering pre-departure briefings and managing expectation-setting.

• Supporting the Education Pathways Lead to recruit, select and match eligible students.

• Coordinating arrival logistics and initial orientation in close collaboration with partner universities and campus welcome groups.

• Establishing clear, trauma-informed onboarding protocols to help students adapt quickly to the academic and cultural environment of UK universities.

• Designing and delivering (in collaboration with young refugees who participated in the pilot pathway) high-quality orientation resources, toolkits, and interactive induction sessions tailored to the unique practical and psychosocial needs of newly arrived refugee students.

• Working alongside the Universities Lead to conduct campus visits to ensure scholars are safely settled and Welcome Groups are offering appropriate integration support

2. Scholars thrive academically, socially, and emotionally through tailored REUK-added support structures, mentorship, and peer networks. To this end, key responsibilities include: 

• Supporting the Universities Lead in training campus welcome groups (staff, student unions, and peer volunteers) and maintaining ongoing liaison to ensure high-quality local support.

• Overseeing REUK’s added-value support framework, including:

  • Sourcing, matching, and managing academic mentors for students on the programme;

  • Facilitating a vibrant, national network for education pathway students, organising regular in-person and online meet-ups and peer connections, as well as referrals to REUK’s refugee student leadership programme;

  • Providing occasional direct, high-level casework support and conflict resolution when complex student welfare, academic, or integration issues are escalated from universities to REUK.

• Fostering an empowering community environment that prioritises student agency, mental health, and long-term wellbeing throughout their studies.

3. Student support operations, cross-team coordination, safeguarding and administrative processes are managed efficiently and self-sufficiently. To this end, key responsibilities include: 

• Managing all student-facing administrative processes, communication channels, and record-keeping systems independently without junior administrative support. 

• Working in close alignment with the Universities Lead to ensure institutional arrangements and campus support delivery are fully synchronized.

• Maintaining robust safeguarding and data protection protocols across all student casework, communications, and interactions. 

• Liaising with external specialist organizations (e.g., legal advisors, healthcare providers, mental health services) when complex casework exceeds standard university support.

4. Student progress and outcomes are robustly evaluated and clearly communicated, contributing to programme learning and REUK’s wider mission. To this end, key responsibilities include: 

• Reporting directly to the Education Pathways Lead and Chief Executive on cohort wellbeing, retention rates, academic progress, and key student outcomes.

• Designing and implementing (with the support of REUK’s Research Manager) student feedback mechanisms, regular check-ins, and longitudinal evaluation frameworks to track scholar progression.

• Supporting grant reporting and contributing qualitative impact stories and student reflections for funders, communications and organisational learning.

• Working alongside the Youth Advocacy Manager to provide Education Pathways students opportunities to engage with our Refugee Changemakers team

• Feeding student-led insights and operational learning into REUK’s broader research, policy, and systemic change work to improve refugee education nationwide.

Person specification

Although each role requires particular competencies, we seek staff members - irrespective of role - who are willing and able to demonstrate core competencies related to 1) character and values, 2) personal working style and 3) team working. Please see the applicant pack for more details. The competencies required for this specific role are:

• Student support and safeguarding: Proven track record of delivering direct support, pastoral care and complex casework for displaced young people or international/refugee students in higher education and supporting others to do the same.

• Training and resources: Experience designing and delivering transition, orientation, or onboarding programmes that support cross-cultural adaptation and academic readiness.

• Volunteering management: Strong experience in recruiting, training and supporting volunteers and volunteer groups (e.g., akin to academic mentors or campus welcome groups).

• Network and community building: Skills in facilitating student-led networks, organizing cohort events/meet-ups, and building inclusive peer-to-peer support spaces.

• Operational self-sufficiency and willingness to travel: High level of personal organization, ability to manage admin independently without junior support, and willingness to travel regularly across the UK.

• Knowledge of education pathway models: Familiarity with international refugee education pathway models (such as Canada’s WUSC; Australia’s RSSP/SkillPath and or others operating in Japan, Italy, Ireland etc).

• Knowledge and understanding of refugee tertiary education and the needs of resettled refugees more broadly: Strong understanding of the systemic barriers faced by refugee students in higher education both in the UK and internationally in first countries of asylum, as well as the support needed on resettlement to a third country.

• Student participation: Deep understanding of the principles of youth or student leadership and co-production, with the ability to embed these meaningfully across the education pathway 

• Interpersonal skills: An ability to build and maintain positive, warm and confidence inspiring working relationships with internal colleagues and external partners and stakeholders, including in complex situations.

• Communications: Outstanding verbal and written communication skills, including ability to appropriately communicate nuance and complexity; confidence communicating with and presenting to a variety of audiences.