Community jobs in bushey, hertfordshire

The Bridge Renewal Trust is a forward-thinking charity dedicated to reducing health inequalities and creating healthier, safer and stronger Haringey communities. Established in 2009, we have grown from a team of three to over 55 staff members, supporting over 20,000 people annually with a turnover of approximately £3m.

We are now seeking a talented and ambitious NHS Programme Coordinator to join our team and play a vital role in driving forward one of our most impactful programmes, delivering vital skills to a range of beneficiaries.

Working with our Head of Healthier and Stronger Communities and the NHS Programme Manager, you will develop and implement a comprehensive workplan, taking responsibility for the day-to-day delivery of the programme, oversight of two staff, financial management and regular reporting to key stakeholders, ensuring effective, consistent and responsive delivery across all aspects of the programme.

We are primarily seeking an experienced, competent, level-headed programme coordinator who is passionate about effective yet agile delivery. You should be self-starting, strategic yet pragmatic in your thinking and problem-solving, an excellent communicator with strong people skills.

Are you ready to bridge the gap to a healthier and safer Haringey? This is your opportunity to join a progressive organisation where we value and reward the performance of our staff. To apply, please email your CV, including the contact details of two referees, and a supporting statement that demonstrates how you meet the requirements outlined in the Person Specification to the email listed. For a full job description, please visit our website or email us.

NB: We reserve the right to withdraw this opportunity early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications. As part of our commitment to equal opportunities, we invite you to complete our Monitoring Form which can be sent to you via email. Please quote the Job ID 2025021. Thank you.

The Bridge Renewal Trust is an equal opportunities employer and positively welcomes applications from all sections of the community. Company registration No: 06949568, Registered Charity No: 1131941

Role Overview

The Film & TV Charity’s Looking Glass research on the mental health of the UK film, TV and cinema workforce has consistently shown that mental health and rates of loneliness at work are significantly worse in this sector than among the population as a whole. Further Charity research has also shown that the two are closely linked, strongly suggesting that tackling loneliness is vital part of the industry-wide fight to protect the mental health of the workforce. 

As the Community Development Manager, you will use our research insights to help develop the Charity’s community strategy, managing a programme of work that seeks to embed social connection as a core mental health priority in the Charity’s work and among the wider industry. You will also deliver specific projects stemming from the community strategy. Foremost among these is the Charity’s Community Partnerships programme. This involves working with a cohort of peer and community-led industry support groups to meet the needs of their communities, primarily through regular events-based engagement at our Soho offices. But it may also involve contributing to the co-working space offer at our offices in Soho, and to the Charity’s research on themes related to loneliness and social connection.

You will need to have experience of strategy development and partnerships or community management, and the excellent relationship management skills on which this depends. A background in developing mental or social wellbeing interventions is highly desirable, as is experience working in the film, television or creative industries. You will be a positive and enthusiastic individual, with a passion for creating solutions that support people’s mental and social wellbeing.

 Main Areas of Responsibility

Community Strategy

·Continue to onboard and engage Charity staff with latest loneliness research findings

·Work with senior leadership to develop the Charity’s existing community strategy in response to the latest loneliness research findings and get buy-in from internal stakeholders

·Work closely with relevant teams to develop key actions informed by these strategic priorities

·Working with senior leadership, onboard and engage key industry stakeholders with the latest loneliness research findings and recommendations (where appropriate this may involve working closely with other Charity team members)

·Work closely with the Charity’s Impact and Evaluation Lead to ensure the impact of our Community Strategy is measured appropriately and reported on regularly in staff and trustee updates

Community Partnerships

 -Continue managing (and growing) the Charity’s network of peer support and community groups, with a focus on communities experiencing high levels of loneliness

-Plan and deliver partner engagement events, with the aim of combatting loneliness and fostering belonging for the most vulnerable industry workers

-Day to day management of the Community Partners will involve working with the Charity’s Wellbeing Services Coordinator to manage partner event bookings, enquiries, building partner relationships, supporting partners with event management, attending partner events and gathering wellbeing insights from these communities to grow the Charity’s industry knowledge and support offer

-Support the partners to deliver effective and sustainable community building and peer support by organising appropriate workshops and webinars

-As needed, co-produce events with partners that aim to deliver on our partnership goals of fostering community and creating meaningful social connection

- Raise awareness of our Community Partners and their work within the wider industry

-Measure the impact of the Community Partnerships through tools such as member surveys and partner interviews, and regularly report on these findings

Co-working Space Development (tbc)

-Develop the Charity’s co-working space in Golden Square to be an inclusive, welcoming community hub for industry freelancers, that supports them to foster meaningful social connections

- Improve user satisfaction rates, working with relevant teams to improve operational support, bookings systems, user policies and drive deeper engagement with the Charity’s wider services

Research

 -Support research projects (conducted either internally or by external partners) that continue to develop our understanding and evidence base on loneliness and social connection

-Contribute to the national and international dialogue on loneliness by sharing the Charity’s research findings, collaborating with key stakeholders and promoting best practice

-Develop relationships with professionals working to tackle loneliness (third sector, private sector, academia) to enable knowledge sharing, ensuring the charity’s work informs wider evidence on workplace loneliness

-Support the wider team to develop wellbeing projects and initiatives using research findings

General

-To operate in a way that ensures you are recognised as a role model for the Charity’s core values and behaviours.

-To undertake any other works as could be expected.

-To be prepared to travel to meetings across the UK and be away from home overnight occasionally, as the job reasonably demands.

- Candidates will need to be able to work evenings on a regular basis to support Community Partnership events. We operate a Time off in Lieu system to ensure that this is achievable within the post-holder’s contracted working hours.

About Blagrave

We are a social justice funder committed to shifting power, dismantling oppression, and supporting communities to thrive. We fund organisations and young people creating change, with a strong focus on lived experience, anti-oppression, and systems change.

We are committed to centering the voices of those we seek to serve. Our board and staff team have relevant lived and learnt experiences to help us fulfil our mission. We listen to the communities we seek to serve both directly and broadly to have as accurate of an understanding as possible about the issues that they are facing. 

As we come to the end of our current strategy cycle we are ambitious to explore how we can put our full asset base to work in support of mission and we have some exciting plans unfolding. This new role will be instrumental in ensuring collaboration is at the heart of our next strategy, with our funder peers, young people, the youth sector and local government.

We fund work in England, as well as having a specific focus on several counties in the South East of England. 
 

About you  

You believe in the power of young people to lead change and are passionate about social justice. You’re a natural relationship-builder with experience working across public, private and voluntary sectors, confident engaging at both national and local levels. You understand how to develop partnerships that are equitable, transformational, and that centre the voices and needs of young people. You have a track record in bringing in substantial partnerships in service to organisational goals.

You bring strong problem-solving skills and experience managing people. You’ve worked in, or alongside, organisations going through growth or transition and thrive in complexity. You care deeply about genuine partnerships and have a track record of working collaboratively to build collective power and challenge injustice.

We welcome candidates from all backgrounds and are especially keen to hear from people who can help diversify the voices shaping philanthropic work. We are committed to creating an equitable environment where everyone can thrive.

Purpose of the Role

This exciting new role is about creating connections, building ecosystems and developing and strengthening relationships that power social justice movements. As a member of the Senior Management Team, you will work closely with the CEO to lead our partnerships and community engagement work — creating the enabling conditions and networks that help youth-led movements grow, sustain, and make lasting change.

You will take lead on:

• Partnering with other funders to resource youth-led change, including co-designed and co-held programmes with other foundations.
• Developing community partnerships based on the needs and priorities of the young people we are here to serve - including charities, local businesses, and local authorities.
• Understanding the landscape of youth-led change and social justice work, identifying gaps in support and guiding our investment to help fill them, both at the national and local level.
• Monitoring and communicating the impact of our work with external audiences.
• Ensuring our work is grounded in safeguarding practices that minimise harm and uphold our commitment to care, equity and justice.

Success in this role looks like:

· A stronger Blagrave presence and impact at a local level.

· Growing networks of trust and solidarity across youth-led social justice movements, nationally and locally.

· Greater capacity, visibility, and long-term sustainability for youth-led organisations.

· Strengthened support for collective action and systems change.

· Young people and communities feeling ownership of, and connection to, the work.

Salary: £40,000 - £43,000
Contract: Full-time, Permanent
Location: London Hybrid - Happy to discuss flexible options
Closing Date: 22nd July 2025 
Benefits: 8% Employer pension contribution regardless of employee contribution, 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays

Are you passionate a passionate community fundraiser looking for your next exciting challenge? We’re working with the Ruth Strauss Foundation as they seek a dynamic Community Fundraising Manager to join their team.

In this pivotal role, you will lead the development and delivery of community fundraising initiatives, fostering meaningful relationships across diverse communities to support their mission.
This is a great opportunity to lead and grow the 'Turn Cricket Red' campaign, develop new community events, and manage key third-party fundraisers, such as the London Marathon participants. You'll build strong relationships with schools, sports clubs, and community groups, providing excellent supporter stewardship to maximise engagement and long-term support.

To be successful as a Community Fundraising Manager, you will need:

• Proven experience in designing and delivering successful community fundraising events and activities.
• Excellent organisational and administrative skills, including budget and project management.
• Strong relationship-building abilities, with experience engaging diverse community groups and stakeholders.

If you would like to have an informal discussion, please give Jake a call, otherwise, we look forward to seeing your application. 

Ashby Jenkins Recruitment are a specialist charity recruitment agency, we use our extensive sector knowledge and experience to match candidates to the most suitable roles. We take a relationship-led approach to recruitment, working ethically, supporting people to find their perfect role within the not-for-profit sector. 

We are passionate about improving equality across the sector, you can read more about our commitment to diversity here. 

If enough applications are received the charity reserve the right to end the application period sooner. 
 

The Baobab Centre works as a non-residential therapeutic community with young asylum seekers and refugees and we are looking for an exceptional candidate with at least two years' experience of working in a busy office environment.

As a member of our non-residential therapeutic community you will participate in the development of meaningful relationships and social learning, constructing a holistic therapeutic environment where all relationships with all members of the community matter.

You will have experience managing a small team, including line management duties. You will be a key part of our multi-professional team and will be responsible for the administrative management of clinical files and supporting the clinical team. You will have excellent organisational and communication skills and be willing to participate in the life of the Baobab Community.

COMMUNITY HUB LEADER

Oasis Hub Hadley and Enfield

Full-time (40 hours per week, 1 FTE), Permanent Contract

Salary: £38,441 per annum including London Weighting

Oasis is looking for someone who can combine an entrepreneurial flair and excellent leadership skills to become the next Community Hub Leader at -Oasis Hub Hadley and Enfield, London. 

The post holder will lead the development of the Hub, supporting the Oasis Academies and wider local community. The role will hold the vision of integrated community delivery, which will include a range of projects such as family support, volunteering, advice and support, community events.

This is a key role as you will be responsible for strategic oversight of the hub charity, ensuring the youth and community work supports the work of the academy, working alongside other local Oasis leaders such as the Principals, volunteers and members of the local community to develop a joined up local vision for the community.

Some of the specific duties of this role include:

· Establishment and coordination of a range of services such as family support, holiday provision, volunteering and community empowerment projects.

· Building supportive working partnerships across the community and various groups.

· Leading strategic development (e.g. comms, income generation, MEL)

· Planning, resource and coordinate the community plan, measuring impact.

· Developing a team that can grow an Oasis Movement (e.g. engaging staff, volunteers and community workers).

This is very much a relational and project management role. As such, the successful applicant will need to demonstrate:

· Experience of leading community delivery and growing projects from start-up phase.

· Innovative use of resources and budget management to maximise funding.

· A thorough knowledge and understanding community work.

· An education to degree level or equivalent and /or relevant professional qualification.

This is a unique opportunity for a self-reliant and results-focused individual, who is looking to make a difference in this complex and high-profile 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.

· A non-contributory defined benefit pension scheme with 7% employer contributions.

· 25 days holiday per year (plus Bank Holidays), rising to 30 days after 2 years of service.

· Employee wellbeing schemes such as Cycle to Work and an employee funded health cash plan.

For full details please go the Oasis UK charity website.

Closing date for completed applications is 9am Friday 1st August 2025. Stage 1 & 2 interviews will be held week commencing 11th August 2025. Please send us your CV and cover letter.

For an informal conversation about the role, please visit the Oasis Charity Jobs website for furhter details. 

We actively encourage applications from people of all ethnic backgrounds and minority and underrepresented groups. 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.

The successful candidates must have the right to work in the UK.  Oasis cannot assist with sponsorship or visas.

Oasis supports Equal Opportunities.  Registered Charity No. 1163889

Citizens Advice Hammersmith and Fulham (CAHF) is a busy, dynamic award winning Service. We deliver a variety of projects via face to face and digital media.

Since 2012 we have delivered a volunteer led community library service at Avonmore library. In April 2024 we embarked on running a second community focused library at Askew Road. To support CAHF community library delivery at both libraries, we introduced the role of Community Library Coordinator.

Purpose of the Role:

In addition to traditional library duties—such as managing stock inventory and delivering storytime sessions for under-5s—the Community Library Coordinator plays a key role in positioning the library as a vibrant hub within the local area. The library offers a diverse programme of activities for users of all ages throughout the week. Working collaboratively with colleagues, the Coordinator will oversee and help develop engaging library events, while also supporting the dedicated volunteers who contribute to the successful delivery of our community-focused services.

About You:

You will have strong interpersonal and communication skills, along with enthusiasm for working in the library sector. You should be confident in promoting the library service and delivering excellent customer service to a diverse range of users. While previous library experience is desirable, it is not essential.

The roles require:

• A good level of community awareness, with experience of working with diverse communities
• Excellent customer care skills
• An interest in literacy and reading
• The ability to recruit, induct, and support library volunteers in service delivery
• Confidence in providing digital support to library users
• The ability to oversee the library events calendar and work with both new and existing partners to develop additional community-focused activities
• The ability to adapt and respond to complex, ever-changing environments, taking opportunities to improve the way things are done

No two days are the same, so a positive and flexible attitude is essential. The role includes working on a rota Saturday basis, and evening shift up 7pm each week.

Closing Date: Midnight Sunday 27th July 2025

Interview and Test: Week beginning 28th July 2025

Community Fundraising and Partnerships Coordinator (Full-Time or Part-Time)

Charity People are thrilled to be partnering with All People All Places (APAP) in their search for a new Community Fundraising and Partnerships Coordinator; this is a newly created role that will lead on building meaningful relationships across the local community to generate new income and increase engagement.

"All People All Places is a small, locally focused homelessness charity working across Enfield and Haringey. We provide vital services including a day centre, advocacy and casework, and a small year-round night shelter. We work in close partnership with local agencies and are a trusted gateway service for those facing homelessness. This role is key to helping us grow our reach and impact through community-driven support."

George Dunstall CEO, All People All Places

This is a brilliant opportunity to join a mission-led organisation tackling homelessness as it presents locally. You'll lead on community fundraising and engagement, working with schools, faith groups, local businesses and individuals to inspire support and deliver impactful campaigns.

Contract: 12-month fixed term (with view to permanent extension)

Location: Hybrid - Home, Office (Enfield), and Local Communities (Edmonton, Enfield)

Hours: FT or PT 3 or 4 days per week (0.6-0.8 FTE)

Salary: FT £34,000-£38,000; PT 0.6 £20,400-£22,800 PT 0.8 £27,200-£30,400

Benefits:

• 26 days (pro-rata) annual leave plus bank holidays
• Wellbeing fund for hobbies or self-care
• Training and development budget
• Cycle to work scheme and travel card loan
• 5% employer pension contribution

This new role will be at the centre of community fundraising; building relationships, coordinating events, and delivering campaigns that raise awareness and income. You'll also lead on the development of APAP's annual fundraising campaign and support the upcoming rebrand and communications strategy.

Key Responsibilities

• Build and manage relationships with community groups, schools, and local businesses.
• Lead and develop community fundraising activities, events and opportunities.
• Develop and deliver APAP's annual fundraising campaign.
• Create engaging content and stories to showcase impact.
• Steward donors and fundraisers with warmth and professionalism.
• Taking a lead on organisational communications and developing targeted communications to reach existing and new audiences.
• Collaborate with the CEO and wider team to align fundraising with strategic goals.
• Develop a variety of relevant resources for use across different audiences
• Develop, implement and monitor 'supporter journey' processes.

Top 3 Priorities for the First 6 Months

• Develop and deliver a refreshed annual fundraising campaign.
• Build a network of community supporters and local partnerships.
• Embed new branding and messaging into community engagement and communications.

About You

We're looking for someone with proven experience in community fundraising and engagement, someone who can build trusted relationships across diverse stakeholder groups and communicate with clarity and warmth. You'll be confident managing multiple priorities independently and bring creativity and energy to campaigns and supporter engagement. Experience with Canva or similar design tools is a plus, as is familiarity with fundraising regulations, or a willingness to learn.

If this role inspires you to make your next career move, please get in touch with Kevin at Charity People to find out more about how to apply.

Closing Date: Friday 1st August 2025

At Charity People, we match charity needs with the skills and experience of candidates, irrespective of age, disability (including hidden disabilities), gender, gender identity or gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, or sexual orientation. We do this because we know greater diversity will lead to even greater results for the charities we work with.

Are you passionate about inspiring a love of reading in children?

The Dollywood Foundation UK runs Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in the UK, the worlds largest book gifting programme. Over the last 30 years the Imagination Library has delivered nearly 300 million books to children globally. In the UK we support over 60k children a month, delivering them a free book sent to their house every month.

The primary purpose of this new role is to increase registrations for the Imagination Library initially across London. This role will support our Local Programme Partners to reach families with whom they are not currently engaging.

Background

We have a steadfast belief that inspiring a love of reading in children can bring joy, love, and measurable individual, family and societal benefits. We are driven by Dolly Parton’s mantra that you “can’t put enough books into the hands of enough children”.

It is an exciting time for the Dollywood Foundation. We have recently received a new investment to allow us to scale our Imagination Library programme across London. As families across the capital become eligible for free books, we need to make every effort to ensure families know about the programme and sign up.

This role is integral to that plan, working with local authority and community organisations to spread the word about the programme. The role holder will need to be passionate about books and supporting children’s development. They will hold brilliant relationship building skills to engage local communities and overcome any barriers to families enrolling.

We are a remote team with no fixed office. While this role will be based from home, regular travel across London will be required. The role holder will need to be based in London or surrounding areas to allow for the frequent travel.

This is an exciting new role, joining a passionate and growing UK team.

We are looking for a collaborative individual with strong management skills to build relationships and deliver activities in partnership with our local communities.

The Community Engagement manager will be responsible for in building relationships with new, and existing community partners to expand our reach and increase our delivery of inclusive and engaging experiences through co-production with our local communities.

The Community Engagement Manager is also responsible for supporting the development of, and working with, our two community advisory groups – our community Youth Forum of Young Curators and our Community Cultural Champions who help to shape and co-curate our programming including exhibitions and events.

You will be someone with experience of managing community engagement activities or programmes in a museum, heritage, charity or similar organisation. You will be confident in leading on evaluating the impact of our community programming for GPM’s audiences and committed to continuously improving our offer. You will have a strong commitment to equality and diversity, with experience of developing audiences through implementing accessible and inclusive practice. You will feel comfortable working with colleagues from a range of professional backgrounds and varying levels of seniority, and similarly with the diverse cluster of communities that together are responsible for West London’s vibrant culture.

You will share our passion for co-creation and be skilled in building relationships between organisations and the communities they serve.

Please see our website for full details and how to apply. It is anticipated that interviews will take place 6th – 8th August at Gunnersbury Museum.
Hybrid and flexible working is available based on the operational needs of the Museum Service.

Community Based/Home Working - Hampshire

Permanent, Full Time

Circa £30,000 plus competitive benefits

Do you want to make a difference?

The RAF Benevolent Fund is the leading welfare charity for the RAF. Every year we make a real difference to over 40,000 people who benefit from our services. Working at the Fund is more than sitting at your desk ad in this role you will have the opportunity to be part of our RAF Family.  Alongside helping our beneficiaries, we also get to hang out with Spitfires and Typhoons, take part in a Dambusters bike ride, attend events like Royal Ascot, the Chelsea Flower Show, and the Bomber Command Memorial Service. Every day you will make a difference and play your part in changing the lives of others and helping people in the RAF Family get through the toughest of times.

It doesn’t matter how long someone served or when. If they were part of the RAF, they and their family are part of our RAF Family. We will always be here to support them when they need it most.

Join the RAF Family and play your part in making a difference.

Do you want to play a part in what we do?

People are at the heart of what we do. Together we:

· Help reduce social isolation and loneliness among veterans. 

· We support ill or injured men and women to have a safe place to call home, a home that meets their specific needs.

· We fund youth services on stations to provide clubs and activities for the children of serving personnel who move every few years.

· We provide grants to help with the cost of living. But this is just a few of the ways we help.

We are seeking an individual to raise awareness of the Fund’s welfare offer amongst social welfare agencies across the West Midlands but also, crucially, to help address the issue of social isolation and feelings of loneliness experienced by some members of the RAF Family.

The post holder will be working with socially isolated individuals to identify meaningfully enriching opportunities to reduce feelings of loneliness, some of whom may have complex and challenging welfare needs, to develop actions plans and coordinate support to overcome any barriers preventing successful connection into these enriching opportunities, assisting them by identifying appropriate support from within the RAF Benevolent Fund and the wider statutory and military charity sector.

The successful candidate will have experience of working in a social welfare role supporting individuals, have strong people and relationship-building skills, as well as empathy with or understanding of the issues affecting the Armed Forces community. Individuals with a social prescribing or working aged veteran support background are encouraged to apply.

This is a community-based position working from home but covering Hampshire, Wiltshire and West Sussex, delivering both remote and face to face support. The candidate must have their own vehicle to use to travel around these regions.  Occasional travel to London will be required.  The successful candidate for this role will need to be Enhanced DBS checked and prove they have the right to work in the UK.

To apply, please click on this link and send your CV, together with a cover letter detailing why you believe you are suitable for this role, providing examples of how you meet the job profile when you apply through our recruitment portal.

The closing date for applications is Tuesday 29th July 2025, 5.00pm.  Interviews will be held on Week commencing 4th August 2025.

A copy of the Fund’s Candidate Privacy Notice can be found on our website. As an equal opportunities employer, the Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund is committed to the equal treatment of all current and prospective employees and does not condone discrimination on the basis of age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, gender identity, or marriage and civil partnership. The Fund takes safeguarding seriously, and appropriate background checks will be completed. You can find out more about our commitment to safeguarding on our website. The RAF Benevolent Fund follows Safer Recruitment practices as it strives to ensure that everyone who comes into contact with the Fund will be protected from harm. The successful candidate for this role will need to be Enhanced DBS checked and prove they have the right to work in the UK. We aspire to have a diverse and inclusive workplace and strongly encourage suitably qualified applicants from a wide range of backgrounds to apply and join the Fund.

The Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund is a Registered Charity (No. 1081009).

Are you passionate about the transformational possibilities of volunteering and engaging with communities? Join the Volunteering for Health programme – a £10m national initiative led by NHS Charities Together, NHS England, and CW+ as a Programme Coordinator in Hertfordshire and West Essex.

You'll work closely with the Programme Lead and other place-based Programme Coordinators, NHS and voluntary sector partners in Hertfordshire and West Essex, to support the creation of a whole-system approach to health and social care volunteering, helping to remove barriers and reduce health inequalities. This is a unique opportunity to be part of a bold, collaborative movement to transform volunteering across health and within our communities.

What you’ll do:

• Coordinate local delivery of the Volunteering for Health programme, with a focus on MHLDN
• Build strong relationships with NHS, VCFSE, and community partners
• Engage local communities to raise awareness and participation
• Support data collection, communications, and programme evaluation.

Salary: £29,120 per annum FTE (actual £19,968)

Contract: Permanent, following a 3-month probation period

Hours:24 hours across three days a week: Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Do you want to make a tangible difference in the lives of some of the most deprived children in London? 

CARIS Families is a small frontline charity that offers holistic support to families experiencing homelessness in hostels in the London Boroughs of Camden and Hackney.  Amongst our other services, we run play and learning activities for children aged 0-16 from within 4 hostels in these boroughs, as well as a school holiday day trip programme.  Our services for children aim to reduce the stress on children and parents of living in overcrowded, insecure accommodation, and to put back essential childhood experiences that homeless accommodation deprives children of.

The services we currently offer our families in hostels are:

- Kids Club: an after-school play club in term time for 0-16s, run from our dedicated play club in the basement of one family hostel in Camden.

- Enrichment Trips and Summer Programme: a series of day trips for groups of families from our 4 hostels in the school holidays.  We take part in exciting activities and visit interesting destinations round London and the South-East, to ease the pressures of being stuck in the hostel during the long school breaks.

- Essentials Bank: Our Essentials bank runs weekly in term-time from two of our hostels, offering families free hygiene products such as toiletries, nappies, washing powder etc. to ease the pressure on family finances at a difficult time.

- Family Support Work and Housing Casework: we offer holistic casework to support families to ease the stress of their situation, from working on finances to supporting employment searches, to assisting with legal cases and supporting them to navigate their housing case and move out of homelessness as soon as possible.

We are currently looking for an experienced Play and Community Worker to join our dedicated frontline Family Services team, delivering this vital support to around 100 children and their families each year.

Responsibilities of the Role

The Play and Community Worker will:

- Deliver play and learning activities for children aged 0-16 at our hostel-based Kids Club’s play sessions during term time in the London Borough of Camden.

- Deliver our Enrichment Trips School Holiday programme during school holidays (in Camden, Hackney and the wider London and South-East England area)

- Deliver our term-time Essentials Bank programme, providing free household goods to families in hostels

- Assist the Services Manager with a range of administrative and operational activities to support the day-to-day running of our Family Services and CARIS Families’ operations as a whole

- Provide a warm and welcoming experience for children and their families attending CARIS Families’ services

- Engage enthusiastically and supportively with children in their play and learning experiences, through staff-led activities and facilitating child-led play

- Work proactively as part of our Family Services team, supporting colleagues, embracing change and contributing ideas to service development within our frontline Family Services.

Person Specification

We are looking for a Play and Community Worker who is:

- Qualified to Level 2 or 3, or prepared to work towards this qualification in: Playwork, Early Years, CYP Workforce, Youth Work or any related area

- Experienced in delivering play within a CYP or community work setting, and working with 0- to 16-year-olds

- Experienced in providing and facilitating safe and creative play experiences

- Passionate about improving opportunities for disadvantaged children

-  Understanding of the varied needs of children and their families, and of the impact of trauma and ACE on children’s development and wellbeing

- Able to maintain professional boundaries while supporting parents/carers and children empathetically, and with a person-centred, relational approach.

- Understanding of Equal Opportunities and Safeguarding best practice

- A good communicator, comfortable with working with a wide range of service users and professionals

- Proficient in use of Microsoft Office packages and basic web-based software applications (e.g. Canva)

- Reliable and diligent, with good time-keeping skills, who is able to work well as part of a team, take the initiative and lend a helping hand across our fast-changing, responsive frontline work

We are the Wandsworth representative of the national City of Sanctuary (CoS) charity. This project will support the committee and expand our activities in the voluntary and community sector and elsewhere to build commitment to Sanctuaries in the Borough. Wandsworth has a small but active network supporting refugees. The existing sanctuaries include a theatre, cafe and shop. Our Wandsworth libraries are en route to become sanctuaries and there is active interest from schools and faith groups. The contract is initially for 62 days over one year. We are seeking additional funding to expand to three days/week and continue beyond one year. Please see our facebook and instagram pages for job opportunities.
 

Background to the project

The Project is supported by Wandsworth Council as a Borough of Sanctuary and by Lewisham Refugee and Migrant Network (LRMN). Note that for the year 2025 Wandsworth is the London Borough of Culture.

Wandsworth Welcomes Refugees is a charity and operates primarily on a voluntary basis. We aim to make Wandsworth a welcoming place for those seeking sanctuary to feel safe, supported and part of our community.  WWR is part of the City of Sanctuary movement and is the accredited organization in Wandsworth. We work with voluntary and community sector (VCS) and other organisations to encourage and support those wishing to reach out to refugees. We liaise with those interested in finding out more, offering general support, offering general support, or seeking to become accredited with City of Sanctuary. 

Objectives of the project
The project will support the WWR committee activities and objectives. It will expand WWR reach and contacts in the VCS and other appropriate places and organisations. It will raise the profile of the sanctuary movement and encourage active participation by various organisations to create welcoming communities for people seeking sanctuary. Participation can range from an interest and small steps through to becoming accredited with City of Sanctuary.

Wandsworth and Sanctuaries
Sanctuaries include community groups, private organizations, public sector services, and individuals, united in their commitment to supporting those fleeing violence and persecution. Wandsworth is a Borough of Sanctuary, and the accredited organisations at present include a theatre, café and shop. Wandsworth libraries and some faith groups and schools are in the process of applying to become accredited. There is interest from other theatres, shops, sporting facilities and many others. 

Role of the Community Engagement Officer

• Assist the committee to increase its outreach and communication with interested organisations across the Borough

• Join monthly committee meeting to report and plan

• Meet and liaise with the key refugee support organisations in Wandsworth and a small number in other London boroughs 

• Organise an on-line Meet-Up for sharing and support ‘clinics’ (every 4-6 weeks); develop a launch for this event

• Liaise with the committee Events Group fundraising and events activities 

• Liaise with and include lived experience into outreach and activities (WWR has a small advisory group

• Liaise with committee members represented on the Council’s ‘Migration Forum’ 

• Liaise with the organisations accredited with CoS in Wandsworth: CoS asks accredited organisations share activities and learning

• Assist in planning and implementing activities during Refugee Week (June)

• Participate in the annual City of Sanctuary Annual Conference 

• Assist organisation of Annual General Meeting (in 2026 date to be decided)

WWR is applying for additional funds and if successful will increase the contracted time of the CEO and allow more time for this role and to widen the brief.

Person specification

Essential experience

• Proven organisational ability and experience to manage a project (including budget and finances)

• Ability to identify and engage with organisations that could contribute expand commitment to Sanctuary in Wandsworth

• Good communication skills 

• Ability to use social media, including posting to WWR website

• Ability to reach out to those with lived experience to bring into the project

• A commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice. 

• Understand issues behind migration and the impacts that lead people to become refugees

Desirable experience

• Knowledge and understanding of the goals of the Sanctuary movement 

• Experience of working effectively with a Chair and Board of Trustees 

• Campaign and advocacy experience, 

• Experience of evaluating a project