Community worker jobs in london, england

We're looking for someone a lttle bit special - someone who believes in the deep potential of children who are not thriving elsewhere in life and who has the experience, passion, energy and the drive to go the extra mile on these young people’s behalf.

The position is an exciting dual role:

1. Volunteering & People Manager (80% of workload)

You'll become a key cog at the heart ofFree to Be's management team, taking lead responsibility for volunteer and staff recruitment and retention, holding and delivering our volunteering strategy, launching a new training infrastructure through 2026-27, and heading up 'all things volunteering'. With one direct report, you'll aim to grow volunteer numbers year on year, ensure volunteers are well matched, and well supported, onto our residential projects, and lead on quality assurance, including volunteering standards concerns/grievances.  Alongside our Services, Operations and Fundraising Managers, you'll be a core management team member holding shared responsibility for the day to day running of an impactful and growing children's mental health and adventure charity and will work closely with our inspiring and supportive CEO to set longer-term key strategic goals underpinning Free to Be's future development.

2. Residential Project Lead Coordinator (20% of role)

Our residentials are fun, immersive, tiring (in all the right ways), impactful and inspiring. A core aspect of all Free to Be Kids staff's roles is leading circa 8-10 of our residential projects across each year - working on the ground with the children, leading the volunteers & staff team on project, and helping make the projects special, safe, and transformative for vulnerable young people, many of whom have damaged confidence, low self-worth, or other social-emotional needs. 

Attendance at approximately 8-10 five-six night residential projects per year outside London is a core component of this role. As a manager, you'd likely attend 8-10 residentials in year 1 to build familiarity with both the projects and our volunteer base, with this dropping to c.8 per year thereafter.

On offer to the right candidate:

Salary: Circa £38,000 - £40,000, dependent on experience.

Hours: Fulltime: 37.5 hours per week. Essential attendance on at c.8-10 residential projects a year.

Leave: 25 days per year, plus bank holidays and up to 13 additional pre-set discretionary reward days in September and during the Christmas period. A substantial perk of the role is potential to take up to 4 consecutive weeks off to travel each September.

Other benefits: 4% employer pension contribution paid on full base salary, rising by 1% per year of service, up to a maximum of 7%; hybrid working; office with great transport links; flexible working (outside core hours); employee reward scheme; tight-knit, fun, vibrant, cohesive staff team with great morale.

Based: Hybrid – our small office in Waterloo, London. Hybrid working is well established with the majority of the team splitting time around 50:50 between the office and home.

To start: Early January 2026. 

Who we’re looking for:

Our next Volunteering Manager hero. You'll be fun, flexible, energised, experienced in work with young people with addtional needs, and looking to join an organisation you can believe in and who in return will believe and invest in you.

Kind, empathetic, resilient and efficient, you’ll have a real affinity for supporting others - whether volunteers, more junior staff, or children themselves. We're looking for someone who loves working with young people, as you'll be role modelling that commitment and energy to our volunteers and playing a leading role in holding our already thriving team culture. Volunteer Management or HR experience is a bonus, and capacity and personality to quickly pick that up is a must, but ultimately we're looking for the right organisational fit - someone who believes in what we do and wants to step up to join a management team working hard to deliver it. 

You’ll have the flexibility to work away from home on (up to) 10 five to six day residential projects per year. Ideally, you’ll also have experience of leading projects for children – whether residential or non-residential - for example as a teacher, or running groups in other settings. Experience of working on or leading residentials projects themselves is not required but may be an advantage.

We are a small, vibrant, 'can do', friendly staff team of 10, supported by a committed volunteer base of around 300.

We are particularly keen to encourage applications from those who can help us represent the lived experiences of our children through their own lived experience or background.

To apply:

See full Job Description & Person Specification on our website.

Send a copy of your CV or up to date LinkedIn profile, as well as a covering letter and introductory short video, by the closing date of 10pm, Wednesday 26th November 2025.

Covering letters should be very approximately 1 to 1.5 sides A4 and address the question of: ‘Why this role, why now’, as well as ‘what strengths, experience and skills you would bring into the role’.We also ask for a short (1-3 minutes) informal video introducing yourself and touching on the person specification. We have found this helps bring the strongest applications to life, and filters out AI driven applications.

Selection Process and Timeline:

Selection will be via two stage interview. As there is only a short turnaround from application closure on 26th November to 1st stage interviews 1st-2nd December, we will assess applications and offer interview slots throughout the window. However, you will not be disadvantaged if you need to wait till the closing date to submit.

1st stage interviews: Mon 1st - Tues 2nd December (virtual)

2nd stage final interviews: Mon 8th - Tues 9th December (in-person preferred, London Waterloo)

Please hold interview dates as alternate dates are unlikely to be available.

​The role requires an Enhanced DBS check and existing right to work in the UK.

If you have any questions about the role, contact us via our website and we’d be happy to arrange an informal chat. We look forward to hearing from you!

Job title:    Admissions Officer                                                                                                                                           

Reports to: Head of Language Programme                                                                                                                   

Location:    Hybrid work with 40% from Breaking Barriers’ office in London, Manchester or Birmingham                             

Hours:         Full-time (37.5 hours per week), part-time considered. Open to flexible working.                                               

Contract:    Permanent

Overall purpose 

The Programme Admissions Officer will be responsible for processing client applications, including conducting initial calls, checking eligibility and signposting where applicable. They would then flag new applicants with the relevant team/programme. This role is the gateway to accessing our services and plays a critical role in providing a positive and seamless client experience. As we enter a new and exciting stage of strategic development, this role has the potential to grow and develop in line with our evolving service model.

To view the full job description and person specification, as well as details on our accesible recruitment process, please view the attached recruitment pack. 

Other considerations  

• As part of our safeguarding commitment to our clients, we carry out pre-employment checks to ensure that successful applicants are suitable to work with adults at risk. These include basic DBS checks, obtaining references and verifying a candidate’s identity and right to work in the UK.   

• We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, sex, sexual orientation, marriage and civil partnership status, pregnancy and maternity status, race, religion or belief. 

Breaking Barriers is committed to protecting an adult’s right to live in safety, free from abuse and neglect, and for their views, wishes and beliefs to be fully considered when deciding action.   

How to apply  

If you are looking for a role where you can make a real difference, we want to hear from you. To apply, please submit a statement of interest (up to approximately 500 words/1 A4 page) outlining: 

• Why you are interested in the role 
• What skills you would bring to be successful in this role 
• Any experience you would like to highlight 
• Any reasonable adjustments you require for the interview process 
• Disclosure of disabilities if you wish to do so (as a member of the Disability Confident Scheme, we guarantee an interview to all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the role) 

Closing date for applications is Sunday 16 November at 11:30pm. Please note, interviews will be held online on a rolling basis so please apply as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.  

We are proud to be a member of the Experts by Experience Employment Initiative, which advocates and supportd organisations to employ more people from a refugee background. With this in mind, we particularly welcome applicants with experience of seeking asylum and / or are from a refugee background. 

If you are an expert by experience (a refugee or migrant with direct, first-hand experience of issues and challenges of the UK asylum or immigration system), you can ask for independent and confidential support with your job application from the Experts by Experience Employment Network. Please reach to HR Manager, Caroline Meechan for further details (we are unable to include email addresses in this advert but you can find contact details in the recruitment pack).

Executive Manager

Full-time, Permanent

Salary: £45,981

Location: Farringdon, hybrid working, minimum 2 days on-site

MLC Partners are actively seeking a highly organised and proactive Executive Manager to provide exceptional support to the CEO and leadership team at a renowned, impactful and ambitious charity. Turn2us is a national charity tackling financial insecurity and its structural causes. Offering practical support and information to help everyone thrive, they’re working to change the systems and perceptions that cause financial insecurity across the UK.

If you have the knowledge and experience to ensure the smooth running of the CEOs office; the executive operations, governance and business support functions organisation-wide and you are passionate about this crucial cause - eradicating financial insecurity, then this could be the ideal opportunity to build your career in a charity dedicated to ensuring dignity and equity for all.                                                                           

Key Responsibilities and Accountabilities

Executive Support to CEO:

• Assemble and prepare papers, being the main point of conduct for CEO key meetings.
• Coordinate, attend, take minutes, and track actions for the Organisational Leadership Team.
• Manage diary, project manage and carry out administration for the CEO.
• Coordinate, attend, take minutes, and track actions for the CEO.
• Follow up on actions from meetings on behalf of the CEO and Chair of EFH, ensuring timely completion.
• Draft correspondence, manage communications, and liaise with key stakeholders including government departments, Patrons’ offices, and external partners, ensuring appropriate professionalism.

Governance Liaison:

• Act as the primary liaison between the CEO and the Group Head of Governance, ensuring all governance-related matters are effectively managed by having weekly check ins with both the Chief Executive and Group Head of Governance, and keeping the Director of People, Culture & Governance informed about pertinent matters.
• Coordinate the preparation and distribution of governance papers and briefing documents for the CEO.
• Ensure timely submission of board and committee papers, ensuring accuracy and completeness.
• Support the CEO in governance-related activities, including regulatory compliance and strategic planning discussions.
• Work closely with the CEO, Director of Finance and Operations, and Property Consultant on property-related matters.
• Act as secretariat for relevant property committees including meeting scheduling, minute taking and tracking actions.

Business Support:

• Lead the induction of new Business Support team members, ensuring consistency in approach.
• Hold regular meetings with the Business Support team, inviting feedback and implementing improvements.
• Lead meetings with Business Support staff to share best practices and resolve operational challenges.
• Foster a positive and collaborative team environment.
• Lead and support the Business Support team, providing a backup service to teams across the organisation, ensuring tasks are carried out in a timely manner. Where there is insufficient capacity within the Business Support Team, this may mean sourcing a temp or outside agency.

Person Specification:

It’s 2025, no-one should be lying awake worrying about mounting bills. No child should be starting their school day cold and hungry. But the fact is, it’s happening, and we want to end it. With an ambitious strategy, we need a strong leader to work alongside the CEO and leadership team who can streamline operations and coordinate key business functions. Successful applicants will have previous experience providing executive support at a senior level with excellent organisational skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities.

You should have a sound understanding of governance processes, including board and committee administration, be an excellent communicator with the ability to draft high-quality correspondence. In addition, you will bring proven leadership experience, motivating and coordinating others, while demonstrating professionalism, discretion, and a commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, and the values of Turn2us.

Essential Criteria:

• Significant experience in a high-level Executive Assistant or Business Support Management role.
• Strong knowledge of governance processes, including board and committee administration.
• Excellent organisational and project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
• High-level written and verbal communication skills, with experience drafting formal correspondence and briefing papers.
• Strong leadership skills, with the ability to coordinate and motivate others.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive information with discretion.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and experience with digital collaboration tools (e.g., Teams, SharePoint).

Skills:

• Substantial experience working in a senior administrative role or comparable work, highly organised, able to plan proactively and prioritise work, with excellent time management skills and the ability to deliver to a deadline under pressure within a context of competing demands
• Proficient in Microsoft Office suite (Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint), CRM databases and virtual meeting products
• Ability to take a strategic approach, working across the organisation to suggest and implement processes and systems, creating business plans for new initiatives
• Understanding of Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning to support effective impact and continuous improvement, good project management and budgeting skills
• Demonstrable and highly developed interpersonal and communication skills both written and verbal with the ability to manage effective working relationships.

Knowledge:

• Understanding of safeguarding and safe working practices including Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging and its practical application
• Experience of organisation of meetings, travel arranging, diary management and email management
• Ability to take concise, accurate and efficiently produced minutes of meetings
• Line management experience and ability to motivate others

Attributes:

• Personal commitment to the work of Turn2us
• Resilience, good problem-solving skills
• Initiative/self-starter: able to operate independently and be a team worker.
• A continual improvement approach to yourself and to the work
• Tactful and diplomatic with emotional intelligence

How to Apply/Interview dates

To express your interest or request the full candidate briefing pack, please contact Tess at MLC directly or submit your application via the link provided.

We particularly welcome applications from individuals with lived experience of financial insecurity or those from underrepresented communities, including Black, Asian and minoritised ethnic groups, disabled people, and LGBTQIA+ individuals.

Closing date of applications: Friday 14th November

1st stage interviews: w/c 17th November

2nd stage interviews (face-to-face): w/c 24th November

Tender is an arts charity working with children and young people to prevent domestic abuse and sexual violence through creative projects. Our programmes are safe, enjoyable, age-appropriate spaces where young people can engage with sensitive topics and “rehearse” for real-life scenarios. Participants are encouraged to be both consumers and producers of learning through script-work, role-play and creative media such as films and art. Throughout, we enable young people to explore their choices, rights and expectations in relationships and to recognise the early warning signs of abuse. 

Tender has grown significantly in recent years. We have secured income from an increasing range of sources: corporates, major donors, trusts & foundations and statutory funders. We have done this with a small but highly effective development team.

With a clear strategic focus for the next five years, we are strengthening our development team to ensure we have the funding needed to achieve our strategic ambitions. We plan to grow both the extent of our reach across the country, and the difference we make to the people we work with. We are also planning to increase the effectiveness of our policy & influencing work, aiming to deliver significant, systemic change to how violence against women and girls is prevented.

You will play a pivotal role in raising the funding for our ambitions, focusing on statutory and trusts & foundations income streams. You will lead on both these income streams, managing existing funders and securing new funders. You will secure income from your own portfolio of funders and partners, and lead and inspire the team to achieve their own ambitious targets, both through new sources and through excellent stewardship of existing funders.

Role purpose

The main purposes of this role are:

• Researching, identifying and applying for grant funding and commissioning from statutory sources, trusts and foundations (T&F)
• Developing and writing high quality fundraising bids which align with the objectives and needs of statutory funders, T&F and Tender’s strategic objectives
• Managing and maintaining partnerships and relationships with a range of stakeholders (statutory funders, T&F, delivery partners, professionals in the sector, internal stakeholders)
• Developing the Statutory and T&F strategy in collaboration with the Development Director

Main responsibilities and duties

New business development

• Developing and implementing a strategy to develop relationships with, and maximise income from, statutory sources, T&F
• Working with service managers, designing, developing and submitting high-quality funding proposals to statutory sources, T&F which are technically sound, meet donor requirements and align with Tender’s strategic objectives
• Maintaining an up-to-date market awareness of grant-making trends and best practice in T&F fundraising
• Developing the overall statutory and T & F strategy with oversight from the Development Director
• Monitoring and reporting against business development plans to ensure objectives are achieved, and proposing plans for remedial action if projections are not on track

Relationships

• Managing relationships with Statutory sources and T&F funding Tender, building a deep understanding of the needs and requirements of each funder
• Developing and executing stewardship and relationship management plans for T&F to maximise the value and duration of their support for Tender
• Overseeing the production of high-quality monitoring reports for T&F, and using insights from funded programmes to develop case for support materials
• Working with other Tender managers to ensure the consistent tone and positioning of Tender in the implementation of marketing of all projects
• Line managing two Development Officers

Administration

• Working with the Governance team to improve operational effectiveness and quality service by identifying and implementing process improvements
• Contributing to the maintenance of Tender’s overall Development function, providing appropriate analysis and reports
• Developing and maintaining a funding database and ensuring it is up to date to effectively monitor and evaluate the strategy
• Completing all mandatory training, and proactively seek opportunities for ongoing professional development
• Ensuring that all policies and procedures are followed, including safeguarding, data protection and equal opportunities
• Working as a member of the Tender team and carrying out other duties that may be required to meet the needs of the organisation

The Vacancies

We are seeking to appoint two business registrants and one dispensing optician to our Advisory Panel Companies Committee.

About the GOC

We are the regulator for the optical professions in the UK. Our purpose is to protect the public by promoting high standards of education, performance, and conduct.

About the Advisory Panel
The Advisory Panel is a meeting of the four Council’s committees (Companies, Education, Registration, and Standards) in plenary session. They are established by statute for the purpose of giving advice and assistance to Council (whether or not in response to a request from them) on:

• matters relating to business registrants other than matters required by the Opticians Act to be referred to the Investigation Committee, the Registration Appeals, Committee or the Fitness to Practise Committee; 

• matters relating to optical training, education, and assessment; 

• matters relating to registration, other than matters required by the Opticians Act to be considered by the Registration Appeals Committee; and 

• matters relating to the standards of conduct and performance expected of registrants or those seeking admission to the register. 

Time Commitment and Remuneration 

This role is part time with a commitment of approximately 2-3 days per year, including time spent preparing for meetings.  Meetings will usually take place via MS Teams but may on occasion be held at the GOC Offices in London or other suitable venues.

A daily fee of £319 will be paid. This is in line with our member fees policy and member fee schedule.  This is taxable and subject to Class 1 National Insurance (NI) contributions. It is not pensionable.

Members can claim expenses for travel and subsistence costs incurred on Council business as set out in our expenses policy.

How to apply 

Please apply with the following: 

• your CV outlining your employment history, any relevant voluntary work, public service, or other experience; together with any relevant professional, academic, or vocational qualifications (please keep this to two sides of A4); 

• the application form (attcahed below), stating how your experience matches the essential criteria for the vacancy you are applying for; and 

• an EDI monitoring form (link can be found in the candidate pack below). 

Please email your completed application quoting reference GOC05/25 to appointment@optical .org.

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

For more information please see the attached candidate information pack.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: midnight Sunday 09 November 2025.

Online interviews will be held the week commencing 12 January 2026.

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