Content Writer Jobs in Manchester
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
SMART CJS is seeking a skilled and experienced Trusts and Foundations Bid Writer to play a key role in generating income from charitable trusts, foundations, and statutory funders. We’re looking for someone with a proven track record of writing successful funding applications and identifying new opportunities that align with SMART’s strategic goals in tackling homelessness and supporting vulnerable individuals in Bedford and the surrounding area.
This is an exciting time to join SMART CJS as we grow and respond to new funding opportunities. The role is primarily home-based, so the successful candidate must be able to work independently and manage their time effectively. Given the nature of our work, personal resilience is also important, as some of the stories and case studies used in funding applications can be emotionally challenging. The role will come with realistic targets.
Main Purpose of the Role
To identify, write, and submit compelling, well-researched and tailored funding applications to trusts, foundations, and relevant grant-giving bodies. The post holder will work closely with the CEO, Head of Business, and operational teams to gather information, write bids, and track progress of submissions, ensuring SMART CJS meets income targets.
Key Responsibilities
1. Fundraising and Bid Writing
- Research and identify suitable grant and funding opportunities from charitable trusts, foundations, and statutory bodies.
- Write and submit high-quality funding applications and proposals in line with SMART’s strategic priorities.
- Work collaboratively with service leads and frontline teams to gather accurate, up-to-date data and service information for applications.
- Tailor applications to funder requirements and priorities, ensuring persuasive storytelling and alignment with SMART’s mission.
- Manage a pipeline of applications and submissions, ensuring deadlines are met and income targets are tracked.
- Maintain and build relationships with key funders, providing timely reports and updates on grant-funded work.
- Work to realistic targets and KPIS and be able to feedback on these.
2. Organisational Development and Support
- Contribute to the strategic development of SMART’s income generation plans.
- Support development of strong internal bid and grant management systems, including templates, case studies, and project reporting tools.
- Monitor success rates and provide monthly reporting on funding performance to the Head of Business.
- Represent SMART CJS at funding briefings, webinars, and networking opportunities where appropriate.
3. Other Responsibilities
- Participate in SMART’s performance management and appraisal process.
- Comply with health and safety policies and procedures.
- Undertake any other duties commensurate with the role, as required by the Head of Business or CEO.
Person Specification
Criteria
Essential (E) / Desirable (D)
Minimum 2 years’ experience writing successful funding bids for a charity or not-for-profit organisation E
Proven track record of securing funding from trusts, foundations, or statutory sources E
Experience developing compelling cases for support and storytelling E
Experience working with service delivery teams to gather evidence and data E
Knowledge of the homelessness, housing, or social care sector D
Experience using grant portals or CRM/fundraising databases D
Project management experience or qualification D
Excellent written and verbal communication skills E
Strong time management and the ability to meet multiple deadlines E
Highly organised and detail-oriented E
Ability to work independently, using initiative in a home-based role E
Personal resilience and emotional maturity to work with sensitive and sometimes distressing subject matter E
Commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion E
About you
You are a confident and experienced bid writer with a proven track record of securing funding from charitable trusts, foundations, and statutory sources. Your writing is compelling, clear, and rooted in evidence—able to turn service data and case studies into powerful narratives that align with funder priorities.
Organised and self-motivated, you thrive in a home-based role where you can manage your own workload and juggle multiple deadlines with ease. You’re skilled at collaborating with service teams to extract the information you need, and you bring emotional maturity and resilience to the table when working with sensitive content.
Whether you're identifying new funding opportunities, building strong funder relationships, or supporting SMART CJS’s strategic goals, you are driven by a desire to make a tangible difference in the lives of people facing homelessness and complex challenges. You’re not just a great writer—you’re a passionate advocate for change.
Registered Charity 
51 - 100
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
Overview
Change Grow Live are looking for an Assistant Business Development Officer (Bid Writer) to join our national business development team. As one of the UK’s largest charities, Change Grow Live supports people in making positive changes in their lives.
Location: London (You could also be based in our Manchester or Brighton Regional Business Unit)
Salary: £27,861.26 − £32,002.35 per year Dependent on experience (Based on full time hours, pro rata for part time).
Contract Type: 12 month Fixed Term Contract
Hours: Full Time, 37.5 hours per week
Allowances: £4,133.14 per year Inner London Weighting, pro rata
Dates for Interview are 6th-8th of May 2025
Closing Date 27/4/2025
Role overview
You’ll help to prepare for, write and support on developing bids and proposals, helping Change Grow Live secure contracts and run high-quality health and social care services. These services support adults, children and young people, including around drugs and alcohol, homelessness and criminal justice.
Your day-to-day will include:
- Writing and editing bid responses
- Working with colleagues across Change Grow Live
- Completing online research, analysing data and working with partner organisations
- Creating presentations, diagrams and reports
- Helping improve how we do things.
This role is designed to support you through the beginning of your business development and bid writing career. We’ll provide you with support and training to develop and progress.
About you
You are:
- Clear and concise writer
- Motivated to develop your skills
- Open to feedback
- Curious and analytical
- Solution-focused and tenacious
- Kind and committed to helping people make positive changes.
Previous experience in business development is not needed, but skills or experience in health and social care, writing, sales, research, or data are beneficial.
Benefits:
- Working a successful team
- Structured training, development, mentoring and progression opportunities
- The option to work from home for some of the week
- Wellbeing support, including an employee assistance programme and an hour each week for wellbeing activities of your choice (find out more here).
We want our workforce to represent the diversity of the people and communities we work with. We pride ourselves on an inclusive and supportive workplace, evidenced through our Investors in People Silver Award and Stonewall Silver Award 2023.
We’re happy to consider any reasonable adjustments that you need to be successful. We do everything we can to accommodate flexible working, including compressed or part-time hours, job shares and other arrangements. Please let us know in your application or at any stage of the process if you would like to explore these options.
Before you apply
In the application portal, there’s a section called ‘how you meet the criteria for the role’. This is your chance to tell us about why you’re a good fit for this job – we won’t be able to consider your application unless it’s filled in. Please explain how you meet each of the person specification criteria (listed at the end of the job description). You can group multiple criteria together where you think it makes sense. Use clear examples of your experience (this link contains some useful guidance). As guidance, written statements should not exceed 1,000 words.
We encourage applications from individuals who may not meet every requirement but are excited about the role. We value lived experience of substance use, homelessness, and/or multiple disadvantages.
We’re a Disability Confident Committed employer. We’ll offer an interview to disabled people who meet the minimum criteria for this job. Please confirm in the ‘how you meet the criteria for the role’ part of the application if you are applying under this scheme.
Check out the job description and team explainer for more information.
If you require sponsorship, please note that this role is not eligible for a Health and Care Worker visa. You may be eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route but must meet the minimum salary requirements for the role.
Full-time hours at Change Grow Live are 37.5 hours per week. For part-time roles, the salary and payments will be pro rata based on contracted hours
If you have any questions on this opportunity that you would like to talk through please contact us
Thank you!
Down Syndrome UK (DSUK) is a vibrant, proactive national charity working with more than 5,000 families with a child or young person with Down syndrome. Our vision is for people with Down syndrome to lead their best lives.
Role Overview
This role is responsible for achieving fundraising targets, managing the community fundraising team and freelance grant writer(s), and leading all marketing initiatives, including social media management.
Reporting to the CEO, this role is ideal for someone with a strong background in fundraising, marketing, and team management who is passionate about making a difference.
Key Responsibilities
Fundraising
- Develop and implement a strategic fundraising plan to meet financial targets.
- Identify and develop new funding opportunities, including corporate sponsorships, business network, regular giving, legacies and fundraising campaigns.
- Support and manage the community fundraising team to maximise income from individual giving, sponsored events, and community-led initiatives.
- Oversee and work closely with the freelance grant writer(s) to ensure timely and high-quality funding applications.
- Maintain and develop relationships with funders, donors, and key stakeholders, providing impact reports and updates. Develop and deliver innovative fundraising events and campaigns.
- Ensure compliance with fundraising regulations and best practices.
Marketing and Communications
- Develop and implement an effective marketing strategy to enhance awareness, engagement, uptake of services and fundraising.
- Oversee all communications, ensuring a consistent and compelling message aligned with the charity’s vision.
- Work with Trustees and the Senior Management Team to significantly build our brand.
- Manage the social media team, ensuring engaging, timely, and impactful content across platforms.
- Oversee content creation for digital and print marketing materials, newsletters, press releases, and the website.
- Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of marketing campaigns and adjust strategies as needed.
- Strengthen relationships with media outlets and influencers to increase the charity’s profile.
Team and Budget Management
- Lead and support the community fundraising team, the marketing and communications team and freelance grant writer(s), ensuring alignment with organisational goals.
- Monitor budgets related to fundraising and marketing activities, ensuring cost-effective resource allocation and achieving ROI targets.
- Report on fundraising and marketing performance, providing regular updates to senior management and trustees.
Person Specification
Essential Skills & Experience:
- Proven experience in fundraising, with a strong track record of meeting or exceeding income targets.
- Experience in marketing, communications, or public relations, ideally within the charity sector.
- Strong leadership and people management skills, with experience managing teams and external contractors.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to engage a range of audiences.
- Strategic thinking, with the ability to identify and capitalise on fundraising and marketing opportunities.
- Strong project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
- Knowledge of SEO optimisation, social media management and digital marketing strategies.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office and familiarity with CRM and fundraising platforms.
Desirable Skills & Experience:
- Experience in grant writing and securing funding from trusts and foundations.
- Knowledge of Google Ads and analytics.
- Familiarity of using Sales Force.
- Knowledge of fundraising regulations and best practices.
- Experience working with volunteers and community groups.
- A personal connection to or experience within the Down syndrome or wider disability community.
Additional Information
- This is a remote role, but you will need to sometimes travel to attend events and meetings.
- Some evening and weekend work may be required to support fundraising events and campaigns
Closing date 14th April 2025.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.