Using Anonymous Recruitment
This organisation is using Anonymous Recruitment to reduce bias in the first stages of the hiring process. Submit your application as normal and our system will anonymise it for you. Your personal information will be hidden until the recruiter contacts you.
Step into a transformative journey with Working Options
We're on a mission to empower young people aged 14-19 across England and Wales, and you can help make a real difference.
Following our successful Wales pilot supporting 15,000 young people since launching in 2024, we're scaling regionally. In 2025 we're focusing on Bedfordshire, and that is where we need you, while also responding to needs across England and Wales, aiming to reach 90,000+ young people in-person and 2.5 million+ online across both nations.
As a Project Coordinator you'll connect volunteers with schools and foster impactful relationships within our dynamic, entrepreneurial environment. We believe in inclusivity, trying new things, setting high expectations, and creating real opportunities for young people.
Working from home with occasional team meet-ups, events, and school visits, you'll join a dedicated team that values high expectations and individual contributions to help young people achieve positive outcomes.
If you're passionate, self-motivated, and eager to contribute to a great mission, this is your chance to join a team that's helping young people to transform their career and life chances.
Don't just take our word for it, here's what one of our young people had to say: "My personal experience has been exceptional. There is a collaborative atmosphere, and it is truly empowering to be part of a charity that values student input and involves us in decisions that directly affect our lives." – Working Options Alumnae.
Find out more about the role, and hear from our Chief Executive about our charity's ambitions, via the applicant pack linked below.
Person specification
We are looking for someone who:
• Has a genuine interest in our work and in the greater Bedfordshire area and/or South of England in easy reach of Bedfordshire.
• Is fully committed to equality, diversity, and inclusion.
• Is self-motivated.
• Has excellent attention to detail.
• Can juggle multiple priorities, sticking to deadlines and flagging when priorities need reviewing.
• Has a flair for developing great relationships, particularly with schools and colleges.
• Is proactive and tenacious, able to seek out new opportunities and remain resilient.
• Is creative and likes coming up with new ideas.
• Is ambitious for themselves and for the charity.
• Has high computer literacy.
While we don't specify this in our person specification, we are particularly interested to hear from applicants who have experienced some of the challenges that young people across England and Wales face today.
If you like the sound of this environment, we would love to hear from you.
Good luck with your application!
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Using Anonymous Recruitment
This organisation is using Anonymous Recruitment to reduce bias in the first stages of the hiring process. Submit your application as normal and our system will anonymise it for you. Your personal information will be hidden until the recruiter contacts 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!
Job Title: Policy and Impact Officer
Location: Home working with some travel
Contract Type: Permanent
Hours: 35 hours per week
Salary: £24,000pa
DBS/PVG: Not required
Job Family: 3
Line Manager: Head of Policy and Impact
Closing Date: 30th September 2025 We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications
Start Date: asap
Interview Dates: 23 October 2025
We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications
Who we are
At Volunteering Matters, we believe people have the power to create change. Whether through volunteering by helping others and giving time, or through social action such as speaking up, campaigning, or leading change, everyone can make a difference. We bring people together to build stronger communities across England, Scotland and Wales, making sure everyone has the chance to get involved and create real change.
What we do
We help people of all ages and backgrounds get involved in volunteering and social action. We focus on making sure that everyone, no matter their situation, has the chance to take part.
How we do this
We support people to share their time and skills to help others and tackle big challenges in their communities.
• We remove barriers to volunteering and social action, making it easier for people who don’t always get the chance to take part.
• We listen to and amplify voices that aren’t always heard, helping volunteers and communities influence change.
• We help volunteers beyond their first experience, offering training, support, and pathways to new opportunities.
• We connect businesses with communities, creating meaningful employee volunteering projects.
• We show the impact of volunteering and social action, proving how it changes lives for the better.
Our promise to volunteers
We are always looking for new ways for volunteers to make a difference. We bring people together across generations and backgrounds to learn from each other and create change. At the same time, we make sure that all our volunteers are trained, supported, and valued, so they feel confident in what they do.
Role Purpose
The Policy and Impact Team sits at the heart of Volunteering Matters. We play a vital role in demonstrating the impact of our work connecting data, qualitative insight, and lived experience to the policy agendas shaping communities across the UK. Through storytelling, analysis, and evidence, we make sure volunteering is recognised as a driving force for social change.
We are a small, hands-on team. You will be involved in every aspect of our work from desk-based research and writing briefings to organising external meetings and working directly in communities alongside our volunteers. This variety allows you to connect national policy with local realities and help volunteers share their voices where it matters most.
You will help bring our five-year strategy to life by linking project outcomes to broader societal developments and showcasing the impact of volunteers and communities.
Key Duties Responsibilities
· Support the Head of Policy and Impact to coordinate Volunteering Matters’ policy and public affairs work.
· Support people involved with our volunteering projects to engage with local politicians, e.g. by organising visits to projects or meetings with volunteers.
· Monitor and respond to opportunities (e.g. relevant government consultations, All-Party Parliamentary Group inquiries or Select Committee inquiries) that are relevant to Volunteering Matters’ priorities.
· Support mapping and research exercises to inform our policy positioning. Writing summary reports as needed.
· Collaborate with the National Volunteer Engagement Manager to support the inclusion of volunteer and community voices in our policy and public affairs work.
· Assist with collecting impact and activity data from across the charity and work with the Data Analyst to undertake analysis.
· Support with routine collection of quarterly data from projects - ensuring responses are timely and accurate, providing guidance to project managers as needed.
· Work with project staff to help create impactful and engaging reports.
· Represent Volunteering Matters at charity and volunteering policy-related groups.
Essential Skills
· Understanding of UK political systems and policy-making processes across national, devolved, and local levels.
· Understanding of policy, public affairs, or influencing, ideally within the voluntary or community sector.
· Confident communicator, able to engage with policymakers, sector partners, and community representatives.
· Familiarity with both qualitative and quantitative data analysis to inform narrative reporting and strategic insight.
· Excellent writing skills, with the ability to craft clear, persuasive documents based on data and lived experience.
· Alignment with Volunteering Matters’ values and a commitment to amplifying community voice.
· Must adhere to the organisation’s Code of Conduct and uphold its values at all times.
· Proficient in Microsoft 365, particularly Outlook, Teams, Word, and Excel, with the ability to manage email communications and collaborate digitally.
· Able to work effectively both independently and as part of a team, managing time and priorities in a busy environment.
· For remote roles, candidates must be self-starters who can work with minimal supervision, stay organised, and remain motivated to meet deadlines and deliver quality outcomes.
· Attention to detail and a proactive approach to problem-solving and information sharing.
Experience Required
No specific experience is required.
Qualifications
Relevant skills and values alignment is more important for this role than specific qualifications.
Our Values & Way of Working
In all that we do we are guided by our values: Empowering, Inclusive, Compassionate, Positive & Straightforward.
Disability Confident & Reasonable Adjustments
We guarantee to interview anyone with a disability whose application meets the essential criteria for the role. Please provide evidence in your application, which demonstrates that you meet the level of competence required in the Job Description under skill and experience. To be considered for a guaranteed interview or to discuss any reasonable adjustments during the process, please state this in your cover letter.
GDPR Statement
If you apply for a role with us, we will retain your contact details including your name, address, email address and phone number to help us manage your application for up to six months. We will not use your personal data for any other purpose or share it with any third party. You can contact us at any point to update your personal information or ask us to delete it from our records.
Policy on AI-Generated Applications
Applications are accepted on trust, and we expect all submissions to reflect the applicant’s own words, experiences, and motivations. While tools such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) may support the application process, applications should not be generated wholly by AI.
To Apply
Please send an updated, complete CV and cover letter via the Charity Job Apply button above. In your application clearly state which role you are applying for. In the cover letter please demonstrate how you would fulfil the role requirements, what previous relevant achievements you have (both in life and at work), what skills & experience you can offer, and what you believe you can contribute to Volunteering Matters.
Please note that all applicants must have the right to work in the UK. Unfortunately, we’re unable to progress applications that don’t meet this requirement.
If you have any questions about current vacancies, the recruitment process, or need support, our team is here to help. Whether you're a candidate looking for more information or with an HR query, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
We turn local knowledge into action by working with volunteers and partners across the UK to build stronger communities for all.





The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Charity Support Officer
Location: Remote, with regular meetings in London, applicants must be based in or around London
Salary: £27,700 - £29,000 per year
Contract: Full-time with opportunities to work flexibly over 4 days
Reporting to: CEO
About AWN
All Ways Network (AWN) is a UK-registered charity dedicated to empowering non-profits that support diverse Muslim communities across the UK, particularly those with an annual income under £1 million towards becoming fundable.
We provide grassroots organisations with vital services from bid-writing and application reviews to webinars, training, and tailored charity support. This helps them access funding, strengthen governance, build capacity, and adopt best practices in a challenging funding landscape.
Committed to equitable grant-making and a stronger civil society, AWN champions the vision of: “Thriving non-profits empowering Muslim communities to enrich UK society.”
Role Overview: Knowledge in grant-funding, capacity building, organisational support
We are seeking a proactive and collaborative Charity Support Officer to help deliver AWN’s mission. You will be the first point of contact for grassroots charities, supporting them to strengthen their organisations and improve their chances of securing grant funding by offering practical guidance, signposting, and building trusted relationships that help them grow in confidence and resilience. The role includes helping organisations strengthen governance and compliance, sharing information on grant-funding opportunities, and supporting them to identify challenges and develop practical solutions.
The non-profits you will support work across a wide range of areas for example: women, health and wellbeing, youth, homelessness and poverty, family services, sports, faith groups, crime and gangs, prisoners and ex-offenders, refugees and asylum seekers, drug addiction, older people and rehabilitation, and many more.
Bringing a strong awareness of the barriers facing small charities particularly Muslim-led groups, will be key to helping them build long-term sustainability and impact.
Key Responsibilities:
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Act as the first point of contact for charities and community groups, managing a varied caseload and balancing priorities.
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Carry out needs assessments to understand organisations strengths, challenges, and funding needs, and develop clear action plans.
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Provide tailored support, including health checks on governance, compliance, finances, and funding readiness, offering recommendations and signposting to specialist services (e.g., Cranfield Trust, CVS, Charity Excellence etc).
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Advise on funding opportunities, strategy, and application readiness, with referrals to bid-writing support where needed.
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Deliver workshops, webinars, events, and one-to-one sessions to build skills, knowledge, and confidence of UK grassroots organisations.
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Work collaboratively with organisations and AWN colleagues (including via the triage and referral system) to identify challenges and develop practical, sustainable solutions.
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Build and maintain strong relationships with charities, funders, and sector partners across the voluntary, public, and charity sectors.
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Represent AWN at external events, conferences, and meetings, helping to organise and deliver events linked to your work.
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Keep accurate records on the CRM, gather feedback, write case studies, and contribute to monitoring, evaluation, and service development.
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Support AWN’s communications by contributing updates for the website and social media.
What We’re Looking For
We’re looking for someone who is approachable, empathetic, and motivated to make a difference. You’ll have a natural ability to listen, build trust, and meet people where they are, while offering constructive and practical support. Patience, curiosity, and cultural awareness will help you understand the diverse realities of grassroots charities and the communities they serve.
Alongside these personal qualities, you’ll bring a good understanding of the charity sector and the challenges facing small non-profits across the UK, for UK Muslim-led organisations. You’ll have exceptional knowledge of governance, compliance, and funding pathways, and the confidence to guide organisations towards growth, resilience, and long-term impact.
Essential Criteria
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3+ years’ experience within the UK charity sector (domestic, not solely international).
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Strong understanding of charity governance, compliance, and the UK funding and grant-making landscape.
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Insight into the needs and challenges of small and grassroots non-profits, with awareness of the systemic barriers affecting Muslim-led organisations.
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Experience supporting or advising charities, community groups, or local networks to build capacity and resilience.
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Ability to work collaboratively with organisations, offering constructive and practical guidance.
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Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with confidence in public speaking and engaging a wide range of stakeholders.
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Strong organisational and administrative skills with attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple priorities.
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Demonstrated ability to work independently, take initiative, and adapt in a fast-paced environment.
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Comfortable working autonomously and as part of a small team, with minimal supervision.
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Confident using technology to deliver support and manage work effectively, including CRM systems, Microsoft Teams, and other digital tools.
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Experience in one or more of the following areas:
- Community engagement and outreach
- Event or project coordination (online and in-person)
- Delivering presentations, workshops, or training sessions
- Monitoring, evaluation, and learning activities
Recruitment Process
Interviews will take place early October 2025.
The process will include two stages: one online and one in-person (to be held in the City of London).
Exact dates will be confirmed before the application deadline.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.