Dementia friendly communities officer jobs

The Community Engagement Officer will play a crucial role in delivering the Dementia Community Champions (DCC) programme for Alzheimer’s Research UK (ARUK). Launched in 2022, the programme aims to disseminate dementia information to underserved communities who face barriers in accessing health and research information and are at higher risk of dementia. The programme to date has focussed on South Asian communities, working in Leicester, Nottingham and Derby. In 2026 the programme will expand into Black African and Black Caribbean communities in East London. With the programme expanding, the Officer will have significant scope to support, shape and develop this important area of work.

Dementia Community Champions are volunteers trained by Alzheimer’s Research UK to deliver events in their communities to increase knowledge and understanding of dementia, brain health and dementia risk factors. They also emphasise the importance of taking part in research in their local communities.

They do this by, attending training sessions run by the team, holding events to share dementia information, sharing leaflets and other resources, speaking to local people about their experience of dementia and signposting them to appropriate support.

In the role as Community Engagement Officer, you will assist in the recruitment, training and support of the volunteers to deliver their activities and events. We are looking for a confident and friendly, organised and proactive person to join the team. You’ll be part of the Information & Involvement department, whose mission is to improve understanding of dementia and the diseases which cause it and encourage and support the public and people affected by dementia to get involved in research. The department forms part of the Policy, Communications & Involvement directorate and works closely with colleagues both within the directorate and across the charity.

This is a 12-month FTC.

Main duties and responsibilities of the role:

Day to day support of volunteers

· Assist in the recruitment and management of DCC volunteers, ensuring a smooth onboarding process and volunteer journey.

· Act as a point of contact for DCC volunteers, providing guidance, support, and timely responses to their enquiries.

· Empower volunteers by helping them build skills and confidence to talk about dementia and dementia research, and to engage effectively with their audiences.

· Plan, facilitate, and deliver monthly online meetings. This includes coordinating with volunteers, arranging logistics, addressing queries, and liaising with internal stakeholders.

Comprehensive admin support

· Provide comprehensive administrative support for the programme, including assisting volunteers in organising and evaluating their events.

· Collect key metrics from the programme to monitor progress and evaluate activities.

· Maintain relevant files and documents, ensuring accurate recording of data and adherence to GDPR.

Support the delivery of Dementia Community Champions in underserved communities.

· Assist in the development and delivery of DCC training and ongoing support to volunteers to hold their own events.

· Act as a champion for DCC across Alzheimer's Research UK, effectively communicating the importance, successes and challenges of the programme. Share insights and support colleagues across ARUK in their efforts to reach underserved communities.

· Collaborate with the DCC Manager to produce ongoing evaluation of the programme. Proactively suggest new initiatives and continuous improvements.

What we are looking for:

· Science graduate or equivalent level of education (biomedical or biological subject) or equivalent level of worked experience.

· Experience of discussing health or research with the public.

· Experience of communicating complex health information in a simple and accessible way.

· Awareness of current topics in dementia and dementia research

· Understanding of GDPR and information governance.

· Demonstrated experience in providing comprehensive administrative support for programmes or initiatives.

· Experience of working with and supporting volunteers.

· Experience of partnership working with external organisations to deliver programmes.

· Project and events coordination experience.

· Effective written and spoken communication skills.

· A confident, friendly, and professional attitude; would feel at ease representing the charity to a range of audiences.

· Willingness and ability to travel independently in the UK and occasionally to work outside of regular office hours when needed.

· Ability to manage multiple tasks, prioritise responsibilities, and meet deadlines effectively, especially in a fast-paced environment.

· The willingness to learn and understand about dementia and dementia research and be able to use learning to effectively train others on topics of diagnosis, treatment and prevention.

· Willingness to work collaboratively with colleagues across different departments, as well as external stakeholders and volunteers, to achieve common goals.

· Openness to adapting to changing circumstances and priorities, as well as flexibility in approach when working with diverse communities and volunteers.

· Ability to understand and empathise with individuals affected by dementia, as well as volunteers who may have personal connections to the cause.

· Dedication to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion within the programme and ensuring that all volunteers feel valued and respected regardless of their background.

Additional Information:

Ways of working: As part of our Agile ways of working you will be required to work approximately 2 days a week from the office, which is subject to the requirements of the role and the business needs. Flexibility on where you work can be split between working from home and our office.

Roles that are classed as part of the Agile ways of working are not able to claim any costs for Mileage/Travel on Public Transport, Accommodation and/or Meals.  This includes when attending the office for various meetings/events.

Remote - As part of our Remote ways of working you will be home based. You will only need to attend the office for specific requirements of the role and the business needs.

Roles that are classed as part of the Remote ways of working are able to claim any costs for Mileage/Travel on Public Transport, Accommodation and/or Meals.  This includes when attending the office for various meetings/events.

Our Office: Our office is at 3 Riverside, Granta Park, Great Abington, Cambridge, CB21 6AD. 

Salary: Circa £30,000 per annum, plus benefits.

Please download the Vacancy Pack on our website for more information.

The closing date for applications is the 1st June 2025, with interviews being arrange once shortlisting has been completed. Please indicate in your covering letter if you are unable to attend an interview on a certain date. We would encourage you to submit your application at the earliest opportunity, as on occasion we may have to bring forward the interview date and/or the closing date based on the needs of the business. Although a possibility, this will only happen in exceptional circumstances. Please indicate in your covering letter if you are unable to attend an interview on a certain date.

We value diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive culture where everyone can be themselves and reach their full potential.  We actively encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and cultures, in particular those from ethnic minority backgrounds who are currently under-represented.  Any offer of employment is however subject to you having the right to work in the UK.

As part of our commitment to being an inclusive employer and ensuring fairness and consistency in our selection process, we will handle your CV and application with the utmost confidentiality. While we strive to anonymise your CV where possible, there are certain sections, such as the application question, that cannot be fully anonymised. We kindly ask that you remove any personal information, including your name, when answering the application question. The hiring panel will not have access to your personal details, such as your name and address, until you are invited for an interview. Should you require any adjustments at either the application or interview stage, please contact us via our website. 

How to apply: Please create an online account using our Online Recruitment Platform which can be accessed through our Job Vacancies page. You will be able to attach your CV to your application and track the status of your application.

About Alzheimer’s Research UK: Alzheimer's Research UK is the UK's leading dementia research charity. Our mission is to accelerate progress towards a cure.  Today 1 in 2 people will be impacted by dementia, either through caring for a loved one, developing it themselves or tragically both. But there is hope. 

There has never been a more important and exciting time in dementia research. With promising new drugs in clinical trials that slow the progression of the diseases that cause it, and revolutionary new ways to diagnose them on the horizon, we are now at a tipping point. Working with the smartest minds globally and across the UK, with industry and academia, Alzheimer’s Research UK is uniquely placed to invest in the very best research identifying barriers to a cure and knocking them down so that there are more and better treatments for everyone with dementia. For the first time in history, we can see a future where people with dementia can get a swift and accurate diagnosis, and effective treatments that could slow or even stop their disease. We stand for everyone affected by dementia. We stand for a cure. 

In 2024, we were incredibly proud to be awarded a 3-star accreditation by Best Companies which recognises ‘World Class’ levels of workplace engagement. This is the second consecutive time; we have been awarded a Best Companies 3-star accreditation.

We were also listed in the prestigious Best Companies lists:

· 18th in the 100 Best Large Companies to Work For in the UK.

· 10th in the 50 Best Companies to Work For in the East of England.

· 2nd in the 30 Best Companies to Work For in the Charity Sector.

In addition, we were also shortlisted for a special award recognising the work undertaken on reducing our environmental impact.

In 2021, we were awarded the HR Management award by The Charity Times for our Wellbeing initiatives throughout the pandemic.

In 2020, we demonstrated our commitment to changing the way we think and act about mental health in the workplace and signed the Time to Change Employer Pledge. 

ARUK really does look after its people, where you will be able to add value and make a difference. 

To view further details about working for us and the benefits we offer, please visit Alzheimer’s Research UK