Development research assistant jobs

Haven House Children’s Hospice cares for children and young people who have life-limiting or life-threatening conditions across North and East London, West Essex and East Herts. Our mission is to provide the highest quality palliative and holistic care services to children and their families in our local communities.

Since the hospice opened its doors in 2003, it has gone from strength to strength both in terms of the care we provide to children and their families as well as the close bonds we have developed and nurtured with individuals and organisations who are inspired by our work.

This role sits within the High Value partnerships team, working within the Corporate fundraising team, and alongside Philanthropy, Trusts and Grants, and Special Events. It reports into the Assistant Director of IGM/ Head of High Value Partnerships.

The team pride themselves on their fantastic partnerships and results, and it’s a great time to join as they are currently developing a high value strategy, to underpin the organisation wide strategy and the overall IGM strategy.

At Haven House the focus within the Income Generation and Marketing Team is to put the supporter and donor at the centre of everything we do, ensuring they feel inspired by our work and the children and families we support; engaged and committed to our cause and ultimately make a commitment to do something amazing.

We’re looking for an individual who is has the experience, confidence and skills to win new corporate partnerships and manage our current relationships with existing partners to a high standard.

We want someone to join us who loves being part of a hardworking and collaborative team and who is willing to try new things, bring fresh ideas and who has the energy and personal drive to execute them.  

If this role sounds right for you and you have the right skills and experience, please download the job description and apply.

As an employee you will be entitled to the following range of benefits:

· Hybrid office/home based arrangement

· 27 days' annual leave (pro rata)

· Pension scheme (company matches contribution up to 7%)

· Free onsite parking

· Employee Assistance Programme

· Eye care voucher scheme

· Cycle to work scheme

· Life cover (if eligible)

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all our staff to share this commitment. Employment is subject to receipt of satisfactory references and an enhanced DBS check.

Interview date: w/c 22 September 2025

Marie Curie is the UK’s leading end-of-life charity. We are the largest non-NHS provider of end-of-life care in the UK, the only provider across all 4 nations, delivering community nursing and hospice care across the country, while providing information and support on all aspects of dying, death, and bereavement. Our leading research pushes the boundaries of what we know about good end-of-life, and our campaigns fight for a world where everyone gets to have the best possible quality of life while living with an illness, they’re likely to die from. 

The care and support we provide is highly valued by the people we care for and their loved ones, but at present we are only reaching around 10% of dying people at the end of life. Right now, one in four people in the UK with a terminal illness, do not get the care or support they deserve at the end of their lives.  

We want a different society than the one we live in now. Our mission for the next five years is to close the gap in the number of people missing out on what they need at the end-of-life, through 3 ways:  

• Growing and transforming our direct care and support  

• Delivering more practical information and support  

• Leading in shaping the end-of-life experience   

The Allied Health Professional Manager will have professional and managerial responsibility of the Allied health, social work, bereavement and wellbeing services for Lothians. 

As the Allied Health Professional Manager, you will be responsible for the leadership and operational oversight of a multidisciplinary team comprising: 

• Physiotherapists 

• Occupational Therapists 

• Social Worker 

• Bereavement Support Coordinators 

• Spiritual Care Coordinators 

• Rehabilitation Assistants 

• Volunteers 

This role will be responsible for the safe and effective delivery of these services and will also have a responsibility for oversight of the team's caseloads and will be required to support clinical practice at times.  

The role will be required to work closely with the whole MDT in Lothian and the senior management team to support service growth and development. The role includes responsibility for quality improvement, clinical governance, and the management of incidents, complaints, and concerns within these services. 

You will work closely with the Senior Management Group and report directly to the Clinical Services Lead. You may be required to deputise for the Clinical Services Lead in their absence, contributing to strategic planning and service development. 

What will you be doing:  

• Lead and support a diverse multidisciplinary team across inpatient, community, and wellbeing services and outpatients 

• Provide oversight of caseloads and ensure effective coordination of care. 

• Drive quality improvement initiatives and uphold governance standards. 

• Manage service-related incidents, complaints, and concerns with professionalism and sensitivity. 

• Collaborate with senior leadership and deputise for the Clinical Services Manager when required. 

• Promote a culture of compassionate, person-centred care for patients and families. 

What we’re looking for: 

• We welcome applications from professionals across a range of disciplines, including: 

Allied Health Professionals 

Occupational Therapists 

Social Workers 

Counsellors 

Other relevant health and social care backgrounds

• A relevant professional qualification 

• Current registration with the appropriate professional regulatory body 

• A full UK driving licence and access to a car 

• Minimum 3 years’ senior management experience in a health or social care setting 

• Proven experience supporting individuals and families through change and loss 

• Strong background in Quality Assurance and Governance 

• A collaborative leadership style with the ability to inspire and support teams through change 

Please see the full job description : 

Salary:  Marie Curie PayScale Band 7 £50, 861 - £59,159  

Contract:  Permanent Full Time 37.5 hours per week Monday to Friday  

Based:  Marie Curie Hospice, Frogston Road, West Edinburgh, EH10 7DR onsite  

Benefits You’ll Love 

• Annual leave allowance 25 days plus 10 public holidays (pro rata)  

• Competitive Policy for parental/sick Leave    

• Continuous Professional development    

• Industry leading training programmes    

• Season ticket loan for travelling to and from work    

• Defined contribution schemes for Pension     

• Marie Curie Group Personal Pension Scheme    

• Loan schemes for bikes; computers and satellite navigation systems      

• Introduce a friend scheme    

• Help with eyecare cost  

• Entitled to Marie Curie Blue Light Card     

• Entitled to Benefit-Hub Discount Scheme     

• Life assurance – for all employees 

Application Process 

• Close date for applications: Monday 22nd September 2025  

• Interview Dates: TBC 

• As part of your online application, you will be asked for a CV.  Please review both the advert and job description and outline your most relevant skills, experience and knowledge for the role.   

For further information or to arrange an informal chat please contact our Hiring Manager Jennifer Gallagher Clinical Services Manager at    

Marie Curie is committed to its values, which underpin our work. We take stringent steps to ensure that the people who join our organisation through employment or volunteering, are suitable for their roles and are committed to safeguarding all our people from harm. This includes our staff, volunteers and all those who use or come into contact with our services. We are dedicated to creating not just a safe place to work but also a supportive and rewarding one.

We are committed to a world where everyone can thrive and fulfil their potential. We are devoted to the social justice imperatives and organisational benefits of full diversity, inclusion and equity in the workplace, and are a Stonewall champion. We actively encourage and welcome applications from candidates of diverse cultures, perspectives and lived experiences.

We're happy to accommodate any requests for reasonable adjustments. Please email any requests to [email protected]

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.

OVERVIEW OF THE ROLE

Beacon is now in its second decade and has grown substantially over the last three years, including a rebrand and expansion into international projects. To support this growth, we are seeking a highly organised, proactive, and intuitive Admin & Operations Officer to help ensure the smooth running of our daily activities and core functions.

This varied role spans many aspects of our work, from administration and resource management to supporting the systems and tools that keep Beacon working efficiently. You’ll work across the charity, supporting our executive leadership, projects teams, and fundraising activities, as well as and ensuring colleagues have the information and resources they need to deliver for our beneficiaries.

The successful candidate will play a key role in the day-to-day running of the charity and in supporting senior staff. As you settle into the role, you’ll have opportunities to develop skills in areas such as financial management, executive support, relationship management, stewardship, or project logistics, depending on your interests and the charity’s needs.

This is an excellent opportunity for someone at an early stage of their career, with full training and support provided. You’ll gain experience with a wide range of platforms and processes – from finance tools, databases, and information management – making it a great foundation for building broad, transferable skills in the charity sector. Where possible, you’ll also have the chance to get involved in other aspects of our work, offering valuable insight into how a small but ambitious organisation operates.

We also welcome applications from experienced administrators, operations professionals, or executive assistants. Such candidates may be appointed as Senior Operations Officer, with additional responsibilities and a higher salary.

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Organisational administration

• Lead on day-to-day operational processes to ensure the efficient running of the organisation.
• Provide executive support to the CEO and COO, including diary coordination, scheduling, and meeting logistics.
• Oversee internal financial processes, including processing expenses and invoices, documenting charity income and outgoings, ensuring accurate record keeping, and liaising with our external accounting team.
• Coordinate team activities such as strategy days, team-building events, and the annual Christmas party.
• Support HR-related processes such as managing staff anniversaries, birthdays, departures, and basic record-keeping.
• Act as liaison between the CEO and Board of Trustees as required.
• Collaborate with building management to ensure smooth operation of office facilities.

Fundraising administration

• Provide administrative support for funding applications and reports, including document preparation and submission.
• Monitor timelines and deadlines for all fundraising-related commitments, ensuring requirements are met.
• Maintain accurate fundraising records, keeping donor and income information up to date in our systems.
• Liaise with fundraising partners, sponsors, and donors as required.

N.B. The fundraising aspect of this role is focused on providing administrative and logistical support. This is not a fundraising position, and applicants are not expected to be responsible for income generation.

Team-wide support

• Monitor and respond to incoming enquiries via phone, email, and the Contact Us form, ensuring timely and professional communication.
• Process and respond to volunteer applications, maintaining accurate records and liaising with applicants as required.
• Manage organisational resources, including internal supplies and external materials, monitoring stock levels and coordinating reorders.
• Provide office management support to ensure a well-functioning, well-resourced working environment.
• Organise team travel arrangements for internal and external events.

Occasional duties

• Provide support in the lead-up to major events with preparation of materials as required.
• Support on-the-day delivery of major events alongside other team members.
• Represent the charity at external events and exhibitions.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

This is an excellent opportunity for someone at an early stage of their career who is eager to learn and grow within a supportive team. We’re looking for a proactive and organised individual who can take ownership of their work, spot opportunities to improve processes, and contribute positively to all areas of the charity.

Essential

•   Highly organised with the ability to manage multiple priorities, monitor timelines, and meet deadlines independently. 
•   Self-motivated and able to work proactively, showing initiative to identify needs, address issues, and make improvements to processes and systems.
•   Strong written communication and record-keeping, skills with the ability to convey information clearly and professionally. 
•   The ability to adapt your communication style to different audiences, such as colleagues, beneficiaries, trustees and donors. 
•   A proficient user of various IT systems, including Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Publisher), G-Suite, and Zoom, with a willingness and aptitude to learn new platforms.
•   A collaborative mindset, with the ability to work effectively across teams, coupled with the confidence to work independently and take ownership of tasks.
•   Flexible and resilient, with the ability to remain level-headed and resourceful in a fast-paced environment.
•   A commitment to Beacon’s mission and desire to represent the charity with professionalism and integrity. ​

Desirable

• Previous experience in an administrative, operations, or executive support role.
• Experience of working or volunteering in a charity or not-for-profit environment.
• Familiarity with fundraising administration, databases, or finance systems.
• Understanding of rare diseases, health charities, or small-organisation dynamics.

Experienced candidates

We welcome applications from candidates with proven experience in administration, operations, or executive support roles, who are interested in a Senior Admin & Operations Officer position.

For this level, we are looking for demonstrated competence in  managing complex administrative tasks, coordinating across teams, and supporting senior leadership with minimal supervision. Senior Admin & Operations Officers should be confident in taking initiative, driving improvements, and handling a broader range of responsibilities. 

WORKING AT BEACON

Beacon is a small, tight-knit team, with a friendly atmosphere and strong commitment to our beneficiaries. We aim to give all employees opportunities to pursue their interests, develop their skills, and shape their career path.

We offer flexible working practices to help our staff balance their personal and professional lives, including hybrid working and flexible hours. While our hybrid policy requires all staff to work in the office at least two days per week, the high level of cross-team collaboration, executive support responsibilities, and office management duties involved in the Operations Officer role mean that regular in-person attendance is particularly important.

After the initial in-person onboarding period, we’d like this role to be based in the office for around three days a week on average, though not necessarily every single week, to help maintain effective teamwork and smooth daily operations.

Benefits Advisor
Salary £27,000 FTE,  17.5 - 21 hours per week, 6.6 weeks holiday   
Remote working with occasional travel for events and meetings in West Sussex
 

Are you a skilled benefits advisor with a passion for maximising income for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities?  

We have an exciting opportunity for someone to join a rapidly growing caring charity with the benefits of flexible family friendly working (from home), generous holiday, pension scheme, travel expenses, laptop and phone provided.  

Reaching Families was established in 2008 to empower, inform and support parent-carers and families of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities in West Sussex.  We achieve this through the delivery of our services providing information, training and peer support.

Our Benefits Advice Service provides support to parents of children and young people with SEND in West Sussex applying for Carer’s Allowance, Disability Living Allowance (DLA) and Personal Independent Payments (PIP).  Offering 1-2-1 advice sessions on the above benefits, support with claim checking of draft applications, information resources on benefits and other sources of financial support, and training workshops on DLA, PIP and Universal Credit.

We are looking to recruit a skilled and motivated benefits advisor to join our team
The post holder will be responsible for the delivery of advice and guidance on Carers Allowance, Disability Living Allowance and Personal Independence Payment to parent-carers of children and young people with SEND in West Sussex.

Person Specification (essential):
• Proven experience of providing welfare and benefits advice preferably gained with either children or adults with disabilities
• Experience of using CRM databases 
• Experience of using MS Office including SharePoint
• Understanding of challenges facing parents and carers of children with SEND 
• In-depth knowledge of Carers Allowance, DLA and PIP)
• Passionate about improving the life chances of children with SEND and their parents/carers, and families
See attached job description for details and full criteria 

We welcome applications from all members of the community and value diversity in the organisation. Please contact us if you require any reasonable adjustments to be made to the application or interview process due to any disability or health requirements. 

Closing date for applications is 6th October 2025 

Interviews to be held in Littlehampton on 16th October 2025 

To apply please complete the attached application form and share why you feel you fit the role and person specification (see attached documents)