Early years jobs

We’re an award-winning charity running local learning centres in the heart of the communities where the young people we support live. Our centres provide a high-impact education programme which includes practical learning support, pastoral care, and motivational and confidence-building activities for young people aged 7-18. Our aim is to enable students from the least advantaged neighbourhoods to realise their ambitions and achieve their wonderful potential.

As the UK’s leading university access organisation, our staff team is helping over 60,000 young people each year at its 46 learning centres and extension projects across England and Scotland, and we plan to scale-up our provision to 50 centres over the coming years.

We are looking for graduates who will enjoy working each day with young people and who will thrive in a frontline, community-based, fast-paced and rewarding role. You will be taking up a permanent role as an Education Worker on IntoUniversity’s Graduate Scheme, helping to change the lives of young people.

We believe that our Graduate Scheme is one of the most exciting in the charity sector, an excellent career opportunity with exceptional training and hands-on experience, opportunities for promotion, and the chance to work with young people and colleagues who will challenge and inspire you.

Contract

Full-time, permanent 

Start date

July 2026

Working hours

Mon and Thurs: 09:30-18:00

Tues, Weds, Fri: 09:00-17:30

(Some out-of-hours work will be required from time to time - for example, early starts to deliver workshops in schools.)

Education Workers are based at one of our IntoUniversity learning centres and work directly with young people, schools and families on a daily basis. It is therefore not a hybrid role and is based full-time in our centres.

Salary

£28,250 per annum

Location

We have positions available in Hull 

Annual leave

33 days (inc bank & public holidays) + 3 closure days (two in December and one in July) + additional length of service entitlement (one day per year of service, up to 5 days) 

Application deadline

9am Wednesday 27th May 2026

Selection Day (online)

Tuesday 16th June 2026

We may hold a further selection day on Friday 19th June 2026 if we receive a high volume of applications. 

Interview Day (online)

Wednesday 24th June 2026 

Please ensure that you are available on these dates

About Us

The Early Education and Childcare Coalition unites the voices of parents, children, providers, early years professionals and the wider business community, working together for investment and reform of early education and childcare in England.

We believe that we all benefit from a well-functioning early education system and we all have a role to play in ensuring it works for children, parents and the economy.

We are backed by some of the most high-profile campaign and research organisations in the UK. Our members include early years provider membership bodies, parent campaign groups, early childhood experts, trade unions, the business lobby, anti-poverty campaigners and NGOs. Together, we use our collective voice and research to build public and political support for early education and childcare. And it’s worked. Thanks to the dedication of our members, early years is one of the top priorities for the government’s Plan for Change.

But our work isn’t done – we have an ambitious agenda to ‘rescue and reform’ the system, ensuring that:

• Every child can access high-quality education and care that their parents can afford and that will support them to thrive
• Every provider is funded fairly for the places they offer
• Every early years professional is rewarded and recognised for the skilled work they do

This is an exciting time to join the Coalition. We have experienced significant growth in recent years and with early years firmly on the policy agenda, we expect this to continue.

We are now looking to appoint a Deputy Director to help steer that work and further drive the development of the Coalition. You will work closely with the Executive Director (ED) to lead our influencing work at the highest level, strengthening our policy platform, and ensuring we translate evidence into meaningful impact. At the same time, you will play a pivotal role in supporting a talented and experienced team and shape the continued growth of the Coalition as a charitable organisation.

About The Role

• Hours: Full-time, 37.5 hours per week over 5 days. We may consider 4 days per week.
• Duration: Two-year contract, renewed subject to funding.
• Location: Home-working but based in or near London.

· Salary: £62,000 - £64,170 per annum FTE

We are a remote team, with most colleagues based outside London. This role requires regular access to Westminster, so you will need to be based in or within easy reach of London.

We work flexibly and understand the realities of balancing work with caring commitments. We trust you to manage your time but expect that most of your hours are worked within core office hours to fulfil the requirements of the role. To support fluent remote working, we require all staff to work on Thursdays.

This is a dual role, delivering our policy, engagement and public affairs strategy while also supporting the Executive Director to grow the Coalition as an organisation and movement. You will play a central role in shaping the Coalition’s strategy, culture and growth. This is a senior, outward-facing role, suited to someone who can think strategically, build influence at the highest levels, and remain hands-on within a small and ambitious team.

About You

You are a senior public affairs professional with a strong track record of strategic influencing and engagement to shape policy. You bring robust judgement and credibility and are motivated by the opportunity to deliver meaningful change in a high-profile policy area and may have experience on public-service reform.

You are equally comfortable setting direction and delivering through others as you are rolling up your sleeves to respond to fast-moving political developments. You are a confident relationship-builder who can operate effectively at senior levels, while working collaboratively across a diverse coalition.

You should have previous experience of managing functions and teams and working in senior leadership teams. Ideally you will be live to the challenges of working in a small, but high-impact national organisation and have experience of scaling teams and functions.

What You Can Expect To Be Doing

• Executive leadership
  This will include supporting the ED with key senior stakeholder relationships including funders, ministers and policymakers. You will be required to deputise for the ED during periods of leave or when directed to do so. This is a pivotal role which straddles the executive and senior leadership functions. Consequently, you will be expected to make decisions that balance multiple interests and help scale and grow the Coalition as a sustainable organisation.
• Lead the Coalition’s policy and influencing function
  Work with the Senior Leadership Team and Coalition members to turn evidence into clear, credible policy positions and priorities, ensuring members are aligned, informed and able to contribute.
• Develop and deliver a cross-party influencing strategy
  Building on the Coalition’s profile, you will further nurture and maintain relationships with MPs, peers, special advisers, civil servants and key stakeholders, ensuring strong reach across Westminster, local government and the wider policy community.
• Maximise key moments for impact
  Identify and respond to opportunities in the parliamentary and policy cycle to maximise influence, including producing briefings, consultation responses and submissions.
• Oversee policy-related events to support engagement
  Lead activity such as events, roundtables and party conference attendance to strengthen the Coalition’s visibility and impact.
• Align policy, public affairs, research and communications
  Work closely with the Head of Communications and Campaigns, and the Associate Director of Research to ensure a joined-up approach across research, influencing, media and campaigning.
• Represent the Coalition externally
  Act as a senior spokesperson at high-level meetings, events, and in the media where appropriate.
• Strengthen how we measure impact
  Work with the Executive Director to further develop our impact framework, improving how we track, evaluate and communicate influence.
• Lead and develop the team
  Provide support to team members, fostering a collaborative, inclusive and high-performing culture.

Person Specification

Essential

• Experience of leading a team or working at executive/senior leadership levels where you have managed budgets and had to make decisions related to organisational effectiveness. This should also include demonstrable experience of building and nurturing teams that can deliver an organisational strategy.
• Proven experience leading influencing functions in an advocacy or policy environment and delivering change
• Experience turning research and insight into clear, credible and persuasive policy positions.
• Knowledge of system change approaches, ideally within public service reform or similar
• Knowledge of how Government, Parliament, Whitehall, political parties and the wider policy community operate, and how to navigate them effectively.
• Able to operate confidently in complex, fast-moving and politically sensitive environments, working across party lines with diplomacy.
• Demonstrable experience building and maintaining trusted relationships with politicians, advisers, officials and sector leaders.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with experience producing high-quality briefings and representing organisations externally.
• Experience of supporting fundraising activities either through relationship-building or bid-writing.

Desirable

• Understanding of early education and childcare policy in England and the challenges currently facing the system.
• Experience working in or with coalitions, membership organisations or alliances.
• Proven ability to work flexibly as part of a small, remote team.

The application process

Please apply with a CV and cover letter (no more than two pages) by the listed closing date. No agencies please. We recognise that the use of AI technologies can be useful in reducing the work that goes into job-hunting, however, we kindly request that you use your cover letter to evidence that you have understood the requirements of the role and provide examples of how you can meet the criteria.

The EECC is committed to equity, diversity and inclusion. We use anonymous recruiting during the application process and we use positive action under section 159 of the Equality Act in relation to disability or race. This means that if we have two candidates of equal merit in our process, we will seek to take forward the disabled or Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic candidate in order to diversify our staff team.

We regret that our small team does not have capacity to provide individual feedback on every application.

Recruitment timeline

• Closing date: 23:30, Thursday 11th June. 
• Notified for interview by: Tuesday 16th June
• Interviews: We expect this to be a two-stage interview process with first interviews held on either 24th or 25th June and second stage interviews arranged an agreed time.

In the event that we don't receive suitable applications, we may extend this deadline and timeline.

Do you have experience working with families and children aged 0-13, a good understanding of the needs of vulnerable families and a relevant vocational or academic qualification?

Welcare is recruiting an experienced Family Support Worker to deliver a broad-based preventative and responsive support service for families with children up to the age of 13 in partnership with schools, churches, the local authority and other agencies, in the London boroughs of Bromley and Greenwich.Local knowledge of Bromley and Greenwich areas would be an advantage.

You will be delivering practical and emotional support to enhance the lived experiences of children and families through one-to-one support and group work programmes.  The post requires working with families in person and online remote working.  The office base is in Community House, Bromley.

Please refer to the job description and person specification for further details.

About Us

The Early Education and Childcare Coalition unites the voices of parents, children, providers, early years professionals and the wider business community, working together for investment and reform of early education and childcare in England.

We believe that we all benefit from a well-functioning early education system and we all have a role to play in ensuring it works for children, parents and the economy.

We are backed by some of the most high-profile campaign and research organisations in the UK. Our members span providers, parent groups, trade unions, the business community and NGOs. Together, we use our collective voice and research to build public and political support for change.

This is an exciting time to join the Coalition. We have experienced significant growth in recent years and, with early years firmly on the political agenda, we expect this to continue.

About the role

• Hours: 30 hours per week (this can be worked over 4 or 5 days). We will consider other working patterns with a minimum of 3.5 days per week worked over 4.
• Duration: Two-year contract, renewed subject to funding
• Location: Home-working, can be based anywhere in the country
• Salary: c. £53,820 per annum FTE (£43,056 pro-rata for 4 days)

We are a remote team, with most colleagues based outside London. This role will support the whole organisation and requires occasional in-person meetings such as in-person team planning days which you will be expected to travel to.

We work flexibly and understand the realities of balancing work with caring commitments. We trust you to manage your time, but expect most hours to be worked within core office hours. To support effective remote working, all staff work on Thursdays.

This is a senior, cross-cutting leadership role sitting at the heart of the organisation. You will lead on operations, finance, HR and organisational systems, while working closely with the Executive Director and Senior Leadership Team (SLT) and the Board to ensure the Coalition is sustainable, well-run, and set up for growth and impact.

About You

You are an experienced operations leader with a strong track record of building and running effective organisational systems, ideally within a charity, social impact or policy environment.

You are equally comfortable developing strategy and rolling up your sleeves to deliver. You bring strong financial and organisational management skills, and are motivated by enabling high-impact teams to thrive.

You have experience working at senior leadership level and are confident operating across a small, fast-paced organisation where priorities can shift quickly. You are a systems thinker who can spot gaps, create structure, and improve how things work.

What You Can Expect to Be Doing

Function leadership

• Work as part of the Senior Leadership Team
• Contribute to organisational strategy, planning and growth
• Support organisational decision-making, balancing operational, financial and strategic priorities

Develop operations and organisational systems

• Oversee the day-to-day running of the organisation, ensuring efficient and effective operations
• Develop and implement systems, processes and policies to support a scaling organisation
• Take ownership of organisational infrastructure (e.g. CRM, internal systems, workflows)
• Improve internal coordination, planning and ways of working across functions

Financial management and sustainability

• Oversee day-to-day financial operations, including reporting, invoicing and payments
• Support organisational financial planning, forecasting and scenario modelling
• Work with external accountants/bookkeepers and ensure strong financial controls
• Support the Executive Director and Board on financial governance and decision-making

People management

• Ensure the organisation has robust HR systems in place, ensuring they reflect changes in legislation, support staff wellbeing and development and foster an inclusive and positive culture
• Lead recruitment, onboarding and staff contracts
• Support performance management, team development and organisational culture

Programme and contract management

• Oversee operational delivery of programmes and projects
• Manage funder agreements and contracts, ensuring compliance and reporting
• Support programme leads with planning, delivery tracking and coordination
• Strengthen systems for delivery and accountability

Governance and organisational support

• Support effective governance, including Board coordination and reporting
• Ensure strong administration of meetings, papers and decision-making processes
• Strengthen alignment between governance, strategy and operations

Cross-organisational leadership

• Act as a central coordination point across policy, campaigns, research and communications
• Support other heads of function to deliver effectively through strong operational systems
• Identify and address organisational capacity gaps, particularly in admin, finance and infrastructure

Person Specification

Essential

• Experience of working at senior leadership level
• Strong experience in operations and financial management
• Experience establishing or improving systems and organisational infrastructure
• Experience of HR processes and people management
• Experience supporting governance and working with senior stakeholders
• Ability to operate effectively in a small, fast-paced and growing organisation
• Strong organisational, problem-solving and communication skills

Desirable

• Experience in a charity, coalition, membership or policy organisation
• Experience supporting organisational growth or scaling
• Experience managing CRMs or digital systems
• While not essential, we would welcome applications from candidate who have either a HR or a financial qualification i.e. CIPD qualified or AAT qualification or similar level of experience and knowledg

The application process

Please apply with a CV and cover letter (no more than two pages) by the listed closing date. No agencies please. We recognise that the use of AI technologies can be useful in reducing the work that goes into job-hunting, however, we kindly request that you use your cover letter to evidence that you have understood the requirements of the role and provide examples of how you can meet the criteria.

The EECC is committed to equity, diversity and inclusion. We use anonymous recruiting during the application process and we use positive action under section 159 of the Equality Act in relation to disability or race. This means that if we have two candidates of equal merit in our process, we will seek to take forward the disabled or Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic candidate in order to diversify our staff team.

We regret that our small team does not have capacity to respond to unsuccessful applicants individually.

Timeline

• Closing date: 23:30, Thursday 11th June
• Notified for interview by: Tuesday 16th June
• Interviews: We expect this to be a two-stage interview process with first interviews held on either 24th or 25th June and second stage interviews arranged an agreed time.

As a Beat Programme Officer, you will deliver high quality coaching support and guided self-help to individuals experiencing eating disorders and/or their loved ones, fostering early intervention and promoting sustained long-term recovery.

You will effectively manage a caseload of beneficiaries, providing tailored support that fosters early intervention and promotes sustained recovery.

Programme Officers work collaboratively and in alignment with Beat’s values, ensuring the achievement of Beat’s goals and strategy, and facilitating the effective delivery of contracted programme places.

You will be part of a cohesive and high performing team based on the principles of trust, mutual respect and empowerment.

We particularly encourage applications from Welsh speakers for this role; we have received funding from the Welsh government and are looking to improve our service delivery for our Welsh-speaking beneficiaries.

About Spear Islington

Spear is working in partnership with Hope Church Islington to deliver the Spear Programme in Islington!

The church’s vision is to bring hope, light, and life to the community of Islington, including in, bringing healing and wholeness to the people of their parish, supporting the vulnerable, oppressed and voiceless in their midst, and providing safe and inclusive spaces for the diverse community that they are a part of.

The Spear Programme is delivered in Spear Islington which offers young people professionally recognised coaching, for free, to support them into sustainable work or education. They leave Spear equipped to thrive in work and life.  

Key Information:

• Salary: from £29,000
• Full-time, Permanent - Monday to Friday
• 25 days annual leave (including Christmas gift days) plus bank holidays
• Benefits include: 5 weeks holiday a year and Vitality Health Insurance
• Closing date: Friday 12th June (we interview on a rolling basis and may close the role early if we find the right candidate)

For more information please read through our Job Specification and Work with us pack.

If you require any reasonable adjustments as part of the recruitment process, please let us know.

Person Specification

• An active Christian, dedicated to representing the values and ethos of Spear and Hope Church Islington.
• You have demonstrable experience as a coach, or a background in youth work or teaching, and are keen to develop these skills further.
• You have a heart for young people and releasing their potential, no matter what challenging circumstances they are facing.
• Effective interpersonal skills and high emotional intelligence with a sense of humour and fun.
• You are great at building relationships, with solid communication skills.
• Good administrative and organisational skills, working well under pressure with the ability to prioritise workload.

Hours 25 Hours Per week across 5 days – to include daily play sessions 4-6pm each day. 

Manchester Young Lives is offering an exciting opportunity to join our team as an Early Intervention Worker, providing high-quality pastoral and therapeutic support for children and young people aged 6–14 years.

Following successful delivery for the last three years, we are delighted to be recruiting to a vacancy within our Early intervention team. The Early Intervention role focuses on providing support specifically for children and young people suffering increased levels of anxiety, loss of confidence and self-esteem, missing school or other types of isolation and trauma.

This role involves working directly with children and young people through face-to-face support, while also integrating into Play and Youth Sessions at our Adventure Playgrounds. You will work closely with families, schools, and other education and support agencies to help create the best possible opportunities and outcomes for the children and young people we support.

Based at our Adventure Playgrounds in Moss Side and Ardwick, the successful candidate will bring enthusiasm and passion for working with children and young people, the ability to use creative and innovative approaches to engage, support, and reassure them alongside a strong commitment to making a positive difference within local communities.

Working hours include after-school sessions and evening work, Monday to Friday, with some weekend work required to respond to local needs. Staff may also be required to work across a number of locations as part of the wider team.

About Chapter One

Chapter One is a small but growing charity, working to ensure that every child has 1:1 reading support at the time they need it most. 

Our Early Literacy Intervention programme is based on a programme that works successfully in the USA and it provides daily, 1:1, 7 minute phonics sessions for children who are behind in phonics. Using a bespoke technology tool, a trained Early Reading Interventionist works individually with target children. 

We also have our unique Online Reading Volunteer programme which currently supports about 3,500 children a year. It pairs struggling five to seven-year old (KS1) readers with reading support volunteers who come from over 150 local and national businesses. The volunteer pledge is very focused: readers commit 30 minutes a week to read with a child using a bespoke digital platform for an entire academic year. The results are transformative, boosting children's reading confidence and ability. 

For more information about our programmes please visit our website and watch our videos.

About the role 

Working for 5 hours per day, 5 days a week (term-time only) at The Willow Primary School in Haringey, this role will involve delivering a programme of 1:1 focussed sessions for selected Reception and Year 1 children.  The ELI will be trained to use Chapter One’s specialised online tool designed to support learners who are at risk of falling behind with their phonics.

We are looking for a highly motivated, energetic individual who enjoys working with young children and who wants to make their mark in a fast-growing charity. We can offer training, a small friendly team and a chance to improve the lives of children facing disadvantage.

Key Responsibilities

• Conduct an initial baseline assessment of selected target children in Reception and Year 1 to determine where further support is needed.

• Use Chapter One’s online tool to deliver differentiated, daily, 1:1, targeted, 7 minute phonics sessions to pupils using a systematic, synthetic approach.

• Use a variety of additional activities to reinforce phonics skills.

• Support children to use their secure phonics knowledge to read decodable books.

• Develop pupils’ phonics fluency and confidence in preparation for the Year 1 Phonics Screening Check, where applicable. 

• Document each session with a child, including the skills practised or mastered and a goal for the next session.

• Maintain and update daily pupil progress trackers, identifying phonics skills secured and areas requiring consolidation to inform future teaching. 

• Challenge pupils to reach each new goal and celebrate pupil success.

• Work closely and on an ongoing basis with classroom teachers, reading support staff and the school team to understand progression of the schools phonics teaching.

• Work closely with classroom teachers to establish tailored plans for each child.

• Provide school leaders with data and information on pupil progress.

• Gather feedback from school on progress of the programme and any implementation challenges, aiming to help Chapter One to continuously improve programme delivery.

• Collaborate with colleagues at Chapter One to further improve the ELI model, the online tool and programme delivery.

Qualifications Criteria

• Maths and English GCSE at Grade 5 or above.

• Right to work in the UK.

We are looking for applicants with the following essential qualities:

• Experience of working in education or childcare.

• Willingness to undergo further training in phonics pedagogy.

• Highly motivated, energetic individual with excellent interpersonal and organisational skills.

• Ability to adapt and embrace a changing environment.

• Excellent personal planning and a proven ability to work independently.

• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to build relationships at all levels inside and outside the organisation.

• Highly computer literate with hands-on experience of using MS Office and platforms and tools such as Google analytics, PowerPoint and more.

• An understanding of Child Safeguarding.

• A commitment to Chapter One’s mission and values.

Ideally, applicants will also have the following desirable qualities:

• Experience in supporting young children with phonics in a classroom setting.

How to Apply 

Please send your CV (maximum 2 A4 sides) and a covering letter via Charity Jobs. Your covering letter (maximum 1 side of A4) should: 

1) Outline why you’re the right person for this role and how you meet the skills & experience detailed in the job description.

2) Tell us about how our organisational mission is in line with your values. 

Applications that fail to meet these criteria will automatically be discounted. We understand that you may use AI to help craft your application, but do remember that we will be looking for individuals who write a letter that stands out. We want you to have every opportunity to shine and to show us your talents - please let us know if there is anything we can do to make sure the assessment process works for you.

Chapter One is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We value and celebrate diversity in backgrounds and experience and are deliberate about the kind of inclusive teams we are building. Literacy is a universal concern, and we need people from all backgrounds to maximise our innovation, creativity and impact. We especially welcome applications from persons who have experienced disadvantage and/or from those who are of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities who are currently underrepresented in the organisation.

Chapter One is committed to safeguarding children and young people. All post holders are subject to a satisfactory enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service disclosure. Copies of our Safeguarding Policy and Safer Recruitment Policy are available on request.

N.B. Stage 1 interviews are planned for 11/06/2026 with successful applicants being invited to a second interview on 19/06/2026. These dates have been scheduled based on the recruiting team’s availability, however we will make every effort to accommodate alternative requests where possible.

Barnardo's is one of the UK's leading children's charities, and our North England Fostering Service has recently been rated ‘Good' by Ofsted.

We are committed to providing safe, nurturing, and supportive homes for children and young people. Wwe are now looking for a passionate and skilled Supervising Social Worker to join our committed team.

Our North England service covers Yorkshire, Humber, and the North East of England.

About the Role

This exciting opportunity has arisen following an internal promotion.

As a Supervising Social Worker, you will play a vital role in supporting foster carers to deliver high-quality care.

Key responsibilities include:

• Managing a protected caseload with access to innovative social work training
• Supervising, supporting, and developing foster carers
• Undertaking assessments of prospective foster carers
• Contributing to the matching process and foster home stability
• Working collaboratively with children, families, carers and professionals
• Maintaining accurate and timely records in line with regulatory standards
• Delivering training to foster carers
• Following Induction period participating in the out-of-hours rota (with additional payment)

What We're Looking For

We're seeking an individual who is:

• A qualified Social Worker (DipSW, CQSW or equivalent)
• Registered with Social Work England
• Experienced in fostering or children's social care
• Skilled in building strong, supportive relationships
• Committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children

Why Join Barnardo's?

• A supportive and inclusive working environment
• Access to high-quality training and development, including DDP and trauma-informed approaches
• Generous annual leave and pension scheme
• Opportunities to develop your career within a well-respected national charity

Additional Information

• A recognised Social Work qualification and SWE registration are essential
• Experience in Family Placement, Child Protection, or Looked After Children services is required
• A full UK driving licence, access to a car, and business-use insurance are essential due to the nature of the role

Please note due to the high volume of applications for some posts, this advert might close before the displayed closing date. We recommend that you apply for this role as soon as possible.

We’re an award-winning charity running local learning centres in the heart of the communities where the young people we support live. Our centres provide a high-impact education programme which includes practical learning support, pastoral care, and motivational and confidence-building activities for young people aged 7-18. Our aim is to enable students from the least advantaged neighbourhoods to realise their ambitions and achieve their wonderful potential.

As the UK’s leading university access organisation, our staff team is helping 56,000 young people each year at its 44 learning centres and extension projects across England and Scotland, and we plan to scale-up our provision to 50 centres over the coming years.

We are looking for a high-calibre candidate who will enjoy working each day with young people and who will thrive in a frontline, community-based, fast-paced and rewarding role. You will be taking up a permanent role as Centre Leader at our IntoUniversity centre in Kennington. You will have responsibility for running your IntoUniversity centre, including managing your team, planning and delivering the programme, liaising with external stakeholders and meeting  IntoUniversity’s targets for delivery.

A substantial element of this role is delivering our education programme to children and young people aged 7-18, so you will need to have a genuine passion and enthusiasm for working with young people, including leading a class of 30 from the front, working with small teams of children and providing one-to-one support.

The role at a glance

Contract: Full-time, permanent

Application deadline - 9am Monday 8th June 2026

Interview day (in-person) - Monday 15th June 2026

Start date: As soon as possible, to be agreed with the successful candidate

Working hours
Mon and Thurs: 09:30-18:00
Tues, Weds, Fri: 09:00-17:30

(Some additional weekend & unsocial hours will be required)

Centre Leaders are based at one of our IntoUniversity learning centres and work directly with young people, schools and families on a daily basis. It is therefore not a hybrid role and is based full-time in our centres

Location

IntoUniversity Kennington

The role requires intermittent travel in your region (usually within the day). Periodic travel out of the area is also required e.g. to London, this may include occasional overnight stays. 

Salary

£39,100 per annum (inclusive of £2,700 London contribution)

Annual leave

33 days (inc bank & public holidays) (pro rata for part-time staff) + 3 closure days (two in December and one in July) + additional length of service entitlement (one day per year of service, up to 5 days)

Staff benefits

• Employer pension contributions of 6% (and up to 8% after two years)

• Year round ‘early finish’ Fridays at 4.30pm

• Summer working hours (finish at 1pm on Fridays for six weeks in the summer), pro-rated for staff joining after January in the same year 

• Employee Assistance Programme including access to wellbeing and legal support 

• Life Assurance scheme with Aviva including SmartHealth service with access to 24/7 online GP appointments

• Interest-free new starter loans of up to £1,000

• Cycle to Work Scheme and Travelcard Loan Scheme

• Enhanced maternity, paternity, shared parental and adoption pay and sick pay allowances

• Staff in FOCUS – rewards, competitions and prizes across the year

This role spans accross Berkshire and includes planning and delivering a programme of activities adapted for all levels of sight loss with the aim of building the skills of children and young people under 18 and supporting their development so that they can become tomorrow’s independent visually impaired adults, leading the lives of their choosing.

The successful candidate will be able to build strong relationships with children of all ages,  and their families,  and be able to work well both leading their own project and as part of the wider team. We are looking for someone with a passion for supporting people to live enriched lives, and therefore you should be someone who is able to work innovatively and be an advocate for our services.

Benefits include company pension, enhanced annual leave, flexible working, free tea and coffee while working in the office, free parking, mileage paid at the full 45p per mile rate, access to Employee Assistance Programme.

Role Purpose

The Education Trainer supports the Education Manager in the design and delivery of specialist, evidence-informed trainings programmes for education professionals equipping them to support bereaved children, young people, adults and communities.

Using trauma-informed, evidence-based content delivered through both digital platforms and in-person, the role ensures schools and educational staff have practical tools to identify, respond to, support and/or refer bereaved children, young people and adults.

We are recruiting for two Education Trainers, both to work full-time hours (35 per week). One term-time only and the other to work year-round.

Main Responsibilities

• Working collaboratively with the Education Team and the team’s administrator to co-ordinate training requests responses.
• Working with the Education Manager and colleagues, support the design of training programmes tailored to the needs of the training delegates.
• Deliver the organisation’s education training packages online and/or face-to-face as required.
• Work with the team to ensure efficient flow of processes and procedures.
• To research key areas in need of bereavement training packages.
• To be an ambassador for the ASK Me Training and Manifesto to early years, primary, secondary and higher education institutions and professionals.
• To form key relationships with individuals and organisations to promote off-the-shelf training as well as rapid response, ASK Me and bespoke education training.
• To work with the team to develop new education training programmes and content.
• Work with the Marketing and Communications Team to promote education training programmes.
• Collaborate with the team to develop and review feedback framework to evaluate the training.
• Use feedback to improve the current training offer and identify gaps in education training offers.

 Communication and Relationships

• Build and maintain effective relationships with education professionals across early years, primary, secondary and higher education sector.
• Act as an ambassador for the organisation’s ASK Me Training and Manifesto and other key education programmes, promoting values of empathy, inclusion and best practice in bereavement support.
• Collaborate closely with the Education Manager, colleagues and the Education Administrator to co-ordinate training requests and ensure a seamless client experience.
• Engage with internal teams, including Marketing and Communications, to publicise training offers and strengthen audience reach.
• Work proactively to establish and nurture key relationships with external education networks, commissioners, and organisations to increase awareness and uptake of training programmes.
• Communicate sensitively and confidently when delivery content that may evoke emotional responses, ensuring a safe and supportive training environment.
• Demonstrate and promote the organisation’s values and culture through all forms of communication, behaviours and professional relationships.

Knowledge, Training and Experience

• Strong presentation, facilitation and communication skills, adaptable to a variety of audiences.
• Contribute to the creation of bespoke education programmes or training sessions as well as to the development of new education training packages.
• Develop and adapt training content for both in-person and digital delivery using a variety of digital platforms.
• Demonstrate a robust understanding of grief, loss, trauma, child development, and the psychological and social impact of bereavement on children, young people, and adults, including families.
• Demonstrate a high level of understanding of the organisation’s evidence-based tiered service model.
• Demonstrate strong knowledge of current education frameworks and the wellbeing priorities for schools and colleges.
• Participate, and where appropriate, lead on consultations with individual education settings to formulate an assessment of their individual training needs.
• Use outcome measures and/or feedback tools to monitor progress, evaluate the impact of delivery, and reflect on own practice.
• Adhere to legislation and statutory guidance related to Safeguarding Children and Young People and Safeguarding Adults at all times.
• Participate actively in clinical supervision and reflective practice to ensure safe, ethical, and effective delivery.
• Contribute to the development and sharing of knowledge within the team by supporting training, mentoring, and peer learning opportunities.

Analytical and Judgement Skills

• Assess training needs of education settings through consultation, feedback and sector research to inform targeted content development with the support of the Education Manager.
• Evaluate participants’ feedback systematically to review the quality, relevance and impact of training’ identify areas for improvement and gaps in provision.
• Exercise sound judgement when responding to sensitive disclosures or emotionally charged discussions during training, ensuring appropriate support and signposting.
• Apply analytical thinking to review emerging issues in bereavement education – such as curriculum integration – to guide future training design.
• Recognise and manage situations that involve ambiguity, uncertainty, or emotional intensity, drawing on supervision and established frameworks for professional support.
• Apply a trauma-informed and developmentally appropriate lens to training development and delivery, ensuring sensitivity to cultural, social, and contextual factors influencing grief.
• Ensure accurate, timely, and meaningful data recording and reporting to inform service evaluation, and organisational performance monitoring.

Planning and organisational skills

• Prepare thoroughly for assigned training sessions, ensuring all materials, technology and resources are ready in advance.
• Deliver training sessions to time and quality standards, managing transitions between content, activities and Q&A smoothly.
• Deliver a suite of education training packages online and/or face-to-face as required, adapting content to meet specific delegate needs as needed.
• Contribute to the design and maintenance of robust systems and workflows that support the smooth flow of processes from enquiry to evaluation.
• Research new areas of bereavement education need and contribute ideas for the development of new programmes and resources.
• Collaborate with colleagues to maintain and refine the evaluation and feedback framework, drawing on insights to drive continuous improvement and suggesting improvements to the training offer.
• Manage time effectively across multiple projects and priorities, working flexibly to delivery high quality outcomes within deadlines.
• Maintain accurate, up-to-date documentation in accordance with confidentiality, data protection, and statutory requirements.
• Demonstrate self-awareness and reflective capacity, using supervision and peer support to sustain personal wellbeing and professional effectiveness.
• Provide cover and support for team members when needed.

All Staff

• Contribute to the vision and mission of Child Bereavement UK; whilst embedding the values into your daily work activities.
• Promote equality of opportunity and diversity in accordance with Child Bereavement UK policy.
• Contribute to the overall success of the charity’s fundraising needs by providing case studies, attending events and adding value to the experience of our supporters as required.
• Contribute to the brand and reach of the charity by working alongside our Marketing & Communications Team when relevant press opportunities arise or when required for social media and online content (including the use of photography).
• Work to objectives, targets and work plans agreed with your line manager.
• Undertake specific projects and other ad hoc duties agreed with your line manager, fulfilling any deadlines, reviews and reporting procedures required.
• Take an active part in the Quarterly review process and participate in training agreed with your line manager.
• Recognise and champion the lived experience of children and young people with bereavement within your work.
• Ensure the health and safety of all colleagues, volunteers and visitors in accordance with Child Bereavement UK policy.

Person Specification

Education/Professional Qualification

Essential

• Relevant professional qualification in working in education, training or learning
• Evidence of ongoing professional development and commitment to continuous learning
• Training in bereavement, grief and trauma informed practice

Desirable

• Relevant professional qualification in working with children and young people

Skills and Experience

Essential

• At least three years’ recent experience (in the past six years) of delivering training to professionals
• At least three years’ recent experience of working with children, young people and families in a health, social care, youth, community or education setting
• For one of the two roles, a Welsh speaker is required
• Experience of planning and designing training programmes
• Experience of liaising with and working alongside organisations that support children and young people
• Experience of working with vulnerable communities
• Experience of delivering training using a digital platform
• Demonstrable experience of safeguarding children, young people and vulnerable adults and an ability to practise in a way that promotes this
• Experience of working collaboratively with multi-agency professionals

Desirable

• Experience of working within a bereavement, palliative care of mental health setting
• Experienced in using outcome measures to evaluate practice

Knowledge and Understanding

• Demonstrate a strong understanding of bereavement, grief, loss, trauma, and their psychological and developmental impact on children, young people, parents and families
• Knowledge of current research, theories, national frameworks, and NICE guidance related to bereavement and children’s mental health
• Empathetic, compassionate, and youth driven approach
• Proven ability to design, deliver and adapt bereavement training effectively through digital platforms, maintaining engagement, safety and impact
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage sensitively with stakeholders while maintaining professional boundaries at all times
• Consulting mindset with the ability to quickly assimilate information and to translate this into potential solutions and ways of working
• Awareness of safeguarding legislation, policies, and procedures
• Understanding of information governance, confidentiality, and data protection requirements
• Understanding of equality, diversity, and inclusion within practice
• Emotional maturity, stability and resilience with a strong commitment to self-care and the ability to seek support and guidance when difficulties arise in the course of work

Recruitment Timetable

Application deadline: 27th May 2026 at midnight

First Stage Screening Interviews

You may be asked to attend a 10-minute Screening Interview on MS Teams with the Hiring Managers for the vacancy, to assess your suitability for the role. During the interview, you will be asked two skills-based questions.

Second Stage Interviews

If you are progressed to a second stage interview, you will be invited to attend a 1-hour formal interview on MS Teams with the Hiring Managers for the role. It is our policy to share the role-specific interview questions with applicants ahead of the interview, to aid their preparation. You may also be asked to complete an interview task, which will also be shared with you in advance.

Youth Team Forum Discussion

For roles in our Bereavement Services Team, we will invite those applicants selected for interview along to a discussion forum with members of our Youth Team. This session is held remotely and lasts approximately 20 minutes. The discussion topic will be shared with you in advance of the session.

About Spear

Spear is a national youth employment charity. The award-winning Spear Programme was launched over 20 years ago, and is now running in 18 Spear Centres across the country, equipping unemployed 16–24-year-olds facing barriers to employment with the skills and mindset they need to secure work and thrive in work and life. 

About the role

This is an exciting and varied, relationship-focused role within a successful corporate partnerships team. Working with the Head of Corporate and Employer Partnerships, you’ll help manage partner relationships, develop funding proposals, track income, and identify new business opportunities to support strategic growth.

You’ll also lead corporate volunteering initiatives, creating meaningful engagement opportunities with Spear trainees through workshops, mock interviews, and visits. From planning to follow-up, you’ll ensure a high-quality experience while supporting events and wider engagement. This role suits someone organised, proactive, and confident building relationships, who is motivated to make a tangible difference in a mission-driven, faith-based organisation.

Key information:

• Salary: £30,000
• Full-Time, One Year Fixed-Term Contract 
• Location: London Office 
• Closing date: Tuesday 2nd June (We interview on a rolling basis and will close the role early if we find the right candidate)

For more information please read through our Job Specification and Work with Us Pack.

If you require any reasonable adjustments as part of the recruitment process, please let us know.

Person Specification

• A practising Christian, passionate about personally representing the values and beliefs of Spear, and our mission to equip and support young people facing barriers to employment.
• Strong organisational skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities, establish effective processes and structures, and maintain a high level of attention to detail.
• Excellent communicator with strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build rapport and engage effectively with people from a wide range of backgrounds and professional levels.
• Strong and effective project coordination skills, with the ability to bring together multiple stakeholders to deliver shared outcomes.
• Self-starter with the ability to take initiative and work independently.
• Fundraising experience is desirable but not essential.
• IT literate, with a good working knowledge of MS Office (including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint).

For over 60 years the National Children’s Bureau (NCB) has been building a better childhood for all.

Research and Policy Manager
Contract: Fixed-term, 24-months
Work Pattern: Full Time, 35 hours per week (1.0 FTE) (We are open to flexible hours and working patterns, including accommodating part-time and compressed hours (0.8 FTE) where possible).
Salary: £40,855 per annum
Location: Northern Ireland. (NCB promotes a hybrid, flexible way of working with 2 days working in the Belfast BT15 office).

The Vacancy

We are seeking an experienced and highly motivated Research and Policy Manager to make a significant contribution to the design, delivery and management of research and evidence projects at NCB, and to ensure that this evidence is used to influence national policy development and decision making.

The postholder will work across a range of projects, bring research and policy development and influencing together on topics including social care and the transition to adulthood; education; mental health & wellbeing; child poverty; youth violence and early years.

About NCB

For more than 60 years, the National Children’s Bureau has championed the rights and amplified the voice of children and young people in the UK. We interrogate policy and uncover evidence, blending in lived and learnt experience to shape future legislation and develop more effective ways of supporting children and families.

Bringing people and organisations together is fundamental to how we improve the systems that babies, children, young people and their families rely on to thrive. We push boundaries, even looking beyond childhood itself to consider transitions into adulthood and the impact of childhood issues on an entire lifespan. We are united for better childhoods and brighter futures.

The Benefits

• 30 Days Annual Leave
• Generous Pension Scheme
• Cycle to work scheme
• Flexible Working
• Winter Holiday Closure & Break
• Employee Assistance Programme

Closing date: 08:00am, Wednesday 10th June 2026.
Assessment and interviews to be conducted on 23rd and 24th June 2026.
Please note that we reserve the right to close this vacancy early should we receive a high volume of applications. We encourage interested candidates to submit their applications as soon as possible

Interested?

If you would like to find out more, please click the apply button. You will be directed to our website to complete your application for this position.

We are actively seeking to broaden the diversity of our staff group and warmly welcome applications from candidates underrepresented in the charity sector, including those from Black and Global Majority communities, disabled people, LGBTQ+ individuals, and people with lived experience of the issues NCB works on.

No agencies please.