Education and events coordinator jobs in Manchester

The person who currently leads ADUKs education and training work is moving into an exciting new role within our team. We’re now looking for someone marvellous to take on part of their work, alongside some exciting new initiatives we want to develop. We’re not looking for a direct replacement - we want someone who will relish the opportunity to shape and grow this role into something truly impactful, supporting our work and strengthening the sector.

Key Purpose: The postholder will play a key role in strengthening knowledge, understanding, and best practice both within the sector and externally with service providers and the public, helping to remove barriers for assistance dog partnerships.

Internal focus: Coordinate the learning and development of ADUK member organisations, ensuring access to high-quality resources, training, and support to maintain knowledge sharing and best practice development across the sector.

External focus: Deliver education engagements and training to stakeholders, including businesses, service providers, and the public, through ADUK’s wider education initiatives and the new Corporate Allyship Programme.

Key Responsibilities

Learning:

• Manage ADUK’s shared Learning Management System (Moodle) and training platform, supporting members to make the most of the available content and resources.

Knowledge Sharing:

• Collaborate with staff and volunteers from member organisations and candidates to identify learning needs and expertise.
• Coordinate engaging and effective knowledge-sharing programmes aligned with member needs.

Education Delivery:

• Work with ADUK colleagues to coordinate and deliver engaging education initiatives, both in-person and virtually, for service providers and public services.
• Coordinate logistics for external training events, including venues and registrations.
• Support delivery of training for the ADUK’s Corporate Allyship Programme in collaboration with relevant colleagues.

Partnerships and Collaboration:

• Identify opportunities to work with external bodies, partners, and stakeholders to deliver training and share knowledge with the wider community.

Evaluation and Impact:

• Evaluate and assess the effectiveness of knowledge-sharing programmes and external training and explore how best to leverage this evidence. 
• Prepare and present impact reports to inform continuous improvement.

Essential Knowledge, Skills and Attributes:

• Recent and relevant experience (3 years +) in designing and delivering in-person and online training and educational workshops and programmes.
• Excellent presentation and facilitation skills, with the ability to engage diverse audiences.
• Experience in managing learning management systems (LMS) and digital learning tools, (preferably Moodle based LMS)
• Excellent organisations skills with the ability to prioritise tasks and coordinate multiple organisations and stakeholders.
• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written, with the ability to convey complex information clearly and concisely.
• Confident relationship building skills.
• A collaborative and adaptable approach to teamwork, with the ability to work effectively as part of a small team that sits within a large membership network.
• Be able and willing to travel extensively (across England, Wales and Scotland) to deliver in person training.

All applicants should be aligned with ADUK’s values of championing a standards-based approach to the training and welfare of assistance dogs.

See Recruitment Pack for more information and full job and person spec. 

Camwch i mewn i daith drawsnewidiol gyda Cyfleodd Dysgu mewn addysg

Step into a transformative journey with Working Options. We're on a mission to empower young people aged 11-19 across the UK, and you can help make a real difference. As our Project Coordinator, based in Wales, you'll play a crucial role in connecting volunteers with schools and fostering impactful relationships, all while working within a dynamic, entrepreneurial environment.

We believe in inclusivity, trying new things, setting high expectations, and creating real opportunities for young people. With the support of our experienced team and dedicated trustees, you'll have the chance to shape young people's career ambitions.

If you're 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 in our Applicant Information Pack.

Person specification 

WE ARE LOOKING FOR SOMEONE WHO:

• Has a passion for our cause.
• 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.

DESIRABLE:

• Experience within educational settings or working with young people in Wales.
• The ability to communicate in the medium of Welsh.

We carry out social media checks on shortlisted candidates as part of our recruitment process, using only publicly available information and in line with our data protection responsibilities.

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 Wales face today.

About the Foyer Federation

Young people who experience homelessness are more likely to experience it later in life too. Our purpose is to break this cycle.

For over 30 years, we have led a national network of 51 Youth Foyers, reaching approximately 3,100 young people aged 16-25 who can’t live at home every year.

Youth Foyers are more than a place to stay: they are thriving communities, with people - not circumstance - at the heart. By building on young people’s strengths, talents and aspirations, Youth Foyers offer a holistic living and learning opportunity for young people to realise their power and purpose, and move on equipped to thrive as independent adults.

What we do

Through community of practice events, consultation and training, and our quality development programme, we provide youth supported housing services with infrastructural support to adopt and deliver an impactful Youth Foyer service.

By working with services to build their resilience to external challenges, capacity to work holistically with young people, and high quality provision that centres youth voice, we increase the number of young people who move on from supported housing with the power and agency to thrive.

We’re now looking for a passionate programme coordinator with a flair for building positive relationships to join our team in the north west of England.

As Network & Programme Coordinator, you will be responsible for developing and nurturing relationships with staff and young people in our Youth Foyer network.

By proactively listening to the network’s needs, ambitions and experiences; offering coaching and development opportunities; and guiding Youth Foyers through our accreditation programme, you will support services to develop and deliver transformational opportunities for young people who can’t live at home.

You will also be responsible for the delivery of funded programmes for and with young people (16-25) and staff in north west Youth Foyers.

Find out more and apply

If you’re a proactive relationship builder with a passion for enabling young people to realise their power and purpose, we’d love to hear from you. 
More information on the role, who we’re looking for and how to apply can be found in the job pack on our website.

As Community Coordinator, you will be welcoming everyone who walks through our doors, running fun and inclusive activities, and helping people access the support that they need. 

This role is a demanding, people-focussed position and the successful applicant will have an outstanding ability to relate to and draw the best out of our community at The Oasis Centre.

What you will be doing:

· Giving a warm, genuine welcome to everyone who visits the Centre

· Planning, preparing, and running fun, engaging, and inclusive community activities in our free café

· Helping people find the right support by signposting them to services within the Centre

· Responding calmly and wisely to issues that present themselves, offering reassurance and support

· Welcoming visiting organisations and ensuring they feel part of the Oasis culture

· Living out and actively modelling the values of Oasis every day

· Setting the tone of a safe, respectful, and uplifting environment by challenging negative behaviours appropriately

· Supporting the wider Oasis team with other tasks when needed

What we’re looking for:

· An Occupational Requirement exists for the post-holder to be a practicing Christian in accordance with Section 2 of the Equality Act 2010

· A natural “people person” warm, approachable, and welcoming

· A great communicator who can connect with people from all walks of life

· Patient, kind, and trustworthy, someone who can be relied on

· Organised and self-motivated, able to take initiative

· Calm under pressure and confident in handling conflict well

Person Specification:

E = Essential D = Desirable

1. Education/ Training

GCSE Maths and English minimum 5 or above (High C and above) (E)

2. Experience

A minimum of 2 years relevant experience (this can be from a wide variety of backgrounds) (D)

Experience of working with disadvantaged people (D)

Experience of communicating effectively and persuasively using a variety of media (D)

Experience of working within a small-medium charity (D)

Experience of working in a community setting (E)

3.       Essential Skills

Excellent organisational skills: including goal setting, prioritising competing demands and meeting deadlines (D)

A clear communicator at all levels, with excellent written and oral communication skills, including the ability to write clear and comprehensive reports. (E)

Ability to work independently and to identify and prioritise own workload (E)

Ability to work as a supportive and productive member of a team (E)

Flexibility to deal with constantly changing circumstances and a cool head under pressure (E)

Excellent conflict resolution skills (E)

Good interpersonal skills (E)

Confident at networking and building up productive relationships (D)

4. Relevant Aptitudes

Compassionate with a heart for the disadvantaged (E)

Flexible and occasionally willing to work outside of usual working hours (E)

5. Personal

Willingness to uphold the vision, mission and values of The Oasis Centre (E)

Approachability: a friendly, welcoming and caring nature (E)

An ability to relate to, include, and bring the best out of The Oasis Centre’s community (E)

An ability to positively interact with all of our community, volunteers and staff (E)

6. Beliefs

It is an Occupational Requirement for the post-holder to be a practicing Christian in accordance Section 2 with the Equality Act 2010 (E)

A rare chance to join an incredibly supportive and inclusive employer that values hard work, flexiblity and employee well-being, and recognised by the GM Good Employment Charter! We are a small but vastly experienced team of family support/volunteer Coordinators, delivering highly respected volunteer-led home visiting support to families in the early years. 

We are looking for someone to provide direct support to families and also recruit, train and support a team of local parent/carer volunteers who will provide weekly home visiting and community support to families.

You will work  with other professionals from universal and specialist services to provide a coordinated response to families’ needs. You will assess need and risk prior to carefully matching volunteers with families or offering direct support, working as part of multi agency support, ensuring information sharing and safeguarding is at the forefront of your work. This will include instigating Early Help assessments, preparing for and attending Child in Need and Child Protection meetings.

You will have an understanding of recruiting, carefully selecting and managing volunteers to ensure they feel supported and fully trained to offer effective support to families in order to get the best outcomes for the family and in particular the children. 

You will be experienced in working with families in their own home - skilled in recognising and responding to safeguarding concerns, be apt in completing strengths-based assessments and conversations and have a deep understanding of the issues families can face and the link with childhood development and difficulties they may experience later in life.

Project Trust is an education charity with over fifty years’ experience in international volunteering for young people.  We organise challenging, long-term placements for 17–25-year-olds with partnership organisations in Africa, Asia and the Americas.

We annually select up to 200 young people from across the UK for immersive and focused teaching and youth development projects around the world.  Our Volunteers are provided with training and support before, during and after their international placements and return home with broadened horizons and an impressive range of transferable skills, true Global Citizens.

We are looking for an enthusiastic, creative and organised Digital Marketing Assistant to join our digital engagement team.  This new role could be ideal for someone starting their career in digital communications, content creation or marketing.

As our Digital Marketing Assistant, you will support the day-to-day delivery of our digital content across social media, our website and other online platforms, telling the stories of our Volunteers and the impact of our work at Project Trust.  You will support our digital marketing activity and fundraising campaigns, contributing to our digital engagement strategy.  You will also be involved in wider organisational activities working directly with young people.

The role is home-based with some UK travel and the occasional requirement to work evenings and weekends.

Main areas of responsibility include:

· Collect stories, quotes, photos and videos from Volunteers before, during and after their placements

· Create engaging content and share on Project Trust’s social media channels (including posts, stories, reels, and simple graphics)

· Support digital campaigns to promote Volunteer opportunities, increase applications and fundraising

If you are passionate about youth development and want to use your digital skills to inspire the next generation, apply now.

DIGITAL MARKETING ASSISTANT

Responsibilities & duties

Digital content and communications

· Create engaging content for Project Trust’s social media channels (including posts, stories, reels, and simple graphics)

· Help plan, draft and schedule content in line with marketing and fundraising campaigns and key dates

· Support with maintenance and updating of Project Trust’s website

· Create digital assets such as images, short videos, blog posts, and email content

· Create content for and distribution of our newsletters

Story gathering and impact

· Collect stories, quotes, photos and videos from Volunteers before, during and after their placements

· Turn these into compelling digital content that shows the impact of Project Trust’s work

· Curate our library of digital content

· Support basic reporting on digital engagement and audience response

Volunteer recruitment and applications

· Develop digital campaigns to promote Volunteer opportunities and increase applications

· Assist with keeping application-related web pages and digital recruitment materials used up to date

Team and organisational support

· Work closely with the Digital Engagement Coordinator and Volunteer & Schools Engagement Team to support campaigns and day-to-day digital activity

· Contribute to wider organisational work with young people directly, such as Volunteer selection, training, pre-departure briefings and ongoing Volunteer support where needed

· Participate in events such as virtual open evenings and in-person sessions

Miscellaneous

· Administrative tasks associated with all of the above

· Within the job holder’s skills and abilities, support the Digital Engagement Co-ordinator and Volunteer & Schools Engagement Manager as required in other tasks or activities which contribute to the achievement of Project Trust’s objectives and its development

· Travel to attend meetings elsewhere in the UK, plus some evening and weekend working, required

Essential skills

· A demonstrable genuine interest in digital media, social platforms and storytelling

· Experience in creating content for social media, blogs or websites (this could be personal, voluntary or from studies)

· Good written communication skills and attention to detail

· Creativity and willingness to try new ideas

· Ability to organise your time, work independently and manage multiple small tasks

· An interest in international volunteering, youth development or the charitable sector

· Ability to travel to other parts of the UK as required

· Ability to work remotely from an appropriate home base

· Willingness to undertake work outside standard office hours

· Commitment to Project Trust’s purpose, approach, ethos

Desirable

·       Understanding of running and supporting digital advertising, such as paid social or search ads (eg setting up campaigns, monitoring performance or supporting optimisation)

·       Skills in tools such as Canva, Adobe, social media platforms or content management systems

·       Knowledge of analytics tools (eg platform insights, Google Analytics) and an interest in using data to improve content

·       Interest in photography, video or design

· Marketing or digital marketing qualification

Conditions of Service

The appointment will be made subject to Project Trust’s detailed terms and conditions of employment. Candidates should be aware that:

· The post holder will be required to obtain an enhanced Disclosure Scotland check (PVG)

· Any offer of appointment will be made subject to the receipt of satisfactory references

·       The post holder must have the right to work in the UK

If you are passionate about youth development and want to use your digital skills to inspire the next generation, apply now.

How to apply

Download the job pack and return completed documents by 4 March 2026.

Please don't use AI in your applicaiton.We want to hear about you, your genuine interest in the role and why your skills, personality and values make you a great fit for the role.

First round interviews will take place in the week beginning 9 March 2026, on Microsoft Teams.  Short-listed candidates will be asked produce a piece of work as part of the selection process.

Please note, we will be reviewing applications as they are received and reserve the right to close the advert early if a suitable candidate is appointed. We therefore strongly encourage early applications to avoid any disappointment.

The start date is late March/early April 2026.

Project Trust recognises the positive value of diversity and we welcome applications from people of all backgrounds.

Key information

Location: Manchester, Bristol, Newcastle, Nottingham, or London

Hours: 37.5 hours per week (full time)

Start date: ASAP (we are happy to work with notice periods)

Duration: Permanent

Salary: £36,340 - £41,065 per annum if based in London. £33,690 - £38,410 per annum if based in Bristol, Manchester, Newcastle or Nottingham, plus a £312 yearly tax-free work from home allowance.

Application deadline: Wednesday 18th March, 12pm

This application process will consist of 3 stages: Application, 1st interview and Assessment Centre (presentation task & interview).

About upReach 

Do you think that your socio-economic background should determine your career prospects?

upReach’s vision is of a society in which everybody has an equal opportunity to realise their full career potential. Our work is important because right now a student from disadvantaged background who gains a first-class degree from a top university is less likely to secure an elite job than a more privileged student with a 2.2. 

We are an award-winning charity employer working to address this issue in partnership with employers and universities. We help undergraduates from lower socioeconomic backgrounds achieve their career potential by providing an intensive programme of support that addresses socio-economic barriers to graduate employment. 

To find out more about how we support our students, visit our website and read our Annual Report, and Impact Report.

Role Summary

As a University Partnership Manager at upReach, you will play a vital role in securing and growing high-impact partnerships with universities committed to social mobility.

Reporting to the Head of Partnerships within the Income Generation and External Engagement team, you will be responsible for developing new strategic relationships, championing our partners' voices across upReach, and working closely with our Programmes Team to oversee a portfolio of university partners. You’ll lead stakeholder engagement, take ownership of partnership outcomes and work collaboratively across upReach with our marketing, impact and programme teams.

Core Responsibilities

You will play a critical role in advancing upReach’s mission by generating income and leading upReach’s University Partnerships strategy. Creating life-changing opportunities for our Associates through high-impact university partnerships. You will be directly supporting the organisation's strategic priorities: driving sustainable income growth, enhancing programme impact and expanding our reach as a national charity.

Given the expansive and dynamic nature of this role, the list of responsibilities is not exhaustive, but provides a clear overview of your primary areas of responsibility, ownership and impact.

The core responsibilities include:

Develop and Secure New Strategic University Partnerships

• Proactively identify, cultivate, and convert a pipeline of four and five-figure prospective university partners aligned with upReach’s mission and strategic goals.

• Lead high-quality prospecting and relationship-building activity, targeting income-generating partnerships that also deliver high-impact opportunities for Associates.

• Build strong relationships with key contacts at potential partners, including senior stakeholders within widening participation, employability, and careers teams, through regular in-person and virtual meetings.

• Deliver compelling, insight-driven proposals and presentations tailored to organisational priorities and demonstrating mutual value.

Stakeholder Representation and Engagement

• Act as a visible representative of upReach at key partner events, conferences, and roundtables, building relationships, showcasing our impact, and raising our external profile.

• Leverage social media strategically to spotlight partnership activity, amplify success stories and demonstrate the value of our partnerships in real time.

• Respond swiftly and professionally to partner and prospective partner requests, ensuring timely, accurate information and follow-up.

• Capture, report and disseminate key themes and insights from partner feedback, helping to inform decision-making and continuously improve the partnership experience.

Monitor and Grow Existing University Partnerships

• Responsibility for a portfolio of upReach’s existing university partners, ensuring effective stewardship of the day-to-day relationship with high satisfaction, sustainable renewal and growth.

• Set and monitor partnership goals and OKRs, leading regular reviews and performance reporting.

• Identify opportunities to deepen and broaden engagement with existing partners, including expanding partnership activities.

• Collaborate with the Student Attraction and Programme teams to engage the university in identifying & promoting the programme.

• Working closely with upReach’s Programme teams to ensure partnerships and programmes are delivered to a high standard.

• Lead on university partnership health reviews and mid-year partner reviews to ensure any issues are dealt with effectively, promptly and collaboratively.

Partnership Visibility and Impact

• Collaborate closely with Marketing & Communications to co-create high-quality content and campaigns that showcase our strategic partnerships through university guides, case studies, thought leadership, social media, and joint events.

• Lead on impact reporting for your partnership portfolio, using both data and compelling stories to evidence the outcomes of the partnership and drive continued engagement.

• Proactively identify and deliver opportunities for partners to amplify the voice of upReach; through our external events, fundraising opportunities and sharing social-media collateral that promotes our work.

Cross-Functional Collaboration and Innovation

• Collaborate with the Finance team to ensure timely and accurate invoicing and contracting for all University partnerships, supporting effective financial management.

• Maintain up-to-date and accurate records of partnership activity using upReach’s internal CRM and systems, enabling effective reporting, forecasting and stewardship.

• Uphold the organisation’s legal and ethical obligations, including data protection, charity law, and compliance with all relevant regulatory requirements.

• Manage and support a rotation of the Future Charity Leaders Programme, providing guidance, feedback, and development opportunities.

• Meet monthly with University Leads (the Programme Coordinator responsible for day-to-day university activities) to set partnership priorities, monitor stakeholder KPIs (onboarding, engagement), and deliver updates to universities.

• Contribute to the achievement of income targets aligned with upReach’s strategic goals, identifying and progressing opportunities to drive revenue growth.

• Engage fully in the annual appraisal process, setting ambitious, SMART objectives that align with organisational priorities and your personal development.

Skills and Experience

The ideal candidate for the University Partnerships Manager should display these behavioural skills:

• Strong track record of relationship-building, influencing, and delivering high-quality engagement with a range of stakeholders, ideally including senior university professionals.

• Excellent organisational and project management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines autonomously.

• Confident and pragmatic decision maker in a fast-paced environment, with an understanding of when to escalate situations and seek input appropriately.

• Proven ability to develop and implement partnership or engagement strategies that strengthen collaboration and deliver shared goals.

• Collaborative team player with experience supporting and working across diverse teams to deliver shared objectives.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including confidence in preparing and delivering presentations and reports.

• Proficient in using CRM or data management systems to track engagement, manage pipelines, and generate actionable insights.

• Experience measuring and reporting on partnership impact, engagement, or value creation.

Desirable:

• Experience in university partnerships, fundraising, account management, or stakeholder engagement.

• Understanding of widening participation, employability, or student success strategies within a higher education setting.

• Experience collaborating with marketing or communications teams to create joint campaigns, content, or case studies that drive engagement.

Team Culture & Benefits: 

We offer: 

• Flexible and hybrid working.

• Statutory Holiday Entitlement of 25 days and bank holidays. This increases to 2 additional days after 2.5 years and then to 3 additional days after 5 years of working with us. 

• Birthday leave and Volunteering leave

• Enhanced Parental Leave beyond statutory requirements for all team members. 

• 3% Pension Contribution, which increased to 5% after 5 years of working with us. 

• Cycle-to-work scheme.

• Monthly socials and annual wellbeing days

• Dedication to Staff Wellbeing through our Employee Assistance Programme and Mental Health First Aid Training. 

• Personal Development Budget, activated after 6 months in the role.

• The opportunity to participate in our fantastic staff networks: 

  • Disability and Inclusion Network

  • Diverse Roots Network 

  • Green Network 

  • LGBTQ+ Network

  • Mindfulness Network

  • Parents and Carers Network

  • (Im)Migrants Network 

Ready to apply?

We are committed to making our recruitment process inclusive. All applications will be blind screened, and our job packs are available in Braille, large text or another format upon request. We can provide reasonable adjustments throughout our recruitment application process and on the job, and we'll always endeavour to be as accommodating as possible.

Applications close on Wednesday 18th March at 12pm.. 

EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES

At upReach, we are committed to being an equal opportunities employer and do not discriminate in employment matters on the basis of race, ethnicity, religion, gender, age, disability, social background or any other protected class. We celebrate and value the diverse perspectives that people from all backgrounds bring to our team. We are passionate about creating a workplace that is inclusive and reflects the diversity of communities across the UK. Diversity in the workplace creates dynamic and effective organisations and we are actively working to build a more inclusive workforce by continuously improving our recruitment, retention, and development practices. We  encourage applications from individuals from underrepresented groups, including Black, Asian and other ethnic minority backgrounds, those with disabilities , those who are care-experienced, those from low socio-economic backgrounds, and those who are LGBTQIA+.

As Youth Worker you will use your experience of working with children and young people to:

• Work alongside the Youth Coordinator to develop and deliver an agreed project plan that meets the requirements of funders and local team priorities, in line with Diabetes UK processes and policies.
• Support young people and volunteers to understand and grow their strengths and skills, empowering them to take action, support others and make change happen.
• Continuously improve our impact and engagement with young people and the diabetes community, identifying opportunities to share learning and good practice across teams.
• Work with colleagues to grow and enhance our engagement with young people, creating opportunities for long term relationships and involvement of young people in the wider work of the charity.

One in 20 adults in the UK has never learnt to read at all. This can have a serious impact on their confidence and wellbeing, limiting access to training, employment, and everyday opportunities that many take for granted. Being unable to read as an adult can be isolating and dangerous, reinforces social inequality, restricts economic growth, and worsens intergenerational disadvantage - but it is never too late to learn.

Read Easy helps adults transform their lives by learning to read. It does this by supporting its growing network of locally run, volunteer-led affiliated groups that offer free, confidential, one-to-one reading coaching—both in person and online to adults - aged from 18-88. 

With its free, flexible, confidential approach, Read Easy encourages people who are too embarrassed to join a class to come forward for one-to-one support. Each new reader is provided with their own personal Reading Coach, so that they can learn in private and at their own pace. Learning to read transforms their lives in many other ways as well, including enabling them to support their children’s and grandchildren’s reading, and so transfers the benefits to the next generation.

There are currently 80 affiliated Read Easy groups across England, together involving more than a thousand volunteers. Read Easy UK is the registered charity and umbrella organisation which supports this network of affiliated volunteer groups and provides the structure, training and support to enable volunteers to establish groups in new areas.

As our Central Regional Adviser, your role would be to provide strategic leadership, guidance, and oversight to ensure that all volunteer groups consistently deliver high-quality services aligned with Read Easy UK’s strategy.

You will support local volunteer leaders to strengthen group performance, and foster collaboration across affiliated groups, so that that they deliver coaching to Readers with consistent quality, and a positive and worthwhile experience is had by all.

You will also find volunteers to ‘pioneer’ three new groups in the counties where there is no Read Easy presence in the East and West Midlands and East of England and provide them and our 29 existing groups and pioneers in the region, with high-quality support. Your quality support will ensure that they provide the same for their volunteers and new Readers. From meeting (mostly online) with Team Leaders to provide one to one support, and hosting online and annual in-person volunteer forums, to delivering presentations and occasional training for small groups of volunteers, this is a dynamic and rewarding role.

This is a home-based post requiring flexibility, some early evening working and occasional travel to visit groups. The role is available on either a full or part time basis (min 32 hours p/w, 85% of 37.5 hours p/w FTE).

The successful candidate will be expected to:

• Live within one of the following areas: West Midlands (Defined as the 7 metropolitan boroughs of Birmingham, Coventry, Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull, Walsall, and Wolverhampton), Warwickshire, Oxfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Northamptonshire, Leicestershire or Rutland;
• have been employed to work with volunteers for at least two years;
• have strong people management and interpersonal skills; excellent communication skills; and the confidence to run meetings and deliver presentations.

Salary & Benefits 

• Annual Salary £25,973 (85% FTE) - £30,385 (100% FTE)
• 25 days holiday plus bank holidays and Christmas closing and 2 days volunteering leave – pro-rata for part time roles
• Company sick pay to financially support you when you are unwell (above statutory upon completion of probationary period) 
• Support when extending your family – company parental and adoption pay (above statutory after 12 months service) 
• Access to RewardHub – which gives retail discounts and has a ‘Wellbeing Centre’ with tools, tips, recipes, workout videos and guides which will help you to reach your own wellbeing goals 
• Training and Development opportunities and resources – we are developing personal plans in this area to enhance employee experience and opportunity 
• A collaborative, creative and inspiring working environment full of committed and passionate employees and inspirational volunteers 

We strive to ensure our recruitment practices are fair, open, easy to access and as inclusive as possible. We aim to recruit a team which broadly reflect the local communities which we serve; to work with and learn from each other to continually improve the service we deliver to our Readers. Our Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Group is actively promoting and advancing diversity and inclusion, ensuring a culture where everyone can be themselves and thrive. We welcome you to apply and be your authentic self.

When applying for a job with us, if an applicant has a disability covered by the definition outlined within the Equality Act 2010 and can show that they meet the ‘essential criteria’ described in the person specification for the role being applied for, they are guaranteed an interview for the job for which they are applying through our Disability Confident scheme.

If you need any support with your application, please contact us,

The closing date for this post is 10:00 Tuesday 3rd March 2026. Should you be shortlisted, the first round of interviews will take place online on Tuesday 10th March, with in-person interviews, being held in Birmingham, on Tuesday 17th March 2026. 

The successful candidate will be invited to meet the team on 15th April in Birmingham, should they be able to do so.

We have an exciting opportunity for an experienced Head of Communications to come and join our team providing maternity cover until January 2027 during a period of organisational growth.

Location – This role is mainly working from home with one day a week in our London office (usually a Monday). Occasional travel to our other programme sites (currently Stoke-On-Trent, Redcar, Middlesbrough and Scotland) will also be required.

Salary – Circa £60,000

Employment Type – Fixed term until January 2027, 35 hours per week

Team – Communications team

About you

We are looking for someone who can demonstrate the following:

· Strong experience in strategic communications, ideally within a start-up, growing, complex or place-based organisation.

· Experience setting up and embedding communications functions, including establishing foundations and building approaches as priorities evolve.

· Significant experience in people leadership, including developing others and building a strong, collaborative working culture.

· Experience influencing senior stakeholders and working with an SLT, including supporting government policy, media, funding and influence related activity.

· Strong content, storytelling and copywriting expertise and the ability to communicate a clear organisational narrative.

About the role

The responsibilities of this role include:

· Overseeing and ensuring the delivery of national and local communications strategies and plans, including national content activity and priority local campaigns and stakeholder engagement.

· Leading the set-up and embedding of new place-based communications functions.

· Leading and overseeing the planning and delivery of Thrive at Five’s 2026 Impact Report, communications relating to evaluations and learning, and our fifth-year anniversary, working closely with evaluation and fundraising colleagues.

· Maintaining and strengthening relationships with key national and local stakeholders in line with our communications strategy and goals.

· Providing professional and operational leadership and coaching to the wider Communications team to ensure they deliver to a high standard.

About us

Thrive at Five is a national charity focused on giving every child the best possible start in life. We know the foundations for life and learning are built in the earliest years, from pregnancy to five. By working alongside families, communities and local partners, we help build stronger, more connected support for parents, so more children get what they need to thrive and reach a good level of development by age five.

Thrive at Five is a relatively young organisation but with an already strong national and political profile, having been called out in Parliament for our ways of working in Stoke-on-Trent and invited to be interviewed at the 2025 Civil Society Summit by the Secretary of State for Education. We have grown rapidly in our first four years, with a growing team of nearly 40 across the country. 2026 will be a year of further growth and milestones for the charity as we celebrate our fifth-year anniversary and expand into our third and fourth regions. This will involve recruiting for a new teams, establishing our programmes and beginning to co-design and implement our work in partnership with communities.

About our benefits

· Pension contributions – We will contribute 3% and you can contribute 5% towards your pension through NEST.

· Hybrid working with one anchor day a week in our central London office near to Victoria train station, coach station and underground.

· 25 annual leave days per year plus bank holidays.

· In addition to your laptop and phone provided by us, you can also receive a £100 contribution towards your home-working set up.

· £100 contribution towards your professional body membership

Please note that as this role is subject to a successful Basic Level Disclosure check through the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). If you have any unspent convictions, but wish to apply for this role, please advise us in your application. The successful candidate will also need to provide satisfactory references and current right to work in the UK.

To apply for this role, please submit your cover letter and CV by following the Apply Now button. Applications will be reviewed and shortlisted as they are received. While the closing date is midnight on Wednesday, 18 February 2026, we may close the vacancy earlier if a suitable candidate is identified.

We're looking for an enthusiastic Head of Fundraising with a strong track record in fundraising and grant management, who is particularly motivated to join Khulisa because of a deep commitment to our mission – supporting the wellbeing and mental health of young people.

About Khulisa

Khulisa, meaning 'nurture' in the Zulu language of South Africa, is an award-winning charity dedicated to providing therapeutic support to young people. We focus on reaching those who are most at risk – young people from deprived communities who are often marginalized, vulnerable to exclusion, and at heightened risk of becoming involved in crime

Our approach centres on safe, exploratory methods that aim to understand behaviour and experiences often rooted in trauma, abuse, and neglect. We deliver intensive therapeutic programs within educational and community settings, empowering young people to confront the underlying causes of their emotional distress and work toward healing. To create lasting, sustainable change, we work to establish trauma-informed environments around young people by equipping parents, caregivers, educators, and other professionals with the tools they need to offer effective, supportive care. Currently, our services are active in London and Manchester.

About the role

Over the last two consecutive financial years, we have raised approximately £1 million each year – primarily through trusts and foundations, corporate donors, and individual supporters. As the successful candidate, you and the team you lead will play a pivotal role in maintaining this level of fundraising success, ensuring our vital work with young people continues to flourish. This role will involve:

• Reviewing and evaluating our funder qualification processes to ensure donors align with our values and meet our ethical standards.
• Ensuring that detailed research on prospective funding opportunities, including trusts, foundations, corporate partners, HNWIs, are carried out and that plans for making approaches are developed and carefully implemented.
• Initiating, nurturing and maintaining strong relationships with prospective funders and donors.
• Working together with the Senior Leadership to develop and periodically review Khulisa's 3-year fundraising strategy, taking ownership of key elements and processes, and periodically developing and testing new fundraising approaches.

For a full list of duties and responsibilities, please see the attached job description below. 

The post holder will be required to work from home permanently but be willing and able to easily travel to various locations across the London and the North West as necessary to fulfill the requirements of the role and to engage with stakeholders and colleagues.

What we're looking for

Abilities/Experiences

• Extensive fundraising and grant management experience working on large bids (£100K plus).
• Excellent writing skills with ability to produce clear, concise and engaging reports.
• Demonstrable ability to communicate effectively with a wide range of stakeholders and build relationships easily.
• Demonstrable experience of successfully raising funds from Trusts & Foundations, Corporates and Major Donors.
• Experience of leading or significantly contributing to development and/or delivery of a fundraising strategy.
• Experience of budget management and financial processes in income generation activities.
• Experience of mobilising and managing implementation of grant agreements from initiation to reporting and possibly reapplication.
• Ability to confidently negotiate or renegotiate with senior stakeholders on programme budgets, deliverables and objectives. 

Knowledge/Skills

• Good knowledge of Khulisa's work and ability to use this to creatively engage with new donors and secure their interest.
• Strong knowledge of CRM database, preferably Salesforce, in managing funder/donor relationships and fundraising activities.
• Strong account management and negotiation skills.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion: We are actively looking to recruit a diversity of talent. We embrace, respect and value the difference in our employees and believe that we and our work is better for it. We are committed to creating and maintaining an inclusive environment that consists of fairness, dignity, and caring for everyone, and one that enables every employee to flourish and realise their potential.