Family support jobs

A leading UK children’s charity is seeking a Financial Accountant to support the delivery of its statutory financial reporting and strengthen its financial controls. Working closely with the Head of Financial Accounting and Processing, this role will play a key part in ensuring accurate financial reporting, compliance with accounting standards and tax regulations, and the successful delivery of the year-end audit process.

Salary: £54,028

Location: Hybrid, London

Contract: Permanent, Full-time

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced financial accountant with strong technical financial accounting experience to join a purpose-driven organisation that supports life-changing work for seriously ill children and their families.

The Role

You will support the preparation of the charity’s statutory financial statements and work closely with external auditors during the year-end audit. The role also involves maintaining robust balance sheet reconciliations, ensuring accurate fund accounting, and overseeing compliance with VAT and corporation tax requirements.

You will help ensure appropriate accounting treatment across the organisation, maintain strong financial controls, and contribute to improvements in finance processes and systems. The position also provides exposure to technical accounting developments, including upcoming changes to FRS102 and the Charities SORP.

About You

• We are looking for an experienced finance professional with strong financial accounting experience and a proven track record of supporting statutory accounts preparation and audit processes.
• You will have excellent analytical skills, strong attention to detail, and the ability to work to tight deadlines.
• You will ideally have experience managing complex restricted and unrestricted funding, or similar experience in a complex organisation.

How To Apply

Please contact Madeleine at Ivy Rock Partners for more details.

Deadline for applications: Wednesday 18th March

About The Refugee Council

The Refugee Council is the nation’s refugee charity. Together with community groups, partners and volunteers, we help people who have escaped war and persecution to rebuild their lives, integrate into communities, and play their part in Britain. Born in the aftermath of World War II, our frontline services support over 14,000 refugees each year to find safety, get to know their neighbours, and enter education, training or work. We share our evidence and expertise with policymakers to help build integrated communities where everyone can contribute.

We have offices across the UK where our Services teams provide support to refugees at local level.

Inclusion and Accessibility

Ensuring that the Refugee Council is an inclusive and accessible place to work is important to us. We want to enable people from different backgrounds to apply and thrive with us. We believe our recruitment process enables that and are also happy to make adjustments on request.

Our Values

Our values underpin everything we do:

• Inclusive: We are inclusive. We work with - not for - refugees and people seeking asylum, so they have an equal voice, co-producing projects and ensuring their expertise and experiences are at the heart of what we do.
• Collaborative: We are collaborative. Working with others is a priority in order to have the collective impact that is vital to achieve policy and practice reform.
• Courageous: We speak out when we see injustice, cruelty and unfairness. We always stand up for what we believe is the right thing to do to transform the experiences of those seeking protection in our country.
• Respectful: We are respectful of all those we interact with. We treat everyone – our staff, volunteers, beneficiaries, partners and people we disagree with – with the same respect, professionalism and understanding.

About the role

The Therapeutic Service Programme Manager provides strategic leadership and clinical governance for the Refugee Council’s therapeutic programmes, ensuring safe, high-quality care for separated children, adults and families seeking asylum.

As a Therapeutic Service Programme Manager, you will:

• Maintain professional standards and regulatory compliance
• Oversee all clinical decisions, referral pathways and service integration with advice and casework
• Lead and develop therapeutic managers and staff through supervision, reflective practice and trauma-informed wellbeing initiatives
• Embed client participation and advocacy into service design
• Manage operational finances, performance reporting and cross-organisational collaboration to drive continuous improvement and service sustainability

This is a permanent, part-time position working 28 hours per week.

The role can be based at any of the following Refugee Council offices - London, Sheffield, Hull, Kent, Hertfordshire.

Staff Benefits

To reward our staff for the value they bring, we offer a variety of enhanced terms and conditions and a wide range of benefits, including:

• Training & Development
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Pension Scheme
• Work Life Balance Policies
• Employer-Sponsored Volunteering
• And more!

Let’s work together to improve the lives of refugees in the UK - apply on our website today.

Closing date: 21 March 2026.

Ensuring that the Refugee Council is an inclusive and accessible place to work is important to us. We want to enable people from different backgrounds to apply and thrive with us. We believe our recruitment process enables that and are also happy to make adjustments on request.

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

We’re looking for 2 dynamic New Partnerships Leads to help us secure the transformational corporate partnerships that will shape the future of end-of-life care across the UK.

You’ll be at the forefront of Marie Curie’s high-value fundraising strategy, responsible for securing six- and seven-figure partnerships across priority sectors. You’ll lead the full business development and sales cycle from outreach and lead generation to pitch, proposal, and close.

You’ll manage your own portfolio of high-value prospects, build a robust pipeline, and cultivate relationships with senior stakeholders across major UK brands. One of the roles will also line-manage New Partnership Manager, supporting them to deliver their own income targets.

This role is perfect for a self-starter. Someone who can spot opportunities, open doors, and build long-term, commercial strategic partnerships that deliver income, influence, and national brand impact.

Please let us know during your application which role you want to apply for!

In this role, you will:

• Leading the development and delivery of sector-specific strategies to secure new high-value corporate partnerships.
• Generating and converting your own leads through proactive outreach, networking, and market insight.
• Managing the full business development cycle: prospecting, cultivation, proposal writing, pitching, negotiation, and closing.
• Building strong relationships with senior corporate stakeholders, trustees, volunteers, and internal teams.
• Creating compelling, commercially focused proposals, applications, and pitch materials tailored to each prospect.
• Developing innovative partnership concepts across CRM, sponsorship, brand partnerships, cause-related marketing, and strategic collaborations.
• Presenting confidently to senior audiences and representing Marie Curie at events, meetings, and networking opportunities.
• Supporting and motivating team members, contributing to a high-performing, collaborative culture.

Skills Needed

• A proven track record of winning or managing corporate partnerships worth £100k+.
• Experience securing six- or seven-figure partnerships across Charity of the Year, CRM, sponsorship, or strategic partnership models.
• Strong experience in business development, including cold outreach, lead generation, and pipeline management.
• Ability to build relationships quickly and credibly with senior stakeholders across sectors.
• Exceptional communication skills written, verbal, and presentation with the ability to influence at all levels.
• Experience writing high-quality proposals, applications, and pitch decks.
• Strong networking ability and confidence representing an organisation externally.
• Commercial understanding of brand strategy, retail, consumer partnerships, and cross-sector collaboration.
• A self-starter mindset: proactive, resilient, and motivated to build new opportunities from scratch.
• Excellent organisational skills and the ability to manage multiple projects at pace.

This is your chance to play a pivotal role in helping Marie Curie reach its goal of raising £9.5 million in corporate income next year and to build partnerships that change lives.

Please see full job description

Application & Interview Process

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

Salary: £42,000 - £45,000 (plus London allowance of £3.5k (subject to eligibility)

Contract: Full time, 35 hours per week 

Based: Homebased (outside of London) 1 day per month in office for meetings 
London based 2 days per week in London HQ

Benefits you’ll LOVE:

• Flexible working. We’re happy to discuss flexible working at the interview stage.
• 25 days annual leave (exclusive of Bank Holidays)
• Marie Curie Group Personal Pension Scheme (we will match your contribution up to 7.5%)
• Loan schemes for bikes; computers and season tickets
• Continuous professional development opportunities.
• Industry-leading training programmes
• Wellbeing and Employee Assistance Programmes
• Enhanced bereavement, family friendly and sickness benefits
• Access to Blue Light Card membership
• Subsidised Eye Care

At Marie Curie, our values are central to everything we do. They guide how we care for people, how we work together, and how we make decisions every day. We are committed to creating a workplace that is safe for everyone — staff and volunteers alike — supportive, inclusive and rewarding.  We take stringent steps to ensure that anyone who joins our organisation are suitable for their roles and are committed to safeguarding all our people from harm. We actively consider our impact on the planet, embedding sustainability into everyday decisions to create a lasting, positive difference for the individuals we care for and the world we share.

We believe everyone should have the opportunity to thrive and fulfil their potential. Marie Curie is deeply committed to diversity, equity and inclusion, recognising both the social justice imperative and the strength a diverse workforce brings.  We actively encourage applications from people of all cultures, perspectives and lived experiences.

We are happy to make reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process. If you require any support, please contact us at .

Every application we receive is personally reviewed by a member of our Talent Acquisition team, and in return, we ask that your application authentically reflects you — your experience, perspective and voice.

We are looking for a proactive Business Development Co-ordinator to support bids, tenders and funding opportunities. You’ll keep processes running smoothly, coordinate responses, maintain systems, and provide research and insight to help expand our mental health services. This is a great opportunity to grow your skills while making a real impact.

You will:

• Support the identification, preparation and submission of bids, tenders and funding opportunities
• Monitor tender portals, organise documentation and manage deadlines and trackers
• Coordinate internal contributions to tender responses, including policies, evidence and method statements
• Assist with drafting, formatting, proofreading and uploading tender submissions
• Conduct research into commissioning trends, competitor activity and market intelligence
• Maintain CRM systems, tender pipelines, outcome logs and shared document libraries
• Coordinate meetings, timelines and internal communication related to tender activity
• Support reporting and insight gathering to inform future business development activity

You are:

• Highly organised, methodical and able to manage multiple priorities effectively
• Detail-oriented, with a strong commitment to accuracy and quality
• A confident written and verbal communicator
• Proactive, positive and solution-focused, with a willingness to learn and develop
• Comfortable working collaboratively with colleagues across teams and disciplines
• Skilled in using Microsoft Office tools, including Word, Excel and SharePoint
• Curious and analytical, with an interest in research and market intelligence
• Committed to working within organisational values, policies and quality standards

Please find the job description attached and only apply if you meet the requirements of the role. 

Hearing Dogs for Deaf People – High Value Events Manager
Location:Hybrid working with some travel to Hearing Dogs offices in either Buckinghamshire or East Yorkshire.
Salary: £40,000 per annum.
Contract: Permanent, full-time hours. 

Hearing Dogs for Deaf People, whose mission is build confidence, companionship and connection for people with hearing loss, is seeking a High Value Events Manager to help create inclusive, inspiring and impactful high-value event experiences that deepen relationships and generate transformational philanthropic support for the charity.

Hearing Dogs for Deaf People has been creating life-changing partnerships between hearing dogs and deaf recipients since 1982. As well as acting as an ear to their partners and alerting them to sounds, the charity’s clever and expertly trained dogs help deaf people to live life with confidence and independence, whilst providing love and emotional support.

Following on from a strategic review, the charity is now building a new Income Generation Directorate, to enable them to transform many more lives across the UK. This role will be critical to help Hearing Dogs reach their goals to significantly grow and diversify income.

This role will be part of a newly built High Value Events function and will develop, manage and deliver a portfolio of high‑value engagement and fundraising events that advance the charity’s strategic priorities and long‑term sustainability. Working closely with the High Value Event Team Manager and collaborating across Income Generation and wider teams, the postholder will create values‑led, relationship‑driven events that celebrate impact, inspire generosity and deepen connections with major donors, trusts, foundations, corporate partners and senior volunteers. They will ensure each event is thoughtfully planned, mission‑focused, inclusive and delivers strong return on investment, while strengthening long‑term philanthropic commitment to Hearing Dogs for Deaf People’s life‑changing work.

This role requires a proven track record in planning and delivering high‑value fundraising or engagement events generating £100k+, alongside experience working with major donors, high‑net‑worth individuals, committees and senior stakeholders. The ideal candidate will bring strong stewardship‑led fundraising expertise, excellent relationship management skills and a history of meeting income targets while maximising return on investment. Outstanding organisation, project management and communication abilities are essential, as is the confidence to engage and influence high‑profile supporters. Personally, the postholder will be a collaborative, inclusive and proactive team player with strong interpersonal skills, a creative and solutions‑focused mindset, and a genuine passion for Hearing Dogs for Deaf People’s mission, able to communicate impact in a compelling and inspiring way.

This is an exciting opportunity to help an organisation which is changing people’s lives every day, and where you have the flexibility of working remotely or spending time at Hearing Dogs’ stunning bases in Buckinghamshire or Yorkshire, with friendly and passionate staff and their four-legged friends.

If you want to lead the pack and help deaf people live well with hearing loss Please download our Candidate Pack for further information [PDF], which includes details on how to apply.

Closing date: Monday 9th March, 9.00 am. 

Vacancy Reference Number:

OKMC/PR/UK-R1

Position title:

The Open Kitchen Manchester Chef

Reports to:

UK Programmes Manager

Location:

Manchester

Hours of Work:

Part-time, 18- hours per week

Thursday - Sunday (4-Days per week)

Salary guideline:

(Up to) £18.03 per hour which is equivalent to £15,000.00 per annum (commensurate with experience)

Terms of Employment:

12-Months’ Fixed-Term Contract (with a 6-Month Probationary Period)

Application Process & Closing Date:

Send an up to date CV and supporting Covering Letter by Email by no later than 6th March 2026

Approx. Interview & Role Commencement Date(s):

Interviews: As Suitable Applications Received

Start: ASAP thereafter

Note: Strong Applicants may be contacted sooner, ahead of the closing date.

Role: Open Kitchen Chef

About the Project

The Open Kitchen is a community-led initiative tackling food poverty and social isolation across the UK. Our kitchens, based in Hounslow (London), Nottingham, and Manchester, provide free, hot, and nutritious meals to individuals and families affected by homelessness, low income, or displacement as refugees.

Operating seven days a week, the Open Kitchen offers more than just food it provides a safe, welcoming space where everyone is treated with dignity and respect.

Each kitchen also serves as a community support hub, distributing essential household items and sleeping bags to those in need.

Through this initiative, we aim not only to alleviate hunger but also to connect service users with pathways to stability, empowerment, and independence.

Key Responsibilities

As part of the Open Kitchen project team, the role will involve ensuring the smooth, safe, and impactful operation of Open Kitchen Manchester.

To lead the delivery of Muslim Hands’s free hot meal provision and structured cooking Facilities , ensuring that local communities can access nutritious hot meals in a safe, welcoming environment while also learning essential cooking skills to make everyday meals from food parcel ingredients. This role will directly contribute to reducing food insecurity, building confidence, and promoting independence among beneficiaries.

Responsibilities include:

• Oversee day-to-day activities within Open Kitchen Manchester, ensuring the consistent delivery of high-quality, nutritious meals.
• Plan, prepare, and cook hot meals for O.K’s free weekday lunch meals.
• Ensure all meals are healthy, nutritious, culturally appropriate, and prepared in line with food safety and hygiene regulations.

•  Cooking with and preserving large quantities of surplus food.

• Supervise and observe the cooking facility to ensuring compliance with hygiene, health, and safety regulations.
• Manage food inventory, kitchen supplies, and procurement processes to ensure sustainability and efficiency.
• Ensure all food standards are followed.

• Train, and supervise volunteers to ensure effective service delivery and adherence to health and safety standards.
• Design and deliver weekly cooking classes for small groups, teaching participants how to prepare affordable, nutritious meals using food parcel items.
• Taking responsibility for safeguarding, health and safety and all policies relating to hot meals operations .
• Work collaboratively with volunteers, supporting their development and ensuring they are engaged meaningfully in meal preparation and delivery.
• Participant in staff meetings where required.
•  Attend training and professional development sessions.
• •Any other ad-hoc tasks as require by your line-manager.

What We're Looking For

• A genuine commitment to serving vulnerable and destitute individuals with care and respect.
• Right to work in the UK and a satisfactory Enhanced DBS check, completed before starting the role.
• Warm interpersonal skills, comfortable engaging with people from all walks of life.
• A dependable, team-oriented attitude and availability for weekend shifts.

Essential skills and experience:

• Professional cooking ability – proven experience preparing nutritious, balanced, and culturally appropriate meals at scale.
• Food safety & hygiene knowledge – Level 2 (or higher) Food Hygiene certificate and thorough understanding of health and safety regulations in kitchens.
• Menu planning & organisation – ability to plan and deliver hot meals within budget and using surplus food creatively.
• Teaching and facilitation skills – experience delivering group cooking sessions, workshops, or training in a practical, engaging way.
• Communication skills – approachable, clear communicator able to engage with people from diverse backgrounds.
• Nutritional awareness – knowledge of affordable, healthy meal preparation, particularly using food parcel ingredients.
• Safeguarding awareness – understanding of safeguarding responsibilities within a community setting.
• Team collaboration – ability to work with, support, and supervise volunteers of varying skill levels.
• Adaptability – confident working with surplus food and adjusting menus to available resources.
• Commitment to values – alignment with Muslim Hands’s mission to address poverty, food insecurity, and inequality

Why Join Us?

As part of the Muslim Hands family, you’ll help create a place of warmth and friendship for those in need. Your presence will extend beyond service, contributing to a deeper mission of compassion, respect, and community uplift.

If you’d like to support others and be part of something truly special, we’d be honoured to receive your application.

NB:         This Job Description is illustrative and non-exhaustive in scope.  The post-holder may be required to undertake any reasonable tasks as and when required by Line Manager from time to time to reflect the changing needs of the Organisation.

• We’re looking for an experienced, delivery-focused manager to lead our event-led merchandise trading offer during a maternity cover. This is a hands-on role for someone who can keep business-as-usual running smoothly while delivering pop-ups and two major retail peaks: Welcome and Graduation.
• You will be accountable for planning and delivering our merchandise trading, including trading plans, stock management, supplier coordination, fulfilment, visual merchandising across campuses, and post-event review. You’ll also lead the development of our range, commissioning limited-edition lines and launching a small number of new initiatives/product lines aligned with creating a sense of belonging and sustainability.
• As well as trading, you will line-manage our Operations and Front of House Coordinator, setting objectives, providing support and development, and ensuring front-of-house delivery and event logistics are well organised. You’ll maintain the core operational cycle linked to trading, including budget oversight, retail systems/reporting, and essential compliance/insurance processes, so that the post-holder returns to a stable, well-run service.
• We’re looking for strong retail/trading judgement, excellent organisation, confident people management, and a collaborative style – someone who can work at pace, prioritise effectively, and deliver consistently during peak periods.

• JOB PURPOSE
• • To manage the development of the Students’ Union’s merchandise retail operation
  • To manage the provision of the central operational services

• KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
• Indicative time allocation across the contract term (varies across the year, with peaks around Welcome and Graduation; delivery logistics supported by the Coordinator):
• • Retail – 65%
  • Front of House – 10%
  • Central Operational Services – 10%
  • Office Management – 5%
  • Leading a high-performing team – 10%

  Benefits and Perks :

  In return for your passion and experience, we offer:

  A summer 4-day working week – we have a four day working week during the months of July & August

  • Generous holiday entitlement – 25 days holidays per year, increasing at the rate of one day per full year served after the end of your second year of employment up to a maximum of 5 days
  • A three-week closure during the festive period incorporating the three UK bank holidays (Christmas Day, Boxing Day, and New Year’s Day). This is approximately 12 additional leave days.
  • A six-day closure during spring incorporating the two UK bank holidays (Good Friday and Easter Monday). Therefore, closure dates are from Thursday before Good Friday to Tuesday after Bank Holiday Monday. These are 2 additional leave days.
  • Birthday Leave
  • 2 days of Volunteering Leave
  • Religious Festival Leave (up to 2 days)
  • Cycle to Work scheme, enabling significant savings on bicycle purchase
  • Flexible/ hybrid working arrangements
  • Access to UAL staff training courses
  • Enhanced maternity leave
  • Family-friendly employer

  Recruitment Timeline :

• Application closes : 15th March 2026

• Intended Interview Date: 25th March 2026

  Please Note: To be considered, you must have the right to work in the UK or a valid work permit/visa.

Location: Reading, Hybrid (at least once per week to Reading Office
Hours: Full time
Salary: £27,790 per annum 
Contract Type: Permanent
Campaign Closes: 9th March 2026 
Interviews: Week commencing 9th March 2026

On occasion, we might close a vacancy early due to a high number of applications being received. Interested candidates are encouraged to submit their application as early as possible

Core Purpose
The Wish Assist Coordinator is responsible for the facilitation and delivery of wishes on behalf of Make-A-Wish UK’s international affiliates, ensuring that each wish experience is unique to the child / young person, creating magical experiences for them to cherish.  The Wish Assist Coordinator is responsible for the facilitation and management of a large network of relationships primarily Make-A-Wish affiliates, partners and suppliers, but also the wish child and their family.

Key Responsibilities:
Wish Assist Delivery

• Manage and oversee a caseload of 70+ wishes, per annum.
• Work with our affiliates, suppliers, and volunteers to develop detailed event plans and facilitate bespoke wish experiences in line with the affiliate’s wish journey processes for international wish children.
• Manage and oversee 30+ RUSH wishes per annum
• Work with UK wish families to develop detailed event plans and facilitate bespoke wish experiences for UK based wish children with a short prognosis
• Prioritise workload effectively considering requirements for each wish and time difference between collaborating affiliates.
• Coordinate all required logistical aspects of the wish events, including transportation, accommodations, and medical equipment.
• Manage contracts, payments, and schedules with all third-party providers.
• Ensure timely delivery of services and materials.
• Ensure compliance with health, safety and legal requirements.
• Manage and oversee each wish to work within the individual specified budget with accuracy and care.
• Monitor and track all expenditures against individual wish budgets, ensuring all costs are accurately recorded on the Salesforce CRM system and aligned with financial policies, whilst sharing all expenditure with the originating affiliate.
• Identify and implement cost-saving measures without compromising the quality of the wish, negotiating with suppliers to secure the best terms.
• Procure £5,000+ in Gift in Kind income to be utilised on wishes.
• Ensure that each wish is magical and creates maximum impact for the wish child.
• Conduct post-event evaluation through conversations with affiliates and suppliers, to gather feedback and measure success.
• Working with the finance department, accurately and efficiently manage post-wish payments and invoicing to ensure wish costs are settled in a timely manner in line with Make-A-Wish SLAs.

Wish Assist Additional Responsibilities

• Support the Wishgranting Wish Assist Manager with wish forecasting and planning for Wish Assist wishes.
• Upload new Wish Assist requests to our Salesforce CRM system and keep accurate admin and data entry for efficient record keeping and communication between stakeholders in the wish.
• Ensuring all wish records and related data are stored and maintained on Make-A-Wish Information Systems and that all data is managed within set policies and procedures.
• Partake in regular forums regarding Wish Assist delivery with Make-A-Wish International and international colleagues to ensure best practice.

Safeguarding and Data Governance

• Ensure compliance with the organisation’s safeguarding policies.
• Complete mandatory safeguarding training and refreshers, as required.
• Promptly report any concerns or incidents regarding the safety and welfare of participants, particularly children and vulnerable adults, to the Designated Safeguarding Officer.
• Ensure that all wish events are conducted in a safe environment where participants feel secure and protected.
• Ensure all wish records and related data are stored and maintained on Make-A-Wish Information Systems and that all data is managed within set policies and procedures (such as data privacy, liability, consent forms, marketing permissions etc).

Organisational responsibilities

• Within Make-A-Wish's performance & growth framework “Being Brilliant” initiate regular conversations with your line manager when you discuss your role objectives, personal development, wellbeing and other topics  
• Complete one Wish Discovery (meeting the wish children and their family to help them explore what their wish could be) and one fundraising event a year 
• Attend whole organisation meetings like monthly symposium and townhall as well as ad-hoc training opportunities as required; and as much as possible attend social events happening twice a year.
• Work with your colleagues across the organisation within the framework set in Make-A-Wish Ways of Working

Essential Criteria

• A minimum of 1-year previous experience in roles with a customer service or events management specialism 
• Experience in liaising directly with multiple stakeholders
• Excellent organizational, interpersonal, and administrative skills
• Excellent multitasking and task prioritisation skills

Skills, knowledge and behaviours required for this role

• High level of IT skills particularly in MS Office Suite 
• Knowledge of how to keep to a budget and work within financial constraints. 
• Experience working within a team environment but also able to work autonomously in a self-motivated way. 
• Excellent organisational and time management skills with the ability to be able to prioritise an ever-changing workload. 
• The ability to communicate effectively (written and verbal)  
• Strong relationship management and negotiation skills to communicate effectively with our affiliates, suppliers, and stakeholders.
• The ability to problem-solve and make appropriate decisions independently – or seek advice and support when required. 
• To be able to be flexible and open to change in a fast-paced working environment.
• Problem-solving and adaptability within a demanding case load of wishes
• Meticulous attention to detail to ensure every aspect of the wish logistics and wish admin are correct.
• Ability to handle stress and pressure when managing multiple projects simultaneously with emotional intelligence and resilience.
• Innovative thinking to plan and execute unique and memorable experiences for each individual wish family.

About Starlight

No one enjoys medical procedures, least of all children. From facing everyday vaccinations to the most serious of surgeries and chronic conditions, all children experience varying degrees of apprehension and fear. Feeling scared, powerless, or anxious in healthcare settings doesn’t just trigger a child’s emotions; it can create traumas that impact treatment success and that can have a life-long impact. Starlight’s aim is to transform children’s health through better experiences, by putting play at the heart of every child’s healthcare.

Evidence shows that play in healthcare can reduce anxiety, fear and even pain; it helps children engage and prepare for their treatment and cope better with procedures; it minimises trauma and contributes to a better experience; and supports children to have some sense of agency and control in an environment where these opportunities are limited. Play can also reduce the number of attempts to deliver treatment, the need for sedation and the need for repeat appointments. Prioritising children’s right to play in healthcare results in healthier, happier children who are involved in their own healing and recovery as well as more efficient treatment and care.

We work in over 900 healthcare settings across the UK with an ultimate vision to ensure that no child endures trauma in healthcare.

Our Strategy and the Professional Training & Development Manager role

Over recent years, we have been re-positioning Starlight from a wish-granting charity to a charity that supports children to experience the power of play in healthcare settings to improve their mental health and wellbeing. These changes have made an exponential difference to the immediate impact that we can achieve for children, as well as the opportunity to create real social value in the efficiency of treatment; and to our ability to advocate for long-term systemic change in the way children experience healthcare.

Central to improving children’s experience is having access to experienced and properly equipped play professionals. Through our Champions network and collaborative working across the healthcare sector, we have developed strong networks; shared best practice, offered opportunities for training and connection and raised awareness of the importance of play professionals and a culture of play in healthcare settings. Our Taskforce work with NHS England has also clearly outlined the need for workforce accreditation and development.

While we continue to advocate at a systemic level for the recognition of the play workforce and their need for a strategy for their development, this role is vital in providing more immediate and tangible support to the professionals who make our work possible. 3 The Professional Training & Development Manager will be integral in sharing Starlight’s knowledge of Play by training and developing key roles within health play settings to ensure Play becomes a foundation of every child’s health care journey. They will support wider understanding of the importance of a culture of play in paediatric healthcare.

Main purpose of the role

The main purpose of this role is to develop and maintain effective and mutually supportive relationships with health professionals, creating communities of practice and resourcing knowledge exchange across the sector. Through these relationships, you will deepen our understanding of the training and workforce development needs of play professionals and identify and develop opportunities for training and sharing of best practice, Working closely across the Children’s Services your work will contribute to raising awareness of the importance of a culture of play for children’s mental health and wellbeing and for the health and efficiency of the NHS.

You will report directly to the Head of Professional Training & Development and will line manage a coordinator.

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.

Personal Independence Coordinator

Salary £29,571.20 Full Time 35 hours per week

Do you want a job that makes a positive difference in people’s lives?

Age UK Croydon’s very successful PIC service for older people in Croydon is recruiting for a new Personal Independence Coordinator.

PICs work alongside health and care professionals within a neighbourhood team, adopting a multidisciplinary approach to working with people who have long term health and social care needs. The PICs provide critical links between formal health and social care services and the wider community support networks. We have adapted our way of working in response to COVID, helping older people to access technology and connect in new and exciting ways.

Full training will be provided; the important qualities we are looking for are:

• Excellent communication and listening skills
• A positive attitude and the ability to problem solve
• A cheerful, friendly, outgoing personality
• Highly organised with the ability to manage multiple priorities
• The ability to work flexibly, alone and as part of a team.

We regret we shall not be able to contact applicants who are not shortlisted for interview.

Closing date for applications: 9am Wednesday 1st April 2026

Interview Dates: Wednesday 8th April 2026

Policy and Public Affairs Officer

Are you ready to influence national policy and improve foster care for children and young people across Scotland?

Position: Policy and Public Affairs Officer
Salary: £27,953 to £33,130 per annum
Location: Hybrid, with travel to Glasgow office at least one day per week
Hours: 35 hours per week, full time
Contract: Permanent
Closing Date: Sunday 15th March
Interview Date: 24th March TBC

About the Role

This is an exciting opportunity to shape policy and influence decision makers at a pivotal time for children’s social care in Scotland.

Working within a UK wide Policy and Campaigns team, you will lead work in Scotland to influence legislation, policy and practice. You will ensure policy positions and campaigns are evidence based, drawing on research, stakeholder engagement and lived experience.

Key responsibilities include:

• Developing evidence based policy positions and solutions to influence national and local decision making
• Drafting high quality briefings, consultation responses and reports
• Leading research projects and analysing data to inform policy and campaigning prioritie
• Building and maintaining relationships with MSPs, government officials, regulators and sector partners
• Planning and delivering events such as roundtables, focus groups and parliamentary engagement activity
• Producing written content for websites, social media and member communications
• Supporting participation activity, including engagement with young people to inform influencing work

You will also play a central role in major research initiatives, including large scale surveys, ensuring outputs are robust, credible and impactful.

About You

You will bring strong experience in policy development, research and influencing, ideally within children’s social care or a related field.

You will have:

• Experience of developing policy and drafting reports and consultation responses
• Experience of campaigning, lobbying or working with parliamentary processes
• Strong research and analytical skills, including working with quantitative and qualitative data
• An understanding of Scottish Government and parliamentary structures
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, able to translate complex issues clearly
• Experience of building effective stakeholder relationships at senior levels
• A commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion

Knowledge of foster care or children’s social care issues would be highly beneficial.

About the Organisation

This leading UK charity and membership body works to empower, enrich and support relationships at the heart of fostering. Through research, campaigning and collaboration, it seeks to improve foster care policy and practice so that children and young people can thrive.

The organisation offers flexible and hybrid working, generous annual leave, enhanced family friendly policies and a strong commitment to inclusive recruitment and support for care experienced applicants.

Other roles you may have experience of could include; Policy Officer, Public Affairs Officer, Campaigns Officer, Research Officer, Parliamentary Officer, Policy and Research Officer, External Affairs Officer, Advocacy Officer, Children’s Policy Adviser.

If you are driven by evidence, confident in influencing decision makers and passionate about improving outcomes for children and young people, we would welcome your application.

Please note this role is advertised by the recruitment agency acting for the client – Not For Profit People.

Are you looking for a new challenge? Passionate about making sure all our learners have an excellent education? Look no further come and join us in this critical role!

Ambitious about Autism has an amazing opportunity for an inspirational leader. We are seeking an outstanding and innovative Executive Head to work across Treehouse School and Ambitious College. The successful person will help build on our successes and be responsible and accountable for the operational direction, quality and outcomes of our schools and college. The Executive Head will act as an ambassador for education services with internal and external stakeholders. 

Ambitious about Autism stands with autistic children, young people and their families to champion rights, campaign for change and create opportunities. Our overarching aim is that all autistic children and young people have an excellent and inclusive education that enables them to learn, thrive and achieve. Ultimately, this will support them to have a good quality of life, including the realistic prospect of living and working as part of their communities.

What we offer: 

• Amazing colleagues with a shared passion for autistic children and young people.
• Strong values-based culture. 
• Excellent training and development opportunities including an ILM accredited leadership and management course.
• Flexible working. 
• Re-location package.
• Access to bespoke executive leadership coaching.
• Annual staff recognition awards.  
• Interest free season ticket loans. 
• A wide range of wellness programmes including: virtual fitness classes, art & cooking classes and learning programmes.  
• Employee Assistance Programme, to help you balance your work, family, and personal life.  
• Free physiotherapy.  

Role Closes:  Friday 6th March 2026

Shortlist- Tuesday 10th March 2026

Stage 1 – Stakeholder Engagement Day (Virtual): Thursday 12th March PM- Microsoft Teams call

Stage 2 - Interview and assessment (In person at Treehouse School,Pears National Centre): Monday 16th March

 Start date: September 2026

 To find out more about this position please find attached the recruitment pack entailing the role details. For an informal discussion regarding this exciting senior leadership role, please contact Ben Lowe.

Ambitious about Autism is committed to fostering equity, diversity, and inclusion at every level of our organisation. We warmly welcome applications from all qualified candidates, valuing the diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives they bring. We encourage applications from individuals regardless of race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origins, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital or civil partnership status, pregnancy or parental status, disability, or age.

Our recruitment process promotes equal opportunities, and we are committed to providing reasonable adjustments for candidates with disabilities or additional needs throughout the recruitment process. Please contact our Recruitment Team for accommodations. We recognise disability as a physical or mental impairment that significantly and long-term affects a person's ability to perform day-to-day activities, as defined by the UK Equality Act 2010. All applications will be considered solely on merit, aligned with our mission to support autistic children and young people.

Ambitious about Autism is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and successful candidates will be subject to an Enhanced DBS check. As part of our Safer Recruitment checks, an online search maybe carried out in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education.

The Safeguarding responsibilities of the post as per the job description and personal specification.
Whether the post is exempt from the rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the amendment to the Exceptions Order 1975, 2013 and 2021. This means that when applying for certain jobs and activities certain spent convictions and cautions are ‘protected', so they do not need to be disclosed to employers, and if they are disclosed, employers cannot take them into account. Further information about filtering offences can be found in the DBS Filter Guidance.

Are you passionate about creating meaningful volunteer experiences and confident communicating clearly and thoughtfully in complex situations?

Do you enjoy using your judgement, analytical thinking and a development focused mindset to improve how volunteers are supported and managed?

Samaritans is looking for two dedicated Volunteer Experience Advisors to join our dynamic team and help shape the future of volunteering across our network. Our incredible volunteers run more than 200 branches and locations across the UK and Ireland. They offer their time to help to deliver our 24-hour emotional support service to callers in many ways, from answering telephones and emails, to fundraising, generating publicity, administration and finance.

​

About the Role

Our Volunteer Experience Team support over 20,000 volunteers and no two days are the same. You’ll be responsible for supporting our network of volunteers and volunteer leaders in engaging and managing volunteers, as well as involved in a variety of creative new projects helping us to provide a positive and rewarding experience for anyone that gives their time to Samaritans.

You’ll play a key advisory, analytical and development focused role, supporting volunteers and volunteer leaders on all volunteer management matters, including sensitive and sometimes complex situations. You’ll also deliver impactful initiatives and projects that strengthen and enhance the volunteer experience, helping shape the ongoing development of Samaritans’ volunteer management and support practices.​

Contract terms

• £30,000 - £35,000 per annum

• Permanent

• Full time (35 hours per week)

• Hybrid working: Linked to our Ewell (Surrey) office
• In-person working: Meeting in person and working collaboratively are things we value. We work in person around 2 days or more per month.
• We are passionate about flexible working, talk to us about your preferences
   

What you’ll be doing

• Providing expert advice and guidance to branches and regions on all volunteer management matters.
• Analysing complex or sensitive situations to identify key issues, risks, and appropriate courses of action.
• Developing and delivering initiatives and projects that strengthen and enhance the volunteer experience at Samaritans.
• Drafting clear, well-structured and professional written communications, including reports and formal correspondence.
• Supporting learning, training and resources that build confidence and capability in Volunteer Leaders.
• Contributing to the development and refinement of volunteer policies, processes and guidance.
• Supporting the fair, balanced and proportionate handling and effective resolution of volunteer concerns and complaints
• Identifying themes, risks, and organisational learning opportunities to inform continuous improvement.
• Working collaboratively with colleagues and stakeholders across the organisation.

​You’ll ideally bring:

• Experience working with or supporting volunteer, or advising on people related matters.
• Strong analytical skills and the ability to interpret complex and sensitive situations, producing analysis and meaningful conclusions.
• The ability to exercise sound judgement and take a balanced, proportionate approach.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Strong project management experience, including the development and delivery or improvement focused initiatives.
• A proactive, solutions focused and improvement-oriented mindset
• Knowledge of principles of natural justice and complaints management, and effective people resolution good practice.
• Experience of providing advice, training or support on volunteering matters.
• Experience and understanding of navigating organisational risk and safeguarding related volunteer matters .
• Report writing and presentation skills.
• Experience in prioritising workloads and working to deadlines with speed and accuracy.

​

Why Samaritans?

At Samaritans, you’ll be part of a people-first organisation deeply committed to inclusion, compassion and learning. You’ll contribute to a team where your voice matters, your expertise makes a difference, and your work helps save lives.

We welcome applications from individuals with lived experience and encourage those from underrepresented communities to apply. We are committed to creating an environment where all our people feel seen, heard and supported.

You’ll join a values-led organisation with a powerful mission and a collaborative culture. We offer flexible hybrid working, excellent benefits, and the chance to make a tangible difference in suicide prevention across the UK and Ireland.

For further information about Samaritans, including our charity structure, values, employee benefits, and application process, please read our recruitment brochure. You can also visit our careers website to access this.

We recognise the enormous benefits and the social justice imperatives of ensuring diversity at every level of our organisation. Samaritans is wholly committed to inclusion and diversity and to building a culture and environment where everyone is appreciated for the unique person they are. To ensure Samaritans is representative of those we support and who support us, we particularly welcome applications from disabled, racialised minority and LGBTQ+ candidates, as these people are under-represented at Samaritans. 

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Apply now

If this sounds like the opportunity for you, please apply. You will be asked to some answer short application questions and to upload your CV.

​Applications close: Tuesday 10th March 2026 at 09:00am

Interviews: w/c 16th and/or 23rd March 2026

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At Samaritans, human connection is at the heart of everything we do.

We do not use AI at any stage during the selection process. Your application will always be carefully reviewed by the recruiting manager or a member of the Talent Attraction Team.

We kindly ask that you avoid using AI tools to generate your application or interview answers. We want to hear your own ideas, insights, and writing style so your unique strengths can shine through.