Family support practice manager jobs in west wickham, greater london

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.

Step into a pivotal role supporting the Legacy Administration Manager to deliver best practice legacy administration and maximise vital income for Marie Curie. You’ll lead on implementing team strategy, refining processes, and championing high standards across a busy, specialist function.

Help shape the future of legacy giving at Marie Curie. As our Legacy Administration Team Leader, you’ll play a key role in protecting and optimising one of the charity’s most important income streams.

In this role, you will:

• With advanced knowledge of UK-wide legacy administration and multi-jurisdiction practice, you’ll manage your own complex and contentious caseload handling sensitive issues, mitigating reputational risk, and ensuring Marie Curie receives its full entitlement.
• As a confident people manager, you’ll mentor and develop three Legacy Officers, driving performance through regular 121s, quality monitoring, and clear KPIs. You’ll embed a positive, high-performing team culture while ensuring consistent, accurate and timely casework.
• You’ll work collaboratively with solicitors, executors, internal teams and co-beneficiary charities, representing Marie Curie with professionalism and care. You’ll also lead projects, support governance work, and deputise for the Legacy Administration Manager when required.
• If you’re passionate about leadership, expert legacy practice, and making a real impact within a major UK charity, this role puts you at the heart of safeguarding and growing crucial legacy income.

Skills Needed

• Proven line management experience, including mentoring, performance management and developing high performing teams.
• Advanced knowledge of legacy administration and experience within the charity sector, including wills, probate, trusts, tax and estate management.
• Experience managing complex and contentious caseloads, with the ability to handle sensitive issues and mitigate reputational risk.
• Strong understanding of multi-jurisdiction legacy processes across the UK, with confidence navigating varied legal and operational requirements.
• Excellent stakeholder management skills, able to build effective relationships and influence outcomes with solicitors, executors, co-beneficiary charities and internal teams.
• Exceptional attention to detail when managing casework including when reviewing legal documentation and estate accounts
• High-level communication skills, able to engage sensitively and professionally with family, friends, legal professionals and members of the public.
• Commitment to Marie Curie’s values, fostering a positive team culture and collaborative working across the organisation.

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: Sunday 4th January 2026 (due to the festive period, we aim to get back to successful candidates w/c Monday 5th January 2026)

Salary: £41,000 + London Allowance (£3,500)

Contract: Contract, 12 months

Based: Homebased (can be based in London office 2 days per week)

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

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

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

We're happy to accommodate any requests for reasonable adjustments.  

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

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

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

Asylum Justice is the only charity in Wales - and one of very few in the UK - providing free legal advice and representation to people seeking asylum, refugees, and other migrants who are excluded from legal aid. Every day, we help people navigate a hostile system, challenge injustice, and secure safety for themselves and their families.

Demand for our services is higher than ever. In the past year alone, our caseload increased by nearly 50%, and we've taken on more complex, urgent cases - including supporting unaccompanied asylum-seeking children and people at immediate risk of destitution or deportation.

We’re now looking for a Funding Officer to join our small, committed team and help secure the resources we need to sustain and grow our work. This is a chance to make a tangible difference - not just in helping us meet income targets, but in strengthening access to justice for some of the most marginalised people in Wales.

The role is hybrid working (Cardiff office and remote working) but fully remote working may also be considered. We are open to compressed hours or part-time working (minimum 28 hours) for the right candidate. We also welcome applications from people interested in a job share arrangement.

About the role

This is a hands-on, varied role that combines fundraising, relationship management, and impact storytelling. You’ll work closely with our Legal Director and wider team to:

• Research and identify funding opportunities from trusts, foundations, and statutory sources
• Write compelling funding bids and reports that reflect our impact and values
• Maintain excellent relationships with funders and support project coordination with delivery partners
• Coordinate grant reporting and keep accurate records of income, spend, and deadlines
• Support internal monitoring and evaluation to strengthen our evidence base
• Help develop our approach to individual giving, fundraising events, and donor communications

We’re looking for someone who shares our commitment to justice and anti-racism, and who brings strong communication skills, attention to detail, and a collaborative approach.

Who we’re looking for

We don’t expect you to know everything from day one - we’re open to candidates with transferable skills from across the charity, campaigning, or community sectors. You might have experience as a fundraiser, grant writer, project officer, or in a policy/impact role where writing and relationship-building are key.

What matters most is that you're passionate about what we do, committed to equity and inclusion, and eager to learn and contribute.

What we offer

• A supportive, mission-driven team working in solidarity with people seeking asylum
• Flexibility around working days, location, and hours
• An organisational culture that prioritises wellbeing and psychological safety
• The chance to shape an ambitious and growing organisation at a pivotal time

Battersea is entering an exciting phase of innovation and transformation as we embark on the first year of our new five-year strategy. With increased investment in income generation starting in 2025, we are expanding our team to drive the growth necessary to achieve our organisational goals. Our fundraising team bridges the journey of the animals in our care with the wider public, demonstrating how their contributions enable us to support every dog and cat. We now have several new roles within this team to further our mission.

This new role will oversee the development and delivery of engaging supporter journeys across a range of channels for Battersea’s Challenge and Public events, as well as our Supporter-Led Fundraising audiences. It will play a pivotal role in maximising event and supporter-led fundraising income, ensuring every supporter has a positive experience and feels inspired to continue supporting Battersea.

What we can offer you:
In return for your commitment to our cause and to recognise the value of our employees, Battersea offers a range of benefits to support the wellbeing of our employees. These include:

• 28 days of annual leave (plus 8 days paid public holidays) per year.
• Discounted gym memberships and cycle to work schemes.
• Employee Assistance Programme and access to Wellbeing Resources.
• Generous pension contributions - up to 10% employer contribution.
• Free healthcare cash plan, where you can claim for a range of treatment including dental, optical, physiotherapy, chiropody and acupuncture every year.
• Annual interest-free season ticket loans.

We are also committed to providing learning and development to our employees. During your time with us, we provide support for your professional and career development, including access to digital and in-person training programmes, leadership and management training, mentoring and much more.

Our hybrid working model:
We operate a 50% onsite hybrid working model, with our office-based staff splitting their time between site based and home working. This enables our office-based staff to balance the benefits of home working with onsite collaboration and maintaining a connection to our cause.

Diversity and inclusion:
We are committed to providing a welcoming and inclusive experience for all staff, volunteers and trustees and those hoping to join us. We operate an anonymised shortlisting process and actively seek to ensure our process is fair and equitable for all.

We understand the value of diverse voices, perspectives, and experiences to help us deliver even more for our dogs and cats, and we welcome applicants from all sections of the community.

As a Disability Confident Committed Employer we will ask about any adjustments you may need at application and/or interview stage, and if you are offered a role with us, we’ll talk to you about any workplace adjustments you may need to help you perform at your best. 

More about us:
At Battersea, we aim to never turn away a dog or cat in need of help. We give each one lots of love, expert care and get to know their characters and quirks so we can find them a new home that’s just right for them. Join us and help us be here for every dog and cat, wherever they are, for as long as they need us.

Acceptable use of AI:
At Battersea, we value expertise. We recognise each candidate that applies to us will have a range of expertise they can offer us, so we want to hear about this in your own words. We understand the support that generative artificial intelligence (AI) software can offer but it can also lead to numerous applications presenting as generic and impersonal. This makes it difficult to gain understanding of your unique experience.

To best showcase yourself, we encourage you to write your responses without the assistance of AI. If you require the use of AI software to aid in completing your application, we ask you use the generative responses as a prompt for writing your answers and avoid copying and pasting. You must also ensure the information presented in your application accurately reflects your experience.

Closing date: 11th January 2026
All applications must be submitted before the closing date advertised. We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if a high volume of applications is received.

Interview date(s): To be confirmed

For full details on the role, please download the recruitment pack.

Contract Type: Fixed Term 12 months

Location: Preferably London but open to other locations where we have an office. (Hybrid working - minimum of 2 days in the office)

Interviews: 13th, 14th & 15th January 2026

Are you passionate about creating unforgettable experiences? Do you thrive in a fast-paced environment where your creativity, organisational prowess, and people skills come together to make a real impact? If so, this could be the perfect opportunity for you!

As a Special Events Executive, you’ll play a key role in delivering dynamic and inspiring events that fuel our mission to support young people. You’ll bring your project management expertise to life, supporting and executing high-profile events with precision, innovation, and a personal touch that leaves lasting impressions.

We’re looking for someone with some experience in event planning and someone who excels in building strong relationships with both internal teams and external partners. You’ll be the driving force behind our events, ensuring every detail is flawless and every goal is exceeded.

If you have a sharp eye for detail, a passion for creating impactful experiences, and a drive to achieve outstanding results, this role is a fantastic next step in your career. Whether you're early in your events journey or looking to take your career to new heights, join us in making a difference for the young people we serve. We’d love to hear from you if this role sounds like something you’d love to pursue!

What happens next?  

Please submit a CV, and Cover Letter that includes your experience, transferrable skills and motivation to work for The King's Trust! The Team will be in touch about the next steps shortly after the closing date. 

Why do we need Events Executive - Specials? 

Last year, we helped more than 40,000 Young People, with three in four young people on our programmes moving into a positive outcome in work, education or training. The young people we help face a range of challenges, such as unemployment, mental health issues or some who have been in trouble with the law. We believe all young people should have the chance to succeed, and that young people are the key to a positive and prosperous future for all of us. We want to continue having a positive impact on young people’s lives and we couldn’t do this without the important work of Events Executive - Specials! 

Perks for working at The Trust! 

• Great holiday package! 30 days annual leave entitlement, plus bank holidays. Office closure on the days between Christmas and New Year 
• Flexible working! Where operationally possible, our roles require a combination of office days and working from home (please speak to the hiring manager about this particular role)
• You can volunteer for and/or attend events – The King's Trust Awards, Pride, active events etc. 
• In-house learning platform! Develop your skills for your career and your role 
• Benefits platform! Everything from health and financial well-being support to discounts on your favourite restaurants, shops and cinemas. 
• Personal development opportunities through our Networks – KT CAN (Cultural Awareness Network), KT GEN (Gender Equality Network), KT DAWN (Disability & Wellbeing Network), and PULSE (LGBTQIA+ Network). 
• Fantastic Family leave! Receive 13 weeks of full pay and 13 weeks of half pay for maternity and adoption leave. Receive 8 weeks of full pay for paternity leave. 
• Interest-free season ticket loans 
• The Trust will contribute 5% of your salary to the Trust Pension Scheme 
• Generous life assurance cover (4 x annual salary) 

Interview Date(s): 1st Interview: Tuesday 9th December 2025 & 2nd Interview: Tuesday 16th December 2025

Location: Camden (Hybrid Working)

Salary: £55,360 - £59,455 per annum

(Please note that applicants are usually appointed at the bottom of the relevant band)

Hours: 37.5 hours per week (will also consider part time working 30 hours per week)

Contract: Permanent

Closing Date: Tuesday 2nd December 2025

Closing Time: 00:00am

Are you looking for a rewarding role working for an intersectional feminist organisation? If so, we have an incredible opportunity for you to join our team as an Deputy Director of Fundraising at Solace Women's Aid.  

You will be joining a team of committed and inspiring individuals whose dedication has saved the lives of thousands of women, men and children in the capital. We are looking for friendly and diligent individuals to join our services and help us make a difference.

Our core values reflect our history and were developed in consultation with staff and service users. Feminism and intersectionality are key to our work and we are committed to the principles of being survivor-led, trauma-informed, empowering, diverse, anti-racist and anti-discriminatory.

About the Service
Income generation and fundraising at Solace is ambitious, dynamic and rewarding. This role is situated within the Business Development team driving forward our trusts and foundations grant applications and our unrestricted funding portfolio. We work alongside our award-winning Communications, Partnerships & Public Affairs team.

About the Role

We are seeking a forward thinking, creative and motivated individual who can envision and manage commissioned tenders, grant funding, individual giving, corporate partnerships and our training and consultancy functions.

You will be a highly skilled and successful fundraiser and business development professional.

The role will manage the statutory and non-statutory income generation team including tenders, grants and fundraising staff to achieve a net target of approximately £2m per annum. This team plays a pivotal role in the financial wellbeing of the charity enabling us to support the thousands of women and children who come to us each year as a result of violence against women and girls (VAWG).

About You

You will be someone who is committed to the Solace values, who thrives on leading a team to achieve challenging targets and who has excellent verbal and written communication skills.  You will also enjoy managing time and projects to achieve strategic success.

We understand that you may not have all the knowledge, experience, and skills mentioned in the Job Profile Document. However, your interpersonal skills, passion to have a positive impact, commitment to our purpose, and ability to learn quickly and collaborate effectively will be equally important.

What we can offer you

We provide a comprehensive benefits package to all our employees, including:

• Flexible working
• Focus on learning and development (internal career progression and training)
• Generous holiday entitlement
• Employer pension contribution
• Family-friendly leave and enhanced maternity pay
• Access to Inclusion Networks
• Daily clinical debriefing
• Employee Assistance Programme providing free 24/7 support and advice
• Employee Benefits Platform offering staff discounts, benefits and savings
• Flow & Restore yoga classes
• Meditation sessions
• Cycle to Work Scheme

How to apply

When applying for this role, kindly highlight in your Supporting Statement how your values, knowledge, transferrable skills, and experience align with each point within the following sections of the Job Profile Document:

• Values, Behaviours & Competencies
• Knowledge, Experience and Skills

Solace Women's Aid values diversity, promotes equity, and challenges discrimination. We encourage and welcome applications from candidates of diverse cultures, abilities, perspectives, and lived experiences. We have policies and processes in place to ensure that all employees are offered an equal opportunity in recruitment and selection, promotion, training, pay, and benefits. Our Inclusion Networks support staff with protected characteristics and offer inclusive spaces to connect.

We are a Disability Confident Employer and committed to an inclusive and accessible recruitment process. We anticipate and provide reasonable adjustments as needed and support employees who acquire a disability or long-term health condition, enabling them to stay in work.

This service is run by women for women and is therefore restricted to female applicants under the Equality Act 2010, Schedule 9, and Part 1. Section 7(2) e of the Sex Discrimination Act 1975 apply. The post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act.

As part of safer recruitment practices, we carry out pre-employment checks including references, Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) and right to work in the UK checks.

No agencies.

Policy Specialist (children and young people)

Are you interested in improving the lives of children and young people with a learning disability? Can you turn complex ideas into evidence-based policy? Are you a skilled communicator able to influence decision-makers? If so, we would love to hear from you!

We are currently looking for a Policy Specialist to join Mencap. This position sits within the Policy and Public Affairs teams of Mencap’s Campaigns, Advocacy and Activism Directorate (CAA). You will work closely with our influencing, information and advice, campaigning, and research work, as well as sector partners like the Disabled Children's Partnership.

This is an exciting new role to deliver policy change and enhance the rights of children and young people with a learning disability. At a key time to influence Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) education reform, we are seeking a policy specialist to shape policy work that reflects the needs and experiences of children, young people, and their families. Working within the policy team, you will be responsible for developing evidence-based policy work and influencing decision-makers. 

This is a full time position (37.5 hours per week). We are flexible with your work location, but there may be some occasional travel needed to our London office or Westminster.

You will:

· Translate complex work into clear and persuasive policy briefings, consultation responses and reports.

· Work within wider coalitions of charities, building collaborative relationships and ensuring that the needs and priorities of our community are addressed.

· Develop and expand Mencap’s ‘Policy Shapers’ work, ensuring our work reflects the experiences of children and young people with a learning disability and their families.

· Support our information and advice team, briefing them on important developments, inputting into casework discussions relevant to your areas of work, and supporting the creation of public information resources.

· Represent Mencap at meetings and events, with MPs, civil servants, and sector partners.

· Identify and analyse relevant research to develop evidence-based policy recommendations.

You will bring to this role:

· Experience of working on public policy issues.

· Strong communication skills: experience tailoring your messaging to a variety of different audiences and representing an organisation.

· Experience building positive relationships and working collaboratively to achieve outcomes; able to positively challenge, negotiate and compromise.

· The ability to work on your own initiative while contributing to team priorities and sustain enthusiasm under pressure.

· Experience analysing evidence to develop recommendations.

· Knowledge the issues facing children and young people with a learning disability and/or the SEND system, as well as the wider parliamentary system.

· Passion about making the world a better place for people with a learning disability.

If you're passionate about driving meaningful change for children and young people with a learning disability and you're ready to use your policy expertise to make a real impact, please apply now with an up-to-date CV. This advert has been extended and will now close on Sunday, 4th January, 2026. Interviews are scheduled to take place via Microsoft Teams during the week commencing 12th January 2026.

Benefits

Here at Mencap, we offer an impressive range of benefits designed to support and reward our employees to ensure that our teams feel valued and appreciated.

Our benefits package offers 32 days of paid holiday (including bank holidays, pro rata), along with a range of perks such as discounts at leading high-street retailers, access to health cash plans, interest-free loans, and many more exciting offerings.

For more details on what we have to offer, please see the attached document outlining all the fantastic benefits available to you as a member of our team!

About Mencap

Our vision is for the UK to be the best place in the world for people with a learning disability to live happy and healthy lives.

We're here to support people with a learning disability, their families and their carers. We fight for a kinder, fairer and more inclusive society for people with a learning disability to live in.

At Mencap, everyone works with people with a learning disability either providing support or advice, or alongside one another as colleagues.

Belonging at Mencap is for everyone, every day, everywhere.

· Everyone is expected to treat people well and make Mencap an inclusive organisation.

· Every day we grow and learn. It’s okay to make mistakes but we learn from them and make changes

· Everywhere people will feel respected, valued, and safe to be themselves.

We have Belonging network groups that meet online and are open to all colleagues. The groups include people who identify as Black and Asian, LGBTQIA+, disabled or with a long- term health condition, women, parents and carers, and their allies.

We want to encourage everyone to apply to work at Mencap and we offer a variety of different contract types and working patterns. We’re not looking for specific experience. It is your personality and values that will make you a great colleague. We will train and develop you to succeed in the role you’re applying for.

Want to play your part in transforming society?

You're in the right place.

Many of our Spear trainees have faced significant barriers to finding work, including family breakdown, growing up in care, disability or mental health difficulties, having been involved in crime, or really struggling at school. We believe that being out of work can lead to isolation and proliferate these challenges, meaningful work is key in helping young people find a sense of purpose and community. We're proud that the coaching and community that the Spear Programme provides makes such a difference that 75% of those who take part find work, and are still in work a year later.

Not only will you be part of bringing about powerful change in people's lives, but throughout this paid, dynamic opportunity, you'll be supported and challenged. We'll invest in you, developing expert coaching and leadership skills to set you on a great career path.

Please feel free to let us know if you may require any reasonable adjustments to participate fully in our recruitment process, or if you have any enquiries regarding accessibility such as wheelchair access. 

The important stuff

Location: Camden, office-based

Contract: Full-Time, Permanent

Hours: Monday - Friday, 9.30am - 5.30pm (With some out-of-hours work needed for events such as our Spear Celebrations)

Salary: from £27,000

Closing date: Monday 5th January (We are interviewing on a rolling basis and might close the application early if we find the right candidate).

Upcoming Assessment Days: Thursday 22nd January 

Application pack: Have a look at our application pack for more information about the role and Resurgo

Benefits

• 28 days annual leave (including Christmas Gift Days) plus bank holidays
• Excellent personal development and training opportunities, including our iLM-accredited 5-day Coaching for Leadership programme (worth £3,000)
• Regular staff prayer meetings, conferences and retreats (one residential)

What will you do?

• Coach 16-24 year olds, bringing about powerful change in their lives 
• Build great relationships with relevant professionals 
• Form part of an intentional church community 

What will you gain?

• Management skills and career progression 
• Excellent coaching capability 
• Social Impact Experience
• Christian Leadership Skills 

The Survivor Engagement and Activism Coordinator leads the Helen Bamber Foundation’s work to ensure that survivors of trafficking, torture, and human rights abuses are meaningfully involved in shaping services, influencing policy, and driving social change. Working within the Community and Integration team, the post holder safeguards and supports clients as they participate in advocacy, leadership, and organisational development projects.

They oversee key survivor engagement programmes, including the Ambassadors for Change advocacy and leadership programme, the Client Voices Forum, the Board Advisers, and the Alumni Network. This involves coordinating training, facilitating meetings, supporting campaigns, managing administrative processes, and ensuring survivors are prepared, empowered, and safe throughout their involvement.

The role also involves developing innovative ways for survivors to collaborate with staff, contributing to service design, organisational strategy, and sector-wide initiatives. The post holder builds relationships across the asylum and modern slavery sectors, manages lived experience opportunities, and may support client progression and education casework when needed.

Throughout all responsibilities, the Coordinator champions survivor leadership, promotes diversity and inclusion, maintains the ethos of the charity, and practices strong self-care while working with traumatic material.

Job Profile

Reporting to the Managing Director, you will lead on the recruitment, retention, and value growth of Afghanaid’s supporter base by directing and implementing communications, fundraising and engagement strategies, aligned with broader organisation goals. Designing and managing a tight budget, you will direct the Communication and Giving unit to maximise their success.

You will provide strategic and supervisory oversight of fundraising income from individual giving, regular giving, major donors, trusts and foundations, corporates, community and student fundraising and events, managing annual fundraising appeals and driving organisational unrestricted income growth. 

You will lead on communications for Afghanaid, overseeing print, digital, and paid marketing activities and the growth of communications channels. You will execute Afghanaid’s organisational brand strategy which ensures the integrity of the brand and maximises awareness. You will manage all public relations including crisis communications, as well as the growth of strategic media placements and high profile relationships. You will drive the success of organisational impact storytelling and communications for both internal and external stakeholders. As a member of the executive department, you will collaborate and synergise with other departments to promote organisational success.

Key Responsibilities:

• Drive organisational strategy, culture and cross-department collaboration to advance Afghanaid’s mission and objectives.

• Lead development and delivery of Communications, Engagement and Fundraising strategies and work plans.

• Line manage and develop a high-performing team, including staff, volunteers and interns.

• Build and maintain relationships with consultants, agencies and pro bono partners.

• Oversee budgets, reporting and data-driven performance management to ensure efficiency and impact.

• Promote a positive and cohesive London team environment, coordinating hybrid working, inductions and HR support.

• Oversee public fundraising strategy across multiple income streams.

• Lead design and delivery of internal and external appeals, campaigns and donor stewardship.

• Identify new funding opportunities, partnerships and innovation in engagement.

• Oversee the full range of Afghanaid’s event portfolio, and attend relevant events to represent Afghanaid;

• Ensure effective CRM management, data integrity and financial reconciliation.

• Serve as brand guardian, ensuring consistency and evolution of Afghanaid’s identity.

• Oversee creation and execution of integrated communications and marketing plans.

• Direct production of engaging digital and print content, including newsletters, social media, and fundraising collateral.

• Manage website optimisation, SEO and analytics to drive engagement and conversions.

• Lead innovation in digital marketing, email campaigns and supporter journeys.

• Advise leadership on reputation management and crisis communications.

• Develop media policies and act as spokesperson when required.

• Manage proactive and reactive media relations, building relationships with journalists, influencers and advocates.

• Promote Afghanaid’s thought leadership through strategic storytelling and public commentary.

• Commission and direct multimedia content to strengthen organisational storytelling.

• Lead content planning, production and performance analysis.

• Champion participatory storytelling approaches and creative innovation.

Undertake any other duties as and when required by the line director.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

You will be an experienced and dynamic communicator with significant demonstrable experience in fundraising and/or communications at a senior level, coupled with an awareness and up to date knowledge and experience of the tools that would maximise the success of our communications and fundraising activities. In addition, you will have excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to confidently build and maintain strong relationships with a diverse group of stakeholders. Possessing strong management skills, you will have experience of managing small multi-disciplinary teams, providing direction and leadership to enable development and high performance, and the ability to role-model a culture of equality, diversity and inclusion.

Education/ Training

Master’s Degree in communications, marketing, public fundraising or another relevant field (or at least 5-years’ experience).

Work Experience

• At least 5 years of progressively responsible experience in fundraising, supporter engagement or communications, with at least 2 years’ experience directly managing staff.

• Experience developing and leading integrated multi-channel and multi-stakeholder communications, engagement and/or fundraising strategies.

• Experience in growing audiences, engagement and/or income streams.

• Experience communicating about and/or fundraising for and/or maintaining engagement with Afghanistan or a similar context.

• Experience using KPIs and data to make data-driven decisions to improve efficacy and efficiency.

• Experience managing and monitoring a tight budget.

• Experience conceptualising, producing and commissioning multimedia content, from marketing and fundraising collateral to audiovisual content.

• Experience running full-funnel, multi-channel marketing strategies including paid advertising.

• Understanding of risks associated with communications, public fundraising, and NGO operating contexts, and experience in mitigating those risks.

• Experience supervising, organising, motivating and developing staff.

• In depth knowledge of trends in storytelling, brand, PR, marketing and fundraising.

Professional Skills, Competencies, Values and Attitudes

Afghanaid’s core values are creativity, fairness and honesty. Our staff is passionate about and proud of Afghanaid. Teamwork is fundamental to our standards and demonstrated by taking initiative, assisting others and taking on additional responsibilities and tasks if necessary. We are results driven, committed and motivated to achieve targets and take accountability for our own actions.

Specifically, the holder of this position should also demonstrate the following:

Essential

• Fluent in spoken and written English. 

• Track record of increasing audiences, fundraising totals and engagement metrics from multiple different sources, with a strong business development mindset.

• Experience securing five or six figure gifts from funders;

• Solutions and results orientated; energised by thinking outside the box, and by finding and pursuing novel or innovative approaches and solutions.

• Experience using Salesforce CRM and Marketing Cloud

• Skilled at spotting and prioritising opportunities and synergies, and effective in securing wide-ranging forms of engagement and partnership.

• Excellent listening, speaking and writing skills; strong capabilities of persuasion and a proven track record of uniting people around a common goal.

• Multimedia skills, with knowledge, experience and enthusiasm in driving digital innovation.

• Highly organised with strong leadership and project management skills, able to collaboratively manage competing priorities with senior and junior colleagues.

• Demonstrably skilled brand custodian, able to mitigate risks, anticipate and capitalise upon opportunities, and strengthen reputation.

• Capable of working independently as well as collaboratively, both in leading a team and as part of the team.

• Passionate about driving change, and inspiring individuals and groups to support a cause to deliver that change.

Desirable

• Experience working within an international development or humanitarian context, particularly with causes related to Afghanistan

• Strategic understanding of UK and global fundraising landscapes and emerging giving trends.

• Proven ability to represent an organisation publicly with confidence, professionalism and credibility.

• Experience guiding senior leaders or trustees on media, communications and reputational matters.

• Skilled in crisis communications and reputation management.

• Understanding of inclusive and ethical storytelling practices, with sensitivity to safeguarding considerations.

• Experience developing high-value corporate or media partnerships.

• Comfortable working in a fast-moving, resource-limited environment and adapting to changing external circumstances.

The Organisation

Afghanaid is a British humanitarian and development organisation. For over forty years, our dedicated personnel have worked with millions of families in some of the poorest and most remote communities in Afghanistan. We build basic services, improve livelihoods, strengthen the rights of women and children, help communities protect against natural disasters and adapt to climate change, and respond to humanitarian emergencies. We are headquartered in Kabul, and operate provincial and district offices across Afghanistan, as well as a Marketing and Fundraising office in London. We employ around 500 personnel, 97% of whom are Afghans.

Other Information

Afghanaid’s core values are creativity, fairness and honesty. Our staff are passionate about and proud to work at Afghanaid. Teamwork is fundamental to our standards and demonstrated by taking initiative, assisting others and taking on additional responsibilities and tasks if necessary. We are results driven, committed and motivated to achieve targets and take accountability for our own actions.

Our remuneration and benefits package is competitive with other similar organisations. 

This position presents an excellent opportunity for someone who has the ambition and determination to move up in their career.

About SCEC

SCEC was founded over twenty years ago to provide learning enrichment opportunities to primary school children in disadvantaged communities in south London. Together with our partners, several leading independent schools, we currently operate four schemes in math, literacy, science and art. Children learn through fun, engaging group activities like science experiments, storytelling and mathematical treasure hunts, all taught by qualified teachers with added support from student mentors. Through the schemes, children explore their curiosity, build knowledge and develop their confidence as learners.

Your Role

The Scheme Director is a newly created role that will be pivotal in helping SCEC extend its reach. Reporting to the Board of Trustees, you will help SCEC design and implement an expansion programme as well as coordinating the delivery of the existing schemes via our school partners. You will also serve as a trusted partner to the Board in the administration of the charity.

Similar to a COO, this role straddles the operational and the strategic. We are looking for a confident communicator and relationship builder who can work across varied stakeholder groups. You will have project management experience that can be applied to challenges like process design and change management. You should be able to grasp the big picture and have an eye for the details needed to deliver successful outcomes.  This is an exciting opportunity for the right candidate to join SCEC on a transformational journey working with excellent learning partners and established leaders to improve educational outcomes for children.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee scheme operations including pupil recruitment, enrolment and attendance to ensure the smooth running of schemes and maximum impact
• Promote the charity to prospective partners and donors
• Support the Board in developing, implementing and monitoring an expansion programme
• Monitor and report on scheme performance and impact
• Prepare and manage budgets and disbursement of funds 
• Build and maintain systems and processes to support scheme operations, compliance and monitoring

Key Qualities

• Passionate about making a difference in the lives of children
• Demonstrated success in developing and implementing strategic plans to achieve organisational goals
• Track record of effectively managing programmes and services, including programme development, implementation, and evaluation
• Committed to working collaboratively to build strong relationships with business partners and colleagues and proactively engaging stakeholders when making decisions
• Self-motivated and highly organised, you have a strong sense of initiative and take a hands-on approach to planning and administration

Child Protection

SCEC is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. This is the responsibility of the whole organisation (trustees and staff).  An enhanced DBS Disclosure is required for this role.

For more information, please see the attached Job Description below

About Us

Harris Academy Battersea is a mixed state secondary school serving a truly comprehensive community in the heart of London. We are an Ofsted ‘Outstanding' school with a track record of delivering fantastic outcomes year on year for our students. In 2023, Ofsted visited the academy and judged us as remaining ‘outstanding', commenting on our “highly ambitious curriculum”, the “exceptionally high quality of education” provided and noted that “behaviour in the school is very strong”. Nevertheless, we are extremely ambitious for our school and as we seek to continue to grow and develop, we are looking for more brilliant people to join us.

Our Academy is centred on the values of Knowledge, Integrity and Resilience and these underpin the way we work for both students and staff. Our staff are inclusive, diverse and committed to our mission: we develop aspirational young people to thrive in a changing world.

HABS offers a broad, academic and challenging curriculum founded on six key curriculum aims:

• To develop deep, long-lasting knowledge
• To develop students into accomplished readers, writers and orators
• To provide experiences within and beyond the classroom that enrich learning and ensure students can make informed choices about their futures
• To equip students to challenge injustice in all its forms
• To enable students to understand how they learn
• To support students to reflect on their choices and values to improve themselves and their community

These aims underpin all elements of our curriculum, and we see our core academic curriculum and wider personal development curriculum as intrinsically linked. All staff at the Academy contribute to the personal development of our students through their roles as tutors and through their contributions to the wider life of the academy.

A thriving school can only function with fantastic staff, and our vision is to make teaching at HABS both enjoyable and sustainable. The wellbeing of staff underpins every decision we make, and we seek to ensure that every member of staff can enjoy a work-life-balance enabling them to bring their best to work each day.

At HABS, professional growth and development is central to our mission. Our professional development motto is ‘improve, not prove' and leaders are relentlessly focussed on supporting staff in getting even better through a wide range of internal and external training opportunities.

As a part of the Harris Federation, all staff in the Academy benefit from being part of our network of more than fifty primary and secondary academies across London. Vibrant networks of subject experts meet regularly and teachers can access bespoke support from our central teams of consultants.

For more information about what we do and who we are, we encourage you to visit our website here as well as our careers page here and explore!

Summary

We are currently looking to appoint a Home Academy Liaison Officer (HALO) to oversee educational welfare across the academy.

At Harris Academy Battsersea, you will join a dedicated team of staff supporting our excellent students. If you are looking for an opportunity to grow, inspire and develop, this may be the role for you.

The actual salary for this role will be £29,641-£30,516 (39 weeks per year, 37.5 hours per week) 

Main Areas of Responsibility

Your responsibilities will include:

• Overseeing Educational Welfare across the academy.
• Managing a caseload of ‘at risk’ students, where attendance falls below 85% and implement strategies to improve attendance
• Monitoring and improving the attendance of most vulnerable students
• Ensuring compliance with statutory duties, including reporting persistent and severe absenteeism
• Conducting home visits to engage families and address barriers to school attendance
• Maintaining accurate attendance records and preparing reports
• Representing the academy at external meetings e.g. Social Services Case Conferences, Child in Need Meetings, LAC Reviews
• Communicating effectively with all external agencies including possible alternative providers
• Ensuring effective communication/consultation as appropriate with the parents of students
• Leading on legal interventions for non-attendance where necessary
• Co-ordinating appropriate and tailored alternative provision for students unable to thrive in mainstream education
• Supporting the school’s inclusion strategy
• Maintaining the alternative provision tracker and monitoring student progress
• Building and maintaining partnerships with external providers, agencies, and support networks
• Ensuring safeguarding and health and safety standards in alternative provision settings
• Acting as a liaison between the academy, external providers, students, and families to ensure seamless support and transition to alternative placemen
• Ensuring compliance with local and national policies related to alternative provision. as well as safeguarding protocols
• Regularly reviewing alternative provision placements and providing feedback to stakeholders.
• Maintaining confidential records of support
• Preparing of reports and maintaining records relating to student referrals and subsequent counselling or support
• Providing support to the attendance team
• Providing administrative support to coordinate internal seclusion

Qualifications & Experience

We would like to hear from you have:

• Qualifications to degree level or equivalent
• Knowledge of behaviour for learning policies
• Knowledge of the range of barriers to learning that students face
• Training in child protection and safeguarding procedures
• Basic knowledge of first aid (e.g. emergency first aid course)
• At least three years’ experience of working in an inner city school or educational establishment in a pastoral capacity
• Experience of dealing successfully with a range of issues influencing poor attendance
• Experience of working with staff to ensure excellent standards of attendance and punctuality
• Experience of working with families
• Experience of working with challenging students and parents, and finding ways in which we can meet their needs more successfully

For a full job description and person specification, please download the Job Pack.

Professional Development & Benefits

Our people are at the heart of our success. We have developed a strong culture of collaboration and best practice, with professional development and career planning at its centre. We invest in our staff with support, coaching, mentoring, and a wide range of top-quality training programmes delivered at every level.

In addition to the opportunities for career development and progression, we also offer a competitive rewards and benefits package which includes a Performance and Loyalty Bonus, Pension Scheme with generous employer contributions, a Wellbeing Cash Plan, electric car scheme, 26 days' annual leave (plus bank holidays) for staff who work across the full year, and many other benefits. Learn more about  on our website.

Safeguarding Notice

The Harris Federation and all our academies are committed to ensuring the highest levels of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and we expect all our staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All offers of employment are subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, references, an online search, and where applicable, a prohibition from teaching check will be completed.

Equal Opportunities

The Harris Federation is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all suitably qualified candidates.

We value the diversity of our staff and students, and everyone at the Harris Federation is equally valued and respected. We aim to be an inclusive employer that reflects the communities we serve. We are committed to providing a fair, equitable and mutually supportive learning and working environment.

Next Steps

If you have any questions about this opportunity, please send us an email, or call to arrange a conversation.

Before applying, please download the Job Pack for full details on the job responsibilities and person specification. This will be helpful for you when completing your application, and throughout the recruitment process.

We encourage you to apply as soon as possible as we may interview and offer to a candidate before the closing date. Please note that we only accept applications submitted before the closing date via our careers website.

This is an exciting role leading our committed policy team leading the fight to end child poverty in the UK. The development and implementation of a UK-wide cross-government child poverty strategy means this is a great time to join CPAG as we look to influence policy makers to adopt our evidence-based policy solutions to child poverty.

We are looking for someone to take a lead role in developing evidence-based policy positions to support CPAG’s influencing and campaigns work. You will have knowledge of political processes and how external organisations can effect change. You will have a track record of producing high quality research and analysis, including policy briefings, on social policy issues. You will have experience of managing a small team and working collaboratively to identify policy issues and develop solutions with colleagues across the organisation, as well as externally.

The postholder will be working in a fast moving, high profile and complex policy environment and will need to balance short term priorities with long term objectives. Current priorities include influencing the implementation of the forthcoming child poverty strategy, gathering and sharing analysis and expertise with the DWP as part of their review of universal credit, and monitoring the development of forthcoming changes to disability benefits.

We welcome applications from individuals with the skills and experience outlined and we can be flexible about working arrangements. We operate a hybrid working system and would be happy to discuss any flexibilities required. CPAG is committed to equity, diversity and inclusion which you can read more about in the job pack.

We welcome applications on a secondment basis.

For more information about this post and to apply download the Head of Policy job pack.

If you have questions or need specific arrangements or reasonable adjustments to take part in the selection process, please contact us.

Closing date for applications: Sunday 4th January 2026 (midnight)

Interviews will take place: Tuesday 13th January 2026

Chief Executive Officer – The Abbey Centre
Location: The Abbey Centre, Westminster, London (site-based role, flexible working available)
Salary: £90,000 – £95,000 per annum
Contract: Permanent (Full-time, 37.5 hours/week; regular evening attendance for events as required)

Could you lead a much-loved community hub through its next chapter of stability, growth and civic impact?

About The Abbey Centre

Our charity has served the community of south Westminster since 1948 and has occupied The Abbey Centre building, a converted Victorian public bath house a stone’s throw from Westminster Abbey, since 1991. We are a site-based community hub and social enterprise, combining community services, training and outreach with venue hire, an on-site café and catering to generate income that supports our charitable work.

We work across employability, health and wellbeing, volunteering and practical support for vulnerable residents; the Centre welcomes people of all ages and backgrounds, and sees over 1,000 visits each week. Our strong partnerships with Westminster City Council, statutory bodies and corporate donors underpin commissioned activity and solidify our position as a trusted local delivery partner.

This is an opportunity for a visionary but hands-on leader to preserve the Centre’s warm, inclusive culture and outstanding reputation while further professionalising systems, developing our income, and shaping a multi-year strategy that secures the building and grows impact.

As our next Chief Executive Officer, you will:

• Strategy & Impact: lead a collaborative listening phase and then develop and deliver a 3–5 year strategy and rolling business plan that defines the Centre’s core offer and impact targets.

• Governance & Finance: own the annual budget and medium-term financial modelling, deliver full-cost recovery across activity lines and present timely, accurate management information to trustees.

• Operational Leadership: ensure continuity of community services, venue trading and café operations and strengthen operational systems including safeguarding, H&S and business continuity.

• Income Generation: drive commercial performance of venue hire, events and catering, professionalise fundraising (major donors, legacies, corporate partnerships) and lead bids for multi-year statutory contracts.

• Community & Partnerships: sustain and deepen strategic relationships with Westminster City Council, commissioners, local partners and corporate supporters to secure commissioned work and philanthropic income.

• Estate Stewardship: manage day-to-day stewardship of the Centre’s significant ageing building, overseeing maintenance, lease/compliance obligations and contractor relationships.

• People & Culture: build a cohesive senior team, embed clear role accountabilities, performance management and development, and protect the Centre’s welcoming culture while managing change.

• Brand & Profile: act as a visible ambassador locally and with funders to raise the Centre’s profile and champion its social value.

Who you are:

• A seasoned senior leader with proven experience in a small/medium charity, community organisation or social enterprise that combines front-line delivery with significant premises/estate responsibility.

• Demonstrable track record of leading strategic development and delivering organisational growth while balancing hands-on operational leadership.

• Strong commercial and earned-income expertise, with experience of running successful commercial – ideally site-based - operations.

• Confident in winning and managing statutory contracts and multi-year grant programmes; credible with local authorities, commissioners and corporate partners.

• Financially literate with direct budget and cash-flow accountability and experience of full-cost recovery modelling.

• A collaborative, visible and warm ambassador who builds trust quickly, communicates clearly and can present concise management information to trustees.

Why The Abbey Centre?

• A powerful mission: deliver practical services, companionship and opportunity for south Westminster residents in a civic, high-impact setting.

• A prominent, historic central Westminster location and a cherished community building offering scope for strategic estate planning and growth.

• A warm, loyal staff team and an engaged board navigating a positive leadership transition.

• A social enterprise model where successful trading directly funds frontline services and creates a platform for entrepreneurial leadership.

• The opportunity to shape a multi-year strategy that secures the long-term future of the charity and grows its impact in the community.

For full details of the role including how to apply, please download the full appointment brief. For an informal and confidential conversation about this position, please contact Jenny Hills at Harris Hill via the apply button with times to speak and (optional but appreciated) a CV or professional profile which will be treated with the strictest confidence.

Closing date for applications: 9am, Monday 12th January 2026

As leading charity recruitment specialists and a certified B Corp, Harris Hill is committed to high and ever-improving standards of equitable and inclusive recruitment. We actively welcome applications from all sections of the community regardless of age, disability, gender, race, religion, sexuality and other protected characteristics.

Impact and Learning Consultant  (seven-month fixed-term contract, maternity cover)
 

Please refer to the attached Terms of Reference for full details, including application process.
 

Summary

• Location: London, required to work at least four days a week in our office near Victoria station. Applicant must have the legal right to work in the UK.
• Hours: Full time (40 hours per week).
• Period of contract: 1st March to 30th September 2026.
• Fee: Competitive, in line with the UK market.
• Application deadline: Monday 12th January 2026, 9am UK time.
   

About us

Vitol has a long history of charitable giving, making its first charitable grant in 2002. The Vitol Foundation was established in 2006, registered in Switzerland and operating independently from Vitol’s business interests.  Since then, the Vitol Foundation has funded over 2,000 projects in more than 120 countries around the world.

The Vitol Foundation aims to make a difference in the lives of people around the world trapped in poverty. We are passionate about supporting organisations and programmes that can take children and their families in the poorest of countries across the world out of the vicious cycle of multi-dimensional poverty.

Our work is focused on five core areas: education, health, humanitarian, water sanitation and hygiene, and local giving through Vitol’s offices worldwide.

By providing different types of financing to non-governmental organisations and social enterprises, we aim to:

• Fund transformational, efficient, sustainable, scalable and replicable investments to support and strengthen government, private sector and community systems to provide sustainable health, water, sanitation and hygiene, education and employment opportunities.
• Address the systemic issues that make humanitarian crises more acute, by funding resilience and preparation in addition to recovery.
• Share models of evidence-based best practice that can be scaled by government, private sector and/or communities.
• Act responsibly with diverse partners with sensitivity to their circumstances and cultural contexts.
• Increase engagement and leverage the knowledge base of the Vitol Group worldwide.
   

About the role

The Impact and Learning Consultant will play a central role in advancing how the Vitol Foundation understands, measures and deepens its impact. They will build on existing frameworks, tools and processes developed by our Head of Impact, Learning and Strategy who is due to go on maternity leave, as well as bring their own expertise to further strengthen our approach to impact and learning, embedding it into our day-to-day decisions. As our lead expert in this area, the Consultant will ensure that our strategy and grantmaking are guided by emerging data and evidence, and support continuous learning across all our work.

The ideal candidate will have deep expertise in the field of measurement and evaluation, combining strategic leadership experience with strong hands-on technical skills to support Foundation colleagues and nonprofit partners. They will have experience with a wide range of quantitative and qualitative research methods and working in global settings, especially to support local partners operating in low-resource and/or emergency environments. This role requires someone with excellent communication skills, translating complex findings into clear, actionable insights tailored to different audiences, including Vitol Foundation colleagues, our board and non-technical external stakeholders.

Above all, the candidate must demonstrate a strong commitment to the vision, mission and values of the Vitol Foundation and improving people’s lives. They will report directly to our CEO and be part of a small but enthusiastic team of people committed to making a difference. The position is based at the Foundation’s office in London, United Kingdom.
 

Key responsibilities

Impact measurement and reporting

• Continue rollout of the foundation‑level impact framework across our grant portfolio, making ongoing adjustments and clarifications as it’s being road-tested with a growing number of grantees.
• Design and refine grant‑level impact measures. Develop impact indicators for new grants and review existing ones, working closely with programme managers and partners to ensure alignment with project goals, partner capacity and the foundation‑level impact framework.
• Review and strengthen data quality of incoming partner reports to ensure that progress is meaningfully captured through quantitative and qualitative indicators. Check for clarity, completeness, consistency and data quality, and provide feedback or make revisions as needed.
• Support uptake and adjustments to our impact dashboards in Salesforce to ensure clarity and usefulness for Foundation colleagues. Work with the Operations Manager and external developers to implement changes where needed.

Learning and strategy implementation

• Regularly synthesise and share lessons learned from across our grant portfolio as well as from the wider international development sector. Highlight emerging data, evidence and findings, and their implications for the Foundation’s strategy and grants.
• Conduct rapid evidence reviews to inform sector‑level strategies and individual grants as they are developed or revised. Work closely with programme leads and partners to ensure emerging evidence is reflected in design and implementation, and to identify ways to build credible evidence to strengthen the impact of our grants.
• Serve as a technical expert for externally-led evaluations of our grants, including reviewing research protocols, data collection tools, analysis plans, and consent and safeguarding processes. Note: evaluations will be commissioned by external parties, this role will not manage evaluation contracts or teams.

Internal and external communications

• Draw out insights from impact data, other programme documents and external sources to inform management and board reporting, including regular tracking of portfolio‑level outcomes, key trends and lessons learned.
• Work with the Head of Communications to draft content for internal and external audiences, using relevant data and statistics and creating compelling visualisations that reinforce key messages.
   

Qualifications

Essential

• Educational background: Advanced degree in a relevant field (for example, public policy, global development, business administration).
• Professional experience: 10+ years of progressive experience in impact measurement, strategic learning, or programme evaluation in philanthropy, non-profits or social impact sectors.
• Analytical rigour and insight: Demonstrated ability to synthesise complex data and strategic insights; proven record of shaping high-level organisational strategies.
• Facilitation and communication: Strong skills in facilitating discussions, presenting insights to senior leadership, and translating complex data into accessible, strategic information.
• Project management and adaptability: Track record of managing complex research and evaluation projects with multiple stakeholders; able to balance strategic oversight with hands-on problem solving.
• Must have the legal right to work in the UK.

Desirable

• Familiarity with using Salesforce as a grant management system.
• Experience working or living in one or more of our priority countries: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Burkina Faso, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Guatemala, Haiti, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Myanmar, Pakistan, Senegal, Sudan, Syria and Tanzania.
   

Please refer to the attached Terms of Reference for full details, including application process.