Futures big local community development worker jobs

Job Title:Community Connector

Reference Number: V559

Location:  Must live/ work or have close connections to Chantry/ Belstead Hills/ Stoke Park areas of Ipswich  

Contract Type: Fixed Term Contract for 1 year

Hours: 15 hours per week

Salary: FTE £23,004.80 (annual salary for 15 h.p.w £9,859)

DBS/PVG: Basic DBS check required

Line Manager: Delivery Leader -  England 1

Closing date: Midday on 24th October 2025 – however we do reserve the right to close early if suitable applicants come forward.

Interview Date/s:TBC

Anticipated start date: asap

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications

Volunteering Matters  

Who we are
At Volunteering Matters, we believe people have the power to create change. Whether through volunteering by helping others and giving time, or through social action such as speaking up, campaigning, or leading change, everyone can make a difference. We bring people together to build stronger communities across England, Scotland and Wales, making sure everyone has the chance to get involved and create real change.

 What we do
We help people of all ages and backgrounds get involved in volunteering and social action. We focus on making sure that everyone, no matter their situation, has the chance to take part. We work with local people.

 How we do this

We support people to share their time and skills to help others and tackle big challenges in their communities.

· We remove barriers to volunteering and social action, making it easier for people who don’t always get the chance to take part.

· We listen to and amplify voices that aren’t always heard, helping volunteers and communities influence change.

· We help volunteers beyond their first experience, offering training, support, and pathways to new opportunities.

· We connect businesses with communities, creating meaningful employee volunteering projects.

· We show the impact of volunteering and social action, proving how it changes lives for the better.

 Job Purpose:

Volunteering Matters, in partnership with Active Suffolk and Sport England, is recruiting for a Community Connector to work in the Chantry / Belstead Hills / Stoke Park area of Ipswich

The aim of the role is to gather insights into local people’s lived experiences, particularly around physical activity, by having meaningful conversations in everyday settings like cafés, outside schools, and at community events. These insights will help shape future initiatives that support community wellbeing and development.

Ideal candidates will have strong local ties—preferably living in the area they work—and be confident, approachable, and proactive. The role involves identifying community needs, building local networks, signposting residents to support, and feeding back discussions to project partners.

Flexibility is key, with some evening and weekend work expected. The role reports to the Delivery Leader at Volunteering Matters and works closely with Active Suffolk’s Development Officer for Ipswich. A DBS check will be required before starting.

For more information about the role please refer to the Job description

Our Values & Way of Working

In all that we are guided by our values: Empowering, Inclusive, Compassionate, Positive & Straightforward. 

Diversity & Inclusion

Volunteering Matters welcomes all applicants and are keen to ensure our team reflects the diversity of the UK and the communities we serve. We encourage applications from disabled, LGBT and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic backgrounds, along with candidates with any protected characteristics and from disadvantaged groups.

Disability Confident & Reasonable Adjustments

We guarantee to interview anyone with a disability whose application meets the minimum criteria for the role. Please provide evidence in your application, which demonstrates that you meet the level of competence required in the Job Description under skill and experience. To be considered for a guaranteed interview or to discuss any reasonable adjustments during the process, please state this in your cover letter. 

Benefits

Our employee benefits reflect our culture which is built on an approach of full flexibility with accountability, and designed to let you make your most positive contribution; we offer:

· Flexible Working by Default (re hours & place of work) 

· Unlimited Annual Leave 

· Employee Pension scheme 

· Life Assurance 

· Cycle to Work Scheme 

· Season Ticket Loan 

· Employee Assistance Programme 

· Enhanced sick and family leave.

· Lifestyle Discount Scheme

We are also open to discussing job share applications.

GDPR Statement

If you apply for a role with us, we will retain your contact details including your name, address, email address and phone number to help us manage your application for up to six months.  We will not use your personal data for any other purpose or share it with any third party. You can contact us at any point to update your personal information or ask us to delete it from our records.

Policy on AI-Generated Applications 

Applications are accepted on trust, and we expect all submissions to reflect the applicant’s own words, experiences, and motivations. While tools such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) may support the application process, applications should not be generated wholly by AI. 

To Apply

Please send an updated, complete CV and cover letter via the Charity Job Apply button above. In your application clearly state which role you are applying for. In the cover letter please demonstrate how you would fulfil the role requirements, what previous relevant achievements you have (both in life and at work), what skills & experience you can offer, and what you believe you can contribute to Volunteering Matters.

Right to Work in the UK

Please note that while we hold a license to sponsor employees on a skilled worker visa, the number of applications we can make each year is very limited. Unfortunately, this role does not meet the criteria for sponsorship, therefore, you must already have the right to work in the UK to be considered for this position.

If you have any questions about current vacancies, the recruitment process, or need support, our team is here to help. Whether you're a candidate looking for more information or with an HR query, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

In addition to the 50+ young people we see every day out our centre, New Horizon’s Outreach service works with young people on the streets and in the community. The team works pan London to deliver a youth-specific outreach service to young people currently or at risk of rough sleeping. We use our extensive housing expertise to place those young people into accommodation that is appropriate and safe, whilst encouraging them to access the day centre to benefit from the wide range of services we offer. This role will involve regualr outreach shifts (early mornings and late evenings) across London aswell as supporting our clients in the day centre and developing a best practice approach to supporting young rough sleepers and the hidden homeless. 

• Permanent, full-time role in the Rough Sleeping Team
• Salary: £31,200-£34,736
• Deadline to apply: 9am Friday 24 October

Reference Number:  V560

Job Title: Project Manager

Location: Newcastle upon Tyne (Hybrid – office, home, community-based)

Contract Type: Permanent

Hours: 28 hours per week

Salary: £30,000 Full Time Equivalent (£24K pro rata)

DBS/PVG: Enhanced Level DBS

Job Family: Job Family 4

Line Manager: Delivery Leader: Scotland & Northeast England  

Closing Date:             23rd October 2025

Interview Dates: TBC

Start Date: ASAP

Interview Dates: To be confirmed

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications

Volunteering Matters  

Who we are
At Volunteering Matters, we believe people have the power to create change. Whether through volunteering by helping others and giving time, or through social action such as speaking up, campaigning, or leading change, everyone can make a difference. We bring people together to build stronger communities across England, Scotland and Wales, making sure everyone has the chance to get involved and create real change.

What we do
We help people of all ages and backgrounds get involved in volunteering and social action. We focus on making sure that everyone, no matter their situation, has the chance to take part. We work with local people.

How we do this

We support people to share their time and skills to help others and tackle big challenges in their communities.

• We remove barriers to volunteering and social action, making it easier for people who don’t always get the chance to take part.
   
• We listen to and amplify voices that aren’t always heard, helping volunteers and communities influence change.
   
• We help volunteers beyond their first experience, offering training, support, and pathways to new opportunities.
   
• We connect businesses with communities, creating meaningful employee volunteering projects.
   
• We show the impact of volunteering and social action, proving how it changes lives for the better.

 
Our work across Newcastle
Volunteering Matters play a vital role supporting volunteering in Newcastle. Since 2005, we have been operating Volunteer Centre Newcastle (VCN). This service provides a wide range of support around all things volunteering to 1250+ charities, organisations, and groups locally. Each year, we also support 2500+ members of the public who are interested in volunteering and need support to get started. We also lead the Home from Hospital and Community Support project where volunteers support older people with their transition home following a hospital admission. 

In early 2025, we launched the Good Neighbours Newcastle project funded by Newcastle City Council. We deliver this project alongside our delivery partner organisation, Search Newcastle, with a second partner organisation scheduled to join in early 2026.

Good Neighbours project
We would all like to live in a place that has a sense of community, where people look out for their neighbours. The Good Neighbours project aims to foster a feeling of positive wellbeing and independence for those who may be socially isolated, or who don’t have many people around them, giving that “little bit of help”.

The project helps people in the community feel safe, supported, and more able to live an independent life, whilst preventing, reducing and delaying the need for formal support through Adult Social Care. It also provides people the opportunity to volunteer a little time, in a flexible way, to make a difference in their own community. We know volunteering can lead to enhanced skills, and positive wellbeing. Volunteers provide practical or social support, completing “one-off’ or short-term tasks, supporting a neighbour.  This includes tasks like collecting essentials, driving someone to a GP appointment, helping with odd jobs around the house, light gardening, or checking in with someone for a cuppa and chat. 

Role Purpose
We are looking for a talented, dynamic, and professional Project Manager to join our team in Newcastle.  The right candidate would be someone with excellent knowledge of “best practice” in Volunteer Management and with experience of establishing new and exciting volunteering programmes.

This is a senior role within our Newcastle team so it is essential that the postholder is agile, can work flexibly, is an excellent communicator, and can build strong working relationships with a range of people. 

In this role, you will:

• Lead and manage all aspects of the Good Neighbours project, meeting ambitious goals, ensuring all volunteers and beneficiaries achieve positive outcomes
   
• Lead and manage our partnerships on a day-to-day level with Search Newcastle and another local charity, to raise the profile of the project, ensuring successful delivery and ongoing development of the work
   
• Manage and lead our use of the volunteer management system, Volunteero, ensuring its effective use across our Newcastle work 

Our Values & Way of Working

In all that we are guided by our values: Empowering, Inclusive, Compassionate, Positive & Straightforward. 

Diversity & Inclusion

Volunteering Matters welcomes all applicants and are keen to ensure our team reflects the diversity of the UK and the communities we serve. We encourage applications from disabled, LGBT and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic backgrounds, along with candidates with any protected characteristics and from disadvantaged groups.

Disability Confident & Reasonable Adjustments

We guarantee to interview anyone with a disability whose application meets the minimum criteria for the role. Please provide evidence in your application, which demonstrates that you meet the level of competence required in the Job Description under skill and experience. To be considered for a guaranteed interview or to discuss any reasonable adjustments during the process, please state this in your cover letter. 

Benefits

Our employee benefits reflect our culture which is built on an approach of full flexibility with accountability, and designed to let you make your most positive contribution; we offer:

· Flexible Working by Default (re hours & place of work) 

· Unlimited (paid) Annual Leave allowance

· Employee Pension scheme 

· Life Assurance 

· Cycle to Work Scheme 

· Season Ticket Loan 

· Employee Assistance Programme 

· Enhanced sick and family leave.

· Lifestyle Discount Scheme

We are also open to discussing job share applications.

GDPR Statement

If you apply for a role with us, we will retain your contact details including your name, address, email address and phone number to help us manage your application for up to six months.  We will not use your personal data for any other purpose or share it with any third party. You can contact us at any point to update your personal information or ask us to delete it from our records.

Policy on AI-Generated Applications 

Applications are accepted on trust, and we expect all submissions to reflect the applicant’s own words, experiences, and motivations. While tools such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) may support the application process, applications should not be generated wholly by AI. 

To Apply

Please send an updated, complete CV and cover letter via the Charity Job Apply button above. In your application clearly state which role you are applying for. In the cover letter please demonstrate how you would fulfil the role requirements, what previous relevant achievements you have (both in life and at work), what skills & experience you can offer, and what you believe you can contribute to Volunteering Matters.

Right to Work in the UK

Please note that while we hold a license to sponsor employees on a skilled worker visa, the number of applications we can make each year is very limited. Unfortunately, this role does not meet the criteria for sponsorship, therefore, you must already have the right to work in the UK to be considered for this position.

If you have any questions about current vacancies, the recruitment process, or need support, our team is here to help. Whether you're a candidate looking for more information or with an HR query, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

The Services Manager (Housing) will primarily focus on managing New Horizon's busy Housing Advice service, delivered both from the day centre and remotely. You will work with the Head of Housing Services to ensure the service responds holistically to young people with multiple needs or barriers. You should have relevent professional experience within the housing and homelessness sector, be a passionate advocate for young people and have the ability to motivate a team to deliver high quality services in a fast-paced environment. You should be skilled in partnership management and able to collaborate effectively to identify and deliver new housing solutions for young people experiencing homelessness.

• Permanent, full-time role in the Housing Team
• Salary: £37,024 – £41,600
• Deadline to apply: 9am Monday 3 November

Tender is an arts charity working with children and young people to prevent domestic abuse and sexual violence through creative projects. Our programmes are safe, enjoyable, age-appropriate spaces where young people can engage with sensitive topics and “rehearse” for real-life scenarios. Participants are encouraged to be both consumers and producers of learning through script-work, role-play and creative media such as films and art. Throughout, we enable young people to explore their choices, rights and expectations in relationships and to recognise the early warning signs of abuse.

The Research & Impact Manager plays a vital role in our team, with a broad scope to get to the heart of, and tell the story of, our impact through quantitative and qualitative data. Your role is essential in providing insights and conclusions that critique and strengthen our theory of change and inform programme development. You will also increase our credibility with supporters through robustly-evidenced reporting, and inform the development of our policy and influencing work.

This is a role which encompasses both big picture thinking and detailed design and implementation. You will oversee monitoring and evaluation projects across Tender, engaging stakeholders within and outside the charity. You will also provide research-based advice and expertise to internal teams, using your insights to help inform and develop practice.

Your expertise will strengthen the impact we have on over 30,000 young people every year and play a crucial role in raising the funding needed to continue delivering this work.

Role Purpose

The main purposes of the Corporate Partnerships Officer role are:

• Managing the continually improving the digital systems to improve Tender’s monitoring and evaluation structures and procedures
• Leading the development and implementation of monitoring and evaluation frameworks and processes across Tender, with the support of the COO
• Distilling learning from Tender’s work and wider research into key insights to inform ongoing service improvement, new initiatives, policy work, profile-raising and income generation
• Conducting research into arts-based and other interventions to prevent violence against women and girls (VAWG) and applying insights to improve Tender’s work

Essential knowledge and experience

• Understanding of impact measurement and evaluation, applying appropriate and proportionate approaches, tools and methods to maximise learning at project and organisational level
• Understanding of quantitative and qualitative research techniques and comfortable using them to gather relevant data
• Understanding of the use of theories of change and outcomes frameworks
• Advanced proficiency in office and CRM software, in particular Excel, PowerPoint and Salesforce
• Advanced proficiency in Power BI
• Experience of data administration and analytics, sometimes from disjointed data sets, with the ability to produce high-quality outputs to clearly explain findings
• Experience of responding to and managing customer expectations, tailoring approach to the needs of the customer and developing new and innovative options
• Experience of building and maintaining successful relationships with diverse range of partners across corporate, public, and third sectors