Gardeners jobs

This is an exciting role in our committed policy team leading the fight to end child poverty in the UK. The government has just published a UK wide cross-government child poverty strategy, and made some historic commitments to reduce child poverty including scrapping the two-child limit and expanding free school meals in England. However, there is more to do, and this is a great time to join CPAG as we look to monitor the impact of these changes and influence policy makers and parliamentarians to ensure child poverty is high up the agenda.

We are looking for someone with a track record of communicating complex policy areas in an accessible manner to a range of non-specialist audiences. You will have knowledge of parliamentary processes and the different advocacy levers that can be used to influence change. You will enjoy working collaboratively to identify policy issues and develop solutions, working closely with colleagues across the organisation as well as externally.

In addition, in a senior policy officer we are looking for someone to take a lead role in developing CPAG’s policy and research programme, including leading the delivery of research projects, helping to shape our press and campaigns work, and contributing to the development of future projects including fundraising.

You will have a track record of producing high quality research and analysis, including policy briefings, on social policy issues.

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, sharing analysis and expertise as part of the DWP’s review of universal credit, and monitoring the development of the green paper on the changes to disability benefits. 

We welcome applications from individuals with the skills and experience outlined and we can be flexible about working arrangements, including considering part time hours. 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.

Please note we are recruiting for one person with the right fit at either the policy officer or senior policy officer level.

For more information about this post and to apply download the (Senior) Policy Officer 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: Monday 16 March (midnight)

Interviews will be held in London w/c 23 March.

The role

We are looking for a Weekend Assistant to join our Hornsey shop team. You will help the shop run smoothly, provide an excellent experience for customers and donors, and support our fundraising targets. This is a responsible role where you will take ownership of the shop on shift, help drive shop performance, and ensure income is maximised while delivering excellent customer service.

About the role

• Take responsibility for the safe opening and closing of the shop during your shifts (keyholder duties, with full training provided).
• Deliver friendly, inclusive, and professional customer service to everyone visiting or donating.
• Play an active role in maximising shop income and sales so the charity can continue delivering its services.
• Process donations: sort, quality-check, price, and merchandise stock to maximise sales.
• Maintain high standards of cleanliness, presentation, and visual merchandising on the shop floor.
• Operate the till, handle cash, and follow agreed procedures.
• Support and work alongside volunteers, helping them feel welcomed, valued, and confident.
• Help maintain a safe, welcoming, and inclusive environment in line with the charity’s policies and values.

About you

• Experience in retail, customer service, or a similar role (paid or voluntary).
• Confident, friendly, and customer-focused approach.
• Reliable and able to take responsibility when on duty.
• Organised, with good attention to detail.
• A team player, happy to support volunteers.
• Physically able to move and handle donations safely.

The role

We are seeking an Assistant Shop Manager for our busy Highgate charity shop. This hands-on retail role is ideal for someone who enjoys charity retail, thrives on initiative, is motivated to take on responsibility for shop performance, and is passionate about working with volunteers and supporting a meaningful cause.

About the role

• Support the Shop Manager with the day-to-day running of the shop, taking an active role in maximising income and Gift Aid.
• Provide consistently high standards of customer and donor service, creating a welcoming and inclusive atmosphere.
• Drive sales, maintain strong retail and merchandising standards, and contribute to meeting targets.
• Oversee stock processing: sort, quality-check, price, rotate, and creatively merchandise items.
• Assist in recruiting, training, motivating, and supporting a diverse team of volunteers and trainees.
• Take on supervisory and leadership responsibilities in the Shop Manager’s absence.
• Carry out cash handling, till reconciliation, banking, and basic admin, including Gift Aid systems.
• Ensure compliance with health and safety, safeguarding, trading standards, and charity retail policies.
• Promote the charity’s mission in the local community and support local fundraising and promotional activities.

About you

• Retail experience with responsibility for sales and operations, ideally in a charity or not-for-profit environment.
• Experience supervising, supporting, or closely working with volunteers or staff.
• Experience of targets and understanding how shop income supports charitable services.
• Strong organisational skills and ability to prioritise in a busy environment.
• Confident communicator who can motivate and encourage others.
• Comfortable using basic IT (till systems, email, spreadsheets, Gift Aid platforms).
• Positive, proactive, and flexible, with a hands-on approach to shop work.
• Able to work on a Rota including weekends and occasional bank holidays.

Abbey Community Centre is a vibrant, long-established community charity at the heart of Kilburn, North West London. Every day, we bring people together, reduce isolation and improve health and wellbeing through inclusive activities, services and community support.

We're now looking for an experienced Centre Operations Manager to play a key senior role in ensuring our busy community hub runs safely, smoothly and effectively for the thousands of people who use it each year.

About Abbey Community Centre

Abbey Community Centre works with people of all ages and backgrounds, with a particular focus on older residents and low-income families with young children. We deliver a wide range of activities, services and support including children’s stay-and-play sessions and drop-ins, fitness and wellbeing activities, befriending schemes, digital inclusion support, community meals, warm space provision, food support, volunteering opportunities and specialist outreach.

Alongside this community delivery, we manage a busy public building and a programme of room hire that helps generate income to sustain our work. With a small staff team, over 100 volunteers and many partner organisations, our operations need to be reliable, well-coordinated and people-centred.

The role and its impact

As Centre Operations Manager, you will be the organisation’s senior operational lead on the ground. Working closely with the CEO, you will hold delegated authority for the day-to-day running of the Centre — ensuring the building, people and systems all work together to support high-quality community activity.

This is a hands-on leadership role combining practical problem-solving with people management. You will line manage and help develop operational staff, oversee facilities and contractors, lead on health and safety and operational compliance, support volunteering, and ensure organisational systems and processes function reliably.

Your work will directly enable staff, volunteers and partners to deliver activities and services safely and confidently, and will help ensure Abbey remains a welcoming, accessible and well-run space for the local community.

What you’ll be working on

In this role, you will:

• Oversee daily building operations, maintenance and contractor management

• Lead on health & safety and related compliance, including risk assessments and training

• Line manage & develop operational staff and support a positive, consistent working culture

• Ensure operational policies and procedures are applied effectively in practice

• Support and coordinate volunteering within the centre

• Manage operational budgets and contracts within agreed limits

• Act as a senior member of the management team, deputising for the CEO on agreed matters

Key details

• Location: Abbey Community Centre, Kilburn (NW6 4BJ, London Borough of Camden)

• Hours: 24–28 hours per week (fixed hours agreed at appointment), worked over a minimum of four weekdays

• Core hours: 11.00am–4.00pm (flexibility outside these hours by agreement)

• Contract: Permanent, part-time

• Salary: £40,000–£42,000 per annum (based on a 35-hour full-time equivalent), pro rata for part-time hours

• Annual leave: 30 days pro-rata, rising to 35 days after 5 years’ service (plus bank holidays, pro-rata)

• Pension: NEST pension scheme (if eligible)

• Some evening and occasional weekend working is required

This role could be right for you if…

You are an experienced operational manager who enjoys combining leadership with practical delivery, thrives in a public-facing environment, and wants your work to make a visible difference to a local community. You don’t need to tick every box — we’re interested in your experience, judgement, approach and motivation.

Abbey Community Centre is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion, and we welcome applications from candidates from a wide range of backgrounds. Reasonable adjustments will be offered throughout the recruitment process.