Grassroots leader jobs in london

We are now seeking a strong project manager with great people skills and an eye for detail to join as our Head of Operations. Join The Fore, the UK’s only venture philanthropy fund dedicated to backing the best small charities, and play a key role in achieving our goal of getting the most innovative solutions from grassroots to nationwide impact.

Reporting into the Director of Operations, you will lead the delivery of The Fore’s grant rounds, which are the core engine of our impact. You’ll  oversee our Programme Team and pool of Strategic Applicant Consultants (SACs) and will make sure the strongest proposals reach our  funding panels. The role is a key part in achieving our goal of getting the most innovative solutions from grassroots to nationwide impact.

You’ll drive our workshops and peer learning programme, enabling small charities to develop the skills and networks to take their solutions to  the next level. You will also take forward newer strategic initiatives, including our scale-up funding rounds and the launch of high-profile charity showcases that connect our most impactful organisations with government, funders and policy influencers.

Alongside this, you’ll own our impact and learning work, ensuring we capture and communicate the difference our work makes. You’ll work  closely with senior colleagues and be supported by the small but mighty Programme Team (a Programme Officer and Programme Assistant)  who you will also be line managing.

Key responsibilities

• Grant-making: Lead the end-to-end delivery of our core funding and scale-up programmes, from shaping programme design to ensuring the strongest applications reach our funding panels. You’ll keep the process running smoothly, support and steer our SACs, and maintain a  strong focus on quality and impact. This includes oversight of our Salesforce grants system, working with specialised contractors to ensure it  supports effective delivery.
• Strategic Applicant Consultants (SACs): Lead the recruitment, training, support and retention of our SAC pool, making sure they’re equipped,  motivated and connected. You’ll foster a strong sense of community and shared purpose across this talented group.
• Impact and monitoring: Lead The Fore’s impact and monitoring work, including producing our annual impact report and sector insights, and  commissioning external contractors for deeper analysis when needed. You’ll also ensure our portfolio is on track to deliver its plans, and support  organisations to adapt and thrive when challenges arise.
• Charity showcases: Spearhead our new high-profile showcase events, connecting outstanding small charities with policymakers, funders and  influencers.
• Peer learning and workshops: Maintain strategic oversight of our learning events for our portfolio, including peer-to-peer sessions and  workshops designed to build the skills and knowledge small charities need to maximise their impact.
• Funder engagement: Collaborate with the Partnerships Team to align programmes with funder interests and help build strong, enduring relationships.
• External representation: Represent The Fore by speaking at events, building relationships, and engaging with funders, networks, and sector  partners.
• Line management of Programme Team members – currently consists of the Programme Officer and Programme Assistant.

This is a broad and evolving role with plenty of scope to shape new initiatives and strengthen existing systems as the organisation grows.

Candidate profile
Skills and experience:

• 7+ years of professional experience in the business, public or third sector
• Strong project or programme management track record, with the ability to juggle multiple workstreams and deadlines
• Experience managing volunteers and/or direct reports
• Skilled at engaging a wide range of stakeholders and adapting communication style as needed
• Experience working in or with small charities or social enterprises is a bonus, but not essential. We’re looking for transferable skills and a clear  commitment to social impact

Attributes and mindset:

• Meticulously organised and confident managing complex logistics and timelines
• Excellent attention to detail, especially when coordinating multiple inputs and deliverables
• A clear, persuasive communicator and motivated people manager, able to bring others with you, maintain momentum, and foster collaboration
• Solutions-focused, curious, and energised by learning and problem-solving
• Comfortable in a small, fast-moving team and excited by the chance to take real ownership

Location: Vox Studios, 1–45 Durham Street, London, SE11 5JH (hybrid working, working from home on Wednesdays and Fridays)
Contract and salary: £50,000 (if full time). We’re ideally looking for someone able to work full time but would consider 3.5 days+ per week for  the right candidate. However, the role does require you to be in our London office three days a week.
Start: As soon as possible from August 2025

Deadline for applications: Monday 14 July, 9am.

The Runnymede Trust is the UK’s leading race equality think tank. We generate research to challenge racial inequality in Britain.

For more than 50 years, we have worked tirelessly to build a Britain in which we all belong. Proudly independent, we speak truth to power on race and racism without fear or favour. We are not swayed by political agenda, profit or popular opinion. We are authentic, led by an ethnically diverse team we draw from our lived experience and that of our wide and inclusive community and partnership networks.

About Power to Prosper: 

Power to Prosper is building a movement for economic justice, racial equity, and community power. We work across regions and communities to shift power and policy through organising, storytelling, and systems change.

As we expand, strong digital strategy and impactful storytelling are vital to growing our visibility, deepening engagement, and inspiring action. We are looking for a senior leader to guide this work at the highest level, embedding digital movement-building and narrative change into the heart of our strategy.

About the role:

We are looking for a visionary and strategic Digital Movement Building Strategist to lead our digital organising, narrative change, and storytelling work at Power to Prosper. Reporting to the Programme Director, this role is central to shaping how our growing movement shows up publicly, connects across communities, and drives forward our mission for economic and racial justice.

You will be responsible for developing and delivering a digital strategy that builds visibility, deepens engagement, and inspires collective action across regions. You will oversee the integration of community-led storytelling, digital engagement tools, and organising infrastructure to strengthen our distributed movement model. Working closely with a small creative team and grassroots partners, you will ensure that Power to Prosper's digital presence is bold, values-driven, and rooted in the lived experience of the communities we work with.

How to apply:

To apply please click the apply button below.

This will take you to our online recruitment platform, BeApplied, which is a platform that aims to facilitate an unbiased and inclusive hiring process.

On BeApplied you will be asked to upload your CV and answer some skill-based application questions instead of a traditional covering letter.

Runnymede Trust is committed to providing equal opportunities for everyone regardless of their background. We acknowledge that people from certain backgrounds are  under-represented in research and policy making and we’re committed to doing what we can to correct this. We are particularly keen to receive applications from Black, Asian and minority ethnic people; people with disabilities; people who identify as being LGTBQIA; people who have a mental health condition; and people who identify as working class now or in the past.

We are also aware that many highly capable prospective candidates nonetheless rule themselves out of work in think tanks because they underestimate their own ability to do the role. With this in mind, we strongly encourage applications from anyone who is prepared to learn and grow on the job and would like to stress that past experience of working in think tanks is not required.

Interview Schedule:

Candidates will hear back about their application status on 30th of July, and interviews for shortlisted candidates will be conducted on 5th and 6th of August.

Citizens UK 

Citizens UK is the UK’s biggest, most diverse and most effective people-powered alliance. We bring communities and local organisations together to work on issues that matter; from campaigning for zebra crossings on dangerous roads, to reforming the immigration system, to the Living Wage campaign. We have a track record of winning change through hundreds of local and national campaigns. We know everyday people have the ability to shape the world around them. We believe that through developing local leaders, we can drive nationwide change and create community-led solutions to big and small problems.

South London Citizens 

South London Citizens (SLC) is Citizen’s UK second oldest chapter, established in 2004. SLC has over 100 member institutions spread across seven south London boroughs, working together for the common good.

South London Citizens has developed 1000s of local leaders through training and action teams and won big national campaigns, for example delivering free school meals for children whose parents have no recourse to public funds.

The Living Wage campaign is part of SLC’s DNA and in the last 12 months a campaign to bring the Living Wage Campaign to the Southbank has delivered well over 1000 pay rises to south London workers. The Real Living Wage is currently £13.85 in London, compared with the National Minium Wage of £12.21 (for workers aged over 21).

Community Organising

Through our theory of social change, called community organising, we train thousands of everyday people to lead change in their communities, equipping them with the skills to hold politicians and other powerholders to account. We are made up of 500+ member organisations in powerful alliances throughout the UK. Our members include schools, universities, faith groups, parents’ groups, health practices, charities, trade unions and other civil society organisations. 

Purpose 

The principal responsibility of an Associate Organiser is their own development: learning the craft of Community Organising under the guidance of an experienced Community Organiser. They work intensively with a small number of member organisations under close supervision, growing their experience, skill and responsibility incrementally. An Associate Organiser is working towards becoming a competent practitioner of the craft of broad-based community organising methodology, and focuses on the building of relational power, the recruitment and retention of dues-paying institutions, the development of leaders, the strengthening of member institutions, leader-led public actions, and the winning of systemic change. 

This role is particularly to organise around the issue of low pay and precarious work and participate in Citizens UK’s flagship campaign, the Living Wage Campaign. We need someone who can speak Spanish as well as English, as south London’s Latin American communities are leading the work in South London. There is scope to involve leaders in campaigns around housing, health and migrants' rights, as we recognise that people affected by low pay are very often determined to take action on wider issues beyond work.     The purpose of the role is to develop leadership, especially grassroots leadership, workers from London’s lowest paid sectors, that can power the campaign. Crucially the Associate Organiser will work with colleagues in South London Citizens to build and execute a strategy that develops powerful leaders for South London Citizens and wins the Living Wage, Living Hours and other material gains for thousands of workers across the capital.

Main Responsibilities 

Working as an Associate Organiser in South London for Citizens UK, reporting to the Lead Organiser, South West, SLC, your main responsibilities will include: 

Build relational power to further the goals of CUK 

• Actively participate in the development of a comprehensive power analysis appropriate to the desired sphere of influence for each project/assignment 

• Establish working relationships with identified leaders and demonstrate ability to move them into action, including as part of the wider alliance; taking the initiative to establish new relationships as required 

• Conduct one-to-ones to develop relationships with leaders and understand their concerns. 

• Tell a wide range of Community Organising stories effectively to influence others and achieve CUK’s goals 

Identify and develop relational leaders prepared to act with others for the common good 

• Identify and discern actual and potential leaders with the passion and ability to drive change

• Proactively create opportunities for leaders to develop, in particular tertiary or new leaders; nominate for training on the core taster curriculum 

• Successfully deliver training workshops in local institutions and on the core taster curriculum at a local level 

Strengthen institutions and develop BBOs 

• Ensure good understanding of the basic interests and traditions of typical member institutions and worker leaders. 

• Organise a small number of member institutions or 1 strategic partner to work together for the achievement of common goals relating to the Living Wage campaign. 

• Support pre-existing core teams and create/develop new core teams to provide leadership 

Support leaders through the Cycle of Action in order to create change 

• Support leaders in running listening campaigns 

• Organise Living Wage actions; demonstrating increasing independence in working without the need for close supervision

• Take the lead in supporting groups of leaders through the cycle of action on the Living Wage; aiming to achieve new accreditations and other wins.

• Evaluate the effectiveness of actions; demonstrating ability to incorporate lessons learned into future actions 

  Contribute to CUK’s financial viability through effective fundraising & financial management  

• Recruit new dues paying institutions; work together with a more senior Organiser to negotiate annual membership fees and letters of understanding 

• Contribute substantively to fundraising to ensure the sustainability of the work 

• Liaise with the Finance & Operations team to update the membership database and ensure timely invoicing and fee collection 

Contribute to effective teamwork 

• Be proactive concerning personal professional development and wellbeing; i.e. by reading widely, developing a healthy work-life balance and demonstrating ability to reflect on own organising craft & improve on self-identified weaknesses 

• Demonstrate ability to work effectively with colleagues and participate in a team 

• Produce all required reports and follow CUK’s procedures on time and to the required standards 

Participate in the development of the craft of Community Organising and play a role in the Guild of COs 

• Schedule an average of at least three 1-2-1 relational meetings into your daily schedule as a core part of your professional practice 

• Commit 10 working days pa (pro rata for part-time staff) to the preparation, delivery and evaluation of Citizens UK National Community Leadership Training or other local or regional trainings; 

• Participate in a Guild Team and help it develop as a Community of Practice that enables Organisers across the UK to develop their skills and experience. 

Personal Specification 

(D) Desirable, (E) Essential 

Qualifications 

Bachelor’s degree in any subject (D) 

Subject of relevance to community work or community organising (D) 

Experience 

• Previous campaign experience (D) 

• Evidence of having acted in a leadership role with peers or in local community activities (e.g., organising clubs or societies) (E) 

• Experience of project management; evidence of having delivered work on time and to standard (E) 

• Able to demonstrate previous experience of ‘learning by doing’ in a work or project environment; evidence of being open to feedback and comfortably coachable (E) 

Key skills and knowledge 

• Excellent interpersonal awareness – ability to listen well and appreciate a viewpoint or opinion that is different from one’s own (E) 

• Excellent concern for impact – ability to adapt own behaviour to address the needs or concerns of someone else (E) 

• Good communication skills – able to speak with conviction and passion; and to make a logical argument (E) 

• Fluent in Spanish and English – written and spoken (E) - other community languages, especially Portuguese (D)

Personal qualities & values 

• A self-starter with ability to take initiative and work independently (E) 

• A passion for justice (E) 

• A positive enthusiasm for working with faith congregations, trade unions, schools, and other community organisations (E) 

• An interest in and experience of politics and public life (E) 

• Able to work in a team (E) 

• Willingness to work within accountable relationships (E) 

• Self-motivated and adaptable (E) 

  Our Organisers and some project teams work closely with our member institutions and will be expected to attend member events that take place in the evenings and occasional weekends. We operate a Time Off in Lieu approach and have very flexible working arrangements to ensure a good work-life balance. 

The successful applicant will be required to undertake a satisfactory Enhanced DBS check. DBS checks are renewed on a 3-year cycle. 

About the application process 

We work within diverse communities bringing people together. In line with our Inclusion value, we would love to see applications from LGBTQIA+ people, people from racialised communities, people living with disabilities and people of faith, all to better represent the communities we work in. We want our employees to have the working conditions that allows them to fully participate, be able to be their best authentic selves and thrive doing so, and we have employee networks to support staff. Even if you don’t quite meet all the required criteria still consider applying, as we invest in our employees and support them to develop the skills and knowledge required to deliver their role.

 Interview date: Tuesday 22nd July 

Impact, on and off the pitch...

The FA is looking for a Women's and Girls' Game Communications Executive to join our team on a 2-year fixed-term contract.

This is an exciting role with responsibilities across various areas of the women's and girls' game, including the Adobe Women's FA Cup, grassroots football, coaching, refereeing, the England talent pathway and The FA's Made for this Game campaign. Working closely with and reporting directly to the Women's and Girls' Game Communications Manager, you will play a crucial role in delivering a communications strategy which promotes The FA's strategic objectives within women's and girls' football.

The role requires a smart media operator and a creative thinker who can recognise opportunities to grow the women's and girls' game across the priority areas. You will help deliver the season-long communications plan and press office function for the Adobe Women's FA Cup, helping elevate the competition to new heights. With direction from the Head of England Communications, the role will also cross into the England pathway with the requirement to scope opportunities to elevate the profile of the England women's development squads.

As a member of The FA's Communications team, you will work as part of a high-performing integrated marcomms team across the priority areas. Close collaboration with Marketing, Campaigns, Content and Public Affairs colleagues within The FA will be essential to help drive and deliver integrated campaigns. You will also work with various FA departments and external stakeholders to create and deliver the communications strategies.

It is a two-year fixed-term role, which currently includes two days a week based at Wembley Stadium and regular trips to St George's Park. Please note that the role also requires occasional out-of-hours work and travel.

What will you be doing?

• Coordinate and deliver an integrated season-long communications plan to support and promote The FA's key strategic objectives in the women's and girls' game.
• Coordinate and deliver an integrated season-long communications plan to promote and protect the Adobe Women's FA Cup, including the delivery of the competition's press office function.
• Press office support for the England women's development teams.
• Identify opportunities to promote The FA's Made for this Game campaign across owned and external channels.
• Ownership of creating and maintaining key press materials for the smooth running of the holistic women's and girls' game press office, including media lists, briefing documents and media guides.
• Play a central role within an integrated marcomms team to promote the women's and girls' game, the Adobe Women's FA Cup and England women's development teams across owned and earned channels.
• Develop and maintain trusted working relationships with key internal and external stakeholders.
• Work effectively with key internal departments, including Marketing, Digital Content, Commercial, Broadcast, and Public Affairs, to achieve joint organisational goals.
• Expertly and effectively manage incoming media requests.
• Execute additional tasks as required to meet the FA's changing priorities.
• Comply with all company policies and procedures to ensure that the highest standards of health, safety, and well-being can be maintained.

What are we looking for?

Essential for the role:

• Proven experience working in a high-functioning communications team or equivalent role.
• Excellent knowledge of women's football.
• Experience dealing with national and regional media.
• Strong communicator with the ability to build relationships with stakeholders and across an integrated marketing, communications and corporate affairs division.
• Excellent writing skills and the ability to write to a deadline.
• Able to conduct UK and international travel.
• Flexible approach to working hours.

Beneficial to have:

• Experience of working in women's football.
• Experience of working with high-profile talent and senior executives.
• Excellent contacts in the sports industry.
• Understanding of social media and new media platforms.

What's in it for you?

We are committed to ensuring everyone can flourish in their roles, to achieve this we have unique office spaces under the arch of the iconic Wembley National Stadium, which is the home of English Football. We are also delighted to offer a world-class, Elite Performance Centre, St. George's Park in Staffordshire which is an exceptional setting to develop and inspire high-performing England teams and leaders.

We pride ourselves in offering a competitive salary as well as great opportunities to develop and grow in your role. But that is not all; we also have a range of exciting benefits, some of which can be found below:

• Access to event day tickets at Wembley Stadium, alongside a host of regular internal events throughout the season, encouraging you to connect and learn with your colleagues and look after your mental health and well-being.
• Free, nutritious lunches at Wembley Stadium and St. George's Park.
• Free private medical cover.
• A contributory pension scheme.
• An additional 'Thank You' days leave, volunteering days as well as 25 days annual leave (based on a full-time, permanent contract.)
• A hybrid working model which offers greater flexibility.

For more information on what it is like to work at The FA, please visit our FA Careers page,

We are a diverse workplace, aspiring to represent football across the country. The Football Association actively promotes inclusion and diversity, encouraging you to be the best version of yourself at work.

We welcome applications from everyone and are proud to be an equal opportunities employer. If you have any particular requirements in respect of the recruitment or interview process, please mention this during your application.

As part of the FA's commitment to ensuring a safe environment for everyone in football, every employee will be required to complete a DBS check. The level of the check required will be based on the activity of the specific job role and in line with legislation and government guidance.

We're looking for someone who understands why it's important to demonstrate that Disabled people can take a leadership role in their communities, who also has a deep understanding of voluntary sector groups.  This is a fantastic opportunity for someone who would enjoy supporting small voluntary groups to reach their goals, and representing their views and needs to partners. 

Inclusion Barnet is Barnet’s Deaf and Disabled People’s Organisation (DDPO), led by a board and senior management team of disabled people, and we’re passionate about using our lived experience of disability to work towards inclusive communities and greater social justice for all.  This role works with groups from across all Barnet’s diverse communities, and all work needs to be undertaken through an equality and access lens.  Therefore, we’re looking for someone with a demonstrable commitment to the social model of disability and disability equality, with their own lived experience of disability, and an ambition to contribute to a fairer society for all.  We also particularly welcome applications from global majority candidates, who are currently underrepresented in our organisation. 

The successful candidate will lead on delivery of our voluntary sector support activity, working as part of our award-winning Barnet Together partnership with Young Barnet Foundation and Groundwork London.  You will ensure we continue a strong delivery of our offer and that we increase membership and engagement, and act as Inclusion Barnet’s Operational Lead within the partnership.  You’ll undertake some delivery yourself, supporting groups with funding applications and more complex governance queries.  You’ll also convene Barnet’s Environmental Network, and attend some key local meetings to provide representation of the sector’s views. 

To succeed, you will either have previous experience of supporting community groups in a sector support role, or solid experience of third sector management, governance and fundraising.  You’ll be excited by the challenge of delivering this unique service and keen to build on the success of Barnet Together to date. 

You’ll be a great relationship builder with tact and emotional intelligence, and a champion for the contribution of the sector.  In return, you will become part of a friendly and supportive team, working within a focused but flexible culture, where diversity is valued and you can bring your whole self to work. 

This is a UK based role, and whilst much of it can be done from home we anticipate a need to be in Barnet twice a week on average.  We encourage flexible working to suit your work/life balance preferences where possible.  We also operate a Time Off In Lieu (TOIL) system. 

To apply, please submit your CV with a brief covering letter clearly stating how you meet the person specification, and outlining how you would use your lived experience of disability to deliver the role successfully.

Programme Manager to oversee all of CHIPS' work in Brixton with young people and families.

About CHIPS

CHIPS (Christian International Peace Service) aims to bring about peace and reconciliation in areas of conflict or tension. We have over 59 years’ experience helping communities in the UK, Cyprus, India, the Philippines, Northern Ireland and Uganda; with our current projects being in Northern Ghana and Brixton, UK. We help communities build futures free from violent conflict through practical projects that both tackle the root causes of the division and bring the sides together to build trust and healthy relationships.
Our Vision: Our vision is for a world where conflict is met with peacemaking, division gives way to reconciliation, and communities work together to build sustainable peace.

Our Mission: Rooted in Jesus' example of peace and reconciliation, we accompany communities affected by violent conflict, fostering relationships, taking practical action, and building a foundation for lasting peace.

Our Philosophy:

• We go where we are invited
• We live in the heart of the conflict
• We take sides. Both sides.
• We are committed for the long term

About the Role

This is a really exciting time to join CHIPS (Christian International Peace Service) as we approach our 60th anniversary — with deep roots in peacemaking and a fresh vision for the years ahead. We’ve recently launched a new organisation-wide strategy, and we’re looking for a passionate and dynamic Programme Manager to lead its implementation within our Brixton project.

You’ll be stepping into a unique and influential role, responsible for shaping and growing our work in South London. As the Programme Manager, you will oversee our team in Brixton — including the Family Support Coordinator, the Connection Builder (Youth and Comms), and a group of dedicated Sessional Youth Workers. You’ll bring strategic direction, strong leadership, and hands-on oversight to ensure the programme remains responsive, relational, and transformative.

You’ll be joining a young and vibrant team committed to building peace and hope in some of the hardest places. This role will stretch and challenge you — but it will also offer huge opportunities for personal and professional growth. It’s a role for someone who feels deeply called to serve God by walking alongside those often considered the least and the last in society, and who believes that real change happens through deep relationships and persistent hope.

Key Responsibilities of Programme Manager

• Lead the strategic development and delivery of our Brixton programme
• Manage a local team and foster a values-led, collaborative culture
• Oversee programme operations, safeguarding, finance and MEAL
• Build strong relationships with community partners and stakeholders
• Champion CHIPS’ Christian peacemaking ethos and relational approach

About You

We’re looking for a Programme Manager who:

• Has a deep, lived Christian faith and a heart for justice and reconciliation
• Has experience managing community or youth programmes
• Is a confident leader with excellent relational and organisational skills
• Understands the challenges facing young people and families in urban contexts
• Thrives in a role that blends strategy, delivery and day-to-day management

Details

• Title: Programme Manager (Brixton)
• Location: Brixton, London
• Hours: Full-time or 80% (28 hours min)
• Salary: £37,000–£41,000 (FTE)
• Start: September 2025
• Contract: Fixed term to August 2026 (with expectation of renewal based on funding)
• Application Deadline: Monday 7th July at 6pm