Groups and volunteering development manager jobs

Title: Active Recovery Lead 

Employer:  The Southmead Project 

Accountable to: Head of Active Recovery

Place of Work: The Southmead Project, Southmead, Bristol. BS10 6AS

Hours: 3 to 4 days per week. Must include Monday, Wednesday and Thursday.

Contract: Permanent

Salary: £33,505 p/a pro rata 

The Southmead Project:

The Southmead Project is an equal opportunities employer providing free counselling and support for survivors of abuse and addiction across Bristol and surrounding areas. We welcome adults aged 18 and above of any race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, class, ability, language, religion and cultural background. We respect and cherish the differences between people and affirm every person as an individual. Our recruitment is done in line with safer recruitment practices. 

We value our team very highly and pride ourselves on being a supportive employer. We provide the following benefits to encourage every staff member to have a supported, well-rounded and enriched working experience:

• Paid supervision for 1.5 hours per month, with an external clinical supervisor 

• Line management for 1 hour per month

• Training budget of £500 per year to spend on relevant training of that person’s choice 

• Optional private counselling for up to twelve sessions per year with an external counsellor of that person’s choice

• Employer pension contribution of 5%

The Active Recovery Project gives adult survivors of abuse the opportunity to take part in community-based activities. Members of Active Recovery can participate in a variety of group activities with others who share or understand their experience and develop peer relationships, resulting in increasing confidence and reduced isolation. The activities are based on ideas from our members and include water-based activities (such as rowing, canoeing, sailing and kayaking), surfing, trips to community spaces and creative sessions (such as arts and crafts). Activities take place every week. Each activity will last approximately 2.5 hours each. Members can attend the group sessions for up to 18 months. 

Job Purpose: 

We are looking for a warm and passionate leader to come and join the Active Recovery Service.

As an Active Recovery Lead, their job will be to develop and deliver the Active Recovery Project in Bristol and in Somerset. Using a trauma-informed approach, the Active Recovery Lead will create and provide a safe and supportive space for clients from The Sexual Violence Alliance organisations (The Southmead Project, SARSAS, Womankind and the Bridge Sarc) to participate in a variety of group activities, with others who share or understand their experience and develop peer relationships, resulting in increasing confidence and reduced isolation. 
 

Principal Tasks:

1. Run two Active Recovery groups a week, with , with the help of the Practitioner.

2. Provide initial trauma-informed assessment phone calls and/or meetings with potential members as part of the registration process for Active Recovery. This includes assessing need, risk and suitability for the service using a trauma-informed approach. 

3. Create safety plans and tailor activity sessions where appropriate after building relationships with members following the initial phone calls.

4. Plan trauma-informed sessions for members, including producing risk assessments for each activity, visiting activity locations and delivering relevant trauma training to activity providers. 

5. Oversee and lead on setting up, delivering and debriefing about activity sessions with members, volunteers and staff. Ensuring members are clear on each session's ground rules and safeguarding processes, using the Member’s Agreement.

6. Provide trauma-informed face-to-face support to members at sessions who may become overwhelmed or require help dealing with flashbacks and dissociation.

7. To support volunteers and staff with safeguarding queries and ensure safeguarding procedures are followed. To be the safeguarding lead at activity sessions, escalating any onward safeguarding referrals and queries to the Southmead Project Designated Safeguarding Lead.

8. Participate in and support the recruitment and induction training of volunteers.

9. Support and line manage a team of volunteers.

10. Develop and maintain an Active Recovery community through email, phone calls, texts and in person.

11. Develop and drive forward the project’s aim to have the members’ voices at the heart of the project.

12. Collaborate with developing outcome processes in line with the Southmead Project and its funders’ requirements.

13. Analyse data and feedback collected through outcomes processes to adapt and constantly improve the planning and delivery of the project sessions.

14. Contribute content for reports as required. 

15. Build and maintain positive relationships with partnership organisations for the project

16. Manage the day to day budget for the project sessions, keeping accurate records to report to the Head of Active Recovery and planning how the budget will be spent across sessions, within guidelines provided by the Head of Active Recovery.

17. Record data accurately and in a timely manner on Oasis.

18. Produce social media and website posts about the project, including producing and editing videos.

19. Attend monthly one-to-one line management meetings with the Head of Active Recovery. 

20. To attend monthly one-to-one clinical supervision with a Supervisor who is approved by the Southmead Project. Supervision is a requirement of this charity as an organisational member of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy. 

21. To work within the framework, spirit and ethos of the Southmead Project’s Equal Opportunities Policy, and actively engage in promoting the policy within the charity and in all dealings with clients and other agencies.

22. Follow the Southmead Project policies, procedures and professional code of conduct as outlined in the Staff Handbook.

23. All members of staff, paid and unpaid, are required to undergo the   enhanced level of Disclosure and Barring Service check.

Person Specification

ESSENTIAL

• Full drivers licence and access to own transport.

• Professional qualification, such as a Diploma or degree in Counselling or in other relevant fields of work, such as; social work, psychology, mental health, education, support work or similar: or extensive experience in any of these fields.

• A sound understanding of the issues affecting members who have experienced trauma and abuse.

• Experience in managing projects. 

• Excellent administration and organisational skills, including experience of managing sensitive personal information.

• Experience of and confidence in using multiple computer and case management systems. 

• At least 2 years’ experience of delivering groups in the community, preferably activity based.

• At least 1 year’s experience of providing face-to-face support for survivors of abuse. 

• The ability to arrange group activities and liaise with other local organisations to help plan them. 

• The ability to plan sessions in detail to ensure that they are trauma-informed and having the experience and confidence to ‘hold’ groups when things do not go to plan.

• The ability to work flexibly within a team and support those within it. 

• Experience in managing volunteers. 

• Knowledge and awareness of how particular activities and social situations could improve people’s self-esteem, self-confidence, build friendships and reduce their isolation. 

• A sound understanding of safeguarding and experience of supporting others to act in accordance with safeguarding policies and within the best interests of the Active Recovery member or those at risk.

• Experience in managing a long-term budget.

• Knowledge of survivors’ voice work.

• To be able to attend monthly one-to-one line management meetings and monthly clinical supervision.

• To work within the framework, spirit and ethos of the Southmead Project’s Equal Opportunities Policy, and actively engage in promoting the policy within the charity and in all dealings with clients and other agencies.

DESIRABLE:

• Experience of building and maintaining positive partnerships in the community.

• Experience of running a community based project. 

• Experience of setting up processes for survivors’ voice work.

• Knowledge of making content for social media, including video recording and editing skills.

• Experience managing recruitment and training.

• Experience in chairing meetings and the ability to plan and review activities with a team.

• Experience designing outcomes processes and collecting outcomes data.

• Experience in writing reports, preferably funding reports in the charity sector.

 Please note that there must be at least 12 months between receiving support from the Southmead Project as a client/member and starting this role.

About Spear Bristol North West

Spear Bristol North West is a partnership between Spear Bristol Trust, St Andrew’s Church Avonmouth and Spear.

St Andrew’s Avonmouth 

St Andrew’s Avonmouth is part of the Church of England, and their vision is to play their part in growing God's Kingdom in their local communities and beyond. They are part of the wider Avonside Mission Area which has a bold vision to bring about the social, cultural and spiritual transformation of their communities in partnership with Christ, through the power of the Holy Spirit. You can find out more at St Andrew's-St Peter's Church's website.

You would be employed by Spear Bristol Trust, working from St Andrew’s Avonmouth where Spear Bristol North West is a key missional activity. Prayer and worship are embedded into daily working practices, so there is an Occupational Requirement for applicants to be practicing Christians. The Spear team share a belief in a triune God, and we welcome applications from people of all denominations and expressions of Christianity.​ You are welcome to reach out to the Spear recruitment team to discuss this further before applying.

Key Information:

• Salary: £31,000 FTE
• Part-time, 4 days a week - Monday to Thursday
• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays
• A DBS check will be requested in the event of a job offer
• The Spear Programme offers a rewarding opportunity to work with young people, but it requires a dedicated commitment. Due to the term-based nature of the programme (i.e. two consecutive 4-week programmes in autumn, spring and summer), we expect annual leave to be taken between, rather than during terms

Recruitment Process

Application Deadline: 22nd April 2026

Informal Call

Assessment and Interview Day: 28th April 2026

For more information please read through our Job Specification and Work with us pack.

If you require any reasonable adjustments as part of the recruitment process, please let us know.

Person Specification

• An active Christian, dedicated to representing the values of Spear and St Andrew’s Avonmouth. A commitment to grow and learn spiritually and as a Christian leader.
• Passion for social justice, especially supporting young people in employment or education
• A dynamic and engaging individual with an enthusiasm for and experience of group and 1-1 coaching and training.
• An entrepreneurial and ambitious individual who enjoys starting new projects, works well under pressure and can translate ideas into practice with creativity.
• Self-motivated with strong leadership, management and organisational skills with the ability to exercise initiative and prioritise workload.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, high emotional intelligence, and a sense of fun!

You will be part of a small energetic and committed team supporting the delivery of Northamptonshire Community Foundation’s philanthropy and income generation ambitions. Working collaboratively with colleagues, you will help grow and steward support from individuals, corporate, charitable and statutory donors, with a lead responsibility for a defined portfolio of relationships and initiatives.

Fundraising and relationship building happen across the charity, and you will manage your own portfolio of donors and partners and work with the Chief Executive and wider team to co-ordinate activity, share insight and maximise opportunities for place based philanthropy in Northamptonshire.

You will need confidence, excellent communication skills and the ability to plan and deliver projects as part of a highly collaborative team. You will be comfortable cultivating, stewarding and sometimes soliciting charitable donations yourself, as well as creating opportunities for the Chief Executive to engage with donors and prospective supporters.

We are seeking an experienced and committed Youth Work Programme Manager to join The Kite Trust. This is an exciting opportunity to lead and develop impactful programmes that support and empower LGBTQ+ young people. The successful candidate will provide strategic oversight of our youth work provision, manage and support a dedicated team, and work collaboratively with partners to ensure our services remain inclusive, responsive, and effective. If you are a thoughtful and motivated leader with a strong commitment to high-quality youth work and creating safe, supportive spaces for young people, we would welcome your application.

This is a remote position but will require travel across Cambridgeshire, Peterborough, and the surrounding areas.

Contract Type: This is a full-time permanent position, working 32 hours within a 4-day working week. We are happy to discuss and explore flexible options and job share opportunities.

Salary: £34,936 – £40,311 depending on experience.

To find out more about the role, please review the application pack detailing the job description and person specification and apply via the link on our website.

Make a Difference Where It Matters Most 

At Home-Start Richmond, Kingston and Hounslow, we believe that childhood can’t wait. We’re a vibrant, community-rooted charity supporting families through the critical early years of parenting. Our volunteers and staff work side-by-side with families, offering emotional and practical support, building confidence, and creating lasting connections. 

We are now seeking an Impact and Operations Manager to join our passionate team and shape the future of our services. 

About the Role 

This is a unique opportunity to lead our impact and operations strategy, ensuring we have the insight, tools, and systems to deliver high-quality support to families. You’ll play a pivotal role in measuring and communicating our impact, supporting strategic decision-making, and ensuring smooth day-to-day operations. 

Key Responsibilities 

• Lead and manage data collection, evaluation, and reporting across all family support services 

• Develop tailored reports and insights for internal and external stakeholders 

• Collaborate on funding applications with the CEO and Head of Marketing & Fundraising 

• Oversee administrative systems and policies, including GDPR compliance and HR processes 

• Manage office operations, including tech support, premises, and general administration, and line manage operations and data & impact team 

• Contribute to strategic planning and service innovation using data and insight 

• Strengthen our presence across local and national networks in partnership with the Senior Management Team 

What You’ll Bring 

• Strong experience in managing and interpreting data to drive impact and inform strategy 

• Strategic thinking with the ability to manage multiple projects and deliver results 

• Confidence with technology and quick ability to learn new tools and systems 

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to build strong relationships 

• A curious, analytical mindset and a passion for telling the story of our work 

Why Join Us? 

• A flexible, hybrid working model co-designed with our team 

• A supportive, inclusive, and values-driven culture 

• A chance to make a tangible difference in the lives of local families 

• Excellent pension and generous annual leave 

This is not a traditional marketing role.  We are looking for a bold, imaginative and performance‑driven Marketing & Communications leader ready to reinvent how we reach people, inspire action and connect our community to our cause.

As a key member of the Income Generation leadership team, your work will directly power the care we provide. This is your opportunity to lead and develop a talented marketing team, push boundaries, challenge the status quo, and shape a modern, creative, high‑performing marketing function that makes a measurable difference.

If you love innovation, thrive in fast‑paced environments and bring a blend of strategic vision, digital expertise and creative flair - we want to hear from you.

What you’ll do:

✅ Lead and inspire a multidisciplinary team across digital, creative, brand and campaigns to deliver standout work. 

✅ Step change our digital capability, elevating performance marketing, content, analytics, and new-channel experimentation. 

✅ Drive innovative, audience-first campaigns that grow awareness, engagement and income across all channels. 

✅ Champion bold creative thinking, ensuring our brand is powerful, distinctive and emotionally resonant. 

✅ Lead PR, storytelling and reputation management, ensuring our voice is compelling, confident and aligned with our purpose. 

✅ Explore emerging technologies and formats, identifying new ways to reach and inspire audiences. 

✅ Collaborate closely across Fundraising, Supporter Engagement, Retail and Clinical Services to deliver integrated, high impact marketing and shape and deliver the Hospice Strategic Plan. 

We’re looking for someone who is:

· A digital first strategic marketer with deep experience in performance marketing, analytics, paid media and optimisation.

· A creative thinker who loves experimentation and isn’t afraid to challenge “how we’ve always done it.”

· A confident leader with the ability to inspire, mentor and develop multi specialist teams.

· Highly skilled at using audience insight, segmentation and behavioural understanding to shape content and campaigns.

· Insight and data driven, with a proven track record of delivering measurable growth across digital and offline channels.

· Passionate about making a meaningful difference through purpose driven marketing.

Who we are:

Set in the tranquil grounds of Willen Lake, Willen Hospice is the leading provider of specialist palliative care in the Milton Keynes area. We offer round-the-clock, expert care to local patients with a life-limiting illness, both in their own homes and in our In-Patient Unit. Our passionate staff and volunteers make sure our care is personalised to each patient’s needs and supports their loved ones too. We have a thriving Therapeutic & Wellbeing service providing counselling, physiotherapy, activity groups and more, and a specialist Lymphoedema service. As a registered charity, we raise vital funds through our dedicated Business Development team and our growing portfolio of high street and online shops, to ensure our care stays free of charge.

Why join us?

✅ A role with purpose – be part of a team delivering outstanding palliative care.

✅ Supportive and caring environment – work with passionate colleagues.

✅ Great benefits package – including 35 days' holiday, contributory pension scheme, enhanced maternity/sick pay, and ongoing professional development.

✅ Perks and extras – free on-site parking, subsidised catering, Blue Light Card discounts (with membership), and an Employee Assistance Programme.

We are proud to be working exclusivlety with Haven House Children's Hospice to recruit a Community and Events Fundraising Manager, the role with focus on supporting the delivery and development of the hospice’s community fundraising programme, maintaining strong relationships with supporters, and helping to grow income from local communities.

This is a hybrid role with 3 days per week in Woodgreen Green, Greater London. 

The Charity:
You would be joining an incredible organisation known for its hardworking and collaborative team culture, offering fantastic benefits including:
- Hybrid office/home based arrangement
- 27 days' annual leave 
- Pension scheme (company matches contribution up to 7%)
- Free onsite parking
- Employee Assistance Programme
- Eye care voucher scheme
- Cycle to work scheme
 
The Role:
Develop and maintain relationships with community groups, schools, clubs, and local businesses.

Identify opportunities to grow income through community partnerships and supporter led fundraising.

Represent the hospice at community events, fundraising activities, and local meetings

Provide excellent stewardship to community supporters, fundraisers, and volunteers.

Offer guidance, resources, and encouragement to individuals and groups organising fundraising activities.

 
The Candidate:
Experience in community fundraising or a relationship based income generation role 

Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills

Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal

Confident in public speaking and able to present to an audience

Full UK Driving license and access to a vehicle

 
IMPORTANT NOTE

Our aim is to respond to all successful applications within 5 days. If you haven't been contacted within 5 days your application has been unsuccessful, but we positively encourage you to apply for any other positions that you may see in the future.

We apologise that we cannot contact everybody in person but thank you in advance for your interest.

Third Solutions encourages applications from individuals of all ages & backgrounds. Appointment will be made on merit alone but candidates must be able to demonstrate their ability to work in the UK. Third Solutions acts as an employment agency for permanent recruitment & an employment business for temporary recruitment as defined by the Conduct of Employment Agencies & Employment Business Regulations 2003.Community & Events Fundraising Manager

BVSC is looking for a Health & Wellbeing Volunteer Lead to drive the growth and impact of our volunteerled programmes — Bexley Buddies and Digital Champions. 

This role is perfect for someone who enjoys working collaboratively across sectors, developing highquality volunteer programmes, and strengthening relationships with GP surgeries, NHS partners, charities and community organisations. You will play a key role in delivering better outcomes for residents by ensuring volunteers are supported, trained, and empowered to make a meaningful difference across the borough. 

You will lead programme delivery, champion best practice in volunteering, support two staff members, and maintain strong relationships with partners and commissioners. With over 80 volunteers involved, this is a unique opportunity to contribute to boroughwide health and wellbeing priorities while shaping and expanding volunteerled community support. 

Key Areas of Work: 

• Programme Leadership & Delivery: Lead the expansion and quality assurance of volunteerled health and wellbeing programmes across GP surgeries and community settings. 

• Partnerships & Stakeholder Engagement: Build and maintain effective relationships with NHS, VCS and community partners, representing BVSC at borough‑wide health and wellbeing forums. 

• Volunteer Leadership & Workforce Development: Support, coach and manage staff and volunteers to ensure an inclusive, rewarding and high‑quality volunteer experience. 

• Continuous Improvement & Insight: Use feedback, monitoring and evaluation frameworks to strengthen programme effectiveness and drive ongoing improvement. 

We’re looking for an experienced leader with a strong background in community health or wellbeing programmes, partnership working and volunteer management. You will bring excellent communication, problem‑solving and strategic planning skills, along with the ability to support teams and build effective relationships across NHS, voluntary sector and community partners.

If you are proactive, organised and passionate about improving outcomes for local residents, we’d love to hear from you. 

Manager, Sexual Health

Birmingham LGBT is an award-winning charity delivering services to the LGBTQ+ community in Birmingham and the West Midlands. We have recently moved into a new purpose-built centre in the Gay Village district. As we move into this new phase of our development, we are recruiting a visionary, strategic leader for our sexual health team, to drive organisational growth, manage day-to-day operations, inspire the team members and ensure the effective implementation of strategic and operational objectives.

Salary: approx. £34,000 per year, plus up to 5% matched pension contributions.

Working hours: 37 hours per week, with some evening and Saturday work.

Annual Leave: 25 days per year plus bank holidays.

We recognise the importance and advantages of diverse workplaces and communities, and we acknowledge under-representation in our workforce of Black, Asian and global majority people, people with a Romany or Irish Traveller background, and people with lived experience of migration. We particularly welcome applicants from those backgrounds, identities and lived experiences.

To apply, please go to our website and download an application pack, then send your completed application form and equal opportunities monitoring form by email to the email address on the application form.

The closing date for applications is Sunday 19 April 2026. Interviews for short-listed candidates will be held shortly after the closing date.

Family Support & Group Coordinator
Salary: £31,069 FTE equivalent
Hours: 25 hours per week (Tuesday to Friday)
Contract: Permanent
Location: Home-Start Elmbridge, Walton-on-Thames
Responsible to: Director of Services

Home-Start is one of the UK’s leading family support charities. Our ethos is to help parents build better lives and better futures for their children. At Home-Start Elmbridge we do this by recruiting and training local parent volunteers to offer practical and emotional support to families in their own homes. We also have dedicated Carer Support Co-ordinators who support families with illness, disability or additional needs and we offer other types of support such as crisis support and counselling.

About the role

As Family Support and Group Coordinator, you will be responsible for:

• Ensuring allocated caseload of families receive the most appropriate form of support, monitoring and reviewing from referral to completion
• Implementing good safeguarding practice in all areas of work, promoting children’s welfare at all times
• Contributing to the recruitment and ongoing training, and providing regular support and supervision of home-visiting volunteers
• Planning and running Home-Start Elmbridge group/s as required
• Ensuring effective communication and working in partnership with other professionals

We’re looking for someone with:

• Proven experience of supporting parents and young children in a paid or voluntary capacity
• A solid understanding of safeguarding practices and experience working with vulnerable families
• Knowledge of current legislation and policies relating to children and families
• Knowledge of other agencies providing services for children and families
• Ability to supervise and manage volunteers and to work as part of a team
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills and relationship building abilities
• Excellent organisational and interpersonal skills
• A commitment to the values and ethos of Home-Start
• A clean driver’s licence and access to a car
• Ability to work flexibly, occasional evening or weekend work

What we offer:

Home-Start Elmbridge is a supportive, family friendly employer. We offer:

• Flexible working (within service need)
• Generous annual leave
• Pension contribution
• Ongoing training and professional development
• The opportunity to be part of a well-respected local charity making a meaningful difference to families’ lives

This post requires an Enhanced DBS check with Child Workforce barred list information (under the Adult and Child Workforce). Employment is subject to satisfactory references and DBS. We will only discuss or request criminal record details once a conditional offer has been made, in line with Home-Start Elmbridge’s Safer Recruitment Policy.

Home-Start Elmbridge is committed to safeguarding and to equality, diversity and inclusion.

We welcome applications from people with disabilities and anyone who may need adjustments or support to complete the application process is encouraged to contact us during the recruitment process.

Schedule and Interview Process

• Closing date: 23rd April 2026
• Shortlisting: Candidates notified by 24th April
• Formal interview (date tbc) will take place at the Home-Start Elmbridge offices in Walton-on-Thames (panel interview & presentation)

The post is subject to an enhanced DBS check and requires the ability to travel efficiently around Elmbridge.

Interested?

If you would like to find out more, please click the apply button. You will be directed to our website to complete your application for this position.

No agencies please.

This is an exciting role in a unique organisation.  Our vision is to provide an outstanding experience for all UCL students and to be one of the best students’ unions in the UK and the world.  We aim to build a vibrant and empowered student community with real influence in UCL and beyond, that enables students to enjoy their time at university; pursue their interests and passions; see the world in new ways; and develop the skills and experience to change the world for the better.

We are a registered charity employing over 150 career staff and 300 student staff, delivering a wide range of services and representative functions for UCL students. We have the widest portfolio of services of any student organisation in the country, managing UCL’s extracurricular programmes for sport, music, drama, dance, media, volunteering, academic societies and intercultural engagement; providing a wide range of fantastic social spaces; leading on student democracy and representation across UCL; and offering excellent student support services.

It's an exciting time to join our growing organisation as we lead the delivery of UCL’s groundbreaking new Student Life Strategy. This is enabling us to build more programmes to improve students’ mental and physical wellbeing, promote genuine equity for all, build students’ skills and confidence, develop their international connections and intercultural skills, and make a real contribution to our local community.

We provide excellent benefits including a generous pension scheme and holiday entitlement. We are proud of high levels of staff engagement and pride ourselves on being a great place to work. 

The role is a 0.8 FTE (29.2hr per week) and fixed term contract for one year. This role is based across our Bloomsbury campus with work across various tennis sites in London. The post holder is required to be flexible in their hours of work as the position entails attendance during evenings and weekends.

Job description

We are looking for a Tennis Development Officer to support the delivery of tennis as one of our Focus Sports. The role combines tennis delivery with desk-based sports administration and student engagement. We are looking for someone passionate about developing tennis in all forms - from running beginner friendly sessions to working with students to co-create community volunteering projects.

Do you have experience coaching tennis? Have you had experience delivering sports leagues and events? Do you want to support students to develop professional skills through tennis? If the answer is yes, then we want to hear from you.

Our ideal candidate will be able to coach a range of abilities, have experience of working with and motivating volunteers and good verbal and written communication.

Sanctuary & Racial Justice Officer
Canterbury (and on site in hubs)
£30,940 pa plus excellent benefits
35 hours per week
Fixed-term contract for three years

Are you passionate about shaping churches to become more welcoming and accessible to newcomers, strengthening local expressions of sanctuary and helping to embed racial justice principles into ministry and practice?

We’re looking for a Sanctuary & Racial Justice Officer to build inclusive communities by helping parishes across Kent become more welcoming, accessible and culturally aware for refugees, asylum seekers and newcomers.

Reporting to the Strategic Lead for Sanctuary & Racial Justice, you’ll coordinate existing Welcome Hubs in Canterbury and help launch new hubs in Folkestone, Ashford and Dover. Working with churches, volunteers, councils and community partners, you’ll strengthen local sanctuary, deliver racial justice training and develop practical tools that embed justice into everyday ministry.

This is an exciting, hands-on, people-centric role with so much variety — part community development, part volunteer leadership, as well as a mixture of training and partnership working.

We’re looking for someone with experience of supporting vulnerable people and working with volunteers, a good understanding of racial justice in practice and strong organisational and communication skills. You’ll be confident working across communities, able to manage multiple priorities and be motivated by seeing people and parishes flourish.

You’ll need to be a practising Christian, have the right to work in the UK, have a full, clean driving licence and the ability to travel across Kent and comfortable working flexibly, including occasional evenings and weekends.

The Canterbury Diocesan Board of Finance employs this role on behalf of the Social Justice Network (SJN), a UK-based charity that works to promote social justice, inclusion and support for vulnerable communities. One of SJN’s key initiatives is the Sanctuary & Racial Justice Programme, which works with local authorities, charities and community groups to support and integrate refugee families into their communities. 

The Social Justice Network aims to bring people together. Issues such as low income, debt, lack of skills, poor mental health, forced displacement and isolation are closely interlinked, trapping individuals and communities in cycles of poverty. Our vision is for all churches, in every community, to work together to tackle these issues through action, prayer and giving.

Our Sanctuary & Racial Justice Programmes help individuals and families rebuild their lives after forced displacement. Services include Welcome Hubs, Arts and Wellbeing activities, ESOL classes, employment support and casework. We focus on fostering long-term, meaningful connections with local church communities to restore stability, dignity and belonging. 

It is a genuine occupational requirement that the post-holder is a practising Christian, committed to the faith. This is essential to support and encourage parishes in living out their faith through social action and to engage authentically with the Diocese’s vision and principles in the Sanctuary & Racial Justice Programme. 

All appointments are subject to acceptable pre-appointment checks inclusive of Right to Work in the United Kingdom, References and relevant background checks applicable to the role.

Closing date: 28 April 2026
Interviews 7 May 2026

Deliver hands-on advice, outreach, training and mentoring as part of a new countywide partnership programme.

This four-year role, funded by The National Lottery Community Fund, sits at the heart of the Small and Mighty (SaM) infrastructure support programme, delivered by a partnership of Community First Oxfordshire, OCVA, Oxford Community Action, Charity Mentors and Volunteer Link-Up, working directly with grassroots voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise groups. You’ll help organisations navigate challenges, build capacity and connect with others through outreach clinics, tailored training and collaborative spaces. Alongside staff within partner organisations and the existing CFO and OCVA team, you’ll play a key role in strengthening Oxfordshire’s community sector for the long term.

Job-share will be considered.

Role summary

Are you a forward-thinking finance professional who wants to use your skills to change lives? Are you highly motivated, organised with an eye for detail? Do you enjoy responsibility and working with figures, solving problems and completing tasks to a high standard?

Help empower a global community by leading finance at Shift.ms and its trading subsidiary, realworld ms. We’re looking for a highly organised and self motivated Finance Manager to support its growth ambitions. Reporting directly to the CEO and Head of Operations, you’ll turn figures into insights, helping us solve problems and shape the long-term strategy that allows us to support more MSers than ever before.

Location: Remote position based in the UK. Monthly travel to Leeds is required.

Why Shift.ms?
Shift.ms, the social network for people with MS (MSers), launched in 2009. Founded by MSers, for MSers, the charity supports many thousands of recently diagnosed people across the world as they make sense of MS. Shift.ms has an engaged, global community of over 80,000 members, driven by people with MS. From diagnosis, MSers join to connect with others, get the support they need, and together, learn to proactively manage their MS. 

realworld ms was founded in 2024, realworld ms operates as the industry-facing subsidiary of Shift.ms. realworld ms enables MS stakeholders to draw on real-world evidence to develop products, treatments and services that meet today’s MSer needs.

What we expect from you

Working alongside the Head of Operations, CEO and department heads, your responsibilities will cover Shift.ms and its wholly owned subsidiary, realworld ms ltd, as follows:

Financial management

• Be the primary point of contact for our Treasurer, Accountant and External Auditor;

• Review and constantly improve processes and internal controls for finance;

• Lead the development of annual budgets and shorter/longer term forecasts as needed;

• Manage accounting, budget and cash flow, and working with the CEO, develop cost reduction strategies as needed;

• Prepare monthly management accounts incorporating variance analysis of budgets vs. actuals and headline narrative;

• Manage monthly payroll with an external payroll provider;

• Draft consolidated statutory accounts for audit and lead the coordination of year-end audit;

• Prepare quarterly VAT returns for the Group and be the main point of contact for HMRC;

• Make recommendations for corporate gift aid donations based on performance and future forecasts for the subsidiary;

• Present finance updates in-person at quarterly board meetings normally held in London;

• Manage and lead FinCom meetings, typically held quarterly;

• Attend the trustee annual away weekend.

Bookkeeping 

• Lead the financial operations of the charity including recording transactions onto the finance system (Quickbooks), managing cashflow, invoicing, accounts payable/receivable, processing of purchase invoices and supplier payments;

• Complete month end reconciliations as part of the preparation of monthly management accounts;

• Track, calculate and process intercompany recharges to ensure costs sit within the correct entity;

• Track and ensure correct treatment and reporting of restricted/unrestricted funds;

• Process employee, volunteer & trustee expense claims;

• Manage the relationship with an external payroll bureau, liaising with them to ensure payroll is processed accurately and paid on time;

• Support employee onboarding including obtaining details for payroll and pre employment checks.

Other 

• Collaborate with senior stakeholders on projects and reporting; 

• Track income receipts and projections for weekly income generation calls with heads of department;

• Process gift aid claims;

• Renew insurances.

Qualifications, skills and abilities (E= Essential D = Desirable)

• Be part or fully qualified with a professional accounting qualification ACCA, CIMA or ACA, with at least 2-3 years post qualification experience. (E)

• Employment history in a charity/3rd sector role (D)

• Good understanding of charity reporting requirements and Charity SORP (E) especially the technical application of income recognition requirements for the charity and its subsidiary

• Experience of VAT reporting (E) including an understanding of VAT recovery with respect to business and non business for charities, place of supply (overseas transactions)

• Experience in developing organisational budgets/forecasts (D)

• Good analytical and communication skills (E)

• Strong organisational, time management, and prioritisation skills (E)

• Excellent attention to detail (E)

• Excel and google sheets to at least intermediate standard. (E) 

• Experience of accounting software packages (E) (Experience with Quickbooks (D))

• Comfortable operating in a change environment (D)

• Awareness of confidentiality and the need to comply by the UK GDPR (E)

We're an equal opportunity employer. We’re looking for the best candidate based on the value they can add. Our culture is hugely important to us and we welcome applicants of all race, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability status. We encourage all candidates who believe they have the required qualifications and experience to apply. 

Other information

Hours: 22.5 hours a week

Salary: £40,000-45,000 per year FTE dependent on relevant expertise

Annual Leave: 25 days per annum (leave entitlement is pro rated for days worked), plus public holidays and 3 days between Christmas and New Year.

Employee benefits: Generous life assurance and pension schemes, committed learning and development budget for each staff member, flexible working.

The role closes on midnight on Monday 6 April but we will be conducting rolling interviews.

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