Head of community services jobs

Community Fundraising Officer (South)

 Full time - 35 hours per week

 Location – Hybrid Working with a minimum of one day a week working from Head Office

Join our friendly team

We have an exciting opportunity for a Community Fundraising Officer to join our team, covering the South region. Based within easy reach of our London Head Office, you’ll play a vital role in generating income and building lasting relationships to support families in need.

Our charity

The Sick Children’s Trust is the charity that provides a welcoming ‘Home from Home’ where families with a sick child in hospital can stay. But we’re more than bricks and mortar, our friendly, caring staff are there to support families when they really need it.

Hospital can be a lonely and scary place for anyone, but especially a child. Providing around 3,500 families a year with somewhere to stay together just minutes from the hospital means that they can be by their sick child’s side and have one less thing to worry about.

The Role

This is a varied and rewarding community fundraising role, focused on building strong relationships and delivering income growth across the South.

You will engage and support individuals, schools, community groups and local businesses to fundraise, delivering excellent stewardship and supporter care.

You’ll recruit participants for both ‘run your own’ and third-party events, while developing long-term relationships including with families connected to the charity.

Working collaboratively with House Teams and colleagues, you’ll help increase awareness, manage supporter activity, track income, and maximise opportunities through partnerships and communications.

You’ll also represent the charity at events and within the community.

This role requires a proactive and organised approach, with the ability to manage multiple projects and meet income targets.

 About you

 We’re looking for someone who is passionate about community fundraising and motivated by building meaningful relationships.

You will have strong interpersonal and communication skills. You will equally be as comfortable supporting families who stay with us who want to fundraise, as you are presenting to a room full of students, or potential volunteers.

You have good organisational skills and are comfortable working to objectives and targets. You are able to work with a level of autonomy and innovation to develop your fundraising portfolio and to increase our profile particularly in the areas close to our houses.

Ultimately this is a great role for anyone who loves community fundraising and understands that no two days are the same.

An enhanced DBS check for this role is required.

This is a great opportunity and we are reviewing applications as we receive them, so early application is advised. We may close this post earlier than advertised. 

The recruitment pack will provide you with more information about the role. If this role sounds like something you will excel in, we’d love to hear from you.

To apply please submit your CV with a covering letter demonstrating how you meet the criteria set out in the job description and person specification 

Closing date: 5th June 2026

Are you an experienced fundraiser who is passionate about animal welfare?
We’re looking for a Head of Supporter Development to oversee our supporter communications journey, collaborating with various teams to ensure our supporters receive the best care and attention.

What does this role do?
As Head of Supporter Development, you will:

• Lead and transform how we engage with supporters, embedding a cultural shift and supporting teams to deliver on strategic objectives,
• Implement the supporter engagement strategy, including producing annual plans and a programme for regularly monitoring and evaluation activity, continuously improving the approach to enhance outcomes,
• Ensure all fundraising activities and products are audience led, using audience insight to inform decision making and ensuring high standards are upheld,
• Develop and manage budgets for supporter engagement activity.

This role is a fixed term, family leave cover contract until March 2027. Interviews for this role are provisionally scheduled for week commencing 1st June 2026, and will take place on Teams.

Could this be you?
To be successful in this role, you’ll need significant experience in supporter development and direct marketing, and experience of audience insight and segmentation principles. You’ll have strong leadership skills, with experience of leading high performing teams, with the ability to lead change and growth, and embed culture. You’ll also have a deep understanding of compliance and data protection regulations, and excellent attention to detail. Above all, you’ll have a commitment to the work we do.

About Dogs Trust
We love dogs. That’s why we do whatever we can to make sure every four-legged friend gets the love they deserve. We’ll never put a healthy dog down, so our work is focused on helping dogs in need, supporting owners every step of the walk, and creating a better world for dogs in the future. It’s what we’ve been doing since 1891 and how we’ve grown to become the UK’s leading dog charity, helping 12,000 loyal friends find their forever homes every year.

To apply for this position please click the APPLY NOW button. Our application process requires you submit a personal statement explaining your interest and suitability for the role.
 
Dogs are incredibly diverse, much like the humans that love them! At Dogs Trust we value diversity, and we're committed to fostering an inclusive culture. We actively encourage applications from people of all backgrounds, abilities, and cultures and believe that a diverse workforce helps us to achieve our mission. Our colleague networks give our people a voice, acting as vehicles for real and meaningful change within Dogs Trust. We truly want to see every candidate shine throughout the entire job application process, interview stages, and during their time with us. If there's anything on your mind or any adjustments you may need, don't hesitate to reach out to us. We're here to support you every step of the way.

Our Youth and Play Practitioners will play a pivotal role in the Children, Young People and Families (CYPF) team, working as a core team of practitioners to ensure the smooth running of our programmes and services. In this role you will be part of a small and dynamic team which delivers a wide range of programmes and activities, both from Tulse Hill Adventure Playground and in conjunction with local schools. The work of the Children, Young People and Families team is diverse and varied. Our current services include open access adventure play and youth activities at our Adventure Playground, school holiday programmes with off-site trips and activities, mentoring, a Young Leaders programme offering paid work experience to young people, and working together with our youth partnerships Building Young Brixton and Lambeth Peer Action Collective.

We are in an exciting time of development for the team. To support our range of children and young people, our team will be made up of specialist Youth Workers and Play Practitioners bringing in relevant skills and experience. Whilst you will work across all of our Children, Young People and Families services you will have a specific focus:

As a Youth Worker you will:

• Focus on supporting our secondary age cohort
• Plan and run appropriate and engaging activities
• Provide structured interventions to support vulnerable young people
• Work with referral partners to provide additional support and activities
• Foster relationships with families and local schools

As a Play Worker you will:

• Focus on our primary age cohort
• Use your knowledge of Playwork Principles to plan and run appropriate and engaging
  activities
• Foster relationships with families and primary local schools

Both roles will include an element of mentoring, relevant training will be provided to give you the necessary skills to deliver this.

To be successful in this role, you will act as a trusted practitioner in all our service delivery, advocating for children’s right to play throughout our programmes. You will work as part of the team on the delivery and planning of all sessions, ensuring that the children’s and young people’s ideas are central to the construction of a varied and engaging play environment. You will understand the wide-ranging challenges facing young people and will be flexible in adjusting your practice to meet these needs. While practitioners may have a primary focus (primary or secondary age), all staff are expected to work flexibly across all age groups, programmes and delivery model including open access play, targeted youth work, mentoring and school link sessions.

As a fundraising and grant-making charity, we bring to life projects that transform patient care - from sensory packs for children in A&E to a peaceful sanctuary garden for people living with dementia. We’re a small, ambitious and supportive team, and in just three years we’ve tripled our income. Our goal is to become the charity of choice for our local community in Islington and Haringey.

Over the past 18 months, this role has built community and challenge events income from the ground up, creating real momentum. There’s still huge untapped potential locally, offering an exciting opportunity to grow and innovate.

This is a varied and rewarding role where you’ll build meaningful relationships with clinicians, donors and the community, and see first-hand the impact of your work. You’ll lead on community fundraising, challenge events and volunteering, with real autonomy. It's a fantastic step up for someone ready to develop and make their mark.

The successful candidate will benefit from an NHS Agenda for Change salary and excellent NHS benefits, including a generous pension and annual leave.

Are you a bold communicator who knows a great story when you see one? Do you want your work to genuinely matter - amplifying the voices of people who need to be heard, shifting public perception of social care, and putting a passionate, values-driven charity on the national map? 
 
Community Integrated Care is one of the UK's largest social care charities, supporting thousands of people with learning disabilities or mental health conditions to live the lives they choose.

​As we launch our new five-year strategy, Best Lives Bolder this is a defining moment for our organisation. We are setting out to be even more creative, courageous and influential in how we champion the people we support and drive change across the sector.

​We're looking for an exceptional PR & Media Manager to lead our media function and help us tell our story with ambition, imagination and impact - playing a pivotal role in bringing our Best Lives, Bolder vision to life through powerful storytelling and high-impact media engagement.

​This is a full time permanent, national role with hybrid working. You will be required to work from our head office at least once a week, so our ideal candidate will be based within an hour's commute of Widnes, Cheshire.

​What is "The Deal" for you?

• Flexibility: You can work your 37.5 hours over 4 days and enjoy a long weekend, or split the hours over 5 days to accommodate your other commitments.
• Pension: contributory pension scheme
• Benefits: retail discounts, holiday discounts, cycle to work scheme and travel discounts through our benefits app
• Best Lives Possible: You'll be working for an award winning charity who is passionate about ensuring our colleagues and the people we support lead the best lives bolder 
• Development: We'll work with you to develop your career or to learn and experience new things. We're passionate about developing our people! 
• Support: From our Employee Assistance Programme (available 24/7), financial support options, and wellbeing fund you'll have the support available to lead an easier (financial) life

This isn't a press office role. It's a platform for someone who wants to shape conversations, build national influence and champion the people at the heart of social care. 

What you’ll be doing:

• Developing and owning our national and regional Media & PR Strategy, aligned to our influencing and advocacy goals. 
• Proactively pitching compelling stories to secure high-quality national, regional, trade and broadcast coverage 
• Building and nurturing relationships with journalists, influencers and media contacts across care, sport, culture and nature sectors. 
• Leading crisis communications - protecting our reputation calmly and decisively when it matters most. 
• Translating complex policy and social care issues into accessible, powerful content for diverse audiences. 
• Collaborating closely with our Head of Influencing, Policy and Public Affairs to align media work with policy goals. 
• Working with our Partnerships & Communities team to turn high-profile community programmes and brand partnerships into media ready stories.
• Supporting and developing confident spokespeople at every level of the organisation.
• Monitoring coverage, producing insight-driven reports and keeping senior leaders informed on media trends and reputational risks. 

Our ideal candidate:

• ​Track record - Proven experience in a PR, media or communications role in the charity, public, health or social care sector. 
• ​Media instinct - You know a story, you know how to place it, and you know when to act fast. 
• ​Strategy - Experience designing and delivering media strategies with measurable outcomes. 
• ​Crisis management - Experience building proactive processes for reputation risks and leading calm, confident responses when issues arise.
• ​Relationships - A strong network of media contacts or the ability to build one quickly across sectors. 
• ​Storytelling - Exceptional writing, from press releases to opinion pieces to compelling human stories. 
• ​Collaboration - Proven ability to work across teams, influence senior leaders and align messaging. 
• ​Policy experience - Ability to turn complex social, regulatory or policy issues into content that lands with public and political audiences. 

Why join us

• You'll be working for an award-winning charity that’s passionate about ensuring our colleagues and the people we support lead the best lives possible.
• Flexible hours - work 37.5 hours over four days for a long weekend, or across five days to suit you. You can also work from home, with at least one day per week at our Widnes Head Office. 
• A collaborative, values-driven team where your work will be seen, valued and celebrated 
• Opportunities to travel nationally and attend sector events and media moments. 
• A contributory pension scheme to help you plan for the future. 
• Wellbeing support, including a 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme, financial support options and a wellbeing fund. Retail discounts, holiday deals, cycle to work scheme and travel discounts via our benefits app. 

If you're a bold, strategic communicator who wants to use your skills to change perceptions, influence policy and amplify the voices of people in social care - we'd love to hear from you.

​Please note, if you are interested in this role, we welcome your application as soon as possible! Depending on the volume of applications received, the vacancy may be closed before the expected advertising end date.

We’re really proud to be a Hive HR Employee Voice Certified organisation, a recognition that confirms our commitment to creating a culture where our colleagues are not only encouraged to share their thoughts, but where this feedback is actively sought and acted upon to drive positive change at every level.

In our 2025 Colleague Engagement Survey, 59% (nearly 3,800) of our people shared their feedback and insights, giving us an incredible Employee Net Promoter Score of +34.

The Employee Net Promoter Score is a measure of how willing our colleagues are to recommend us as a good place to work to their loved ones – and a score of +34 is considered a Very Good score when compared to global benchmarks set by hundreds of other organisations. 

Are you a passionate leader who wants to make a real difference in the lives of children and young people?​

We are looking for a Youth Service Lead to oversee and shape the delivery of our programmes across Bedfordshire. This is a key leadership role where you will ensure our services are safe, engaging, and impactful for the young people and families we support.​

At F4YP, we support over 500 children and young people across 50+ schools, providing safe spaces, enrichment opportunities, and vital pastoral support. As Services Lead, you’ll play a central role in making this happen every day.​

What you’ll be doing:

• Leading and managing high-quality delivery across face-to-face services

• Supporting and developing a team of delivery staff and volunteers

• Ensuring excellent safeguarding, pastoral care, and behaviour support

• Overseeing planning, staffing, and day-to-day operations across multiple sites

• Monitoring impact, quality, and outcomes to continuously improve delivery

• Working closely with schools and partners to support young people effectively​

What we’re looking for:

• Experience leading programmes or services for children and young people

• Strong knowledge of safeguarding and pastoral support (SEMH/SEND desirable)

• Proven experience managing and supporting staff

• A hands-on, organised leader who can balance people, operations, and quality

• Someone who is passionate about helping young people feel safe, supported, and confident​​

Bedford/Bedfordshire | Full-time (37.5 hrs) | 3-year fixed term​​​​​​​​ | Working pattern: 9-day fortnight (one day off every two weeks), with full 5-day weeks required during holiday delivery periods

About the Mercury

The Mercury creates and shares stories that are exhilarating, revelatory and relevant. Through the reinvention of classic texts and the creation of bold, new writing, we believe that the transformative power of theatre can enrich the lives of our community.

The Mercury is a significant regional developer of new talent, working with a range of partners across the arts, education and creative industries to deliver a studio programme and a learning, participation and professional development programme aimed at nurturing the next generation of theatre makers.

Everything we do is driven by our values of quality, innovation, diversity, and connection.

About your new role

Are you a commercially minded fundraiser, passionate about garnering support for a cause you love? Come and join #TeamMercury as our new Head of Development and Partnerships.

We are looking for someone with a strong track record in identifying and securing funding, building commercial partnerships, and nurturing meaningful strategic relationships that drive sustainable growth.

You will lead on securing income from Trusts and Foundations, statutort funders, lottery sources, individuals, corporate partnerships, membership schemes and commercial coproduction investments.

The successful candidate is creative, highly collaborative and forward-thinking. You will bring experience across a range of fundraising approaches and the ability to make the most of a mix of commercial streams. We would love to hear from you!

To find out more, download the candidate pack.

Applications close at 10am on Monday 18 May 2026. First round of interviews will take place on Wednesday, 27 May 2026.

Role purpose

The Head of Finance is a key member of the Charity’s senior management team, working closely with the chief executive, directors, and trustees. The head of finance will lead the day-to-day financial operations of the Charity, including budgeting, reporting, audit, payroll, and pensions. Managing the finance manager and management accountant, the Head of Finance will ensure the effective running of the finance department and smooth day-to-day processes. Reporting directly to the Chief Executive, you will be a key advisor on strategic financial decisions, balancing meticulous operational control with strategic planning.

As the Head of Finance, you will:

• Proactively contribute to the development and delivery of the Charity’s strategy through developing long-term financial planning to underpin our objectives.
• Act as senior finance business partner to the senior leadership team, supporting strategic and operational decision-making.
• Lead on the annual audit and production of statutory accounts, ensuring effective management of the audit process.
• Support the rest of the Charity team to become financially informed and comfortable understanding financial performance, control, and accountability.

Main responsibilities

Financial controls, reporting, and operational finance

• Lead the finance function of the Charity, ensuring accurate, timely, and compliant financial management and reporting.
• Ensure that appropriately robust internal financial and operational controls are in place.
• Ensure that our unrestricted and restricted funds and accounting records are maintained in accordance with legal and regulatory requirements and best practice.
• Ensure timely and accurate monthly management accounts and other reports are produced by the finance team and distributed to members of the senior management team, encouraging ownership of departmental budgets.
• Manage and oversee accounts receivable and payable, ensuring strong cash management.
• Ensure all banking facilities, financial systems, and internal processes function to a high standard and enable the Charity to carry out its transactional and operational financial functions.
• Lead financial risk identification and mitigation, working closely with the chief executive and leadership team, and reporting to the board of trustees.

Financial administration and governance

• Manage the production of statutory accounts in line with the Charity SORP and lead the annual external audit process.
• Oversee our tax affairs, including PAYE, national insurance, corporation tax, VAT, and gift aid.
• Responsible for our payroll and pensions functions.
• Maintain and continuously improve financial policies, procedures, and controls, working closely with the fundraising and operations teams to ensure organisational efficiency.
• Identify and escalate financial risks to the chief executive and board
• Line manage and support the management accountant and finance manager, ensuring professional development and high-quality output.

Person specification

Knowledge and experience

We are looking for candidates with demonstrable strategic financial leadership spanning organisational planning, budgeting, risk, and reporting. You will have:

• You must be a fully qualified accountant (ACCA, ACA, OR CIMA)
• Excellent knowledge of charity financial management, SORP, and audit is essential.
• Experience of effective budget setting and implementing controls and processes to manage and monitoring budgets
• Firm understanding of risk management
• Experience of improving policies and processes in comparable organisations
• Success in delivering increased cost effectiveness
• Evidence of building financial impact and performance metrics and reporting
• Understanding of the requirements of legislation, Charity Commission and professional body guidance on a being a well-run and financially accountable Charity
• Considerable experience of management and development of staff

Skills, abilities, and behaviours

• A strategic thinker with the ability to see the bigger picture and make decisions in line with the charity’s needs as part of a team
• Strong change management skills with experience of managing teams through change
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to interpret and communicate financial information to a non-specialist audience
• Strong organisational development skills, able to identify and act on opportunities to drive performance in business
• Experience of the charity or not-for-profit environment (this could be gained as a trustee) preferably with some understanding of charity funding and investment management
• Collaborative working style with excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Resilient with a flexible, creative and solutions-focused approach to problem-solving

Yeldall Manor is a Christian residential treatment centre near Reading for men struggling with addiction to drugs or alcohol. We are seeking someone strategic and relational to strengthen and develop all aspects of fundraising for Yeldall Manor, and to lead a new marketing and fundraising campaign. The appointee will join our senior leadership team and shape the next chapter of our development as we are at a pivotal moment of opportunity, with an ambitious vision to build our Christ-centred identity and practice, pursue excellence and impact, and expand our reach.

We are looking for someone who will:

• Lead supporter acquisition activities and build the portfolio of individuals, churches, trusts, corporates and other organisations supporting the work of Yeldall Manor.
• Build deep, mission-aligned partnerships with donors and stakeholders.
• Lead and implement an effective marketing and communications strategy to help position Yeldall Manor within the top tier of UK residential rehab centres.
• Lead and execute a high-impact fundraising strategy across major gifts, individual giving, churches, trusts & foundations, corporates, and legacies.
• Work closely with the CEO and the Senior Leadership Team to align income generation with Yeldall Manor’s strategic vision and programme outputs.
• Lead the development of funding applications for trusts & foundations.
• Provide leadership and nurture staff working on supporter acquisition, fundraising and marketing activities, empowering them to deliver with excellence.
• Inspire a culture of philanthropy throughout the organisation, rooted in strong values and relational excellence

You will be working alongside the existing Administration and Supporter Relations Manager, and other staff assisting with marketing and administration, based mainly at Yeldall Manor, which means you will have daily contact with those men whom you are helping. They inspire and motivate us just as much as we seek to encourage and support them.

Please see the Job Description for full details and submit a covering letter along with your CV showing how you meet the requirements of the Person Specification. As this is a strategic post within an actively Christian setting, applications should be from committed Christians. Schedule 9, Part 1:3(a) of the Equality Act 2010 applies.

For an informal conversation about the role, please contact CEO, Maarten Fontein or Administration Manager, Sue Hedger - contact details available on our website, which is currently under development.

​

Job Title: Head of Finance

Duration: Permanent

Hours: 36 hours per week – Monday to Friday

Salary: £62,300 per annum, plus pension and benefits

Location: Hybrid – Homebased and National Office, Northampton

Overall job purpose

To lead and develop the Finance team and provide financial management and business support. To lead CCT’s audit process, month-end process and the Trust’s investments and banking services. To support the Director of Finance and Commercial on projects as required.

The Head of Finance will have responsibility for managing the Trust’s accounting system.  The postholder will also lead the annual audit, month end reporting and investment and banking services.  Working closely with the Director of Finance and Commercial and Finance Analyst, they will provide internal and external stakeholders with the necessary financial reports to manage Trust business.

This role is also responsible for deputising for the Director of Finance & Commercial in their absence.

If you would like to apply for this role, please visit our recruitment portal to begin your application. You will be asked to submit a CV and a short supporting statement (max 2 sides A4) outlining why you’d like to apply and how you fulfil the person specification for this post, so you’ll need to refer to the job description.

The closing date for receipt of applications is 8am on Thursday 21st May 2026.

The interviews will take place in Northampton on Monday 1st June 2026. Please note that the interview date and location have been specifically chosen according to the availability of the panel.

​We have recently published our TRUST values, which outline the behaviours and expectations that act as our foundations at CCT. We have attached the pack, outlining each value, which we will also be using as part of our shortlisting and interview process to find the right candidates that align with our values.

Please note: As part of our recruitment process, we undertake candidate psychometric testing, you will receive an email following your application submission asking you to complete a series of activities.

All successful applicants will be subject to a basic DBS, credit check, references and right to work checks.

We are a Disability Confident Committed Employer. Candidates who declare that they have a disability and who meet the essential criteria for the job will be offered an interview.

If you have any queries about this role, or if you have a disability and wish to request a reasonable adjustment at any stage of the recruitment process, please contact us.

We are an inclusive employer and offer equal opportunities to all regardless of an individual’s age, disability, gender identity, marriage or civil partnership status, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation.

We are not a licensed sponsor at this time. Any offer of employment will be made subject to valid right to work in the UK being provided.

This is a new role, expanding the management team in our Services team, and providing some additional focus for our grant making, commissioning and direct service provision work.

This is an exciting time to be joining our team. Our grant making work is providing support for wellbeing services across the county, in addition to the £5m Sunflower Appeal, which will provide a major capital grant for a new cancer centre at the Princess Royal Hospital, Telford. We have recently begun commissioning services directly, with our counselling service for family and carers of cancer patients being our first step into this way of working.

There are huge opportunities to develop our work further. Our Bins for Boys project launched in 2024, and we want to see Bins for Boys venues across our region by 2028. Our monitoring, evaluation and impact work is building, and there is grant potential to shape how we report on the value our work has to the communities around us.

We are looking for someone who is a confident communicator, able to develop strong partnerships and has the skill to understand and interpret new project ideas. A clinical background is not a requirement, but a genuine interest in how we can make a difference for people living with cancer is essential.

Our ideal candidate will have an understanding of managing grant-funded projects, a creative approach to challenges and a supportive attitude to managing others. They will be able to navigate complex governance and work with internal and external stakeholders effectively. They will have the ability to see and realise opportunities for income generation to support their work.

This role will work alongside the Head of Services (Cancer Awareness), and there is an expectation of close collaboration and cross-working between the two sides of the team. It will also form part of the wider Lingen Davies management team, attending senior team meetings and collaborating with others to ensure smooth running and development across the charity.

Please note, this role requires travel across our large, rural region. Therefore, a UK driving licence and access to your own vehicle is essential.

Today, 12 children and young people will be diagnosed with cancer. We’ll stop at nothing to make sure they get the right care and support at the right time.  ​

• Directorate: Innovation, Policy & Systems Change
• Reporting into: Associate Director of Research, Learning and Systems Change
• Colleagues reporting into role: No direct reports at present. However, coaching and managing of volunteers and/or consultants is expected. 
• Location: You can be home-based anywhere in the UK, with travel for meetings. You can also choose to work from our Bristol or London offices.
• Closing date: Monday 8 June at 12 midday
• Interview dates: Monday 15 June and Tuesday 16 June (please tell us in your application if you cannot attend interview on one of these days)

Change lives in a life-changing career

When a child or young person is diagnosed with cancer, their whole world can feel like it’s falling apart. Independence is taken and confidence is stolen. Stability no longer exists. The future suddenly feels uncertain.

The impact of cancer on young lives is more than medical. And that impact can be felt by entire family. That’s why we exist. Our specialist social workers help children and young people with cancer and their families navigate the emotional and practical impact of cancer.

We remove barriers, solve problems and prioritise well-being. And we stop at nothing to make their voices heard and their unique needs understood, so they can get the right care and support at the right time.

About the role

We’re looking for a Head of Research & Evidence to join our ambitious Research, Learning & Systems Change Team. 

Young Lives vs Cancer has a strong and growing commitment to changing the system for children and young people with cancer, and their loved ones. Our North Star vision and Time is Now Strategy focus on influencing how the wider system works – from services and policy to practice on the ground – so that families get the support they need.

The Head of Research and Evidence sits in the Research, Learning & Systems Change team, within our Innovation, Policy & Systems Change Directorate. The role is responsible for ensuring our work is grounded in strong, credible and useful evidence, and that learning is actively used to shape decisions, practice and change across the system.

This is a leadership role within a small but ambitious team. You will set direction and provide thought leadership, but you will also be hands on – designing, commissioning, managing and using research alongside colleagues and partners.

Building trusted relationships and using evidence to influence thinking and action are central. You will work with colleagues, children and young people, families, and partner organisations (such as the North Star Cancer Collective) to learn, strengthen credibility and create change.

This role is subject to a Criminal Record Check. In the event of a successful application, a Basic Criminal Record Check will be completed. A previous conviction is not necessarily a barrier to employment. We encourage qualified applicants to apply, and we will consider each case individually.

What will I be doing?

No two days are the same at Young Lives vs Cancer. So, summarising your ‘day to day’ isn’t easy. You’ll work as part of a strong internal team, collaborating closely with colleagues across the organisation and with key external partners to generate, use and apply evidence that supports learning, influence and system change. Here are some of the main things you’ll be doing, but you’ll find more details in the job description and pack:

• You’ll be setting the direction for research and learning, leading a clear and purposeful research programme focused on the psychosocial experiences of children and young people with cancer. You’ll ensure research is high‑quality, ethical and impactful, including commissioning work with partners and contributing to research funding bids.

• You’ll be understanding needs and experiences to grow a strong, credible evidence base, building and using robust evidence on need, inequality, impact and progress to inform strategy, services, policy and system change. You’ll ensure children, young people and families meaningfully shape research and that insight is shared in clear, practical ways.

• You’ll be providing system insight and leadership, analysing how the system works, identifying trends and pressures, and using evidence to guide where change is most needed. You’ll build trusted relationships across the voluntary sector, NHS and research community, sharing learning and strengthening our credibility and influence.

• You’ll be turning learning into action and influence, helping teams apply research to real‑world practice and supporting testing, learning and improvement over time. You’ll put feedback and learning loops in place and assess how research‑informed change is affecting practice and outcomes.

What do I need? 

Diverse perspectives and unique skill sets are at the heart of Young Lives vs Cancer. If you're passionate about making a positive impact and eager to learn, we encourage you to apply, even if you don't meet the criteria and person specification fully. Your potential is what matters most to us, and we’re committed to fostering an inclusive and supportive work environment to help you develop.

The key skills we’re looking for in this role are:

• Experience leading and delivering research, including setting direction, choosing methods, commissioning or carrying out research, analysing data, and ensuring high quality and ethical practice.

• Strong research and analytical skills, with confidence working with both qualitative and quantitative data and evidence, and turning insight into practical action.

• Experience using evidence to support change, such as shaping strategy, influencing policy, improving services or supporting system change.

• Experience working across organisations, building trusted relationships with colleagues, partners, and where appropriate, children, young people and families.

• Ability to communicate complex research clearly and accessibly to different audiences, in writing and in conversation.

• A collaborative way of working, with strong people skills, curiosity and a learning mindset, and a clear commitment to equity, inclusion and anti‑oppressive practice.

What will I gain?

For people to reach their full potential, they need the right environment. As a member of Team Young Lives, you’ll be made to feel supported, valued and appreciated. Here’s how we do it:

• Flexible working: we’re open to working hours outside of 9 - 5 and we can talk through your flexibility requirements at interview stage
• Well-being, Thinking & Growth Days: four days a year to to step back from the day-to-day and focus on your own learning and development
• Generous annual leave allowance
• Great family/caring leave entitlements
• Enhanced pension
• Access to our employee savings scheme

To find out more about our benefits package, have a look on our website.

Our commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging

At Young Lives vs Cancer, we recognise that opportunities for too many people remain a condition of their sex, ethnicity, class, gender identity, disability, sexual orientation – or a combination. This has never been acceptable to us as an organisation. We don’t just accept difference, we value it, celebrate it, nurture it and we thrive because of it.

We’re on a journey to be reflective of the diverse children, young people and families we support. We know we aren’t there yet, and we’re passionately committed to taking actions and making changes to be a truly diverse, inclusive and equitable organisation. This includes taking anti-oppressive action and removing barriers in our recruitment practices. Our Diversity, Inclusion, Equity and Belonging strategy will tell you more.

To ensure fairness and consistency to select the best candidate for this role, all our applications are anonymised up until an interview has been confirmed. We recognise the benefits of AI, but if you're considering using it to submit your application, we encourage you to reflect on the value AI adds. AI tools often lack the personal touch and authenticity that set candidates apart. We want to hear your unique perspective, experiences, and skills, so we encourage you to tell us about your skills and experiences in your own voice.

Accessibility

We’re committed to providing reasonable adjustments throughout our recruitment process and we’ll always aim to be as accommodating as possible. Please let us know in your application form of any adjustments or access requirements we could make to help you with the application process and interview.

To hear more about this role, please sign up to one of our informal drop in sessions taking place at 12:30pm on Tuesday 26th May and 17:30pm on Monday 01st June.

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At Humanists UK, our dream is of a tolerant world where rational thinking and kindness prevail. Our dedicated staff of 35 and hundreds of volunteers work hard to achieve this aim and we now have a vacancy for a Local Groups Development Officer.

Is this position right for you?

We’re looking for a Local Groups Development Officer to support the growth of our community programmes that look to foster humanist community at the local level. You'll help develop aspects of this service delivery within Humanists UK. This is an exciting opportunity to get involved in a significant program, expanding the reach of the organisation within local communities.

If you are a skilled communicator, great at organising details, and building collaborative and productive relationships, then this role might be right for you.

What you'll be doing

You'll be part of the Community Services directorate. You'll work with our Head of Groups and Communities, Karen, as well as working closely with other members of the Community Services and People teams.

Our network of Local Groups is central to our work to ensure that people can connect with others, support each other, and contribute to our wider work for a kinder and fairer society.

In your role as the Local Groups Development Officer, you'll support the set-up and development of Humanists UK Local Groups. This includes the recruitment and support of volunteer teams, equipping them with the confidence, skills, knowledge, and resources to sustain their group. You'll also advocate for group needs and concerns, and ensure our volunteers feel valued and recognised, and that the impact of their work is acknowledged across the organisation and community.

Key Tasks & Activities

• Supporting the recruitment, induction, and ongoing support of Local Group volunteer committees

• Working with the Head of Groups and Communities to identify opportunities and locations for new Local Groups

• Contributing to the ongoing development and support of established Local Groups

• Acting as a point of contact for Local Group volunteers

• Supporting Local Groups with internal processes, including setting up events, mailings, social media accounts, and other communications using our CRM system

• Contributing to the creation, development, and review of Local Group volunteer resources

• Recording, monitoring, and reporting on engagement across the network of Local Groups

Some evening work and travel is required for the role.

As a successful candidate

You will have strong organisational skills and attention to detail, and be able to manage a varied workload, balancing volunteer queries and support while ensuring internal processes are followed and systems are used in the most effective way possible.

You will also be a proactive and supportive team player and a self-starter. We are a small team who manage our own work, but value coming together to share ideas, support one another, and support our volunteers.

Salary will be in a range up to £18,000 pa. (£30,000 full time equivalent)

If this sounds like you

Download the full Local Groups Development Officer role description and person specification (PDF) or (DOCX), click 'Apply now', attach your CV, answer a couple of questions, and then tell us how you match the person specification of the role.

Applications should be submitted by 23:59 Sunday, 7 June 2026.

Shortlisting and interviews

Candidates shortlisted for an interview will be notified by week ending 12 June 2026.

Interviews for shortlisted candidates will be held on 17 June 2026 at our offices at 3 Waterhouse Square, London EC1N 2SW.

If you have any questions about the post, please feel free to contact the Head of Groups and Communities, Karen Hamilton, she will be very happy to talk more about the role with you.