Head of education and engagement jobs

Are you looking for a new challenge? Passionate about making sure all our learners have an excellent education? Look no further come and join us in this critical role!

Ambitious about Autism has an amazing opportunity for an inspirational leader. We are seeking an outstanding and innovative Executive Head to work across Treehouse School and Ambitious College. The successful person will help build on our successes and be responsible and accountable for the operational direction, quality and outcomes of our schools and college. The Executive Head will act as an ambassador for education services with internal and external stakeholders. 

Ambitious about Autism stands with autistic children, young people and their families to champion rights, campaign for change and create opportunities. Our overarching aim is that all autistic children and young people have an excellent and inclusive education that enables them to learn, thrive and achieve. Ultimately, this will support them to have a good quality of life, including the realistic prospect of living and working as part of their communities.

What we offer: 

• Amazing colleagues with a shared passion for autistic children and young people.
• Strong values-based culture. 
• Excellent training and development opportunities including an ILM accredited leadership and management course.
• Flexible working. 
• Re-location package.
• Access to bespoke executive leadership coaching.
• Annual staff recognition awards.  
• Interest free season ticket loans. 
• A wide range of wellness programmes including: virtual fitness classes, art & cooking classes and learning programmes.  
• Employee Assistance Programme, to help you balance your work, family, and personal life.  
• Free physiotherapy.  

Role Closes:  Friday 6th March 2026

Shortlist- Tuesday 10th March 2026

Stage 1 – Stakeholder Engagement Day (Virtual): Thursday 12th March PM- Microsoft Teams call

Stage 2 - Interview and assessment (In person at Treehouse School,Pears National Centre): Monday 16th March

 Start date: September 2026

 To find out more about this position please find attached the recruitment pack entailing the role details. For an informal discussion regarding this exciting senior leadership role, please contact Ben Lowe.

Ambitious about Autism is committed to fostering equity, diversity, and inclusion at every level of our organisation. We warmly welcome applications from all qualified candidates, valuing the diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives they bring. We encourage applications from individuals regardless of race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origins, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital or civil partnership status, pregnancy or parental status, disability, or age.

Our recruitment process promotes equal opportunities, and we are committed to providing reasonable adjustments for candidates with disabilities or additional needs throughout the recruitment process. Please contact our Recruitment Team for accommodations. We recognise disability as a physical or mental impairment that significantly and long-term affects a person's ability to perform day-to-day activities, as defined by the UK Equality Act 2010. All applications will be considered solely on merit, aligned with our mission to support autistic children and young people.

Ambitious about Autism is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and successful candidates will be subject to an Enhanced DBS check. As part of our Safer Recruitment checks, an online search maybe carried out in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education.

The Safeguarding responsibilities of the post as per the job description and personal specification.
Whether the post is exempt from the rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the amendment to the Exceptions Order 1975, 2013 and 2021. This means that when applying for certain jobs and activities certain spent convictions and cautions are ‘protected', so they do not need to be disclosed to employers, and if they are disclosed, employers cannot take them into account. Further information about filtering offences can be found in the DBS Filter Guidance.

The role

This is a very exciting opportunity to join our thriving organisation at a time of growth. We are seeking an experienced Head of Training, Learning and Development to provide strategic leadership of APIL’s legal training and events portfolio. Reporting directly to the Chief Executive and sitting on the Senior Management Board, this role will shape and deliver a high-quality, commercially successful programme of conferences, accredited courses, webinars and in-house firm training. The postholder will be responsible for strengthening APIL’s position as a leading provider of legal education within personal injury and clinical negligence and ensuring our offer remains relevant, innovative and aligned with the needs of the legal profession.

The role involves leading and developing the Training, Learning and Development team, building strong relationships with law firms and stakeholders, and ensuring robust quality assurance across all training activity. You will use data, market insight and engagement with the sector to identify emerging training needs, create clear career-stage learning pathways and maximise income from training, sponsorship and events, while maintaining effective budgetary control.

You will be a credible senior professional with significant experience in training, learning and development, ideally within the legal sector. You will bring strong leadership and commercial skills, and be confident operating at both strategic and operational levels.

About APIL

APIL is a not-for-profit membership organisation working to improve access to justice for people who are injured through negligence. We are a values-driven organisation with a strong commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion, and we play a leading role in professional training and development within personal injury and clinical negligence.

Equality, diversity and inclusion

APIL is serious about equality, diversity and inclusion. We want our organisation to reflect the communities we serve and for everyone to feel valued and able to thrive. A commitment to this agenda is essential to this role.

Together we make a difference, develop and learn, and support each other. Every day with us is different, but our mission remains the same: To champion the rights, needs and ambitions of the people we support - they are at the heart of everything we do. We stand by them and we work together for change.

Alongside an incredible team of like-minded peers, you’ll be working behind-the-scenes to support our staff, volunteers, families, and supporters. You will be helping our work happen across the charity; enabling us to care for and champion the rights, needs and ambitions of the people we support.

The Role

As Interim Head of Business Development, you will provide strategic leadership and hands-on delivery to stabilise and strengthen the Trust’s business development approach. You will lead the end-to-end opportunity pipeline - from market intelligence and commissioner engagement through to bid development, governance and mobilisation handover - ensuring opportunities are aligned to strategy, deliver strong outcomes, and are financially viable.

Hours: 37.5 Hours 

Contract : 1 year fixed term contract 

Salary: £48,022.00 

Location: Cheadle, Stockport

Responsibilities include but are not exhaustive

• Provide visible interim leadership for the Trust’s business development function, setting clear priorities and ways of working, and coordinating contribution from service, operational, clinical and corporate colleagues.
• Develop and maintain a Trust-wide opportunity pipeline (tenders, frameworks, spot-purchase growth, strategic partnerships and other commissioned income routes), including qualification, prioritisation, and clear next steps.
• Lead proactive engagement with commissioners, local authorities, Integrated Care Boards (ICBs), NHS partners and other stakeholders to understand demand, shape specifications where appropriate, and position the Trust effectively.
• Own the end-to-end bid process: establish bid plans, coordinate contributors, draft and quality-assure responses, and ensure submissions are compliant, persuasive, and submitted on time.
• Work with Finance and service leads to ensure all bids and proposals are underpinned by robust costing, pricing, risk assessment and contract terms review; ensure financial viability and appropriate approvals before submission.
• Create and embed a practical bid governance approach (stage-gates, templates, timelines and sign-off), so that bidding is consistent, efficient and auditable.
• Champion the Together Trust’s vision, mission and values, and role model the Trust’s behaviours.
• Commit to promoting equality, diversity and inclusion in how opportunities are developed and how the Trust works with partners.
• Maintain a visible presence across Trust services and corporate teams, balancing hybrid working with on-site engagement as needed.

About You

• Educated to degree level (or equivalent senior leadership experience).
• Evidence of continuing professional development in leadership, commissioning, commercial practice or service transformation
• Significant senior experience in commissioning, business development, service development or strategic partnership working within a public service environment (e.g. local authority, NHS, education, social care, VCFSE).
• Proven track record of developing successful proposals, business cases, tenders or commissioning documentation - including coordinating multiple contributors to deadlines.
• Strong stakeholder management skills, including experience engaging credibly with senior commissioners and partners.
  • Good understanding of public sector commissioning and procurement routes, including tendering, frameworks and contract governance.
  • Understanding of the importance of safeguarding, quality and regulatory expectations when developing and mobilising services for children, young people and adults.
• Ability to analyse complex problems, identify options and recommend proportionate solutions.
• Full UK driving license with ability to travel across Together Trust locations and to partner/commissioner meetings as required.

Benefits

• Annual Leave 27 day holiday plus 8 days bank holidays rising to 30 after 5 years, 33 days after 10 years
• Generous pension scheme and death in service benefit, up to 7% company pension contributions initially rising with length of service and up to 6 x basic salary death in service benefit.
• Occupational sick pay and family friendly policies including enhanced maternity, paternity and adoptive leave.
• Reward and Discount platform offering discounts at high street shops, travel, insurances etc.
• Eligibility to apply for Blue Light card
• Proud to be a real living wage employer
• Refer a friend scheme, be rewarded for recommending a friend to work with us
• Comprehensive training and development opportunities, including apprenticeship qualifications
• Long service awards including cash gifts and extra holiday.
• Promotion of Wellbeing across the organisation including Mental Health First Aiders offering wellbeing support from trained colleague and free weekly yoga session  in person or online
• Access to our Employee Assistance Programme for you and adults at your home

Find out more — watch our short video to see what it’s like to work with us:

https://youtu.be/SEnw2o00T6E

Applications are very welcome from all regardless of age, disability, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, religion or belief, race, sex, sexual orientation, trans status or socio-economic background. We are committed to making reasonable adjustments for disabled people. We positively encourage applications from those with lived experience. 

If there is any part of your lived experience you want to keep confidential in some way please talk to the Recruitment or HR shared service teams and we will do what we can to support you

The Together Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the people we support and expects all our staff and volunteers to share this commitment. 

Safeguarding checks will be undertaken for the successful candidate in line with our safer recruitment policy.

Are you a strategic, results-driven marketing leader ready to make a real impact in the arts sector?

The Independent Society of Musicians (ISM) is the UK’s dynamic, award-winning professional body for musicians. Representing 11,000 members, we provide essential services spanning legal advice, professional support, and health and wellbeing. We are also a powerful campaigning voice, leading national conversations on music education, AI, Brexit and the future of the profession.

We are now seeking an exceptional Head of Sales and Marketing to drive the next phase of our growth.

This is a senior leadership role with real influence. You will shape and deliver a strategic sales and marketing plan that grows membership, increases income, strengthens engagement and enhances the ISM’s profile.

You will take ownership of performance, lead innovative campaigns, and ensure our value proposition resonates clearly and compellingly with both current and prospective members.

You are a highly experienced marketing professional with a strong commercial instinct and a proven record of delivering measurable income growth. You understand how membership organisations thrive — what attracts people, what retains them, and how to build long-term loyalty.

You combine strategic thinking with hands-on delivery. You are proactive, analytical, and solutions-focused, with excellent written and verbal communication skills and strong emotional intelligence.

Most importantly, you are motivated by purpose. You understand, and care about, the challenges facing musicians today. A musical background would be an advantage.

More details can be found on the ISM's Join Our Team webpage.  Please send us your CV and covering letter explaining why you are right for this role to apply.

We are recruiting a Head of Income and Engagement to provide strategic leadership and vision for two critical functions—Fundraising and Marketing & Communications—bringing them together into a unified, high-performing team. This role focuses on shaping strategy, building external relationships, and driving organisational growth through income generation and brand engagement, rather than day-to-day operational management.

You will set the direction for attracting significant funding, particularly through corporate partnerships, while strengthening what PAPYRUS already does well:

• Securing grants and trusts funding
• Harnessing the passion of our large, committed supporter base - including bereaved families and others who raise voluntary income for us

In a challenging financial climate, you will lead efforts to grow these income streams and maintain a strong, values-driven presence across press, social media, and broadcast channels. The role requires influence, innovation, and the ability to inspire all managers and staff, as well as external stakeholders.

Please visit the careers site for the full job description and person specification for the role.

Salary: £58,523 per annum (Scale SCP 46) progressing by increments to £62,852 per annum (Scale SCP 49)

Hours: 36 hours per week Location: Remote with regular travel across the UK

Contract: Permanent 

Benefits: You will receive 28 days annual leave plus Bank Holidays (pro rata for part time workers), hybrid and flexible working arrangements, an attractive pension scheme, Simply Health membership, enhanced sick pay and enhanced parental pay. Please visit our website for more details.

Closing date: midnight on 22nd February 2026

We reserve the right to close the vacancy earlier if we receive sufficient applications so, please submit your application as soon as possible.

PAPYRUS is committed to the principle of equal opportunity in employment, and its recruitment policies are designed to ensure that no job applicant or employee receives less favourable treatment on the grounds of age, disability, gender re-assignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation.

PAPYRUS is committed to safeguarding all children, young people and adults at risk that interact with the organisation. The organisation recognises its responsibility to safeguard the welfare of these vulnerable groups by a commitment to procedures to protect them. The charity expects all staff and volunteers to fully support and promote these commitments.

Are you a strategic, results-driven fundraiser ready to make a real impact?

Join the Orpheus Centre, a vibrant charity that transforms lives through the performing arts. We’re on an exciting journey, launching a £25m capital appeal to expand our facilities and grow our reach. To achieve this, we need an exceptional Deputy Head of Fundraising to help lead our income generation efforts and drive sustainable growth.

About the role

As Deputy Head of Fundraising, you’ll play a pivotal role in shaping and delivering innovative fundraising strategies across multiple streams—corporate partnerships, trusts and foundations, individual giving, and community fundraising. You’ll oversee donor acquisition and stewardship, inspire your team, and ensure we meet ambitious targets. This is a fantastic opportunity to influence the future of a charity that champions creativity, inclusion, and resilience.

Location: The Orpheus Centre, Surrey
Salary: £45,000 per annum
Hours: 35 hours per week (flexible working considered) / 52 weeks per year
Contract: Permanent

What you’ll do

• Lead revenue fundraising strategies and secure income through personal efforts.
• Manage and develop a talented fundraising team.
• Build strong relationships with donors, partners, and stakeholders.
• Design compelling campaigns and optimise performance using data insights.
• Deputise for the Head of Income and Growth when required.

What we’re looking for

• Proven experience in managing multiple fundraising streams and meeting income targets.
• Strong leadership and team management skills.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building abilities.
• Strategic thinker with a track record of delivering results.
• Knowledge of fundraising compliance and best practices.

Why join us?

• Be part of a passionate team that celebrates creativity and makes a tangible impact on people’s lives.
• Work on a high-profile capital appeal and exciting projects.
• A supportive, inclusive workplace where your ideas matter.
• Join us in making a lasting difference in the lives of young disabled people through the power of the arts.

Orpheus is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of young people. All posts are subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check and satisfactory references. This post is classed as having a high degree of contact with vulnerable adults and is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. It is an offence to apply for this role if you are barred from engaging in regulated activity relevant to children.

As part of our safer recruitment process and in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education 2025, online searches may be undertaken as part of due diligence.

We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all sections of the community.

In order to be considered you must be eligible to work in the UK.

The Orpheus Centre is proud to be a disability confident employer.

We have made a positive commitment to employing disabled people. Reasonable adjustments will be made to the recruitment procedure as required in consultation with the applicant to ensure no-one is disadvantaged because of their disability. If a disabled person is selected for a position, reasonable adjustments will be made to the workplace, including premises and equipment, work duties and practices or policies, as appropriate. All disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the role as set out in the role profile and person specification will be considered for interview.

 As a Disability Confident Employer, we are:

• Challenging attitudes towards disability
• Increasing understanding of disability
• Removing barriers to disabled people and those with long-term health conditions
• Ensuring that disabled people have the opportunities to fulfil their potential and realise their aspiration

No agencies please.

Head of Health Information and Education

We’re the UK’s leading bowel cancer charity. We’re determined to save lives and improve the quality of life of everyone affected by bowel cancer. We support and fund targeted research, provide expert information and support to patients and their families, educate the public and professionals about the disease and campaign for early diagnosis and access to best treatment and care.  

We currently have around 95 staff based in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Thanks to the generosity of our community, we’re in a privileged position to be able to grow our staff team to deliver our ambitious strategy, On a mission. There are huge challenges facing bowel cancer patients across the UK and our community needs us now more than ever. We’re building a strong and united team to bring us closer to a future where nobody dies of bowel cancer. 

Job summary for Head of Health Information and Education

The Head of Health Information and Education is a key role at Bowel Cancer UK, leading the delivery of our health information and health professional education. We currently provide high quality support, but we know we need to do even more, reach more people and have an even greater impact.

The Head of Health Information and Education will, alongside our Clinical Lead, lead the development and delivery of our services in this area. This is a pivotal role with key areas of focus:

• Drive innovation in health information.
• Drive innovation in the content and delivery of health professional education.
• Expand our reach and accessibility to ensure no one faces bowel cancer alone.
• Build strong partnerships with stakeholders.
• Champion technology and digital solutions to enhance service delivery.

You’ll work closely with the Director and the Services Leadership team to set strategic direction and ensure our services are impactful, inclusive, and evidence based.
 

Safeguarding

Safeguarding is everyone's responsibility and at Bowel Cancer UK we are committed to safeguarding children, young people and vulnerable adults and we expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

Successful candidates may be subject to either a satisfactory basic, standard or enhanced DBS check from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) dependent upon the role.

This is a challenging, exciting and rewarding role for a highly motivated, enthusiastic and pro-active fundraising professional with a strong background in community engagement and communications. You will continue building the public profile of St Petrock’s and be responsible for generating the income needed to run and further develop our vital and life-saving services.

About St Petrock’s (Exeter) Ltd:  St Petrock’s is Exeter’s local, values-led and much-loved homelessness charity, created and supported by the local community to provide vital services for rough sleepers and other people experiencing homelessness, and those at risk of homelessness in Exeter. For more details, please visit our website.

About the role:  You will be creative, self-motivated, conscientious and energetic, and have superb interpersonal and communication skills to engage effectively with a wide range of people and build the supporter base of St Petrock’s. You will have strong project and event management skills to lead on major fundraising campaigns and events such as our annual Christmas fundraising video campaign, the Big Night Out sponsored sleepout, and the Big Night In fundraising dinner, along with the imagination and drive to develop a full programme of public fundraising challenges and events. You will also have the knowledge and drive to develop legacy giving and major donor programmes and, supported by the Fundraising and Communications Officer, will be responsible for our social media platforms, website, media relations, and other external communications.

You will be primarily based at the St Petrock’s homelessness centre, with the opportunity for some hybrid working (at home or at local co-working venue). Given the nature of the role, it is essential that you have a suitably insured vehicle and are able to attend meetings and events outside normal working hours to share about St Petrock’s as needed.

Applications:For more detail (including a full Job Description & Person Specification) and how to apply, please download the Job Pack from our website or in the ad attachments.

To complete your application, please send us your CV, covering letter and a disclosure form as per the details in the Job Pack, outlining why you feel you are an ideal candidate for this post..  (These can also be emailed to us following the details in the pack). 

Closing date for applications: Monday 16th February 2026 at 9am

Please contact Peter Stephenson, Chief Executive via the contact details in the Job Pack if you would like to have an informal discussion before applying (including a contact phone number if you would like to arrange a call back).

St Petrock’s is fully committed to safeguarding the welfare of vulnerable adults and children. We use “safer recruitment” practices throughout our recruitment processes, and all successful candidates will be subject to the highest level of DBS check that is legally permissible for their role. Any offer of employment is subject to a satisfactory DBS check. Applicants should understand that a criminal history will not necessarily bar applicants from this role but will be subject to risk assessment.

We are looking for an experienced museum and heritage professional with a curatorial and/or learning and engagement background to ensure our collection, archive and content development has relevance for diverse audiences and partners.

The role of Head of Content, Learning & Engagement offers a hugely exciting opportunity to join a young and ambitious charity at a pivotal moment in its evolution.

You will develop our work across the collection and archive, including having curatorial oversight for Crystal Palace Museum, ownership of which will be transferring to the Trust during 2026. You will also lead our learning and engagement programmes, ensuring all activity is audience-driven and rooted in our mission, values and strategic principles and taking inspiration from our rich heritage and landscape and fascinating creative, cultural, and sporting legacy.

After a successful Inspiring Minds Campaign that raised £50m over a 10-year period and achieved the goal of providing bursaries to 1 in 4 pupils, the Latymer Foundation is now entering a new strategic period. A new three-year strategy will sustain and grow bursary provision, driving us towards the goal of achieving needs-blind admissions, whilst positioning Latymer as the independent school that sets the global standard for access, inclusion and opportunity.

Within this context, the Head of Philanthropy will play a vital role in securing the financial resources that sustain Latymer’s sector-leading bursary programme, ensuring that talent, not financial circumstance, determines access to a life-changing Latymer education.

The Head of Philanthropy role will have a strong personal focus on major gifts fundraising, whilst overseeing all philanthropic income streams — Major Gifts, Regular Giving and Legacies.

Salary circa £75,000 per annum, dependent on experience.

To apply and find out more about the school and our attractive staff benefits package, please visit our dedicated recruitment website via the Apply button.

Closing date: 9.00 am on Monday, 23rd February 2026.

Interviews 1st Round (Virtual) – Tuesday 3rd & Wednesday 4th March 2026.

Interviews 2nd Round (In-person at Latymer Upper School) – Wednesday 11th March 2026.

Diversity – The School is fully committed to the principles of equal opportunity, diversity and inclusion. We have an established and representative staff Equality and Diversity Board to help drive forward positive change. A further Equality and Diversity Committee has recently been formed from our student population.

We are committed to attracting and retaining the very best staff, ensuring that our staff body reflects the diversity of our students and local community. Acknowledging a lack of ethnic diversity within our Support Staff community, we particularly encourage applications from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic candidates for this role. All appointments will be made on merit, following a fair and transparent process. In line with the Equality Act 2010; however, the School may employ positive action where diverse candidates can demonstrate their ability to perform the role equally well.

The School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All posts are subject to an enhanced DBS, online checks and receipt of two satisfactory references.

First Give

First Give is a national charity that partners with secondary schools to inspire and equip young people with the knowledge, confidence, and skills to drive change. Through our structured programmes, students explore social issues, connect with charities, and take tangible steps to improve their community.

Empowering and equipping young people to meaningfully contribute to their community is a first step to addressing many of the challenges we face at this time of social disconnection and division. Our vision is of a more generous society where everyone is willing and able to give their time, money and skills to the causes they care about.

The Route to a Million Campaign

This is an exciting time for First Give, as we seek to expand and diversify our fundraising streams into Corporate and HNWI. To support this, we are launching the Route to A Million campaign in March, aiming to raise an additional £1.5 million over the next 3 years on top of our forecast income. The campaign is supported by a newly recruited campaign board, and the new Head of Philanthropy and Partnerships will spearhead the work required to achieve this target.

Head of Philanthropy and Partnerships

We are seeking a dynamic, strategic and entrepreneurial Head of Philanthropy and Partnerships to supercharge First Give’s next phase of income growth. This is a pivotal role at the heart of our mission, offering the opportunity to shape and deliver a multi‑year fundraising strategy that fuels real, measurable impact for young people and society as a whole. First Give is a small charity, with a growing fundraising team and big ambitions. You will therefore be someone who thrives in a start-up environment, brings new ideas to the table and is comfortable leading a brand-new team.

As the senior leader for all income streams, you will own and drive our major donor programme; unlock new philanthropic partnerships; and build a talented team across other income streams to achieve ambitious goals. Working closely with the Director and our emerging Campaign Board, you will play critical role in growing our £1m+ annual income, deepening donor engagement and building the culture, systems and relationships that will propel First Give into its next phase of expansion.

This is an exciting opportunity for an exceptional fundraiser who thrives in a values‑driven, high‑ambition environment and wants to make a lasting contribution to a fast‑growing education charity.

Contract: Full time (35 hours per week), Permanent

Salary: £60K (+£2K London weighting if applicable)

Location: This is a hybrid contract. The successful candidate will be expected to work from our London office or attend in-person meetings and host donors at school Final events as required. The remainder of the week can typically be worked remotely, with flexibility as required.

The students we work with come from a diverse range of backgrounds, and so do we.  We want to foster a diverse and inclusive culture, to empower our teams to achieve our vision drawing on the broadest possible range of experiences. We therefore particularly encourage applications from candidates from minoritised groups currently underrepresented on our executive team, particularly black and minority ethnic and disabled candidates.

Please download the candidate pack for more details, and don't hesitate to get in touch if you'd like a chat about the role or any reasonable adjustments we can make before applying: contact details provided in the candidate pack.

Join Racing Welfare as Head of Fundraising and Make a Lasting Impact!

Are you an ambitious, results-driven fundraising leader with a passion for making a difference? Racing Welfare is looking for an exceptional Head of Fundraising to join our senior management team and take the helm of a thriving, high-performance fundraising operation. This is a unique opportunity for someone who wants to shape the future of British horseracing’s charitable support, driving growth and innovation in a vital sector.

About Racing Welfare:

Racing Welfare is a registered charity dedicated to supporting the workforce of British horseracing – from stud, stable, and racecourse staff to those in related professions. Our mission is to help these dedicated individuals thrive in their careers and lives, offering guidance, practical assistance, and support throughout their journey – from recruitment to retirement.

The Role:

As Head of Fundraising, you will play a central role in Racing Welfare’s strategic direction and growth. You’ll work closely with the Chief Executive and Chief Operating Officer to craft and execute an ambitious fundraising strategy that delivers innovative income streams to fund our vital services. You’ll lead, inspire, and develop a talented team, empowering them to deliver outstanding fundraising initiatives and events that drive real change.

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop & Deliver Fundraising Strategy: Work with senior leadership to shape the charity’s fundraising vision, ensuring the strategy aligns with our wider goals and drives long-term sustainability.
• Innovative Fundraising Campaigns: Create and implement engaging campaigns, managing budgets and evaluating performance to optimise success.
• Team Leadership & Development: Lead, mentor, and motivate a high-performing fundraising team, supporting their professional growth and achieving collective goals.
• Building Strategic Partnerships: Cultivate relationships with trusts, foundations, and corporate partners to build lasting, mutually beneficial collaborations.
• Drive Operational Excellence: Oversee day-to-day fundraising operations, ensuring smooth management of income, expenditure, and compliance.

You Will Bring:

• Proven experience in fundraising or commercial management, with a track record of successfully recruiting donors and sponsors.
• A natural leader with exceptional people management skills, able to inspire and empower teams to excel.
• Solid experience in budgeting, financial planning, and performance management.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to engage and motivate diverse stakeholders.
• A passion for innovation and the ability to think strategically about fundraising opportunities.

Bonus: Experience in the horseracing industry is desirable, but not essential.

Why Racing Welfare?

This is your chance to take on a leadership role in a respected and impactful charity. You’ll be part of a passionate team, working in a dynamic environment with opportunities for personal and professional growth. The role offers flexibility with the option to work from home or our Newmarket office, alongside occasional travel across the UK (including evenings and weekends).

As a charity, wellbeing is at the forefront of all we do. We aim to be a leading employer in the industry and make sure everyone at Racing Welfare has the opportunity to thrive.

If you’re ready to make a significant contribution to the future of Racing Welfare and help improve the lives of those who dedicate themselves to British horseracing, we’d love to hear from you.

Apply Today:
 Submit your CV and covering letter to join Racing Welfare and lead our fundraising efforts to new heights.

We welcome enquiries from everyone and value diversity in our workforce. The closing date for this role is 16 February 2026. First stage interviews will be held the week commencing 23 February 2026 in person in Newmarket. We reserve the right to bring forward the closing date if we receive a large number of suitable applications.

Salary: £50,000 - £60,000 DOE

Racing Welfare is committed to safeguarding and will always recruit all personnel in line with government guidelines, relevant legislation, and the Charity Commission's best practice guidance.

This post is not exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. We only ask applicants to disclose convictions which are not yet spent under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974

Racing Welfare’s Safeguarding Statement of Intent can be found on our website.

Our Senior Coordinator is primarily responsible for all Member and supporter engagement and stewardship across the year. They build and develop relationships with individuals, support event delivery and manage all communications from content creation to delivery. This includes e-newsletters, fundraising appeals and ad-hoc communications that increase engagement, retain loyalty and raise funds.

We are looking for someone who is creative, has strong communication skills, the ability to work independently, and take ownership of projects – ensuring they run smoothly and effectively. You’ll have a sound understanding of thoughtful stakeholder engagement, marketing communications and tools, and enjoy sharing with people the impact of their support.

The Difference is an education charity, founded to change the story on lost learning. Our vision is to see lost learning falling nationally by 2030 and for schools to be better equipped to support all children, particularly those most vulnerable.

Leading national policy strategy

As Head of Policy and Public Affairs, you will work closely with the CEO to develop and execute a four-year influencing plan.  Together we’ll aim to shift local and national incentives on inclusion by 2030, which see the national trend of rising suspension and absence begin to fall. 

You will hold relationships with the Department for Education and Ofsted and advise on policy priorities ahead, such as:

• Widening the definition of inclusion beyond special needs, recognising the needs of those young people historically or currently interacting with social services

• Reducing perverse incentives for schools to alter their school roll through admissions and pupil exits

• Expectations for multi-academy trusts in capturing and analysing data on lost learning, including how it disproportionately affects different groups

• Improving local alternative provision eco-systems, to improve outcomes for young people

• National standards for inclusive school practice, at a universal and targeted level

• Professional development standards for school inclusion

Developing implementation expertise in the middle tier

In your first six months, you will advise on the internal development of a new programme for middle tier policy actors: multi-academy trust and local authority leaders.  You will support the Programme team in its design, to plan strategically for the recruitment of trusts and local authorities, and you will plan the research and influencing work which will seek to share their success nationally.

Building the evidence base

In your second six months, you will work with the CEO to build out our research function. Your influencing plan will include how The Difference can learn from the work across our multi-academy trust, local authority and internal AP pioneer partners over the next four years, to develop influential publications. Research work ahead will include publishing sector-facing publications of The Difference’s own research, carried out by our research lead and associates; alongside managing external contractors and internal colleagues to bid for and deliver aligned research disseminating our ideas.

Raising your voice

This is an exciting opportunity for someone committed to inclusive policy change. The Difference has always punched above our weight in national and sector press reach. In post,  you will publish blogs and comment pieces, disseminating our shared ideas.  You will be a prominent voice on inclusion.

The Difference is still a small and growing charity. This means that our work is fast-paced, our roles are broad, and there is a culture of being highly autonomous, reactive and flexible, as the needs of the organisation evolve. If this sounds exciting rather than daunting, then this could be the role and team for you!

The Role
This is an exciting time to join The Difference as we increase our impact, reach more schools, and develop our influencing strategy. As Head of Policy and Public Affairs you will: 

Design and execute an impactful influencing plan 

• Design an influencing plan - Identify via horizon scanning opportunities to influence national policy using open policy windows, or by nudging/creating new ones. 

• Execute an influencing plan - Utilise own assets and assets across the organisation, including the Director team, to deliver against the influencing plan.

• Relationship building - Build highly credible and impactful relationships with a variety of stakeholders who hold power. This will include policy makers in national governments, local government officials, politicians, other third sector organisations and think tanks. 

• Leadership - Play a significant role internally and externally in communicating the organisation’s policy position, raising organisational and own brand.

Build policy capacity and credibility across the organisation

• Policy positions and solutions- Use the concepts, work and experience of The Difference’s programmes to develop new, and refine existing, national policy positions to shift incentives. 

• Thought leadership - Be the organisation’s education policy and political expert. 

• Generating income - Use own and team’s expertise and credibility to generate income via speaking engagements and consultancy to support the organisation’s financial sustainability. 

Person Specification

Essential – We are looking for someone with the following knowledge, experience and skills, though you may be stronger in some areas than others:

• Deep expertise in education policy, particularly on the topic of lost learning and the various policy and political debates, including areas of controversy, surrounding this policy topic. 

• Strategic thinker with a proven track record in identifying policy windows and designing activities that lead to meaningful national policy change. 

• Excellent relationship builder, who brings with them their own network of influential stakeholders and has a plan for building new relationships. Adept at navigating tricky situations and explaining complex, sometimes difficult, messages.

• Expert convener with a strong knowledge of the education sector, including which schools, trusts and local authorities are influential and experience in bringing a variety of perspectives together to generate consensus. 

• Persuasive and clear writing style for publication, including reports, press, blogs and ghost writing for members of the senior leadership team, often based on consensus positions, and designed to communicate key messages for impact. 

• Confidence and credibility in communicating nuanced messages in a contentious landscape, in writing, verbally and in public (e.g. on panels), to raise the profile of The Difference. 

• Strong project manager who can design systems and processes to keep self, team and other stakeholders on task and on time. Experience of designing programmes of work and monitoring their effectiveness. Flexible project management style that can adapt to a changing environment. Confidence in managing a variety of stakeholders and supporting them to deliver on time. 

Desired – You are more likely to be successful in your application if you have one or more of the following: 

• Familiarity with The Difference’s programmatic work, theory and practice. 

• Lived experience or insight into the school experiences of marginalised young people (e.g. those with experience of the care system, mental ill health, special educational needs, exclusion, and racism).

We know that some people, especially those from marginalised backgrounds, may hesitate to apply unless they meet every listed requirement. If this role excites you and you believe you could make a strong contribution, we warmly encourage you to apply. 
We actively welcome applications from people whose backgrounds are under-represented in the charity sector, including but not limited to: people from black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, LGBTQ+ people, people with disabilities, people with experience in the case system, non-graduates and first-in-family graduates.