Information and advice service and volunteer manager jobs

Smart Works is a dynamic, high profile and fast-growing UK charity that dresses and coaches unemployed women for success at their job interview. We empower each woman by giving her the clothes and the confidence she needs to succeed.

After visiting Smart Works, 67% of clients secure a job within a month, gaining financial independence and transforming their lives.

The Smart Works service is delivered in London, Greater Manchester, Edinburgh, Birmingham, Newcastle, Reading, Bristol and Leeds. Over the past ten years, Smart Works has helped over 50,000 women, and last year alone we reached 10,600 women. It is our mission that any woman who needs our service should be able to find her way to a Smart Works centre.

In March 2025, Smart Works completed their Three-Year Plan that saw the charity double the number of women helped annually from 5,000 to 10,000 women a year. To achieve this, we grew our existing centres and opened a new centre.

More information about who we are can be found on our Smart Works website.

About This Role

We are looking for an exceptional Outreach Manager to lead our outreach and develop excellent referral partner relationships across London. Our Outreach Manager will play a vital role in ensuring that as many women as possible know about and can access our service. 

This is an exciting opportunity for an organised, passionate, strategic, and relationship-driven individual to grow our reach and impact within London (and beyond). 

The role would be based across all of London and our three London centres (Islington, Ladbroke Grove and Croydon). You will be expected to travel to and attend outreach events, as well as meeting referral partner organisations. There will also be occasional evening and weekend work, for which time off in lieu is given. 

How to Apply

Please submit a CV and a cover letter which answers the following questions by 5pm on Sunday 7th December. Your application should be addressed to Fiona Hollow (Head of London Service Delivery).

• Why do you want to work for Smart Works? (Max 200 words)
• What experience do you have of building relationships with partner organisations to promote referrals to a particular organisation or service? (Max 350 words)
• Why do you think you are well suited to the role of Outreach Manager? (Max 350 words)

1st round interviews will take place on Wednesday 10th December and will be virtual. If you are unable to attend a virtual interview for any reason, please let us know to discuss another arrangement.

2nd round interviews will take place on Monday 15th December and will be in person. 

If you require any reasonable adjustments or alterations for the application and recruitment processes, please contact us.

Smart Works is committed to best practice employment practices, including reducing the burden for those seeking work. Smart Works will therefore reimburse reasonable costs of travel to interviews if required.

At Smart Works we will apply suitable measures to keep your information secure in accordance with our Privacy Policy (a current version of which is available on our website).

Do you want to be part of the team in a charity that has a 135-year history of combating the challenges arising from deprivation and social exclusion in East London?

Our mission at St. Hilda’s East is to equip our service users with the resilience to navigate modern life. We welcome everyone into our spaces and work together to deliver engaging activities, promote social contact and ultimately enrich lives. 

Located in Tower Hamlets, we welcome people of all ages to our large, friendly community centre in Shoreditch where we offer a wide range of activities promoting wellbeing and social connections. Our services include sensory play for Under-5’s, youth programmes, wellbeing activities for those experiencing mental health issues, bilingual advice, and activities to reduce social isolation and enhance physical and mental wellbeing for older people. We also run a day centre in Shadwell, where we care for elders from the Bangladeshi and other communities. 

We employ over 40 staff and engage about 65 volunteers each year. In a recent survey of our staff, more than three-quarters reported St Hilda's as a great place to work, and this role will help embed best practice relating to employment and volunteering to ensure we can build upon this positivity. The postholder will work closely with our Senior Leadership Team and the Board, including a Trustee who has several decades experience as a HR manager and consultant. The role would highly suit someone in the early stages of their career in HR wishing to expand upon their experience or, alternatively, someone with a career in HR behind them, looking for a change of scene and to get involved in a mission driven charity. 

The postholder will provide support and guidance on HR matters to all staff and managers, helping to foster a positive and inclusive workplace culture. Our newly refreshed strategic priorities include a commitment to increasing volunteer participation within the charity’s work, and the postholder will play a key role in implementing this priority by improving our procedures and enhancing our capacity.     

This job is for you, if you: 

• Have at least 2 years’ experience in HR administration and practice, ideally within the charity sector.
• A good working knowledge of employment legislation and best practice in people management. 
• The ability and passion to drive forward an agenda around staff and volunteer engagement and wellbeing. 
• Ability to write organisational policies.
• Demonstrable knowledge of best practice around volunteer management, or the ability to learn quickly. 

Benefits include flexible working arrangements with the option to work either a 2 or 3 day week, 25 days annual leave, and access to an Employee Assistance Programme.

Closing date for applications: Sunday 7th December 2025 at 23:59

We will be reviewing applications as they come in. Immediate availability is a plus. The closing date for this post may be brought forward or extended depending on the volume and strength of applications.

St Hilda's is committed to racial justice and wider inclusion and diversity. We are working towards a goal where our team fully reflects the diversity and difference in lived experiences of our local community.

The Coach’s role will be to engage with our adult beneficiaries, supporting them to identify and achieve their aspirations for themselves and for their families.

Adopting a holistic, person-centred approach, she will support beneficiaries both to reach short term goals (through the delivery of Information, Advice and Guidance) and to develop the resources, skills and behaviours necessary to make longer term progress (through Coaching) across the five ‘pillars’ of our social mobility framework:

• ­ Employability 
• ­ Education 
• ­ Family stability 
• ­ Money management 
• ­ Resilience and well-being 

We currently have 3 Social Mobility Coaches on the team.  Whilst supporting women across all five pillars, each Coach has specific areas of responsibility, which may change from time to time.  We anticipate that for the first twelve months of employment at least, this new Coach will have specific responsibility for building out our Employment offer.

Make a real difference in the lives of asylum seekers and newly recognised refugees! Join New Citizens’ Gateway as an Outreach Project Manager and lead the delivery of vital frontline support to people residing in temporary accommodation across five hotels in Barnet. You will oversee a dedicated outreach team working to reduce isolation, improve wellbeing, and empower individuals seeking asylum.

We offer a supportive working environment with excellent benefits including:

• 6% employer pension contribution
• 35 days annual leave (including bank holidays)
• Ongoing training and professional development opportunities

New Citizens’ Gateway (NCG) is an independent, registered charity working to reduce health inequalities, combat social exclusion and poverty, and support the integration and independence of refugees and asylum seekers.

We are seeking a highly motivated and experienced Outreach Project Manager to lead our outreach service. This role is responsible for managing outreach staff, coordinating support across multiple hotel sites, ensuring compliance with safeguarding and quality standards, and providing specialist guidance to the team on complex client issues.

The successful candidate will have at least two years’ project management experience and direct experience supporting refugees and asylum seekers, with strong communication and organisational skills. Ability to speak a community language is desirable.

New Citizens’ Gateway is committed to equality, diversity, and creating a workplace that values lived experience. We welcome applications from people of refugee background and others with direct experience of the issues our clients face.

Closing date: 10/12/2025  Interview date: 15/12/2025 (please keep this date free)

OPERATIONS MANAGER

We are seeking an enthusiastic, compassionate person, with good attention to detail and a track record of supporting and motivating staff and a desire to make a difference to the homeless and vulnerably housed.

About The Bridge Homelessness To Hope

We began in 2008 with a mission to help people who are homeless in Leicester by providing them with hot food, drinks and most importantly, companionship and we have evolved from there to the service we provide today.

Our staff team and volunteers derive from many backgrounds and religions, all with one common goal: to help those who are on the street move from despair to hope.

We are an outreach to the homeless and to those who just have nowhere to go and no-one to turn to. Through our Hub we support those who are hardest to reach by seeking to:​

· Overcome the barriers to engagement encountered with more traditional service models.

· Be a place where guests (never service users or clients) can feel secure, trustful and not feel judged.

· Run services that are supplied by people who understand their challenges and are empathetic to them.

Our services are designed to support our guests in making long-term, sustainable improvements to their lives.

Our vision is for everyone to have a place they can call home and hope for the future, with an aim to support the most isolated and marginalised people that often have no one else to turn to.

We do this by offering a safe place to support people in crisis, helping people make long-term, sustainable improvements to their lives, and by developing accessible mental health services.

Hours: Full-time - 37.5 hours per week - Monday to Friday (occasional Saturdays where operational needs dictate).

Purpose of the Role

Reporting directly to the CEO, the Operations Manager ensures the effective day-to-day running of The Bridge Homelessness To Hope’s services — including Drop-In Hub and supported accommodation — maintaining safe, high-quality delivery and ensuring that staff and volunteers are supported to provide compassionate and effective support for people experiencing homelessness.

Key Responsibilities

1. Leadership and Management

· Work with the CEO to ensure The Bridge Homelessness To Hope’s mission and values are lived out in practice.

· Translate strategic plans into operational work plans with clear targets and outcomes.

· Provide visible leadership within the Hub and accommodation projects, modelling best practice.

· Deputise for the CEO as required.

· Ensure systems and culture of effective internal communications, including team meetings, and day-to-day communications protocols.

2. Housing and Hub Operations

· Oversee housing operations, including maintenance, furnishing, and equipment.

· Ensure compliance with housing regulations, leases, and health and safety

· Manage contractors and cleaners for accommodation and Hub facilities.

· Oversee resident induction, behaviour issues, crises, and breaches of licence.

· Oversee housing records and inspection reports.

· Ensure accurate and timely housing benefit claims, payments, and record keeping.

· Liaise with property owners and coordinate day-to-day housing management tasks.

· Oversee Hub operations, ensuring high standards of delivery and effective support for guests.

3. People Management

· Line manage staff team, ensuring clear supervision and accountability.

· Recruit new staff, including advertising, short-listing, interviewing.

· Conduct regular one-to-ones and appraisals with all staff.

· Oversee staff induction, development, and wellbeing.

· Ensure appropriate training for regulatory and practice updates.

· Manage performance issues, grievances, and disciplinaries in line with policy.

4. Service Delivery and Impact

· Ensure safe, effective, and compassionate service delivery across all operational areas.

· Maintain systems for effective data capture, monitoring, and reporting.

· Support evaluation, reporting, and improvement processes.

· Contribute to safeguarding oversight and incident management.

· Lead on-site crisis response and staff support during incidents.

5. Financial and Administrative Responsibilities

· Oversee day-to-day housing income and expenditure.

· Ensure operational efficiency through effective systems and processes.

· Support administrative and compliance processes across the charity.

6. Risk Management and Compliance

· Maintain and regularly review the organisational risk register.

· Manage operational risks, including safeguarding, health & safety, and reputational issues.

· Ensure all incidents and concerns are recorded and followed up appropriately.

7. External Relations

· Liaise with local authorities, housing benefit officers, and partner agencies.

· Represent The Bridge Homelessness to Hope at relevant operational meetings and networks.

· Ensure accurate signposting and referrals for service users.

Other

· Other trouble-shooting, providing cover, general advice etc.

What You Need

Essential:

• Proven experience in operations or office management.
• Strong organisational skills.
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
• IT literacy including Microsoft 365 and database systems.
• Ability to handle confidential information with discretion.

Desirable:

• Experience in the charity sector.
• Understanding/awareness of trauma-informed working.
• Knowledge of charity governance and compliance.
• Understanding of CRM systems and data protection.
• Full UK Driving Licence

Benefits

Succession Plan

Flexible working hours (where possible)

25 days annual leave + 8 statutory Bank Holidays

Contributory Pension Scheme

Free parking

Free lunch and snacks

​

Job Purpose: To provide high-quality and comprehensive advice, information, practical and advocacy support relating to domestic and other forms of gender-based violence perpetrated against Black and minoritised women and children. To assist with educational, developmental, policy and campaigning work arising from advice and casework. To promote the aims and objectives of SBS as a specialist organisation for Black and minoritised women and children.

This vacancy is restricted to Black and minoritised women due to the nature of the role. The Occupational Requirement under Schedule 9 (part 1) of the Equality Act 2010 applies.

We reserve the right to close these adverts early if we have sufficient interest, so early applications are encouraged.

Are you driven by a commitment to social justice and equality? Do you want to utilise your expertise to support vulnerable women and children in their fight against inequality and discrimination? Southall Black Sisters has the perfect opportunity for you. We are seeking a dedicated Immigration Solicitor to provide specialised, personalised advice to our clients, empowering them to make informed decisions about their future.

The postholder will support and contribute to Southall Black Sisters’ (SBS) research, policy and campaigning work by developing and delivering high-quality, intersectional research that:

• Strengthens the evidence base on violence against women and girls (VAWG), particularly as it affects Black, minoritised and migrant (BMM) women and girls.
• Centres the lived experiences of victim-survivors, using participatory and coproduced research methods.
• Informs SBS’s advocacy, public education and service delivery strategies through accessible, impactful research outputs.

Working closely with senior staff, frontline colleagues and external partners, the postholder will design and contribute to research projects, gather and analyse qualitative and quantitative data, and produce clear, well-structured outputs including reports, policy briefings and presentations. They will be supported to develop their research skills and will be encouraged to bring creativity and rigour to exploring the structural inequalities that shape the lives of the women SBS supports.

By joining our team, you will be at the forefront of the fight for equality and justice, making a tangible difference in the lives of those who need it most.

Why work with Southall Black Sisters?

Southall Black Sisters is committed to providing a supportive working environment, where team members feel valued, empowered and safe. To that end, we provide an excellent package of employee benefits including:

• Generous annual leave entitlement 
• Hybrid working 
• Enhanced pension contribution
• Enhanced sick pay
• Subsidised public transport season ticket
• A comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme, including access to confidential support from MBACP therapists 
• Clinical supervision with an MBACP therapist to explore issues arising from casework
• A focus on continued learning and development through accredited training delivered by experts in their field
• Organisation-wide away days
• Career development pathways and support
• The opportunity to learn and grow within an organisation renowned for inspiring political activism and campaigning successes
• Employer eye care scheme

To Apply

Submit a completed application form along with the optional equal opportunities monitoring form by the application deadline. Please do not send us your CV as this will not be considered.

Please note, incomplete applications will not be considered.

Deadline: Wednesday 10th December 2025 (5.00pm).
Interview dates: Thursday 18th December 2025 (Please note that the interview date is fixed. Applicants who cannot attend must state this in their application)

About us

With a 110-year history, we are proud to be able to say that the WI continues to be the largest and most influential UK-based women’s organisation, with over 170,000 members. Our campaigns push for change on the issues that matter to women and their communities, from equal pay to climate change, mental health and violence against women. The WI has brought about real change, and this record of action shows that we are as relevant today as we were in 1915.

The National Federation of Women’s Institutes (the NFWI) is responsible for running the organisation and provides support and advice to members at both regional and local levels.

About the role

This is an exciting role with responsibility for both IT and Digital. You will actively implement new tools and platforms, oversee data protection compliance and cyber security, whilst developing effective policies and guidelines spanning our IT infrastructure. You will also take ownership of our digital strategy across all channels, driving service delivery and managing significant relationships, contracts and budgets. We will look to you to  lead digital transformation and champion innovation, whilst delivering workshops and training sessions to diverse colleagues. In short, you will be the catalyst that gets the most from our online presence, our technology and our vendors and partners, ensuring best practice and value in everything you do.

Hours: 35 hours per week.

Location: Hybrid working, with one day per week at our London office.

About you

Highly experienced as an IT thought leader and manager with technical experience, you will combine a strategic mindset with a truly hands-on approach. Developing  strategy, as well as leading and managing IT and digital change projects should be second nature to you.  Similarly, you will be experienced in mentoring teams and controlling websites, CMS platforms and integrated digital systems. A degree in Computer Science or a related discipline would be beneficial, alongside knowledge of data protection legislation, digital accessibility and inclusion, Squiz DXP, Azure, Intune and AWS. However your ability to communicate effectively with non-technical colleagues is just as important. Above all, you will bring everything it takes to get the most out of people, systems and budgets, with real passion for cutting-edge technology and the drive and determination to make things happen. 

How to apply

For further information about this Head of IT and Digital Services role, please download the recruitment pack which includes the job description and person specification.

To apply, please visit our website and submit your current CV with a covering letter clearly explaining why you would be suitable for the role.

Closing date: 30 November 2025.

Interview date: First and second-round interviews to be held w/c 8 December 2025.

No other media or agencies, please.

The WI is proud to be an equal opportunities employer and values diversity. Reg. Charity No. 803793.

Protect is looking for a legally trained and excellent manager to oversee the work of our advice team.  Our team of 8-10 advisers deals with over 3,000 new cases every year, offering telephone advice on legal rights and how people can raise or escalate whistleblowing concerns safely and effectively.  Protect is the leading UK authority in whistleblowing, having over 30 years of expertise advising whistleblowers and providing best practice guidance to employers.  We want people to speak up when they witness wrongdoing or risks at work, and our advice on how to whistleblow effectively can stop harm.  
 
You will lead and manage a team of advisers, ensuring that Protect provides expert, accessible and timely support to whistleblowers at a time of increasing demand for free advice.  You will oversee the recruitment and training of the team, developing resilient and expert advisers while protecting their wellbeing.   You will be proficient in case management systems, have excellent organisational skills, and play a strategic role in developing the service, including by providing case analysis and data for our training and policy functions and advocacy on behalf of our callers. 

If you’re interested in helping people speak up in the public interest, we want to hear from you.

I&A Adviser role

Information & Advice Adviser

Mitcham (On-site) with hybrid working available after a successful training period.

£30,090 - £32,130 per year

Full time or 4 days (28 hours)

Contract (Fixed term for 12 months), possibility of extension, subject to funding

Own car desirable but not essential. You will be required to undertake home visits across the borough of Merton.

Job description

Information and Advice Adviser

Hours: Full time 37.5 hours per week or 4 days (28 hours). We are open to flexible working discussions.

Salary: £30,090 - £32,130 per year

Location: This role will be based at our Elmwood Road Centre in Mitcham, with regular travel across the Borough of Merton.

After training and development, and after successful completion of the probationary period, there may be an option for hybrid working.

Reports to: This role reports to our Information and Advice Manager and is part of the wider Age UK Merton Community Support team.

About the role

We are recruiting an Information & Advice Adviser who will be joining a progressive, inclusive and dynamic team, an integral part of our Community Support model, and wider Age UK Merton services.

The Information & Advice Adviser is a vital role that works directly with older people who come to the service seeking information and advice on pension age benefits.

Last year the service worked to support over 800 older adults with information and advice on benefits, health, housing and care, and assisted the uptake of nearly £600,000 of previously unclaimed benefits.

An important part of this role will be to triage initial client needs which have been referred into the service by both internal and external partners, this will then ensure the team provides the right advice and high-quality support, whether on the phone, email or face to face.

You will be joining an accredited advice service (with the Advice Quality Standard), delivered by a high calibre team and you will be given opportunities to train and develop in the role.

About you

You are an enthusiastic, motivated and organised person with excellent people skills who is looking for a role where real impact is made on the lives of the people you are supporting. You will need to have attention to detail, and strong problem-solving skills to support the complex and diverse range of issues that our clients face.

Experience in the information and advice sector is desirable but not essential as full training will be given. What is important is your ability to work as part of a team but also using your initiative, being flexible and collaborative across the team at Age UK Merton. All our employees demonstrate our values of Quality, Integrity, Kindness, Inclusivity and Collaboration, and you will see this reflected throughout the people who make Age UK a wonderful place to work.

About us

Age UK Merton supports over 3,000 older people a year, our mission is to provide quality advice and services that meet the needs of older adults in Merton.

We have a comprehensive package of employee support, including a holistic approach to our employees’ health and wellbeing.

We offer:

25 days annual leave, plus bank holidays. In recognition of long service, this annual leave entitlement will increase to 27 days after 5 years’ continuous service, and to 30 days after 10 years’ continuous service.

Age UK Merton gifts an additional three days leave between Christmas and New Year.

Admittance to our employee benefit scheme Medicash- a suite of health and wellbeing support.

Enrolment into our pension scheme.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us, we would love to hear from you!

Job Title: Volunteer Co-ordinator – Sanctuary Citadel 
Hours: 35 hours 
Term: Fixed Term until 5th May 2027 with potential for extension beyond this dependent on funding. 
Location: Home-based, with regular travel to Cardiff and Newport, and occasional full-team meetings in England.
Reports to: Sanctuary Manager 
Salary: £35,137 

Housing Justice unites diverse communities to build personal connections, help people out of homelessness, and create justice in the housing system. Our vision is of a community where everyone has a safe and stable home, and a feeling they belong. We run projects throughout England and Wales.

The role of the Volunteer Co-ordinator is to lead the Sanctuary Citadel project in Cardiff and Newport. This will be at a key time for the project - adapting and expanding from an existing Citadel volunteer model to support Newly Granted Refugee’s transition from Home Office Accommodation or alternative accommodation into permanent homes.

Working with the Sanctuary Manager and a team of volunteers, you will ensure this support is upheld to a high standard. You will be responsible for a variety of tasks to facilitate this, including recruitment and training of volunteers. Maintaining clear communication with internal teams and external stakeholders, you will ensure project coherence and impact, and promote awareness of the project and its impact within the community.

Please see attached job description for further information.

Queen’s Crescent Community Association (QCCA) runs one of the largest and most diverse older people’s services in Camden. We operate in the borough’s most deprived area and annually support around 300 people aged 55+ to live happier, healthier, more connected lives.

The new co-ordinator will be responsible for delivering a full programme of activities.

We are looking for someone who will:

• Lead, manage and deliver the programme for people aged 55+ in Gospel Oak and the surrounding areas.

• Line-manage sessional and part-time staff, overseeing HR, payroll and supervision.

• Recruit, manage and supervise volunteers, ensuring they are actively engaged in designing and delivering services.

• Prioritise outreach and promote the programme locally, building positive relationships with older people, care homes, sheltered housing, health centres and other partners.

• Deliver regular and accurate reporting, including surveys, consultations and data for board meetings, funders and fundraising.

• Plan and deliver a sustainable programme, balancing free activities with occasional fee-paying or volunteer-led sessions through creative thinking.

• Support older people to access internal and external services that promote their mental health and wellbeing.

• Organise specialist talks, workshops, lunches, coffee mornings and activity refreshments, ensuring all supplies, volunteers and logistics are in place.

• Lead on key administrative duties, including registration forms, attendance registers, CRM updates, progress reports, income and expenditure records, Square Up entries, Equals card spreadsheets, petty cash, payroll hours and the Blip database.

• Plan monthly outings, design the monthly events calendar, maintain the mailing list, and ensure all activity reflects good practice models, quality standards and integration with QCCA’s wider services.

Corporate Partnerships Manager

Service: External Engagement

Location: Hybrid Head office or Homebased

Hours: 37 hours per week (full-time) – there is flexibility to work this role part-time, between 28 - 37 hours per week

For Head Office based roles, we typically work 2 days a week in the office. We also offer the flexibility to work fully remotely. Our office space is wheelchair accessible and located in London, N1

Salary: Starting at £34,256 and rising to £36,158 FTE per annum, plus an additional Inner London weighting (£3,866 FTE per annum) for hybrid London based or £480 FTE per annum for homebased

Contract type: Permanent

Family Action & the Role’s Impact:

At Family Action we support people through change, challenge or crisis. It’s what we’ve done for over 150 years. We protect children, support young people and adults and offer direct, practical help to families and communities. We see first-hand the power of family to shape lives, for better or worse, so we speak up for the importance of family in national and local policymaking, amplify family voices and represent the changing needs of families in the UK today.

Family Action has an exciting corporate partnerships programme which has expanded considerably in the past five years. This is a great time for an ambitious and driven fundraiser to join our high performing team and make your mark in contributing to its continued success. Reporting into the Head of Corporate Partnerships, this role will focus on account management including leading on our flagship strategic partnership with Barclays. Our working culture is flexible, fun and open, with excellent opportunities to collaborate with colleagues with a range of specialisms, from brand, to marketing and communications, to fundraising, as well as our operational colleagues delivering Family Action’s vital services.

Main Responsibilities:

• Overall account management responsibility for key partners including our flagship corporate partnership with Barclays.
• Delivering exceptional account management and meeting agreed partnership objectives on programme impact, income, communications, and engagement.
• Building strong networks and working relationships, both internally and externally, by successfully engaging and influencing stakeholders at all levels.
• Project managing strategic activities, from inception to delivery, and delivering against shared and charity specific goals.
• Proactively seek opportunities to grow our partnerships, maximising income and engagement, and raising external awareness of Family Action’s brand and our work.
• Contributing to the development and success of the Corporate Partnerships Team, support cross-team projects and take on additional tasks and responsibilities as required.

Main Requirements (for details check the job description and person specification):

• Minimum one year’s previous experience of working as a corporate fundraiser in the charity sector or equivalent account management experience in a similar field.
• Experience of working on high value, multi-faceted corporate partnerships which encompass stakeholder management, income generation, employee engagement and fundraising, and communications and campaigns.
• Experience of meeting and exceeding challenging income targets.
• Experience of engaging and influencing with senior stakeholders.

Benefits:

- an annual paid leave entitlement of 30 working days plus bank holidays (pro rata if job is taken part-time)

- up to 6% matched-pension contributions

- flexible working arrangements

- enhanced paid sick leave and paid family leave provisions

- eye care and winter flu jabs vouchers

- cycle to work scheme

- investing in your professional development with ongoing quality training and career development opportunities

We are forward looking, ambitious and committed to continuous improvement. We are a people focused, can-do organisation, which strives for excellence in all we do and operates with mutual respect.

To Apply:

·       Follw the link to our Careers Hub and apply via our website by clicking the ‘Apply’ link and fill out our digital application form

· Closing Date: Wednesday 3rd December 2025 at 23:59

Interviews are scheduled to take place from 15th – 19th December 2025, virtually, with slots throughout the working day.

All appointments with Family Action are subject to satisfactory Safer Recruitment checks.

Our commitment to Equality, Diversity & Inclusion:

We are happy to consider any reasonable adjustments that candidates may need during the recruitment process and you will be asked whether you require any adjustments if shortlisted for interview. We also make reasonable adjustments on the job, where required.

We are committed to Equality, Diversity & Inclusion in all that we do and welcome applications from all sections of the community. Intersectionality is important to us and we welcome applications from ethnically diverse communities, LGBTQIA+ candidates and disabled candidates. We are committed to increasing the representation of these groups at Family Action because we know that greater diversity will lead to even greater results for families and children and we strive for our workforce to be truly representative of the diverse communities we support.

All candidates with a disability are welcome to apply under the Disability Confident Scheme and request priority consideration for an interview, provided they meet the essential criteria for the role.

To help remove financial barriers to working with us, we will reimburse travel costs if you are invited to attend an interview in person.

*Ordinarily Family Action appoints new starters at the starting point of the salary scale (with subsequent annual pay progression), unless you have experience that would justify appointment further up the salary scale or there are any other exceptional reasons.

Carers First is a charity that works directly with, and for unpaid carers, providing personalised information, advice and tailored support making it easier for those caring for someone else to continue living their lives to the fullest.

We have a committed, dedicated staff team and you could be just the person we are looking for to join us to make that valuable difference in carer’s lives. We live and work through our values in all that we achieve by being positive, collaborative and ambitious and we have clear plans to scale our reach, support and impact for carers.

About this role

• The Service Manager will provide strategic leadership in the development and delivery of an innovative, high-quality service for carers across Croydon. 

• Work collaboratively with carers and colleagues, the role will drive continuous learning, service improvements, and strong partnership engagement to ensure that carers receive meaningful and responsive support.

About you

• A dedicated and experienced leader with a passion for making a tangible difference in the lives of carers.
• Proven ability to manage and inspire teams, you thrive in a dynamic environment where innovation and collaboration are key.
• Strong communication skills enable you to build strategic partnerships and work effectively with stakeholders to drive positive change.
• A commitment to continuous learning and service excellence, you ensure that carers receive the support they need to lead fulfilling lives.

We are looking for passionate people who are committed to the overall aims and objectives of the Charity. Carers First is committed to providing a supportive, vibrant, diverse and inclusive workplace where everyone can thrive.

Carers First Can Offer You  

In return for your contribution, we have an amazing package of staff benefits including 26 days annual leave entitlement which increases with length of service, flexible working options, paid carers leave, access to our work-place pension, staff discount scheme, employee assistance programme and a Benenden Healthcare package. 

Whatever you are aiming to achieve in your career, we are here to encourage, help and support you grow, through our excellent training and development programmes.

How to apply

To apply for our exciting opportunity and make a real difference to the lives of carers, please download our Candidate Pack and click on the ‘Apply Now’ button to begin your application.

Applications can only be assessed if they clearly state how you meet each of the requirements in the Personal Specification.

Appointments are subject to Carers First receiving an appropriate disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service that we consider acceptable.

Interview Process:

With a closing date of 30 November 2025, all successfully shortlisted candidates will be invited to a face-to-face meeting with an interview panel, on 08 December 2025.

During the interview, candidates will also be required to give a 15-minute presentation, and details will be provided in advance. 

Please allow one hour for the interview process.

Carers First is an Equal Opportunities Employer   

Positive      Collaborative      Ambitious

We're looking for someone a lttle bit special - someone who believes in the deep potential of children who are not thriving elsewhere in life and who has the experience, passion, energy and the drive to go the extra mile on these young people’s behalf.

The position is an exciting dual role:

1. Volunteering & People Manager (80% of workload)

You'll become a key cog at the heart ofFree to Be's management team, taking lead responsibility for volunteer and staff recruitment and retention, holding and delivering our volunteering strategy, launching a new training infrastructure through 2026-27, and heading up 'all things volunteering'. With one direct report, you'll aim to grow volunteer numbers year on year, ensure volunteers are well matched, and well supported, onto our residential projects, and lead on quality assurance, including volunteering standards concerns/grievances.  Alongside our Services, Operations and Fundraising Managers, you'll be a core management team member holding shared responsibility for the day to day running of an impactful and growing children's mental health and adventure charity and will work closely with our inspiring and supportive CEO to set longer-term key strategic goals underpinning Free to Be's future development.

2. Residential Project Lead Coordinator (20% of role)

Our residentials are fun, immersive, tiring (in all the right ways), impactful and inspiring. A core aspect of all Free to Be Kids staff's roles is leading circa 8-10 of our residential projects across each year - working on the ground with the children, leading the volunteers & staff team on project, and helping make the projects special, safe, and transformative for vulnerable young people, many of whom have damaged confidence, low self-worth, or other social-emotional needs. 

Attendance at approximately 8-10 five-six night residential projects per year outside London is a core component of this role. As a manager, you'd likely attend 8-10 residentials in year 1 to build familiarity with both the projects and our volunteer base, with this dropping to c.8 per year thereafter.

On offer to the right candidate:

Salary: Circa £38,000 - £40,000, dependent on experience.

Hours: Fulltime: 37.5 hours per week. Essential attendance on at c.8-10 residential projects a year.

Leave: 25 days per year, plus bank holidays and up to 13 additional pre-set discretionary reward days in September and during the Christmas period. A substantial perk of the role is potential to take up to 4 consecutive weeks off to travel each September.

Other benefits: 4% employer pension contribution paid on full base salary, rising by 1% per year of service, up to a maximum of 7%; hybrid working; office with great transport links; flexible working (outside core hours); employee reward scheme; tight-knit, fun, vibrant, cohesive staff team with great morale.

Based: Hybrid – our small office in Waterloo, London. Hybrid working is well established with the majority of the team splitting time around 50:50 between the office and home.

To start: Early January 2026. 

Who we’re looking for:

Our next Volunteering Manager hero. You'll be fun, flexible, energised, experienced in work with young people with addtional needs, and looking to join an organisation you can believe in and who in return will believe and invest in you.

Kind, empathetic, resilient and efficient, you’ll have a real affinity for supporting others - whether volunteers, more junior staff, or children themselves. We're looking for someone who loves working with young people, as you'll be role modelling that commitment and energy to our volunteers and playing a leading role in holding our already thriving team culture. Volunteer Management or HR experience is a bonus, and capacity and personality to quickly pick that up is a must, but ultimately we're looking for the right organisational fit - someone who believes in what we do and wants to step up to join a management team working hard to deliver it. 

You’ll have the flexibility to work away from home on (up to) 10 five to six day residential projects per year. Ideally, you’ll also have experience of leading projects for children – whether residential or non-residential - for example as a teacher, or running groups in other settings. Experience of working on or leading residentials projects themselves is not required but may be an advantage.

We are a small, vibrant, 'can do', friendly staff team of 10, supported by a committed volunteer base of around 300.

We are particularly keen to encourage applications from those who can help us represent the lived experiences of our children through their own lived experience or background.

To apply:

See full Job Description & Person Specification on our website.

Send a copy of your CV or up to date LinkedIn profile, as well as a covering letter and introductory short video, by the closing date of 10pm, Wednesday 26th November 2025.

Covering letters should be very approximately 1 to 1.5 sides A4 and address the question of: ‘Why this role, why now’, as well as ‘what strengths, experience and skills you would bring into the role’.We also ask for a short (1-3 minutes) informal video introducing yourself and touching on the person specification. We have found this helps bring the strongest applications to life, and filters out AI driven applications.

Selection Process and Timeline:

Selection will be via two stage interview. As there is only a short turnaround from application closure on 26th November to 1st stage interviews 1st-2nd December, we will assess applications and offer interview slots throughout the window. However, you will not be disadvantaged if you need to wait till the closing date to submit.

1st stage interviews: Mon 1st - Tues 2nd December (virtual)

2nd stage final interviews: Mon 8th - Tues 9th December (in-person preferred, London Waterloo)

Please hold interview dates as alternate dates are unlikely to be available.

​The role requires an Enhanced DBS check and existing right to work in the UK.

If you have any questions about the role, contact us via our website and we’d be happy to arrange an informal chat. We look forward to hearing from you!