Information and advice volunteers jobs

Closing Date: 03 December 2025 at 00:00

The Churchill Fellowship:

The Churchill Fellowship is a unique programme that empowers UK citizens to discover new solutions from around the world to tackle some of the most pressing challenges facing communities in the UK. Each year, we fund over 100 Fellows to explore innovative ideas, best practices, and cutting-edge projects anywhere in the world that relate to the issues they care about most.

Purpose of the role:

Are you curious about the society we live in and passionate about making a difference? We’re looking for a creative, passionate and organised manager to join the newly established Activate Team.

The Activate Manager will manage the delivery of the new Activate Fund, which has been designed to enable Churchill Fellows to turn their ideas into action for the benefit of individuals and communities in the UK.

The role will also collaborate closely with the Research and Engagement team to design and deliver new forms of non-financial support for Fellows, enabling them to maximise the impact of their learning, and their potential to create change.

Key Responsibilities 

1. Application support

• Acting as the first point of contact for the Activate Fund, managing the inbox, responding to enquiries, providing empathetic and tailored support to applicants and grant holders.
•  Designing and delivering support for applicants, for example webinars, 1:1 surgeries, contributing to guidance materials and media content.
• Contributing to the development of Fund documentation, including updating email templates used at each stage of the selection process, in close collaboration with the Salesforce team.
• Participating in longlisting applications alongside the Head of Activate to create a strong shortlist for external panels.
• Co-ordinating the shortlisting and interview process: creating the interview timetable, inviting, briefing and training panel members, liaising with interview candidates, organizing relevant documentation, and supporting the smooth running of interviews.
• Working with the Communications team, supporting the development of key messaging in the run-up to the launch of the Activate Fund in Spring 2026, including drafting web copy and e-news, sourcing case studies and quotes.

2. Grants Management

• Liaising with Activate grant holders to ensure award documentation is signed and returned and responding to any queries.
• Being the main point of contact for Activate grantholders, offering or signposting appropriate advice and support to aid successful project delivery.
• Managing the reporting and payment process in close collaboration with the Salesforce and Finance teams, reviewing progress reports, approving payments and requests for changes to grant duration or budget allocation within agreed Fund parameters.

3. Capacity Building

• Exploring, designing and delivering or brokering a range of additional support for grant holders, such as coaching, mentoring, convening, network-building, skills development and action learning.
• Collaborating with colleagues in the Research and Engagement team to make sure this capacity-building programme complements the wider Fellowship offer.

4. Evaluation and learning 

• Supporting the ongoing improvement of the Activate Fund through analysis of application and award trends and by collecting and reviewing feedback, with a particular focus on EDI.
• Contributing to external evaluations and internal reviews of the impact of the Fund, as required, for example through the provision of monitoring data, sourcing of Fellows for interview.

5. Fellowship Team 

• As part of the Fellowship Team, contributing to the overall preparation and running of Connect and Inspire, the annual event for new Fellows, and the biennial Award Ceremony.
• Being a proactive and collaborative member of the team, providing support to colleagues where required during busy periods of the year and contributing to a culture of ongoing and open learning.

Person Specification

• Grant making experience with evidence of supporting the delivery of a selection process and/or managing a portfolio of grants.
• Experience of designing and delivering learning programmes, facilitating communities of practice and/or providing coaching/ mentoring to support individuals to achieve their potential.
• Experience of working with or supporting people with lived experience in a learning, project management or funding role. Desirable
• Experience of piloting and evaluating new interventions/programmes with a view to scale. Desirable 
• Experience using and interacting with Salesforce (or similar CRM) and of working collaboratively with a data management/systems team.
• Experience in analysing and interpreting data for the purpose of monitoring, evaluation and improvement. Desirable 
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills for communicating face-to-face, in writing and by telephone with individuals at all levels.
• Strong numeracy skills, with an ability to assess viability of project budgets, review financial reports and manage grant payments.
• Strong IT skills, including proficiency in all aspects of Microsoft Office and comfort with facilitating meetings via video conferencing platforms 
• Excellent organisational, and time management skills with an ability to prioritise competing demands 
• Evidence of working in a team and contributing to a culture of a diverse and collaborative working environment 
• Experience of developing relationships with external organisations, teams, and individuals to source additional support and ideas.
•  Ability to meet deadlines and work under pressure. 
• Attention to detail and accuracy. 

Personality Characteristics

• A great team player with a pro-active, confident, and positive approach and the ability to contribute to a culture of collaborative working.
• Curious, open-minded, agile and not afraid to fail.
• Ability to work with good humour, tact, and diplomacy and to maintain confidentiality.
• People focused and passionate about supporting others to achieve their potential (both Fellows and colleagues).
• Commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion.   
• Commitment to the values and ethos of the Churchill Fellowship.
•  Commitment to achieving excellence through personal development and continual learning .

About our charity: Join us to support people-led change across the UK

We run the Churchill Fellowships, a unique programme that supports UK citizens to find new solutions worldwide for today’s most pressing challenges.

Every year we fund over 100 new Fellows to discover the latest ideas and best practice in any practical issue they care passionately about, anywhere in the world. The topics they explore cover every aspect of society and are often informed by their own lived experience. They meet leading practitioners, encounter cutting-edge projects, and gather their findings in a published report. Then we help them to turn their ideas into action and inspire change in their communities and professions across the UK.

Fellows tell us that their Fellowship is life-changing, for themselves and for those who benefit from their global learning. These are dedicated and practical individuals with a strong vision of the change they want to see, the knowledge to progress it and the drive to make it happen. As a result, their impact is felt throughout the UK, and many go on to be leaders in their fields.

Our unique approach has created a community of thousands of highly effective changemakers working on the frontlines of today’s key issues. At the heart of all this is a simple but enduring concept: we are empowering individuals to learn from the world and transform lives across the UK.

Working for The Churchill Fellowship

Detailed package, benefits, and wellbeing package:

• Salary - £42,000.00 per annum (5 days per week/36.5 hours)
• Hybrid working policy (4-6 days per month in the office)
• 5 weeks holiday a year, with additional paid leave when the office closes over the Christmas Break
• 1-week paid leave for volunteering (pro rata for part-time staff)
• Non-contributory pension scheme with 10% employer contribution
• Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption leave and pay.
• Employee Assistance programme
• Life assurance
• Bike purchase salary sacrifice scheme (Cycle2Work)

Standard working hours are 36.5 hours a week, 9.30am until 5.00pm, Monday to Thursday and from 9.30am until 4.00pm on Friday, including a paid lunch break of one hour.

We have embraced the benefits of working from home and at the same time, we value the contribution of face-to-face contact in building teamwork, collaborating with your colleagues, exchanging ideas and know-how, and for work efficiency. We therefore operate a hybrid working policy, where staff can work from home if they wish, however everyone is required to work in the office for a minimum of 4 to 6 days a month with Tuesdays as the core day for regular whole team meetings and Thursday as an additional core day for Senior Leaders.

Note: Unfortunately, we are not currently in a position to offer sponsorship for visas and all applicants will need to have, and be able to prove, the right to work in the UK.

We are committed to ensuring a fair and inclusive recruitment process and are happy to provide any reasonable adjustments candidates may need during the application or on the job. Please let us know if you require any support

How to apply

Please use your CV and cover letter as an opportunity to tell us a bit more about who you are as a person. We want to understand how you as an individual are going to be a great fit for this role.

We will be scheduling first round interviews as candidates apply, we will then complete a round of second interviews with a shortlist of candidates once the advertising has closed, with the view to appointing the role as soon as possible after that.

Equity, diversity and inclusion are core to the values and ethos of the charity’s work across all activities. The Churchill Fellowship is committed to being an inclusive employer with a diverse workforce. We encourage applications from people from the widest possible diversity of backgrounds, cultures, and experiences. Our office accommodation is accessible throughout.

 

RABI is the farmers charity.
 
RABI supports farming people across England, Wales and NI with expert, one-to-one practical, financial and emotional help, all year round. From confidential advice and mental health support to direct financial assistance, their tailored services respond to the unique challenges of farming life.
 
At the heart of RABI’s mission is a commitment to strengthening resilience; helping farming people feel valued, supported and better equipped to navigate uncertainty and change. RABI is working to close the farming wellbeing gap and build a future where farming people can thrive. 
 
Over the past 25 years alone, RABI has delivered almost £250 Million in direct financial support to the farming community, whilst the charity’s professional counselling service has provided 11,500 free sessions to farming people since 2022. RABI’s wrap-around support services continue to evolve, reaching more people year on year. 
 
RABI is on a journey to help shape a future farmers deserve.
 
Are you an experienced strategic leader with a passion for innovation and impact?
RABI (Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution) is seeking a dynamic Head of Business Development to shape and lead our research, pilots, and partnership programmes that address the Farming Wellbeing Gap. This is a pivotal role at the heart of our 2025–2030 strategy, ensuring that farming people have access to innovative, evidence-led support.
 
 As Head of Business Development, you will:

• Provide strategic oversight of our research agenda, ensuring insights inform services and sector influence.
• Lead major pilots that support farmer wellbeing.
• Develop organisational grant and partnership frameworks to extend reach and impact.
• Build and lead a high-performing team culture within Business Development.
• Represent RABI with credibility to external stakeholders and partners.

About you:

You are an experienced leader in business development, service innovation, or research, ideally with a background in the charity, public, or rural wellbeing sector. You’ll bring strong strategic and programme management skills, confidence in building partnerships, and a proven track record of leading change. An affinity with RABI’s mission and farming communities is essential.
 
Key responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership:

• Provide strategic oversight of RABI’s research agenda, ensuring insights shape organisational direction, new initiatives and create sector influence.
• Lead the identification, scoping, and piloting of new services and programmes that address farming families’ health and wellbeing needs.
• Drive the development of organisational grants and partnerships frameworks to strengthen resilience and widen impact.
• Champion innovation while ensuring pilots and research are underpinned by robust evaluation and impact measurement.

 
Team Leadership & Management:

• Build and lead a high-performing team culture that is collaborative, ambitious, and aligned with RABI’s goals.
• Ensure team structures and resourcing reflect the organisation’s growth, creating opportunities for talent development and succession.

 
Research and Insights:

• Oversee the commissioning and delivery of the research strategy, ensuring a balance of community engagement, applied practice based work and academic partnerships.
• Ensure research outputs are usable, timely, and embedded into any new RABI service design or pilot, and shared wider in support of advocacy and profile building.

 
Innovation and Partnerships:

• Lead major pilots including Farmers Aid Critical Care app and Click & Chat Mental Wellbeing platform, ensuring effective design, launch and evaluation.
• Oversee the development of an organisational grants framework to support partners and extend reach and impact.
• Embed new service models into organisational practice ensuring a structured handover to Service Delivery or other delivery partners to create seamless transition into BAU.

 
Cross-Organisational Collaboration:

• Work closely with Communications, Service Delivery and External Affairs to ensure alignment of initiatives with the overall organisational strategic intent.
• Collaborate with IS, Volunteering and Fundraising to maximise impact and ensure integrated CRM data and insight.
• Contribute as an active member of the Senior Leadership Team to organisational strategy, planning, and risk management.

 
Representation & Advocacy:

• Act as a spokesperson for RABI, representing the charity with credibility to external stakeholders, partners, and media as required.
• Champion the needs and voices of farming people, ensuring services are designed with and for the community.

 
Person Specification:
 
Essential

• Proven leadership experience in business development, research, service innovation, or related fields within the charity or public sector.
• Track record of developing and implementing strategies that drive organisational growth and innovation.
• Experience of leading and managing multidisciplinary teams through periods of change and expansion.
• Strong understanding of overseeing a portfolio of research and its role in shaping services.
• Ability to oversee the design and delivery of multiple pilots that are scalable, sustainable, and evidence based.
• Excellent planning, programme management, and project evaluation skills, with the ability to balance a diverse portfolio.
• Skilled at developing and maintaining effective partnerships and external stakeholder relationships.
• Strong communicator, confident in representing the organisation externally at senior levels.
• Affinity with the goals and objectives of RABI.
• Full, clean UK driving licence and willingness to travel and work occasional unsociable hours.

 
Desirable

• Experience within the UK farming/agricultural community or rural wellbeing sector.
• Knowledge of grants and partnership frameworks within a not for profit context.
• Programme or project management qualification (e.g. Prince2, MSP).

 
This role profile is not exhaustive and is subject to review in conjunction with the post holder according to future developments at RABI
 
BENEFITS

• 28 days annual leave plus bank holidays (based on full time working).
• Enrolment to Nest on commencement of employment and then opportunity to join RABI’s group pension scheme with Standard Life where RABI make contributions equivalent to 10% of your basic salary, provided you make a personal contribution of 5%. 
• Life assurance from day one. 
• Access to our Employee Assistance Programme.
• On site parking.

 
RABI is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and aims to ensure that all employment practices secure equality of opportunity and that no prospective or current employee receives less than favourable treatment at RABI as a result of their sex, sexual orientation, age, race, religion, belief, ethnic origin, disability, marital, or for any other reason which cannot be shown to be justifiable. Our recruitment process strives to ensure that individuals are selected only based on their relevant skills, experience, qualifications and abilities.
 
REF-224 884