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Help shape the future of volunteering at Samaritans.

At Samaritans, volunteers are at the heart of everything we do. As the needs of communities evolve, we need to rethink how people connect, contribute and make a difference. We’re looking for a Volunteering Innovation Advisor to help us explore, test and embed new approaches to volunteering for the years ahead.

This is an exciting opportunity for someone who is curious about emerging trends and motivated to find ways to reach people who do not currently volunteer with Samaritans. You’ll help develop new and more flexible models of volunteering—looking beyond our existing approaches to remove barriers, engage different audiences, and create opportunities that are both meaningful and sustainable.

This role is focused on developing new ways of attracting volunteers, with an emphasis on reaching new audiences and exploring different approaches.

Contract

• £30,000–£33,000 per annum plus benefits
• Full time (35 hours per week)
• Permanent
• Hybrid working with travel to Ewell office
• In-person working: Meeting in person and working collaboratively are things we value. We ask you to work in person around 2 days or more per month.
• We are passionate about flexible working—talk to us about your preferences

What You’ll Do

In this role, you’ll bring ideas to life by exploring how volunteering needs to evolve. You’ll research emerging trends and changing expectations to help shape new roles, opportunities and approaches to volunteering—particularly focused on attracting and engaging new volunteers to Samaritans.

You’ll use insight to design and test new ways of reaching different audiences, removing barriers to involvement, and creating more flexible and inclusive opportunities. This isn’t about refining what already exists—it’s about developing and trying new approaches that will help us grow and diversify our volunteer community.

You’ll help answer questions like:
• How can Samaritans offer more flexible and inclusive opportunities?
• What motivates volunteers today, and how is that changing?
• How do we ensure our volunteering reflects the diversity of the communities we support?

From gathering and interpreting insight to shaping ideas, planning projects and working with colleagues and volunteers, your role will be to turn thinking into action—helping to build a more inclusive, future-focused approach to volunteering across the organisation.

What You’ll Bring

• Curiosity and openness to innovation, with experience of exploring new ways of working
• Ability to work collaboratively with a wide range of people, including staff and volunteers
• Ability to use research and insight to inform decisions and shape new approaches
• Experience of contributing to change, improvement or innovation projects
• Experience in a volunteering-focused organisation, with an understanding of volunteer engagement, including how to reach and involve different audiences

Full Job Description and Person Specification below

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Why Samaritans?

At Samaritans, you’ll be part of a people-first organisation deeply committed to inclusion, compassion and learning. You’ll contribute to a team where your voice matters, your expertise makes a difference, and your work helps save lives.

We welcome applications from individuals with lived experience and encourage those from underrepresented communities to apply. We are committed to creating an environment where all our people feel seen, heard and supported.

You’ll join a values-led organisation with a powerful mission and a collaborative culture. We offer flexible hybrid working, excellent benefits, and the chance to make a tangible difference in suicide prevention across the UK and Ireland.

For further information about Samaritans, including our charity structure, values, employee benefits, and application process, please read our recruitment brochure available below. You can also visit our careers website to access this.

We recognise the enormous benefits and the social justice imperatives of ensuring diversity at every level of our organisation. Samaritans is wholly committed to inclusion and diversity and to building a culture and environment where everyone is appreciated for the unique person they are. To ensure Samaritans is representative of those we support and who support us, we particularly welcome applications from disabled, racialised minority and LGBTQ+ candidates, as these people are under-represented at Samaritans. 

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Apply now

You will be asked to complete short application questions and submit your CV. Please note the application questions have a 300word limit for each answer.

At Samaritans, human connection is at the heart of everything we do. 

We do not use AI at any stage during the selection process. Your application will always be carefully reviewed by the recruiting manager or a member of the Talent Attraction Team. 

We kindly ask that you avoid using AI tools to generate your application or interview answers. We want to hear your own ideas, insights, and writing style so your unique strengths can shine through. We recognise that some candidates may use assistive technology or tools to help with accessibility, structure or grammar. 

​Applications close: midnight on Sunday 7th June

In person interviews: w/c 15th June (KT17 2AF)

Are you our next Trusts Fundraising Officer?

If you have a talent for story telling, are looking for a role where your words can make a lasting impact and are passionate about giving vulnerable young people life changing opportunities, then this is the job for you. We’re seeking a talented individual who can tell our story and help secure vital funding from trusts and grant-makers.

Trusts and other grant-makers are an important source of funding for our charity. As we look ahead, we’re expanding our Trusts fundraising portfolio to meet the growing needs of our programmes. This is where you come in.

As our Trusts Fundraising Officer, you’ll be an inspiring storyteller whose enthusiasm for our work shines through in your writing. You’ll play a key role in researching new funders, crafting compelling funding applications and keeping our supporters engaged with our work. Your work will involve developing case studies and gathering evidence to show the need for our services. This will help secure sustainable funding. You’ll be supported by our experienced Trusts Fundraising Manager to build lasting relationships with funders. Together, you’ll keep them engaged and informed about the positive impact they’re making on the young people we support.

The Trusts Fundraising Officer must be self-motivated, well organised, able to multi-task, have good administration skills and understand the “power of the outdoors”.  Paid or voluntary experience in a fundraising environment is essential.  This is a great opportunity for somebody looking to take the next step in their career, with plenty of scope to develop your skills and experience within a supportive team. Whilst the role is home-based you must live in the South West to ensure easy access for in-person meetings.

The Charity

At the Youth Adventure Trust, we use outdoor adventure to empower vulnerable young people from Swindon, Wiltshire and Somerset to fulfil their potential and lead positive lives in the future. We work with them to build resilience, develop confidence and learn skills that will last a lifetime, helping them to face the challenges in their lives. Dedicated support, guidance and mentoring from our staff and volunteers ensures young people receive the maximum benefit from our long-term intervention. Our aim is to make a lasting improvement to the lives of vulnerable young people. All our services are provided completely free of charge to the young people who are nominated by schools and other youth organisations to take part.

We’re proud to offer our programmes completely free of charge to participants which means the fundraising team is crucial. With ambitious plans to help more young people over the coming years, our Events Fundraising Officer role is an exciting opportunity to make a real difference. You’ll be well-supported as part of a small fundraising team with a big heart, with plenty of opportunities to visit our programmes and see the tangible impact of your work. 

What We’re Looking For:

• Outstanding communication skills – You can write clearly, persuasively and passionately. You’re confident speaking to others about the charity’s work.

• Writing experience – You have experience writing successful funding applications, proposals, or compelling articles, ideally but not necessarily with a  fundraising focus

• Fundraising experience - You may not have written a grant application before but you should have some paid or voluntary experience in a fundraising capacity.

• Attention to detail – You take pride in your work, have a good eye for detail and a thorough approach.

• Creativity - able to put together eye-catching proposals, impact graphics and social media posts.

• Self-motivation and organisation – You’re able to manage your own time and prioritise effectively.

• Passion for the outdoors and youth development – You understand the importance of giving vulnerable young people outdoor experiences and are willing to put on your waterproofs and join in on our activities and camps to witness first-hand the difference the Youth Adventure Trust makes.

• Willingness to learn - if you think you have what it takes but don’t have lots of experience as a Trusts Fundraiser, this role comes with plenty of scope to develop your writing skills and gain experience within a supportive team environment.

Safer Recruitment

The Youth Adventure Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of young people and requires all employees to share this commitment. The suitability of all prospective employees will be assessed during the recruitment process in line with this commitment and in compliance with current employment legislation, and relevant safeguarding legislation and statutory guidance.