Jobs

About us

Carers UK’s vision is to create a society that recognises, values and supports carers. As the leading national charity for unpaid carers, we exist to make life better for carers, however caring affects them. Our support, advice, information and campaigning work are now needed more than ever, as unpaid carers are providing more and more care, adversely impacting on their own health and wellbeing.

About the role

We recognise the value of social media in communicating with all our audiences; whether unpaid carers or their friends and families, employers, politicians, service providers, supporters and all those people who may become a carer for a partner, family member, friend or neighbour and will need information, support, and to know that there are people working to make their lives better.

This role works with colleagues across the organisation, including our senior management team - but also in partnership with external organisations and agencies - with targets set for engagement (and other indicators of the success of our campaigns). We're working on multiple campaigns simultaneously; whether that's Carers Week, campaigns to influence changes to the law to better support carers, encouraging unpaid carers to join us as members, updating on activities in the devolved nations or getting people to fundraise for Carers UK. And we use a mix of owned, earned and paid communications to drive engagement in a challenging and crowded environment in order to get our messages to cut through. It's a busy, but varied role, in a supportive and collaborative team.

About you

Working within the communications and marketing team, you'll be confident in managing our social media accounts (we have many), ensuring we're using platforms to get our messages out to both wide and targeted audiences with engaging and timely content.

You'll be happy using tools for social listening, interacting with our audiences and building our reach. You'll be familiar with key metrics for social engagement and will be reporting back to colleagues and other stakeholders - and using this data to constantly improve our communications.

You'll be skilled in writing longer form content for our members' magazine, Caring, proof reading articles, posting content on our websites, creating graphics and making sure our content is engaging, audience focused and dynamic. Oh, and you probably know your way around an emoji set and are not scared of a well timed pun. Plus you'll have a great eye for detail and be confident in your ability to prioritise (and sometimes reprioritise) your workload as needed.

We're a small but effective communications team and pride ourselves on getting stuck in and supporting each other when we need to deliver big on fast moving projects, so you'll need be able to juggle lots of demands while recognising the importance of always hitting deadlines.

Diversity and inclusion

Carers UK is committed to becoming a diverse and truly inclusive organisation; fostering an environment and working culture that celebrates and promotes diversity and inclusion.  We strive to create a workplace where our colleagues and volunteers can truly be themselves and feel like they belong and constantly seek to ensure all voices are heard.

To embrace this culture of diversity, our employee and volunteer recruitment should reflect our stakeholders and the society that we serve and support, regardless of age, race, gender, sexual orientation, physical abilities, disabilities or religious practices. We value individual diversity and are actively building diverse teams here at Carers UK and value our colleagues from a wide range of backgrounds.

As a membership charity for carers, we particularly seek employees and volunteers with a real understanding of the issues faced by carers. Reasonable adjustments can be made to the process and role, dependent on the needs of the applicant.

We are proud to be an Employers for Carers member. We have signed the Menopause Workplace Pledge and achieved the Disability Confident Employer accreditation. We aim to offer interviews to those who have a disability covered under the definition outlined in the Equality Act 2010 and who meet the minimum criteria for the role. The minimum criteria can be found under the Essential section of the Person Specification of the recruitment pack. Please let us know if your application is being made under the Disability Confident Scheme. You are not required to share the nature of your disability or long term health condition. You will need to state in your email application that you are making your application under the Disability Confident Scheme as you consider yourself to be disabled, or as having a disability. If you meet the minimum criteria then you will be offered an interview.

At Carers UK we want our application process to be as accessible as possible. If you need any adjustments to apply please contact us to discuss.  

The closing date for applications is 5pm, Tuesday 18 August.

Carers UK anonymises all applications prior to shortlisting.

Carers UK reserves the right to appoint at any stage, should an outstanding candidate emerge.

Carers UK are actively interviewing as we receive applications.

Carers UK may carry out online and social media checks before a formal offer is made.

The Communications and Research Officer is a new post designed to help bridge the gap between the research and campaigning work of Drone Wars UK and our supporters and the general public. The role is split 50/50 between communications and research. The communications element combines social media activity, website content creation and email communications, helping to ensure our messages are communicated clearly, consistently and creatively across a range of channels.  The research element consists of undertaking a number of short-term specific research projects alongside participation in on-going longer-term research work.

This is an excellent opportunity for someone who enjoys creating engaging content as well as undertaking in-depth investigations that contribute to positive social change. In addition, the person appointed will take an active role in the forthcoming strategic review shaping the organisation’s work over the next few years.

Job Description

Communications

• To be responsible for Drone Wars UK’s website, managing regular content updates and improving the content, layout and structure.
• To schedule social media content and manage social media accounts to increase engagement and reach.
• To use appropriate design tools in the creation of content for website and all digital and public facing channels.
• To undertake email campaigns in conjunction with the staff team to promote our work and increase participation in events.
• To participate in engagement with legacy and new media alongside other members of the staff team in order to promote the work and campaign aims of Drone Wars UK.
• To undertake appropriate speaking engagements on behalf of DWUK.

Research

• To undertake specific pieces of research into the use of armed drones, autonomous weapons and the militarisation of space as agreed with the Director.
• To write and produce accessible reports, articles and briefings based on the research undertaken.
• To write appropriate copy for the website.
• To contribute to on-going research work by keeping abreast of new and emerging military technologies.
• To contribute to maintaining the Drone Wars UK internal information database 

General

•  To work collaboratively with the staff team to set priorities and to develop existing and future research projects and campaigns.
• To network with other communicators, researchers and campaigners working on these issues in relevant organisations. 
• To undertake tasks as directed by the Director to ensure the smooth running of the organisation.
• To participate in campaign activity to limit the harms caused by armed drones, autonomous weapons and the militarisation of space.

Person Specification

Knowledge and Experience

• A degree, preferably to Master’s level, or equivalent experience in a subject area relevant to the post (Essential).
• Three years experience of engaging in research work, preferably in the peace and security/human rights sector or similar field (Essential).
• Commitment to the aims and objectives of Drone Wars UK (Essential) 
• Demonstrable ability to write and express thoughts and positions clearly, succinctly and accurately in English in a variety of formats, including major reports (Essential).
• Hands-on experience of managing websites (WordPress) and utilising social media, email marketing platforms, and varied digital tools to drive engagement (Essential). 

Skills and Attributes

• Understanding of the on-going legal and ethical debate around the use of armed drones, autonomous weapons and/or militarisation of space (Essential).
• Ability to manage workloads and professional duties without day-to-day managerial oversight (Essential) 
• The right to work in the UK (Essential)
• Understanding of and commitment to equal opportunities (Essential). 
• Ability to work both independently and as a member of a team (Essential).
• Experience in engaging with legacy and new media to promote campaign objectives (Desirable). 
• Familiarity with national and international security issues and institutions (Desirable).
• Willingness to learn new skills and work co-operatively with others to build strong campaigns (Desirable). 

Training Coordinator

Location: Cathedral House, Westminster Bridge Rd, London, SE1 7HY

Reports to: Director of Youth

Hours: Full-time

Salary: £32,000

The Youth Ministry Training Coordinator is responsible for the development and delivery of a youth ministry training programme across the Archdiocese.

This includes coordinating a structured formation course (in partnership with external providers), mentoring participants, and supporting parishes and deaneries in building local youth and young

adult groups.

The role also includes supporting the formation of the Archdiocesan Mission Team and key events.

Success in this role will be measured by the development of our training and a growing network of confident parish-based youth leaders.

1. Course Delivery

· Develop our Archdiocesan youth leadership training programme, working with external providers and delivering bespoke material.

· Plan and deliver regular training (bespoke and with external providers), including in-person days and remote input as appropriate.

· Maintain an annual training calendar and ensure course content aligns with Archdiocesan strategy, safeguarding requirements, and parish needs. Assist in the development of practical youth ministry training resources for clergy.

2. Mentoring and Formation

· Mentor and accompany participants through the external training course, offering personal and spiritual support.

· Ensure learning is embedded in the parish or deanery setting so that

· parishes are able to set up and enhance local level groups.

· Track participant progress and provide regular feedback and evaluation reports.

3. Local Youth Leader Development

· Support and enable the recruitment and training of local volunteers, in collaboration with clergy and lay leaders.

· Support the identification and development of deanery-based youth contacts from existing and developing networks to promote the work of the Youth Service in parishes and cascade key information.

· Advise and provide step-by-step support to parish priests and volunteers seeking to develop youth ministry locally.

Key Responsibilities

Facilitate collaboration and networking between parishes and deaneries to share best practices.

Develop existing toolkit/guidance for youth leaders to support them in their ministry.

Additional Responsibilities

4. Mission Team

· Develop pathways and training for Mission Team alumni to continue

· serving in their local parishes or deaneries as youth leaders.

· Assist the Mission Team Programme Lead in delivering the Mission

· Team’s annual training programme where required.

5.Event Support

· Support the Director of Youth and the Event Coordinator at key events.

· Represent the training programme at relevant meetings or gatherings.

6.Monitoring & Evaluation

· Collect and assess feedback from training sessions and participants.

· Produce concise quarterly reports summarising training outcomes, parish engagement, and areas for development.

Essential

· A practising Catholic who is committed to the mission and teachings of the Catholic Church, and passionate about youth ministry.

· Experience of working in Catholic youth ministry at parish, diocesan, or school level.

· Experience delivering training or formation programmes, ideally to young people and/or adult volunteers.

· Experience in mentoring or accompanying individuals in a faith context.

· Ability to engage effectively with clergy, volunteers, and young people across diverse settings.

· Excellent communication, planning, and time management skills.

· Confident in delivering content both in person and online.

· Right to work in the UK and willingness to undergo a DBS check.

· Proven ability to work independently and manage multiple relationships simultaneously.

· Commitment to safeguarding and maintaining appropriate professional boundaries in line with Archdiocesan safeguarding policies.

Desirable

· A degree or equivalent qualification in Theology, Catechesis, Education, Youth Ministry, or a related field.

· Familiarity with the structures and pastoral life of Catholic parishes and deaneries.

· Understanding of safeguarding policies and best practice in a Church context.

· Experience supporting volunteers and clergy to launch or sustain parish based initiatives.

Application Information

To apply for the role, please use the button at the top of the page to send us your CV and cover letter.