0.5 FTE – 18.75 hours per week (flexible working)
Salary: £30,000-£32,000 FTE depending on experience
Location: Hybrid working with one regular day or half-day per week in Abingdon/Oxfordshire, alongside home working and regular external meetings
About Quest for Learning
Quest for Learning is an education charity working to close the gap for primary school children in Oxfordshire who are falling behind due to disadvantage.
We work closely with schools to deliver targeted, evidence-led literacy and numeracy programmes that help children build the skills, confidence and foundations they need to thrive. Many of the children we support are growing up in poverty, facing barriers linked to low family literacy, unmet additional needs, unstable home circumstances, or limited access to wider opportunities.
Our programmes are delivered by experienced professional tutors and are built around structured interventions, strong school partnerships and measurable outcomes. On average, pupils supported through our small-group tutoring make around 13 months of progress in just 10 hours of support.
Quest for Learning is entering an important new stage of development. Following a period of organisational growth and strategic transition, we are investing in building a stronger and more sustainable fundraising function that can deepen our impact and reach more children across Oxfordshire.
This is an opportunity to help shape that next stage.
Why join us?
This is a rare opportunity to join a small but ambitious charity at an exciting stage of development.
You’ll have:
- Real ownership and autonomy within your role
- The opportunity to help shape and grow a developing fundraising function
- Close working relationships with the CEO and leadership team
- Flexibility and hybrid working arrangements
- The chance to build meaningful partnerships across Oxfordshire
- Opportunities for progression as the organisation grows
We are intentionally investing in fundraising, partnerships and long-term sustainability, and this role offers the opportunity to help build strong relationships and community support around an ambitious, evidence-led charity with significant future potential.
We are a collaborative, supportive and purpose-driven team that values initiative, professionalism, creativity and compassion.
Role purpose
We are seeking an energetic, proactive and relationship-focused fundraiser to help grow Quest for Learning’s community, corporate and partnership fundraising activity.
This role will focus primarily on building relationships and developing opportunities with local businesses, community organisations, schools, supporters and wider networks across Oxfordshire.
We are looking for someone who enjoys meeting people, building partnerships and creating opportunities through strong communication and relationship management. The successful candidate will help raise the profile of Quest for Learning, strengthen supporter engagement and contribute to a more diverse and sustainable income base.
This is a role for someone who is motivated by people, partnerships and meaningful social impact.
Alongside this role, Quest for Learning is also recruiting for a trusts and grants fundraising role. We are open-minded about how responsibilities are ultimately structured and welcome applications from candidates with a range of backgrounds, experiences and strengths.
You will work closely with the CEO, programme staff and trustees, with access to strong impact data, established programmes and a compelling case for support.
Key responsibilities
Community and partnership fundraising
- Build and develop relationships with local businesses, community groups and supporters
- Identify and develop opportunities for corporate partnerships, sponsorship and community fundraising
- Represent Quest for Learning at meetings, networking events and community activities
- Develop and maintain relationships with local organisations including schools, Rotary clubs, WIs, businesses and civic groups
- Support the development of fundraising campaigns, partnership opportunities and supporter initiatives
- Help grow Quest for Learning’s visibility and supporter network across Oxfordshire
- Work with the CEO and trustees to identify and cultivate new opportunities and introductions
Supporter engagement and stewardship
- Build positive and professional relationships with supporters and partners
- Ensure strong communication and stewardship with supporters
- Help supporters and organisations engage meaningfully with Quest for Learning’s mission and impact
- Support the development of compelling fundraising messaging and supporter communications
- Gather and share stories, outcomes and examples of impact with supporters and partners
Organisational contribution
- Contribute to the ongoing development of Quest for Learning’s fundraising function and systems
- Work collaboratively with colleagues across the organisation
- Represent Quest for Learning professionally and passionately to external audiences
- Contribute ideas and insight to support organisational growth and sustainability
- Maintain accurate records of partnerships, communications and activity within Beacon CRM
Person specification
We recognise that strong fundraisers and partnership-builders do not always come from traditional charity fundraising backgrounds. If you have transferable skills and experience in areas such as partnerships, account management, business development, communications, education, customer relationships, sales, marketing or community engagement - and are excited by our mission - we would strongly encourage you to apply.
Essential
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills
- Confidence building relationships with a wide range of people and organisations
- Ability to work independently and proactively
- Highly organised, with the ability to manage multiple priorities
- Strong written communication skills
- Confidence representing an organisation externally
- Ability to communicate complex ideas clearly and persuasively
- Commitment to the mission and values of Quest for Learning
- Experience in relationship-building, partnerships, stakeholder engagement or supporter-facing work
Desirable
- Experience in fundraising, partnerships or business development
- Experience within education, children’s services or related sectors
- Knowledge of the Oxfordshire community or business landscape
- Experience working within a small charity or growing organisation
- Experience supporting events, campaigns or community engagement activity
- Experience using Beacon CRM or similar systems
What success in this role looks like
Successful performance in this role is likely to include:
- Building strong and sustainable community and corporate relationships
- Increasing Quest for Learning’s visibility and supporter engagement
- Developing new partnership and fundraising opportunities
- Growing unrestricted and partnership-based income
- Strengthening supporter stewardship and community presence
- Contributing to the growth and professionalisation of Quest for Learning’s fundraising function
As Quest for Learning grows, we expect this role to develop too, with opportunities to shape strategy and take on increasing responsibility over time.
Who thrives at Quest for Learning
People who tend to thrive at Quest for Learning are:
- proactive and solutions-focused
- motivated by meaningful impact
- comfortable working independently while collaborating closely with others
- excited by helping build and improve systems and processes
- confident building relationships and engaging with people
- adaptable, thoughtful and motivated to grow professionally alongside the organisation
Working arrangements
- 0.5 FTE with flexible working arrangements
- Hybrid role combining home working with one regular day or half-day per week in Abingdon/Oxfordshire
- Regular travel across Oxfordshire for meetings and events
- Flexible working patterns can be discussed
Benefits
- Flexible and hybrid working
- Pension contribution
- TOIL policy
- Supportive and collaborative working culture
- Professional development opportunities
- Opportunity to help shape a growing fundraising function within an ambitious charity
Application process
To apply, please submit:
- your CV
- and a short statement (maximum one page) explaining:
- why you are interested in the role
- and how your skills and experience relate to the role
We encourage applications from candidates with both traditional and non-traditional fundraising backgrounds.
For an informal conversation about the role, please contact Chris Higgins, CEO
Closing date: midday, Tuesday 30 June
Interviews: week commencing 6 or 13 July
Registered Charity 
11 - 20
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
Pathway Manager
Apply today to step into a role where your leadership will drive real, measurable impact—empowering teams, shaping inclusive services, and making a lasting difference in people’s lives every day.
Location: Lambeth - Lambeth YP Assessment Time Out
Salary: £43,632 per annum
Closing date: 05 July, 2026
Employment Type: Permanent
Hours per week: 37.5
About the Role
Lead the delivery of a high-impact, person-centred service as a Pathway Manager, where your leadership will directly shape outcomes for individuals and communities. You’ll drive performance, quality, and continuous improvement across a multidisciplinary pathway, building strong partnerships and using insight and data to inform confident, effective decisions.
We’re looking for a proactive, values-driven leader who thrives in complex environments. You’ll bring strong operational oversight, team leadership, and stakeholder management skills, alongside a commitment to safeguarding, inclusion, and excellence. If you’re action-oriented, collaborative, and passionate about delivering meaningful change, this is your opportunity to make a real difference in an inclusive and supportive environment.
Please note that this job opportunity is offered as a full-time (37.5 hours a week), permanent role.
Key Deliverables
• You will be committed to working in and maintaining an environment that supports the safeguarding of young people as the Safeguarding Lead for the service
• You will be adept in managing the service and its partnerships
• You will manage, monitor, evaluate and continuously improve the service and its operation within Lambeth’s developing approach
• You will comply with quality inspection and assessment procedures
• You will ensure effective support, learning or family support plans (as applicable) for young people are in place and regularly reviewed
• You will maintain a safe and secure environment, that has appropriate risk assessment processes and systems in place that are regularly reviewed and monitored;
• You will ensure young people are a major part in shaping service delivery
• You will ensure effective delivery of Depaul UK’s approved life skills training and work closely with Participation and Volunteering leads.
• At the end of this programme, you will develop an evidence based report, that will enable us to embed what was done well, share learning internally and externally
• To be successful in this role you will be expected to go the extra mile by being flexible with the hours you work always bearing in mind the needs of the business.
• You will undertake full line management of the Team Leader and ETE worker
• Any other duties commensurate with the role
Health and Safety:
• To ensure a safe and secure environment and maintain high standards within the services. This includes risk assessments, health and safety checks and the cleaning and preparation of rooms for new residents.
• To involve service users in developing an awareness of their own personal and building health and safety, through information sessions, key working and support planning and resident meetings.
• To ensure that the project is clean and safe and to encourage residents to take some responsibility in the cleaning of their communal areas and their room.
• To work for a proportion of the time as a lone worker and as part of the wider team.
• Undertake appropriate risk assessments for lone working.
Administration:
• To maintain written records and monitoring information as appropriate and input and retrieve data on the Inform system.
• To prepare reports, statistical data and other information that maybe requested by the Asst. Area Director.
• To ensure that any repairs and maintenance issues are reported in a timely manner in order to ensure the health and safety and security of the building environment.
• Any other administrative tasks that will ensure the smooth running of the service.
Finance:
• With the support of the Area. Director devise effective, safe and timely methods for the collection of accommodation and service charges from residents, and to maintain auditable records of payment.
• Ensure that arrears management procedures are adhered to.
• To take responsibility for petty cash and record all transactions in line with policy.
General:
• To contribute to a high quality and effective delivery of service.
• To participate in internal/external meetings as required and attend training, events, conferences and other functions as necessary.
• To participate in regular supervision and IDP and help in identifying your own job-related development and training needs.
• To contribute to and be supportive of young people’s involvement in our services and in all levels of decision making throughout the organization.
• To ensure that all Depaul policies and procedures are adhered to.
• To be successful in this role you will expected to go the extra mile by being flexible with the hours you work always bearing in mind the needs of the business.
• Any other duties commensurate with the role.
What we are looking for from you
When completing your application form please address all the points set out below.
• A commitment to the ethos and values of Depaul including the organisation’s policies and procedures
• Demonstrable experience of working with young and vulnerable people and young families with multiple and complex needs.
• Experience and understanding of challenges and barriers faced by young people in securing accommodation and sustainable education and training.
• Experience of leading a team, establishing processes and relationships.
• Negotiating skills
• Coordinating and organising skills
• Able to work on own initiative but at same time able to exercise sound judgment in knowing when to consult or delegate tasks.
• Able to work flexibly and develop positive working relationships at a range of different levels including staff, volunteers, managers, young people and stakeholders to set and deliver organisational goals and resolve conflicts of interest professionally.
• A clear understanding and ability to implement risk management, information sharing and data security arrangements.
• Awareness of and commitment to equal opportunity and diversity practice. Ability to promote and implement diversity practice and policies and generally treat colleagues and young people fairly and with respect.
• Demonstrate ability to use IT to a level which will enable high quality reporting to be carried out. This should include an ability to use data capture systems including running queries and reports.
• Expertise to manage a medium sized team of staff with responsibility for multiple projects/ services, a range of which of which operate 24 hours per day, 7 days per week
• The ability to provide cover Monday to Friday with occasional management support at weekends.
What You’ll Receive
· Tailored training and development
· Flexible working options where suitable
· 26 days annual leave, rising with service
· Family friendly leave policies
· Pension scheme with employer contributions up to 7%
· Employee Assistance Programme with 24/7 GP access
· Discounts across retail, travel, food, fitness and more
· Cash health plan for you and your family
· Death in service benefit
· Access to legal and practical support
Safer Recruitment
Depaul UK is committed to fair and inclusive recruitment, and we welcome applications from people of all backgrounds. If a role requires it under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975, we will carry out the appropriate Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check. We only look at information that is relevant to the role, and a criminal record will never be treated as an automatic barrier to employment. All DBS information is handled sensitively, confidentially and in line with the DBS Code of Practice, and we encourage applicants to discuss any concerns with us openly.
About Depaul UK
In the 1980s, high unemployment and steep inflation was contributing to a shocking rise in youth homelessness across London. Thousands of young people were sleeping rough every night, with many areas notoriously dubbed “cardboard cities” due to the visible rise in street homelessness. Appalled by the scenes playing out across the capital, a group of people came together to tackle the challenge head on. Led by Cardinal Basil Hume and Mark McGreevy OBE, in 1989 Depaul UK was born.
What began as a single housing project in North London soon expanded across London, Greater Manchester and the North East of England. Today, Depaul UK provides accommodation, prevention and support services to thousands of marginalised young people across the UK each year.
As our name suggests, the work of Depaul UK has been inspired by St. Vincent de Paul – a man who devoted his life to helping vast numbers of people throughout the 17th century. St. Vincent de Paul’s belief in the intrinsic worth of all people and his commitment to taking bold action remain central to our values today. Depaul UK now forms part of a family of Depaul charities around the world. We each focus on the specific challenges in our own countries, but we’re united by our shared values and mission to end homelessness.
