Community partners jobs

Help secure the future of a 120-year-old youth charity At The Shewsy, we support over 100 children and young people every day in one of the most deprived communities in the UK. Founded in 1903, we provide meals, mentoring, and a safe space, but more importantly, we build relationships that change lives. Our motto is “People Matter More Than Things".

We are now looking for a brilliant Fundraising & Engagement Manager to help us take the next step in building a stronger, more sustainable funding base so we can reach even more young people.

Salary: £40,000 per annum 

Hours: 37 hours per week (flexible working available and could offer 0.8) 

Contract type: Permanent

Benefits:  

• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)

• NEST Pension 

• Benefits & Discount Portal 

• 22 days annual leave plus Bank Holidays 

• Professional Training & Development

The Role (and why it matters) This isn’t just about writing bids behind a desk. It’s about being a visible, energetic advocate for The Shewsy. You will champion our work face-to-face, engaging our local Everton community while nurturing our historic, vital ties with Shrewsbury School and the Old Salopian network. You will balance persuasive in-person communication with high-quality grant writing to unlock new opportunities and bring ideas to life.

What you’ll be doing

Building Relationships & Community Engagement

• Actively network and build face-to-face relationships with local businesses, community members, and potential corporate partners.

• Nurture and expand our vital relationship with the Shrewsbury School community and Old Salopians to encourage legacy giving, regular donations, and matched-giving support.

• Champion and support community fundraising events and campaigns, including our highly successful Big Give Christmas Challenge.

Securing Grant Funding

• Build and manage a £200,000+ annual funding pipeline by researching and applying for grants from trusts and foundations.

• Write high-quality, compelling, and tailored funding applications.

• Maintain a live pipeline of funders, tracking applications, success rates, and deadlines.

Telling Our Story Powerfully

• Turn powerful frontline youth work into compelling narratives for both written bids and in-person presentations.

• Work with staff to capture impact, stories, and data to strengthen how we evidence our outcomes.

What success looks like (Year 1)

• Strong, active relationships established with the Shrewsbury School community, Old Salopians, and local Everton stakeholders.

• A £200k+ funding pipeline established and actively managed.

• Consistent monthly/quarterly bid submissions balancing quick wins with strategic applications.

• Increased repeat funding, multi-year grants, and diversified community income.

Who we’re looking for You might already be a community fundraiser, a bid writer looking to step out from behind the screen, or someone ready to step up.

Essential

• Exceptional in-person communication and presentation skills, with the ability to engage diverse audiences from local residents to major donors.

• Experience writing successful grant applications in the charity sector.

• A track record of securing funding from trusts, foundations, or major donors.

• Highly organised, able to balance desk-based bid writing with out-and-about relationship building.

• Ability to work independently and make things happen.

Desirable

• Experience in youth, community, or social impact organisations.

• Knowledge of the Liverpool funding landscape.

• Experience with community campaigns or matched-funding appeals (e.g., the Big Give).

The kind of person who thrives here

• You care deeply about young people and social impact.

• You are proactive, outgoing, and don’t wait to be told what to do.

• You spot opportunities others miss and can turn a conversation into a compelling bid or a new partnership.

• You want your work to actually make a difference.

This exciting new role offers the right candidate the opportunity to lead LBWP's programmes and services for Black and minoritised, i.e. Global Majority, women and children who are survivors of domestic violence and abuse. Our programmes team is expanding as we are providing new refuge and dispersed accommodation services as well as legal advice, counselling and ex-service user training and development support. 

This senior leadership role also involves developing and maintaining external parternships with key stakeholders, funders, strategic women's sector organisations and local community partners as well as overseeing programme budgets, facilities managment and service user engagement.

Essential skilss and experience include:

• Senior management experience within the voluntary, community, or public sector
• Proven experience of simultaneously managing complex, multi- programme delivery 
• Good understanding of specialist domestic violence and abuse services that support the specific needs of Global Majority women and their children
• Experience of working as part of a senior management team and working collaboratively to develop organisational strategy and operational plans
• Experience of managing and supporting line managers and multidisciplinary teams
• Experience of managing project budgets, reviewing management accounts and identifying issues with internal systems to improve them

London Black Women's Project is a specialist ‘by and for’ organisation providing refuge, supported accommodation, and wraparound support programmes for Black and minoritised (Global Majority) women and their children who are survivors of domestic violence and abuse. We work across London in partnership with London boroughs, the specialist women's DV sector, funders and community services to provide holistic wraparound support and advice. 

As Community Connector you will play a vital role in fostering meaningful relationships between Raw Material and its diverse local communities, and stakeholders across the education, arts, youth work, community, and social and healthcare sectors. 

Working as part of the Programmes Team (and closely with other Raw Material staff) you will develop, coordinate and participate in the delivery of Raw Material’s CEP, building awareness of the charity’s creative and wellbeing programmes, facilities and broader services (e.g. workspaces).

You will develop creative ideas, partnership opportunities and produce and organise activities, events and initiatives that amplify Raw Material’s mission, and boost our reach, increase participation and engagement in our services, and enhance the accessibility, relevance and impact of our work, particularly amongst marginalised communities.

You will champion the use of music and creativity as tools to support wellbeing, personal development and social inclusion; communicate the benefits and value of Raw Material’s programmes and services; and create inclusive pathways for underrepresented and marginalised communities with lived experience to access Raw Material opportunities.

We are very excited to announce that we have been awarded a grant by The National Lottery Community Fund to help us support our most valued micro and small voluntary and community groups in Oxfordshire.

As the Programme Manager, you will play a pivotal role in driving forward this partnership initiative, working collaboratively with our delivery partners, with local stakeholders, community and voluntary sector groups, and our funder The National Lottery Community Fund to ensure that impact measurement and activity reporting is kept on track. You will work with two new SaM Community Development Workers, and with our partner organisation staff to develop a new outreach programme of infrastructure support shaped with and for the micro and small organisations across the county. You will develop a tailored action plan of outputs and outcomes with our Partnership Advisory Group and dovetail this with a pathway to gather data, stories and feedback on learning, impact and change. This monitoring and evaluation will be reported back to the Advisory Group and the National Lottery on a regular basis.

As the SaM Programme Manager you will manage a county‑wide partnership, contributing not only to delivery but also to shared learning, reflection and continuous improvement. You will balance representing your host organisation with acting in the best interests of the partnership and the communities it serves.

We’re looking for a confident, proactive, and highly organised Community Programme Coordinator to join the team, and be responsible for planning and coordinating activities, events, and other group offers here at the Likewise Community Hub, Kitchen, and Garden in Camden. 

Please note, we may decide to stop taking applications earlier than the 10th of April if we receive a high number of applicants. Please also ensure you read through the job pack attached before submitting your application.

About the Role:

Job Title: Community Programme Coordinator 

Salary: £29,000

Holiday: 28 days + bank holidays (increasing by 1 day per year of service)

Pension: 5% employer contribution

Hours: 37.5 hours per week, Full time

Based: At the Likewise Community Hub, Camden; Flexible; Minimum of 4 days in person, up to 1 day a week remote

About Us 

Likewise is an innovative social care and mental health charity working at the heart of the Camden community, supporting individuals experiencing loneliness, isolation and social exclusion. We provide a range of one-to-one and community offers, and our goal is to create spaces and places where people from all walks of life and with varying levels of need can find belonging, connection, and support navigating life.

At the Likewise Community Hub, we offer a programme of activities, events, and therapies that are free and open to all adults, but with a particular focus on those experiencing social isolation, loneliness, or marginalisation through mental ill health. We want to continue developing into a vibrant, thriving and inclusive wellbeing hub.

About You

Essential experience and skills would include:

- Planning, delivering, and coordinating projects, activities, or events with multiple stakeholders

- Using Microsoft Office, with strong knowledge of Outlook, Excel, and Forms in particular, and being comfortable learning new systems

- Supporting or coordinating volunteers and/or placement students

- Attention to detail, organisational skills, and the ability to manage competing priorities and administrative tasks

- Building relationships and engaging with community members, volunteers, or service users

- Working with people who may have varying support needs, including mental health challenges

- Responding thoughtfully to, or managing challenging situations and conflict while maintaining appropriate boundaries

- Building positive relationships with external partners, communicating with care while representing the needs and values of the organisation

It would also be great if you had...:

- Experience working in the charity, community, or health and social care sector

- Experience in supporting and implementing project reporting, monitoring, or evaluation tools

- Some familiarity with housing, social care, or welfare systems, or experience in supporting people to navigate these            

- Experience designing and distributing promotional materials, or using tools such as Canva, MailChimp, etc

- Familiarity or knowledge of adult safeguarding, duty of care, and GDPR principles                    

- Experience using project coordination tools, databases, and/or CRM systems

- Some familiarity with the local area or experience working in the Borough of Camden                                                                 

How to Apply

More information about this role and how to apply can be found in the Job Information Pack attached below. Please read through it before you apply. The deadline for submitting your application form, CV, and your supporting statement with the answers to your written application (see information pack for guiding questions) is 9 am on the 10th of April, 2026. 

Please do not include your name or any other personal characteristics on your CV or supporting statement. This helps us to look at applications anonymously.

For any questions or enquiries related to our recruitment process

View our job information pack for details on how to contact us.

The Community Events Executive will play a key role in delivering our Community Fundraising strategy. Working closely with the Senior Fundraising Executive - Community & Events, this role will oversee the planning, delivery and growth of community-focused fundraising activity across a range of channels. The postholder will manage a portfolio of community fundraising products and partnerships, tailored to engage specific audience groups and will be responsible for building and nurturing relationships with supporters, Community Champions and volunteers at a local level to maximise engagement, participation, and income.

About You: 

ESSENTIAL

• Experience delivering events or community-based fundraising activities.
• Proven experience of building relationships with community groups and/or volunteers.
• Strong relationship management skills with the ability to engage and inspire volunteers and supporters.
• Excellent organisational and project management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Proactive and self-motivated, with a collaborative approach.
• Ability to work flexibly, including some evenings and weekends, with occasional travel.
• Holds a current, valid driving license and access to a vehicle for work purposes.

DESIRABLE

• Knowledge of fundraising regulations and best practice.
• Experience using CRM systems and online fundraising platforms to manage supporter relationships and fundraising efforts.
• Knowledge and experience of using social media platforms to promote supporter events.

To view the full job description, please visit the Careers page on our website. 

Job Title:                       Community Coordinator 
 

Reporting To:               Regional Manager 
 

Salary Range:               £25,000 Per Annum
 

Contract Type:           Full Time, 12 month Fixed Term 
 

Location:                      Field Based role covering Yorkshire, Licolnshire, Humberside 
 

Working days/hours per week: 35 hours per week, Monday – Friday, 9am – 5pm                     
 

Our Vision: A UK where “No good food goes to waste”. 

The Felix Project and FareShare have recently merged to form the UK's largest food redistribution charity. Its vision is a UK where good food is never wasted, and nobody goes hungry. 

The organisation rescues high quality edible surplus food, from across the food industry and gets it to over 8,000 organisations across the UK who are working to strengthen communities and improve lives. 

The charity manages seven depots across London, Suffolk, Merseyside and Hampshire and works with 16 network partners who operate a further 26 regional depots across the UK. 

Over the next year our ambition is to rescue enough food nationally to provide nearly 200 million meals, turning an environmental problem into social good with measurable impact for people, planet, and the economy.

Purpose of the Job 

To focus on the growth and sustainability of the FareShare Go programme; through maximising relationships and adding value to create the best experience for the charity and store community in your designated area.  
 

Duties & Responsibilities 

• Annual and on-going charity account management  

• Liaison with store or retailer personnel to ensure positive charity experience and issue resolution 

• Strong skills in relationship management and networking for programme development 

• Compliance and safety of charity food use 

• Community engagement  

• Operational support and data reporting for performance improvement 

• Provide pro-active leadership and support in ensuring the delivery of all functional demands. Ensure the functional processes and procedures are appropriately controlled. 

• Create and maintain an innovative environment that encourages colleague participation in raising standards of quality, team working and communication

Play a leading role in ending food poverty across the South Cotswolds by growing essential fundraising and community partnerships. This is a chance to shape meaningful change through storytelling, relationship‑building and strategic income generation.

About our Charity

South Cotswolds Foodbank supports people across more than 210 square miles, providing emergency food and compassion while working towards long‑term solutions to the root causes of poverty. We are now seeking a Fundraising & Community Relations Manager to help us build the resources, relationships and community awareness we need to meet rising demand and to drive our mission forward.

Location

This role is based at our Cirencester office, with opportunities for some home working. The post will involve some local travel across the South Cotswolds to meet supporters, partners, and community groups. 

Role and Responsibilities

As a key member of our small, friendly staff team, you will lead the development of fundraising from individuals, businesses, trusts and foundations, and community groups. You will identify new funding opportunities, craft compelling bids, and nurture long‑term partnerships that help sustain our annual running costs and strengthen our future resilience.

You will also take a leading role in shaping how we share our story. Working closely with the Head of Foodbank and colleagues, you will create marketing materials, digital and print content, fundraising campaigns, and communications that bring our mission and our clients’ experiences to life. This includes producing newsletters, fundraising appeals, social media content, and materials for events and outreach activities.

A central part of this role is inspiring and stewarding supporters, whether that’s someone making a one‑off donation, a local business exploring a partnership, or a trust considering a grant application. You’ll design ways to keep supporters engaged, informed and appreciated, ensuring communications reflect our values and priorities and are consistent with our brand and tone.

You will represent the Foodbank at community events across the region, building relationships with schools, churches, associations, local groups and businesses. This outward‑facing work helps raise awareness of the causes of food poverty, increases support, and strengthens our reach into communities who want to take action. You’ll also coordinate volunteers who contribute to these events.

Working closely with colleagues, you’ll help capture stories and case studies from people with lived experience of food poverty (with sensitivity and respect) to illustrate the realities facing local families and to strengthen our fundraising, communications, and advocacy work. You will maintain our CRM system, ensuring accurate donor and engagement data, and produce regular reports for monitoring and oversight.

Person Specification

This is an exciting opportunity for someone who is proactive, organised and able to work independently. You will need excellent communication skills, creativity, strong relationship‑building ability, and a proven track record in fundraising or partnership‑driven roles. You’ll work with purpose and empathy, always championing those affected by hardship.

Working at South Cotswolds Foodbank

We offer a supportive and collaborative environment. Our staff benefits include:

• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays, pro rata
• Employee Assistance Programme (BHSF) available to you 
• Four weeks full pay + four weeks half pay sickness provision (after probation)
• Pension scheme with 3% employer contribution (auto‑enrolment conditions apply) 

You’ll join a dedicated team of staff and volunteers who are committed to ensuring no one in our community goes hungry, and who believe that alongside emergency support, we must work on root‑cause solutions that make long‑term change possible.

If you want a role that blends strategic fundraising, community connection, and creative communication, and you want your work to make a tangible difference every day, this could be the perfect next step.

Join our team to help us build sustainable community-led social action in North Kirklees!

This is an incredibly exciting opportunity for someone looking to play a key role in a small but influential national charity building a positive legacy for the late Jo Cox MP.

We are looking for someone with experience of working on community building and organising initiatives, who is skilled in engaging and working collaboratively with diverse communities, with a self-motivated, action-oriented approach, and a genuine commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion.

Through this role you will play a key part in continuing Jo Cox’s legacy over the years to come.

ABOUT THE ROLE

The Community Action Worker will frequently travel across Batley, Dewsbury and Heckmondwike to support local people and groups to develop community-led social action initiatives that bring people together across lines of difference. Working in line with asset-based community development and community organising approaches, you will support local groups to start, build, grow and sustain projects that strengthen neighbourliness and bring people together around shared interests. 

You will also work as part of a local interdisciplinary team to develop arts-based activity through a More in Common Creative Collective. This would celebrate difference and challenge narratives of division through creative community work. You will also support the delivery of facilitated dialogue through the Let’s Talk programme, helping communities address division through conversation.

ABOUT YOU

We’re looking for someone who is deeply committed to building community power and supporting community-led change. You will bring experience in asset-based community development, community organising, movement building, or closely related approaches, which might include mentoring and coaching. Alongside this you will have a relational way of working that starts with listening, trust-building, and identifying the strengths, interests and leadership that already exist within communities. 

You will be self-motivated and comfortable working on your own initiative, bringing organisational skills needed to contribute to planning, delivery of events, learning and reporting. Experience of partnership working, supporting community events or social action, and contributing to funded programmes would all be valuable. Furthermore, you will be confident working across culture, faith, ethnicity, class and other lines of difference. You will have good interpersonal skills and will be able to build relationships quickly while approaching this work with humility, ambition, curiosity and respect. 

Above all, you will bring values that align strongly with The Jo Cox Foundation’s vision and Jo’s ‘more in common’ ethos. This will be reflected in your belief in the strengths of communities, and your commitment to bringing people together across difference.

ABOUT THE JO COX FOUNDATION’S WORK IN WEST YORKSHIRE

The Jo Cox Foundation was established in 2016 by the friends and family of the late Jo Cox MP. The Foundation exists to make positive change on issues that Jo was passionate about. Just as she did, we believe in working together effectively with individuals and organisations that share the belief that we have more in common than that which divides us.

We build stronger communities and encourage more respectful politics. To date, our campaigns and initiatives have addressed a broad range of issues including tackling loneliness, bridging divides, and reducing abuse and intimidation in public life. Jo Cox’s career took her around the world, yet her sense of belonging and her identity were always firmly rooted in West Yorkshire.

Too often our politics and society emphasises our differences rather than our commonality. We believe that helping people to recognise that commonality allows us to feel more connected, build empathy and increase trust. It also builds understanding of the stark inequalities that many groups face within our society and strengthens the collective will to take action. Though we cannot address the root cause of all inequalities, we commit to championing change and advocating for action.

The Jo Cox Foundation continues to maintain its roots in West Yorkshire. We aim to generate and support community-led action - undertaken with local knowledge, credibility and evidence - to drive change alongside communities and to share success across national networks.

“I am Batley and Spen born and bred, and I could not be prouder of that. I am proud that I was made in Yorkshire and I am proud of the things we make in Yorkshire. Britain should be proud of that, too.”

Jo Cox, Maiden Speech 2015

ABOUT BRIDGING & BELONGING 

We have completed Stage 1 of Bridging & Belonging, which involved a series of local listening events. What we heard was clear: people in North Kirklees want more chances to connect with one another and to shape what happens in their neighbourhoods, using their own ideas, skills and experience to make a positive difference.

We are now moving into Stage 2, a four-year project funded through the National Lottery Community Fund’s Reaching Communities programme. This phase will strengthen neighbourliness, reduce division, and support community-led action that builds stronger, more connected communities. It is rooted in asset-based community development and creative, participatory community organising, with a focus on helping local people start, grow and sustain social action that brings people together across lines of difference.

Bridging & Belonging is already established, you will join a project with strong foundations, trusted relationships and a clear direction. Working alongside colleagues, residents and local partners, you will help shape the next phase of the project while keeping local people at the heart of its priorities and activities.

Over the coming years, the work will support community-led action that strengthens neighbourliness and hyper-local connection, creates new ways for people to connect across communities, and develops projects built around shared interests, shared places and shared concerns. It will also back activity that celebrates local strengths, makes space for difference, and builds a stronger sense of belonging.

Alongside this, you will also:

• help develop a More in Common Creative Collective with residents and partners, using arts and creativity to challenge division and share local stories;

• support the development of a Community of Practice that brings together staff, partners and community members to share learning and build relationships; and

• support Let’s Talk, a facilitated conversation series that helps people address tensions and divisions through careful, relational dialogue.

WORKING AT THE JO COX FOUNDATION

One of our core values at The Jo Cox Foundation is empathy, and we work hard to apply this to our relationships with our staff as well within the work that we do.

As a remote organisation, we recognise the challenges that this brings, so we carefully consider how we can build a team culture where everyone feels accepted and included. We do this through a combination of frequent team days (with a mixture of remote and in-person days) and through regular and ongoing ways for the team to connect, both for work and to socialise.

In our most recent staff survey:

• 100% of staff felt proud to work at The Jo Cox Foundation

• 100% felt that The Jo Cox Foundation actively supports their wellbeing

• 100% thought that the team at The Jo Cox Foundation works in a supportive and collaborative way

BVSC is looking for a Health & Wellbeing Volunteer Lead to drive the growth and impact of our volunteerled programmes — Bexley Buddies and Digital Champions. 

This role is perfect for someone who enjoys working collaboratively across sectors, developing highquality volunteer programmes, and strengthening relationships with GP surgeries, NHS partners, charities and community organisations. You will play a key role in delivering better outcomes for residents by ensuring volunteers are supported, trained, and empowered to make a meaningful difference across the borough. 

You will lead programme delivery, champion best practice in volunteering, support two staff members, and maintain strong relationships with partners and commissioners. With over 80 volunteers involved, this is a unique opportunity to contribute to boroughwide health and wellbeing priorities while shaping and expanding volunteerled community support. 

Key Areas of Work: 

• Programme Leadership & Delivery: Lead the expansion and quality assurance of volunteerled health and wellbeing programmes across GP surgeries and community settings. 

• Partnerships & Stakeholder Engagement: Build and maintain effective relationships with NHS, VCS and community partners, representing BVSC at borough‑wide health and wellbeing forums. 

• Volunteer Leadership & Workforce Development: Support, coach and manage staff and volunteers to ensure an inclusive, rewarding and high‑quality volunteer experience. 

• Continuous Improvement & Insight: Use feedback, monitoring and evaluation frameworks to strengthen programme effectiveness and drive ongoing improvement. 

We’re looking for an experienced leader with a strong background in community health or wellbeing programmes, partnership working and volunteer management. You will bring excellent communication, problem‑solving and strategic planning skills, along with the ability to support teams and build effective relationships across NHS, voluntary sector and community partners.

If you are proactive, organised and passionate about improving outcomes for local residents, we’d love to hear from you. 

This is an exciting role in a unique organisation.  Our vision is to provide an outstanding experience for all UCL students and to be one of the best students’ unions in the UK and the world.  We aim to build a vibrant and empowered student community with real influence in UCL and beyond, that enables students to enjoy their time at university; pursue their interests and passions; see the world in new ways; and develop the skills and experience to change the world for the better.

We are a registered charity employing over 150 career staff and 300 student staff, delivering a wide range of services and representative functions for UCL students. We have the widest portfolio of services of any student organisation in the country, managing UCL’s extracurricular programmes for sport, music, drama, dance, media, volunteering, academic societies and intercultural engagement; providing a wide range of fantastic social spaces; leading on student democracy and representation across UCL; and offering excellent student support services.

It's an exciting time to join our growing organisation as we lead the delivery of UCL’s groundbreaking new Student Life Strategy. This is enabling us to build more programmes to improve students’ mental and physical wellbeing, promote genuine equity for all, build students’ skills and confidence, develop their international connections and intercultural skills, and make a real contribution to our local community.

We support hybrid working. Excellent benefits including defined benefit pension scheme and generous holiday entitlement. We are proud of high levels of staff engagement and pride ourselves on being a great place to work. We will consider applications to work on a flexible and job share basis wherever possible. 

The role is full time and permanent. This role is based across our Bloomsbury and UCL East campus with flexibility to work from home on a 40/60 basis (40% working from the office).

We are looking for a Community Projects Coordinator (Community Research Initiative) to coordinate and support the further development of our diverse programme of extra-curricular student activity including our Research Volunteering and Pro Bono Research programmes.

Do you have experience in coordinating events, engaging volunteers, and creating meaningful opportunities for students? Do you excel at awareness‑raising, campaigning, or storytelling? If the answer is yes, then we want to hear from you.

Our ideal candidate will have a strong understanding of high‑quality student engagement, experience in building effective relationships with volunteers and stakeholders, and the ability to communicate confidently with people from a wide range of sectors, backgrounds, and cultures. They will be highly organised, adaptable, and motivated by working in a democratic, student‑led environment, with a clear commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion.

We are looking for a new CEO to lead Surrey Community Action into a bright and exciting future, where the voluntary sector and communities of Surrey are helped to survice and thrive.

Surrey Community Action

Chief Executive Officer

35 hours per week, mostly office based but with some scope for working remotely.

Based in Burpham, Guildford, Surrey

The role is subject to a satisfactory DBS check.

£62,000 for a 35-hour week

5% employers pension contribution

25 days annual leave plus three days over Christmas

Employee Assistance Programme

About Surrey Community Action

Surrey Community Action supports Surrey’s voluntary sector, the diverse communities of Surrey, and other organisations who seek to work with either. We ensure that non-voluntary sector stakeholders understand the value of our sector and how to work together to achieve shared objectives. We provide services to Surrey’s voluntary sector that increase their effectiveness or fill gaps in their capability, capacity, and resilience. Services to the Surrey’s Communities and we provide services directly to Surrey’s communities that support community action and address unsupported needs.

About The Role

We are seeking a new Chief Executive to join us at an ideal time to complete and implement our emerging new strategy and direct Surrey Community Action into a bright future.

As Chief Executive Officer, you will have the scope and authority to shape strategy, influence policy, empower Surrey’s voluntary sector, and champion rural communities, working closely with a committed Board, and experienced staff team.

You will be the organisation’s lead ambassador, building trusted relationships with partners, funders and decision‑makers, and ensuring the organisation’s voice is heard at local, regional and national level.

You will also play a critical role in leading change and transformation within the charity - strengthening systems, diversifying income and evolving how the organisation works so it remains resilient, relevant and impactful in a fast‑changing environment.

This is a role for someone who enjoys balancing big‑picture thinking with practical delivery, and who can bring people with them through periods of transition.

If you are motivated to improve the capability, capacity and resilience of the Surrey’s voluntary sector, communities and residents; if you thrive in complex and changing stakeholder environments; and if you are excited by the challenge of leading an organisation through its next phase of growth and influence, this role is for you.

No two days will be the same, but there are some core parts of this role.

• Strategic Leadership & Organisational Direction
• You will lead the delivery of a clear, compelling organisational strategy, adapting it in response to an evolving operating environment and ensuring the organisation remains agile, future‑focused and well positioned within the voluntary and community sectors.
• Board Partnership & Governance
• You will work collaboratively with the Board of Trustees, providing high‑quality insight, advice and assurance on strategy, finance, risk, governance and compliance, and then supporting effective Board decision‑making through clear reporting, analysis and professional guidance.
• Leadership of People & Culture
• You will lead, inspire and support the staff team through a transparent, inclusive and empowering management style, creating a high‑performance culture rooted in trust, accountability, equality, diversity and wellbeing.
• Change Management & Organisational Development
• You will be a skilled change manager, leading transformation in response to evolving funding landscapes, policy shifts, technology and community needs, designing and implementing systems, structures and processes that strengthen organisational effectiveness and resilience.
• Ambassadorial Role, Advocacy & External Relations
• You will be the public face of the organisation, representing it with credibility, passion and authority, and building strong, influential relationships with funders, partners, policymakers, communities and stakeholders.

About You

The purpose of the Chief Executive Officer’s role is to guide and plan the strategic development and overall direction of the organisation, providing strong leadership and co-ordination to ensure the aims, strategic objectives and priorities of the organisation are achieved.

To do this, we need someone who embodies the following attributes, skills and experience.

You will have:

• Senior leadership experience within a voluntary, community, public or values‑led organisation, with accountability for strategy, performance and resources.
• Proven experience of working effectively with a Board or trustees
• Demonstrable success in leading and managing organisational change, including restructuring, service development or cultural transformation.
• Experience in fundraising, income generation and business development
• Experience of financial leadership, including budgeting, financial planning, income generation and managing funding agreements or contracts.
• A strong track record of external engagement, partnership working and representation at senior level.
• People management experience, supporting a compact team delivering diverse projects.
• Excellent communication skills (including social media) and governance literacy.
• It will be a distinct advantage to have familiarity with Local Government Reorganisation and devolution, ideally in a county like Surrey.

You will be:

• Motivated, motivating and dynamic
• An effective communicator (including social media) with good network contacts, especially in the VCSE sector and across local government
• A strong team builder, able to develop, encourage and support colleagues in making the most of their experience and skillsets and to feel confident in their abilities
• A visionary leader who is able to embrace and manage change through strategic creativity and innovation, while also able to pay attention to detail when necessary.
• Ideally, you will also be able to demonstrate understanding of charity governance, compliance and safeguarding.
• Calm and confident under pressure with an evidence-based approach to prioritising finite resources.

These attributes, skills and experience will make you stand out, but even if you do not match all the criteria below, we still want to hear about you and what you can offer.

The Nuts and Bolts

The role is a permanent contract for 35 hours per week, mostly office based but with some scope for working remotely.

Our offices are in Guildford, Surrey

We are committed to continued professional development and will support you to develop your skills even further.

The role is subject to a satisfactory DBS check.

The salary for this post is £62,000 for a 35-hour week.

We also offer:

• 5% employers pension contribution
• Employee Assistance Programme
• 25 days holiday with an additional three days between Christmas and New Year, as well as all English Bank Holidays

We can only accept applications from candidates with the right to work in the UK.

Sydenham Garden is seeking to appoint a Community Engagement and Fundraising Lead for two days per week on a fixed term contract for two years. They will join our team of 14 staff and 70 volunteers supporting people living with mental ill-health and dementia in south-east London. 

Positions:  Community Engagement and Fundraising Lead 

Contract:  Fixed term for 1 year,

Hours: 0.4 FTE 15 hours per week 

Salary: £38,000 pro rata 

Annual leave: 33 days including bank holidays pro rata

Location: Sydenham Garden Resource Centre, SE23 2LW or working from home – minimum 1 day a month in office

Application closing date: 9am Monday 13 April 

Interview date:  Friday 24 April

Our Organisation 

Sydenham Garden, based in Lewisham in South-East London, is a special, unique and beloved wellbeing centre utilising its gardens, nature reserve and activity rooms to help people living with and recovering from mental and physical ill-health. We were established in 2002 and will celebrate our 25th anniversary in 2027. We provide nature and arts based creative, social and therapeutic activities for co-workers (the name we give our primary beneficiaries). People are referred to us from community organisations and health professionals and we use an integrative approach where those with different degrees of mental and physical ill health come together with volunteers from the local community to reduce social exclusion and prejudice. Each year we work with on average over 250 co-workers and over 70 volunteers. 

About you 

You’ll have experience in building relationships with individual donors, increasing income from community sources and engaging and enthusing volunteers and supporters around a cause. You’ll have excellent communication and people skills and feel comfortable both thinking strategically and managing competing priorities day-to-day. Most importantly, you’ll thrive in a small team working to make a big impact for people living with mental ill-health and dementia. 

Why you should join us  

Sydenham Garden is a small team rooted in our local community, and that community is at the centre of everything we do; from the people we support, to the volunteers and neighbours who get involved in our gardens and our work in all sorts of ways. 

We work collaboratively, support each other across different areas of the organisation, and aren't afraid to try new approaches and learn from what doesn't work. We're values-led, we care deeply about our impact, and we hold ourselves accountable to the people and communities we serve. 

We're also confident advocates for our work, and comfortable making the case for Sydenham Garden to funders, partners and the wider community. 

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion 

Sydenham Garden is committed to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI). We want to build a diverse and inclusive staff, volunteer and trustee team where everyone feels that they belong and that reflects the profile of the communities we serve. Therefore, we will welcome and consider applications from candidates of all backgrounds and protected characteristics, and we particularly encourage applications from people of African or Caribbean heritage to ensure our staff team represents the communities we serve. 

About Black Thrive Global

We exist to change the odds stacked against Black people by embedding race equity into systemic change so that thriving is not the exception but the norm.

Global Black Thrive evolved from the work of the Black Thrive Lambeth Partnership, which was established in 2016 to address the inequalities that negatively impact the mental health and wellbeing of Black people in Lambeth. Black people’s cumulative exposure to negative experiences and poor outcomes are not unique to Lambeth and Black Thrive Global was founded in 2020 to address the detrimental outcomes for Black people of African and Caribbean descent wherever they may be located.

Our work covers all life stages – children and young people, working age adults and older adults. Our guiding principle is to centre the lived experiences of Black communities in all that we do, and our strategic priorities are to embed race equity in systems change and to decolonise the evidence landscape.

Role Description

Following a recent round of successful funding, Black Thrive are looking for a highly skilled and community-focused Research & Evaluation Lead to strengthen the evidence and learning functions across the Thriving Futures – Scaling Systems Change programme. This role is central to building a robust understanding of community needs, mental health outcomes, and the impact of systems change activities on Black communities across our localities.

This position requires a researcher with experience in mixed-methods research and who is confident in working both strategically and on the ground in community settings. You will be responsible for developing and implementing evaluation frameworks, gathering high-quality data, and supporting Black Thrive Global and the localities in their own monitoring, learning, and evaluation capacity. Strong relationship-building skills are essential, as much of this role involves working closely with black led organisations, local leaders, and partners across health, voluntary, and statutory sectors.

You will work closely with the Head of Research and Evaluation and the wider Thriving Futures team to design, deliver, and communicate research and evaluation projects that drive learning and improvement. Your work will combine community-based data collection, analysis, inclusive and culturally grounded evaluation methods, and clear reporting that helps us tell the story of our progress and impact.

Black Thrive uses Asana, Microsoft Excel, and a range of qualitative and quantitative tools to track learning, evidence systemic change outcomes, and ensure the programme remains responsive to the needs and priorities of Black communities.

Key responsibilities

Community-Embedded Research & Evaluation

• Lead on-the-ground community-based research activities, including regular engagement with localities, community organisations, grassroots partners, and residents to understand lived experiences, mental health outcomes, and community-identified priorities.
• Conduct mixed-methods community needs assessments to capture changing local conditions, emerging challenges, and gaps in support provision across priority localities.
• Build trusted relationships with community partners to co-design evaluation activities, ensuring methods are culturally responsive, trauma-informed, and accessible to organisations operating in diverse community settings.
• Facilitate participatory research approaches (e.g., community researcher models, participatory action research, peer-led data collection) to ensure the voices of Black communities are embedded in all evaluation work.

Supporting Community Organisations & Localities

• Provide tailored research and evaluation support to Black Thrive localities who delivering the Scaling System Change programme, including helping them develop data collection tools, outcome measures, and monitoring processes that align with Black Thrive’s frameworks.
• Deliver capacity-building workshops, coaching, and 1:1 support for localities to strengthen their ability to collect, interpret, and use data for programme improvement.
• Support localities in implementing mixed-methods approaches, including the design of short surveys, interview guides, focus groups, observational tools, and community feedback mechanisms.
• Work collaboratively with local organisations to interpret findings and co-generate learning that strengthens community-led decision-making and informs systemic change.

Scaling Systems Change Programme Evaluation

• Lead the development of Scaling Systems Change and support in shaping the programmatic evaluation for the Scaling Systems Change programme, including identifying community-relevant indicators, data sources, and measurement approaches that reflect both outcomes and structural shifts.
• Develop and refine theories of change and logic models in collaboration with programme teams and community stakeholders.
• Oversee the collection and analysis of quantitative and qualitative data related to the Scaling Systems Change programme, synthesising insights into evaluative conclusions and strategic recommendations.
• Track progress on system-level outcomes and community-driven indicators, ensuring alignment with Black Thrive Global’s race equity mission and systems change goals.

Data Collection, Analysis & Insight Generation

• Conduct qualitative data collection (e.g., interviews, focus groups, reflective sessions, community conversations) and apply rigorous, culturally informed qualitative analysis techniques.
• Integrate primary and secondary datasets—community-level statistics, organisational monitoring data, local authority data, and service delivery datasets—into comprehensive evaluations.
• Ensure high-quality documentation and coding of qualitative datasets using recognised analytical frameworks.

Reporting, Learning & Dissemination

• Produce high-quality annual research and evaluation reports, local evaluation and research summaries, dashboards, and accessible materials for community partners and stakeholders.
• Translate complex data and findings into clear, actionable insights tailored to policymakers, community organisations, funders, and residents.
• Facilitate feedback loops and learning events with partners to discuss findings, share learning, and identify opportunities for adaptation and improvement.
• Contribute to internal strategic learning by presenting insights to senior leaders, programme teams, and key partners.

Ethics, Governance & Quality Assurance

• Ensure ethical, safe, and culturally competent research practice, especially when working with communities disproportionately affected by systemic racism and mental health inequalities.
• Maintain robust data governance systems suitable for community-based and multi-organisation research environments.
• The above is not an exhaustive list of duties, and you will be expected to perform different tasks as necessitated by your changing role within the organisation and the overall business objectives of the organisation.

Personal Specification

Essential Criteria

• Ability to carry out community-based data collection (interviews, focus groups, surveys) and basic analysis both quantitative and qualitative.
• Competence in using basic data tools (Excel) for organising and summarising data.
• Strong facilitation skills for participatory approaches (e.g., supporting in Black community researchers).
• Good written and verbal communication skills to present findings clearly
• Ability to build trusting relationships with grassroots organisations and Black people, community leaders from Lambeth, Haringey and Birmingham.
• Good level of understanding of supporting Black people, including trauma-informed and anti-racist approaches.
• Knowledge and understanding of research ethics and GDPR practices including data protection and data sharing.
• Experience conducting qualitative research (e.g., interviews, focus groups) in community settings.
• Have a university degree or equivalent.
• Understanding of race equity issues and mental health inequalities affecting Black communities.
• Awareness of ethical research practices and safeguarding when working with vulnerable groups.
• Experience working with community organisations or grassroots groups.
• Experience producing clear summaries or reports for non-technical audiences.
• Commitment to race equity and social justice.
• Collaborative, approachable, and adaptable.
• Organised and able to manage multiple tasks.

Desirable Criteria

• Experience supporting community-led research projects.
• Familiarity with basic evaluation frameworks or monitoring tools.
• Knowledge of participatory research principles.
• Ability to use simple data visualisation tools (e.g., Canva, Power BI basics).
• Previous involvement in capacity-building activities (training or coaching).
• Degree in social sciences, public health, or related field (or equivalent experience).

To apply, please submit a CV and a cover letter (no longer than 2 pages) via CharityJobs

This will be a two stage interview process.

The first interview will take place on Tuesday, 28th April 2026, and the second Interview will take place on Tuesday 5th May 2026.