Community services manager jobs

Family Support Manager 

£29,000 + Company Car and benefits (including 25 days annual leave and pension)

London & South East

About the role:

This Best Companies Top 100 mid-sized company and Top 20 charity is looking to appoint a Family Support Manager to deliver a high-quality family support service as part of our London & South East Care Team.

Reporting to the Head of Care out of our London base and working in partnership with health, education and social care professionals, you will take responsibility for delivering a high-quality family support service; and will act as the local Registered Manager for the Care Quality Commission, providing management and leadership to the team in relation to all safeguarding issues.

Having worked regularly in a demanding and emotional environment, within the community, you have a commitment to working in partnership with children, young people and their families, developing, monitoring and delivering service outcomes and building and maintaining successful professional partnerships to ensure the service is accessible to relevant families.

What we’re looking for:

· An experienced child health, education or social care professional - applications will be particularly welcome from those who understand the impact of family dynamics of having a child/young person with a life threatening or terminal illness and those who have worked in bereavement support.

· A poised and convincing communicator - you will maintain effective relationships with stakeholders including families, referrers, partners and other statutory, private and voluntary agencies.

· Practiced in child protection, information sharing and the rules around data protection - you lead by example, drawing on your own professional experience and working within established guidelines

· Comfortable with a changing environment - you will thrive working at a fast pace and controlling tasks form conception to completion and understand that quickly connecting with people is essential.

· A persuasive, inclusive approach to achieving goals quickly and correctly - with a warm and friendly working style.

· Strong networking skills and confident use of MS Office - educated to A-Level with a recognised childcare and management qualification (NVQ4 or equivalent).

What we offer:

We have a range of fantastic benefits that we offer our employees, including:

· Flexible working hours to balance home and working life

· Employee Assistance Programme with access to remote GP, counselling, physiotherapy, resources to support your mental health and financial wellbeing, as well as a 24/7 helpline via Help@Hand

· Company car for front line care posts

· 25 days of annual leave plus public holidays – rising to 26 days after 1 year, 27 days after 5 years and 30 days after 11 years, with an additional 5 years to use in your 10th or 20th year of service (pro rata for part time)

· Time off in Lieu

· Access to the Blue Light Card Scheme, and other rewards and discounts

· Bike to work, season ticket loan and payroll giving schemes

· A recommend a friend recruitment bonus scheme

· Family friendly policies, focused on employee wellbeing, and an active cross-organisational wellbeing group running a number of initiatives throughout the year

· Pension scheme where we contribute 5% of your salary and you contribute at least 3%

· The option to buy/sell annual leave, as well as additional leave for your birthday, wedding/civil ceremony and an extra half day off for Christmas shopping

· Robust training and development programmes to support your learning and growth

If you’d like to find out more about these benefits and working with us, more information can also be found in our Candidate Pack.

As part of our learning and development Anne Harris skills development programme, we aim to provide a high level of training and development opportunities for all staff, so you are able to perform to the best of your ability, achieve individual and team objectives aligned to Rainbow Trusts strategic plan, supporting staff to be their best and feel a valued member of a high performing organisation.

Our Family Support Teams are given the opportunity to complete a number of diverse training courses in their first 12 months, including but not limited to: Mental Health First Aid, Makaton, counselling skills, introduction to play.

The programme aims to provide a building block for you to individually tailor your own learning and development needs.

About us:

Rainbow Trust Children’s Charity enables families who have a child with a life-threatening or terminal illness to make the most of time together, providing expert, practical and emotional support, where they need it for as long as it is needed. For families living with childhood illness, time is everything. Right now, there are too many families coping alone with no support, no time to think, no time to make memories and no time for each other. We believe that no family should go through this alone, so we are here to change that.

How to apply:

Please complete an application form by visiting our website and applying online. Please disclose on your application form if you have used AI for any part of your job application.

Interviews will take place at our London & South East care team office with the dates to be confirmed. We will only contact those applicants who have been successful. If you require any adjustments during the interview process, please let us know.

There will be a requirement for flexible working and a full current driver’s licence to accommodate team and family need. An enhanced DBS disclosure will be required for this post.

Rainbow Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all employees to share this commitment.

Rainbow Trust is an equal opportunities employer and we welcome applications from all backgrounds. We are a Best Companies One-Star rated organisation.

Location: Dorset Hub, based in Poole

Salary: Grade 1.2 - £26,227 per annum pro rata

Permanent Contract

Part time – 21 hours per week – working pattern to be agreed with successful candidate

Closing date: Thursday 16th April 2026 at 11.30 pm

We’re looking for an enthusiastic individual with office administration and customer service experience to join us as an Administrator and provide the support we need to help us deliver an effective local service. This is an exciting opportunity and you will play a key part in standing up to the housing emergency.

About the role

You will be the first point of contact for in-person and telephone callers to the service - taking client details, providing information and working with advisers to direct enquiries to the right people.

You will provide administrative support functions and have responsibility for designing and developing office systems and processes, data input, extraction and analysis and finance administration.  Helping front line staff with case administration, assisting the Hub managers with ad-hoc projects and seeing that our office equipment is properly maintained are all aspects of this interesting, varied and vital role.

We are happy to talk about flexible working, personal growth, and to promote a workplace where you can be yourself and achieve success based only on your merit.

About you

With proven office administration and customer service experience, you will be a confident user of Microsoft Office, including Excel, Word, PowerPoint and Outlook. Someone who thrives in a fast paced and busy office environment, you have a flexible approach, are adaptable to change and enjoy learning new skills.

Benefits

We offer a wide range of benefits, including 30 days of annual leave, enhanced family friendly policies, pension and interest free travel loans. Our employees also have access to a tenancy deposit loan, payroll giving, cycle to work scheme and an employee assistance programme.

About the team 

Our team in Dorset has been providing housing advice and support services within the area for over 20 years. We have office bases in Bournemouth, Weymouth and Poole  as well as working in community venues and partner organisation sites. We deliver a wide range of housing rights, legal services, community and support work and advocate for change to fix the broken housing system.

About Shelter

Home is a human right. It’s our foundation and where we thrive. Yet every day millions of people are being devastated by the housing emergency.

We exist to defend the right to a safe home. Because home is everything.

We need ambitious, passionate people to join us. This is your chance to play a part in the fundamental change we are striving to achieve.

Our enemy is the social injustice at the core of the escalating housing emergency. To win this fight, we must be representative of the people we are here to help and those who support our movement in all our people decisions, we take pride in being inclusive, equitable and transparent. We are committed to combating racism both within and outside Shelter. We welcome you on our journey to becoming truly anti-racist.

Safeguarding Statement

Safeguarding is everyone's business. Shelter is committed to protecting the health, wellbeing and human rights of those we support, and enabling them to live free from harm, abuse and neglect. All our staff will be expected to observe professional standards of behaviour and conduct their work in line with our Safeguarding Policies.

How to apply

Please click ‘Apply for Job’ below. You are required to submit a CV and a supporting statement with responses to points 1 - 4 in the ‘About you’ section of the job description, of no more than 350 words per point

Please provide specific examples following the STAR format and ensure you demonstrate how you address the behaviour below throughout your responses.

• We prioritise diversity and have an inclusive and open mindset.

CVs without supporting statements will not be considered. 

Shelter does not accept unsolicited CVs from external recruitment agencies nor accept the fees associated with them.

Can you help support new dads when it really matters?

We’re looking for a Dad Matters Coordinator to help us reach more families across Brent. This is a brilliant opportunity for someone who understands the emotional ups and downs of becoming a dad and wants to support fathers at a crucial point in their parenting journey.

New dads can face real mental health challenges — often quietly. In this role, you’ll help dads feel listened to, supported and confident, strengthening attachment and helping them access the right support.

What you’ll be doing

• Offering coaching and advice to new dads and dads-to-be

• Having honest conversations about mental health, bonding and wellbeing

• Getting out into the community, approaching dads and building trust

• Developing and running group sessions and workshops

• Working closely with health professionals and local services so dads are included and supported

• Helping grow and support our Dad Matters volunteers

This is a hands-on, community-based role, so you’ll need to be regularly out and about in Brent, building visibility and relationships.

About you

You don’t need formal qualifications in healthcare or mental health. What matters is that you:

• Understand the mental health challenges new dads can face

• Are confident talking to people and putting them at ease

• Have experience in a community, support or people-facing role

• Can lead groups, deliver sessions or training

• Are proactive, approachable and genuinely care about supporting families

Parenting experience and lived experience of key issues are both really valued.

Why join us?

You’ll be part of a supportive organisation doing meaningful work, with the chance to shape and grow Dad Matters in Brent and see the impact of your work first-hand.

Not sure if it’s for you?
We’d still love to hear from you — get in touch for an informal chat

Note: This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 due to the nature of our work

About the role

At some point in our lives, we or someone we love will need hospital care. At UHCW Charity, we’re here to make those moments better - funding the extras that go beyond NHS provision, from life-saving equipment and pioneering research to more comfortable, welcoming spaces and support for patients, families and staff when they need it most.

We’re looking for a Fundraising and Events Lead to play a key role in delivering and growing income across corporate, community and events fundraising. This is a hands-on role where you’ll lead day-to-day fundraising activity, build strong relationships with supporters, and ensure every interaction reflects the quality and care at the heart of our charity.

You’ll work closely with the Head of Fundraising to drive forward plans, strengthen supporter journeys, and ensure our fundraising is proactive, well-coordinated and consistently delivered. You will also line-manage and support our Fundraising Assistant, helping them to develop and thrive in their role.

What you’ll be doing

• Leading the delivery of fundraising activity across corporate, community and events income streams

• Planning and overseeing a varied events programme, ensuring high-quality supporter experiences

• Building and managing relationships with corporate partners, community groups and key stakeholders

• Supporting and inspiring fundraisers across the Trust, local community and beyond

• Developing fundraising materials, campaigns and communications in collaboration with marketing

• Overseeing supporter journeys and stewardship to improve engagement, retention and income

• Managing and supporting the Fundraising Assistant

• Using our CRM (Beacon) to track activity, analyse performance and inform future planning

About you

You’ll be a proactive and organised fundraiser with experience delivering events and building excellent relationships that generate income. You’ll be confident managing multiple priorities, spotting opportunities, and ensuring a high standard of supporter experience at every stage.

You’ll also bring:

• At least 3 years’ experience in fundraising or a similar role

• Strong communication and relationship-building skills

• Experience planning and delivering events or fundraising activities

• The ability to work independently while contributing to a collaborative team

• Confidence using data and insight to improve performance

Most importantly, you’ll be motivated by making a genuine difference and helping us grow support for our hospitals and communities.

Why join us?

This is an opportunity to take ownership of a broad and varied fundraising portfolio within a well-respected NHS charity. You’ll play a key role in shaping supporter experiences, growing income sustainably, and building relationships that have a real and lasting impact.

We offer:

• 27 days annual leave plus public holidays

• A pension scheme with matched contributions up to 7%

• Blue Light Card discounts

• Employee Assistance Programme

• Opportunities for professional development

Join us and help make a real difference for patients, families and staff across Coventry and Warwickshire.

For the past 8 years, Just Finance Foundation has been growing our LifeSavers programme, bringing financial education to life in primary schools across the UK.

In 2025 alone, 135,809 of children across 551 schools had the opportunity to build essential money skills. It’s something we’re really proud of. But we’re not done yet.

We believe every child deserves the chance to grow up with confidence about money and we’re looking for someone who can help us reach many more classrooms.

The role

This is a unique opportunity for an experienced, hands-on digital marketer to shape how we connect with teachers across the UK.

Over the next two years, we’ll be:

• Supporting primary schools in England as they prepare for a new curriculum
• Expanding our reach across Scotland and the devolved nations

You’ll play a key role in making that happen: leading digital marketing activity that grows awareness of LifeSavers and inspires more teachers to take part.

Working with a collaborative and ambitious team, you’ll turn insight into action: building smart, effective campaigns and journeys that make it easy for teachers to discover, sign up, and get started.

What you will be doing (a summary)

• Design and deliver digital customer journeys for teachers from first awareness through to sign-up and early engagement
• Grow teacher participation by increasing high-quality leads, enquiries and sign-ups
• Plan, run and optimise digital campaigns across channels, including paid ads
• Improve how our content shows up in search, helping more teachers find what they need
• Use data and insights to continuously improve performance and make strategic decisions

About you

You’ll bring:

• Experience building and improving digital customer journeys (from awareness through to conversion and onboarding).
• Confidence managing key digital channels like social, web and email.
• Hands-on experience running successful paid digital campaigns.
• Strong analytical skills, using tools like Google Analytics to track and improve performance.
• Great organisation and a focus on delivering against targets.

Most importantly, you care about the impact of your work. You’re motivated by the chance to help children build skills that last a lifetime.

Why join us?

You’ll be part of a team that’s supportive, ambitious, and genuinely cares about making a difference.

This is a role where your ideas matter, your work has real impact, and your growth is supported every step of the way.

Together, we can make sure financial education becomes an everyday part of growing up.

How to apply

Please send your CV and a cover letter of no more than 2 pages to the email address provided no later than Sunday 19th April. Interviews will be held via Teams between Thursday 23rd April and Thursday 30th April.

Potential Applicants: If you’re interested in applying and excited about working with us but are unsure if you have the right skills and experience, we’d still love to hear from you. We don’t expect everyone to meet all the criteria listed.

JFF is an inclusive organisation and we welcome all applications. We want our workforce to be truly representative of the communities we serve. Diversity is an asset to our organisation and helps us create an inclusive, welcoming environment for all.

We're looking for an inspirational people person to join us as a Assistant Shop Manager in our Skipton shop. This is an exciting opportunity, and we'd like you to join us to help raise vital funds for homeless and badly housed people.

You will work closely with the Shop Manager to ensure the shop looks welcoming, visually appealing and the team of volunteers are motivated and keen to engage with customers and maximise sales.

About the role

You will assist the Shop Manager in the recruitment, support and development of a strong community focused shop team and empower them to maximise Shelter's income. Representing Shelter in your local community, ensuring that you and your team share your knowledge of Shelter's cause with customers, volunteers, donors and potential Shelter clients will also be important aspects of the role. You will always ensure a safe, clean, bright and happy environment for your team to work in and for your customers to shop in, in turn attracting potential donors and volunteers.

About you

You are a naturally energetic person with an enthusiasm for managing and empowering people. You know how to recruit and develop a team of volunteers, and your extraordinary motivational skills will enable you to inspire your team to increase sales and control costs. Above all, you are ready to take on a new challenge and have a keen interest in Shelter's cause.

Apply to be part of our team and be the change you want to see in society.

Benefits 

We offer a wide range of benefits, including 30 days of annual leave, enhanced family friendly policies, pension and interest free travel loans. Our employees also have access to a tenancy deposit loan, payroll giving, cycle to work scheme and an employee assistance programme.

Shelter helps millions of people every year struggling with bad housing or homelessness through our advice, support and legal services. And we campaign to make sure that, one day, no one will have to turn to us for help. We’re here so no one has to fight bad housing or homelessness on their own.

We are happy to talk about flexible working, personal growth, and to promote a workplace where you can be yourself and achieve success based only on your merit.

About Shelter

Home is a human right. It’s our foundation and where we thrive. Yet everyday millions of people are being devastated by the housing emergency.

We exist to defend the right to a safe home. Because home is everything,

We need ambitious, passionate people to join us. This is your chance to play a part in the fundamental change we are striving to achieve.

Our enemy is the social injustice at the core of the escalating housing emergency. To win this fight, we must be representative of the people we are here to help and those who support our movement. In all our people decisions, we take pride in being inclusive, equitable and transparent. We are committed to combating racism both within and outside Shelter. We welcome you on our journey to becoming truly anti-racist.

Safeguarding statement

Safeguarding is everyone's business. Shelter is committed to protecting the health, wellbeing and human rights of those we support, and enabling them to live free from harm, abuse and neglect. All our staff will be expected to observe professional standards of behaviour and conduct their work in line with our Safeguarding Policies.

Shelter does not accept unsolicited CVs from external recruitment agencies nor accept the fees associated with them.

Retail Management Roles
Location: Various roles across our Region – Gloucestershire, South Gloucester, Bristol, North Somerset and B&NES
Salary: £26,531 - £27,780 per annum FTE (varies by role)
Duration: Permanent

Hours available:

• Shop Manager (Nailsea): 32–40 hours per week, across 4-5 days
• Assistant Shop Manager (Nailsea): 24–40 hours per week, across 3–5 days
• Shop Manager (Worle): 32–40 hours per week, across 4-5 days
• Assistant Shop Manager (Worle): 16–32 hours per week, across 2–4 days

At Great Western Air Ambulance Charity, we’re going big on charity retail. We already have thirteen shops located throughout our region having opened 4 new shops in 2025 (Whiteladies Road (Bristol), Brockworth, Portishead and most recently Dursley). We plan to open up to eight shops a year over the next three years, giving our charity a physical presence in the heart of communities we have served since 2007.

The shops will sell a variety of goods, as well as being a hub for our charity activity locally. Our shops need to perform well financially to help fund our lifesaving service, but we also want them to be a place where everyone feels welcome, the local community can learn life-saving skills and former patients or supporters can pop in for a chat.

We are looking for Retail Management teams that can make this happen, comprising of Shop Managers & Assistant Managers, to lead this exciting expansion and help ensure our newest shops reach the highest standards.

So, if you want to be part of something exciting that will truly make a difference to the lives of people around you, are a great all-rounder, knowledgeable about retail and passionate about people, we would love to hear from you!

Applications will close when sufficient high-quality applications are received.

Interested?

If you would like to find out more, please click the apply button. You will be directed to our website to complete your application for this position. (You may need to scroll down).

We actively encourage applications from candidates from a range of backgrounds and experiences as part of our keen commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion. GWAAC puts people first and upholds a culture of safeguarding.

Please Note: All retail staff are required to undertake a Basic DBS check due to their contact with vulnerable people and the public. Further information can be accessed in our Ex-Offenders Policy which is accessible on our website.

No agencies please.

A fairer and greener economy for Wales means a real Living Wage for everyone and support for the local businesses that help meet our everyday needs. We have already helped over 600 Welsh organisations guarantee 170,000 employees’ access to a real Living Wage, and we have supported local businesses pioneering food, energy, housing, transport, nature and health services. We want to do more – can you help us as our new Head of Fair Economy?

You will need to be passionate about building an economy that works for everyone, with the skills and experience to lead and build programmes and teams, work collaboratively with a wide range of stakeholders in our areas of work, and to be proactive in identifying new opportunities for funding and impact.

You will be leading the Fair Economy team to deliver against impact targets in our annual business plan. This involves:

• Leading the Fair Economy team (30%) 
• Supporting the real Living Wage (rLW) Programme (30%) 
• Supporting the Foundational Economy (FE) Programme (40%) 

You'll play a key role in helping individuals and organisations benefit from our expertise, while growing our reach, income, and impact as a forward-thinking charity. This includes lifting individuals out of in-work poverty and supporting local businesses that provide our everyday needs.

We are a lively and progressive charity at an important stage in our development. If our mission resonates with you and you share our aims, we would love to hear from you.

Pennaeth Economi Deg

Mae Economi decach a gwyrddach i Gymru yn golygu Cyflog Byw Gwirioneddol i bawb a chefnogaeth i’r busnesau lleol sy’n ein helpu i fodloni ein hanghenion bob dydd. Rydym ni eisoes wedi helpu 600 a mwy o sefydliadau yng Nghymru i sicrhau bod 170,000 o weithwyr yn cael Cyflog Byw Gwirioneddol, ac rydym ni wedi cefnogi busnesau lleol sy’n arloesi ym maes bwyd, ynni, tai, trafnidiaeth, natur a gwasanaethau iechyd. Ond rydym ni eisiau gwneud mwy - allwch chi ein helpu ni fel Pennaeth newydd yr Economi Deg?

Bydd angen i chi fod yn frwd dros greu economi sy’n gweithio i bawb, a meddu ar y sgiliau a’r profiad i arwain ac adeiladu rhaglenni a thimau, gweithio mewn partneriaeth ag amrywiaeth eang o randdeiliaid yn ein meysydd gwaith, a bod yn rhagweithiol wrth fynd ati i ganfod cyfleoedd cyllido ac effaith newydd.

Byddwch yn arwain tîm yr Economi Deg wrth iddynt gyflawni targedau effaith ein cynllun busnes blynyddol. Bydd hyn yn golygu: 

• Arwain Tîm yr Economi Deg (30%) 
• Cefnogi’r Rhaglen Cyflog Byw Gwirioneddol (30%) 
• Cefnogi Rhaglen yr Economi Sylfaenol (40%) 

Byddwch yn chwarae rhan allweddol yn y gwaith o helpu unigolion a sefydliadau i elwa o'n harbenigedd — ar yr un pryd â chynyddu ein cyrhaeddiad, ein hincwm a'n heffaith fel elusen flaengar. Mae hyn yn cynnwys helpu unigolion allan o dlodi mewn gwaith, a chefnogi’r busnesau lleol sy’n bodloni ein hanghenion bob dydd.

Rydym ni’n elusen fywiog a blaengar ac rydym ni mewn cyfnod pwysig yn ein datblygiad ar hyn o bryd. Os yw ein cenhadaeth yn taro tant a’ch bod chi’n rhannu’r un nodau â ni, byddem wrth ein bodd yn clywed gennych chi. 

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Officer

Salary: £37,264 (£46,580 FTE)

Hours: 30 hours (4 days) per week

Location: Oxford

Job description

Join our team as an EDI Officer!

The EDI Officer role focuses on enhancing equity in health access and outcomes for all social groups within the local community, particularly in OUH palliative care services. The post holder will collaborate closely with palliative medicine colleagues to develop and lead projects aimed at improving EDI aspects across all Palliative Care departments.

This will be achieved by implementing the five-year EDI strategy plan, which supports hospice teams in integrating EDI considerations in all areas of care. Additionally, the role involves contributing to Trust-wide Health Inequalities initiatives through collaboration with the Trust’s EDI colleagues and Patient Experience Team and various internal and external stakeholders to meet EDI and health inequalities objectives.

What you'll do

· Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Oversee the implementation of the EDI Strategy for the Palliative Medicine Department to ensure services meet the needs of the diverse population in the catchment area.

· Service Planning and Development, Project Management: Take responsibility for the development and implementation of projects and service improvements with an EDI focus as agreed with line manager or Clinical Lead.

· Data Collection and Analysis: Review and analyse data on groups with protected characteristics and/or who may experience palliative care health inequalities within our catchment.

· Engagement: Identify and work to engage individuals and carers who are experiencing/are at risk of experiencing health inequalities in end of life and palliative care.

Why you'll love working with us

• Growth and Development: If you have the knowledge of design trends, skills for designing digital and printed materials and are eager to expand your skills, this role offers a fantastic development opportunity.
• Make a Difference: Your work will directly contribute to raising funds for Sobell House Hospice, helping us make a significant impact in the community.

Our core values

• Continuous Improvement: We have a ‘growth mentality’. We embrace feedback and positive change and are continually looking for improved ways of working.
• Integrity: We are honest, transparent and accountable for our actions and outcomes.
• Collaboration: We believe together is better. Working with colleagues, partners and our community to achieve more.
• Impact: We aim to make a positive difference to the lives of others through our work.
• Compassion: We treat ourselves and others with kindness, respect, empathy and care

What we offer

• Generous Holiday Entitlement: 36 days including 8 Bank Holidays (pro rata).
• Pension: 7% employer contribution to help you secure your future.
• Sick Pay: Up to 6 weeks in any rolling 12 months after completing probation.
• Additional Benefits: Access to our Employee Assistance Programme, Death in Service benefit, the Cycle to Work scheme and more
• Training and Development: We are keen to support individuals developing into roles and progressing through the organisation

If you’re ready to bring your passion, skills, and enthusiasm to our team, we’d love to hear from you! Apply now and be part of something truly special at Sobell House Hospice.

Harris Hill is delighted to be partnering with a well-established children’s charity in London in their search for a Deputy Play Manager.

Full-time | £36,000 per annum

The charity has been supporting children, young people and families for over 25 years through a range of play, family support and youth programmes. Their Ofsted-registered after-school and holiday play schemes provide children aged 4–11 with safe, engaging and nurturing environments to explore, grow and thrive.

As Deputy Play Manager, you’ll play a key leadership role within the play service, helping to design, deliver and evaluate a high-quality programme of activities. You’ll support the Play Manager in day-to-day operations (including managing enquiries/collection of fees), team management and ensuring compliance with all safeguarding, health and safety, and Ofsted standards.

This is a hands-on role combining leadership, planning, and active delivery — you’ll work directly with children and families to create safe, inclusive, and stimulating play environments.

About You

Essential skills and experience:

• Level 3 qualification (or above) in Playwork, Early Years, or a related field.
• Minimum of three years’ experience working directly with children aged 4–11.
• Strong understanding of EYFS and Ofsted requirements.
• Experience planning and delivering engaging, age-appropriate play activities.
• Confident leading active, outdoor or adventure-based play.
• Sound understanding of safeguarding and child protection.
• Excellent communication and team leadership skills.
• Strong organisational and IT skills.

Desirable:

• Experience supporting children with additional needs or from diverse backgrounds.
• Experience supervising others or managing volunteers.
• Knowledge of current issues affecting children and families.
• Relevant training such as paediatric first aid or food hygiene.

Play is at the heart of what they do — the organisation believes that every child deserves the opportunity to enjoy a happy, fulfilling childhood through both free and guided play experiences.

If you’re passionate about play, child development and helping young people thrive, we’d love to hear from you.

For more information, please submit your CV to

 Please note, CVs are being reviewed on a rolling basis, and only successful applicants will be contacted with more information.

 As leading charity recruitment specialists and a certified B Corp™, Harris Hill is committed to high and ever-improving standards of equitable and inclusive recruitment. We actively welcome applications from all sections of the community regardless of age, disability, gender, race, religion, sexuality and other protected characteristics.

SMART CJS – Trust and Foundations Bid Writer

Role Overview

Are you committed to supporting people who are homeless or rough sleeping?

Are you proactive with a positive attitude?

Job Title: Trust and Foundations Bid Writer (with some responsibility for corporate fundraising)

Hours: 37 hours per week

Location: Working from our office in central Bedford, with some provision for remote working.

About SMART CJS

Founded in 1997, we are a charity that provides safe spaces for people who are facing or experiencing homelessness, are rough sleeping or have fallen on tough times. As times have changed, our services have adapted and grown, but we’ve always kept the people we support at the centre of all that we do. We believe that everyone needs a little help sometimes and, with trust, respect and honesty, people can make incredible changes. Our vision is to transform communities so that everyone has the opportunity to achieve their fullest potential, participate in and contribute to all aspects of life. Our mission is to provide safe spaces to work with vulnerable people within our communities, empowering them to make positive changes and take control of their lives.

Why Join Us?

We believe in diversity and inclusion. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds.

Benefits include:

• 27 days Annual Leave (rising to 30 after 3 years) + Bank Holidays (pro rata)
• Generous Pension scheme (after successfully completing a probation period)
• Excellent Development and Growth Opportunities
• Access to a Charity Worker Discount scheme
• Access to the company health and wellbeing service including support with mental health, legal advice and more
• Access to an online GP service

We require all staff and volunteers to be committed to safeguarding and to respond proactively to safeguarding concerns. Successful applicants are required to undertake an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). This job description will be supplemented by annual objectives which will be developed in conjunction with the post holder.

The Role

SMART CJS is looking to recruit a Trusts and Foundations Bid Writer. The successful candidate will also have some responsibility for corporate fundraising with businesses based in Bedford and beyond; this responsibility will be shared with our Community and Corporate Fundraiser.

The main responsibility, though, will be to generate income by writing bids to charitable trusts and foundations, and to statutory funders.

The role will include researching and identifying charity trusts and similar bodies which are able to make an award to SMART. It will also include keeping abreast of developments in fundraising in the charity sector as a whole, especially in the field of grant awarding and, to a lesser extent, of corporate giving.

There will be a probationary period for the role. As it generally takes six months for a grant to be awarded (though some arrive more quickly), the probationary period will need to be for a minimum of seven months, though its precise duration can be negotiated with the successful candidate.

Training will be given; the scope of the training will depend on the candidate’s previous experience.

This is an exciting opportunity to join SMART’s friendly and dedicated team. You’ll need to be able to manage your time effectively; the role is primarily self-directed. We envisage that you’ll be working primarily from our offices in Prebend Street, Bedford, though you'll be able to work from home for some of the time as well. Given the nature of our work, personal resilience is important; some of the stories we use when applying for funding can be emotionally challenging.

Our fundraising comes from regular gifts, donations from the community (individuals and groups), and corporate bodies (businesses). The majority of our fundraising income comes from grants. There will be a realistic target for the amount you need to raise; this will reflect the performance for grant applications in the charity sector as a whole and it will not be unrealistic. Fundraising is not an exact science; the assessment of performance against the targets will be fair and reasonable. The final responsibility for SMART’s fundraising rests with the trustees; they appreciate and understand the complexity of the issues involved.

Main Purpose of the Role

You will work closely with the CEO, the Chair of Trustees, the Head of Business and the fundraising team. The post involves gathering information, writing the bids, tracking the progress of submissions, and reporting back to grant awarders on how their money has been spent, if they require this.

There will also be a responsibility for corporate fundraising. This will involve building relationships with businesses in and beyond the Bedford area. The responsibility for this will be shared with our Community and Corporate Fundraiser.

Key Responsibilities

Fundraising and Bid Writing

• Research and identify suitable grant and funding opportunities from charitable trusts, foundations, and statutory bodies.
• Write and submit high-quality funding applications and proposals in line with SMART’s strategic priorities.
• Work collaboratively with service leads and front line teams to gather accurate, up-to-date data and service information for applications.
• Tailor the applications to the funder’s criteria, using storytelling effectively.
• Manage a pipeline of applications and submissions, ensuring deadlines are met and income targets are tracked.
• Maintain and build relationships with key funders, providing timely reports and updates on grant-funded work.
• Work to realistic targets and be able to provide feedback on these.
• Organisational Development and Support
• Contribute to the strategic development of SMART’s income generation plans.
• Support development of strong internal bid and grant management systems.
• Monitor success rates and provide monthly reporting on funding performance to the Head of Business and to the Chair of Trustees.
• Represent SMART CJS at funding briefings, webinars, and networking opportunities where appropriate.

Other Responsibilities

• Participate in SMART’s performance management and appraisal process.
• Attend the monthly meetings of the Fundraising Committee (a sub‑committee of the Board of Trustees).
• Comply with health and safety policies and procedures.
• Undertake any other duties commensurate with the role, as required by the CEO, the Head of Business or the Chair of Trustees.

Person Specification

Whether you’re already an experienced bid-writer, or whether you think this is something that you could learn to do effectively, we’d like to hear from you. You need to have excellent skills in written English and be able to write in prose that’s clear and readily understandable to the general reader. The criteria for each grant awarder are different; you need to be able to match your bid to what they would like to fund (homelessness, mental health, relief of poverty, women’s issues and so on). You need, then, to tell SMART’s story in a way which appeals to each funder.

You need to have excellent inter-personal skills and be able to work as part of a team. While there is a strong element of self-direction in the role, you need to be able to work closely with senior management and also with the trustees; the trustees have the final responsibility for fundraising in the charity.

You will need, too, to have a commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion, and to have a genuine interest in homelessness and the work of the charity, and a commitment to improving our clients’ lives and wellbeing.

About The Refugee Council

The Refugee Council is the nation’s refugee charity. Together with community groups, partners and volunteers, we help people who have escaped war and persecution to rebuild their lives, integrate into communities, and play their part in Britain. Born in the aftermath of World War II, our frontline services support over 14,000 refugees each year to find safety, get to know their neighbours, and enter education, training or work. We share our evidence and expertise with policymakers to help build integrated communities where everyone can contribute.

We have offices across the UK where our Services teams provide support to refugees at local level.

Inclusion and Accessibility

Ensuring that the Refugee Council is an inclusive and accessible place to work is important to us. We want to enable people from different backgrounds to apply and thrive with us. We believe our recruitment process enables that and are also happy to make adjustments on request.

Our Values

Our values underpin everything we do: 

• Inclusive: We are inclusive. We work with - not for - refugees and people seeking asylum, so they have an equal voice, co-producing projects and ensuring their expertise and experiences are at the heart of what we do.
• Collaborative: We are collaborative. Working with others is a priority in order to have the collective impact that is vital to achieve policy and practice reform. 
• Courageous: We speak out when we see injustice, cruelty and unfairness. We always stand up for what we believe is the right thing to do to transform the experiences of those seeking protection in our country. 
• Respectful: We are respectful of all those we interact with. We treat everyone – our staff, volunteers, beneficiaries, partners and people we disagree with – with the same respect, professionalism and understanding.

About the role

The Social Media & Stories Manager provides organisational leadership for the Refugee Council’s social media and storytelling function, ensuring that digital communications inspire action, shift public attitudes, and amplify the voices of people with lived experience. The postholder combines strategic oversight with hands-on delivery, shaping the organisation’s online presence and setting standards for ethical, authentic, and impactful content across all channels.

This pivotal role drives the long-term communications strategy by embedding insight-led digital practice, leading cross-organisational collaboration, and ensuring that storytelling is consistent, inclusive, and aligned with brand values. By influencing public narratives on asylum and refugees, growing reach and engagement, and safeguarding the integrity of lived-experience stories, the postholder provides assurance to senior leaders and trustees that the Refugee Council’s digital presence is future-focused, reputationally robust, and central to achieving organisational goals.

Hours: 35 hours per week.

Location: Hybrid working with 2 days in Stratford, London.

Staff Benefits

To reward our staff for the value they bring, we offer a variety of enhanced terms and conditions and a wide range of benefits, including:

• Training & Development
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Pension Scheme
• Work Life Balance Policies
• Employer-Sponsored Volunteering
• And more.

Let’s work together to improve the lives of refugees in the UK - apply on our website today.

Closing date: 15 April 2026.

Ensuring that the Refugee Council is an inclusive and accessible place to work is important to us. We want to enable people from different backgrounds to apply and thrive with us. We believe our recruitment process enables that and are also happy to make adjustments on request.

The Sutton Trust is the UK’s leading social mobility charity. We believe every young person should have a fair chance in life, regardless of their family’s income, the school they go to or where they grow up. But today in Britain, the opportunity to succeed is heavily shaped by socio-economic background. Our mission is to change this. Our programmes empower young people to access life-changing opportunities, and our research influences national change to deliver a fairer future.

Each year, together with our university and employer partners, we support over 14,000 young people to reach their potential through our university, apprenticeship, and career access programmes. And our support does not stop there. We engage our thriving alumni community to help them to succeed in their professions and to act as advocates for social mobility.

Our rigorous and extensive research shines a light on barriers to opportunity from the early years to the workplace, and we strive to influence national policy change with evidence-based solutions to tackle educational and workplace inequality. Using insights from our programmes and research, we also test and scale new ideas in education and employment practice.

As an independent charity, our work is entirely reliant on the generous support of our community of donors. The need to support our work to tackle Britain’s low social mobility has never been greater.

Fundraising at the Sutton Trust

We are seeking a dynamic and driven fundraiser to be our Trusts and Foundations Manager. The Sutton Trust is at an exciting point in our organisational journey, with a new Chairperson and ambitions to significantly grow our impact and fundraising as part of our 2030 strategy.

Over the past five years the impact of the Sutton Trust has increased, especially in our programme numbers, securing a relatively stable income of c.£6m over a number of years. In recent years this has grown to c.£7m, and our organisational strategy to 2030 will continue this fundraising trajectory to increase income to £12m. Trusts and foundations income currently accounts for c.37% of our fundraising, and we know there is considerable enthusiasm and opportunity in the grant-making world for building strategic partnerships with us.

Our fundraising approach will continue to focus on driving towards major gifts and strategic multi-year partnerships, leveraging a range of drivers to secure Trust, Foundation and Statutory support.

The Role and Team

As Trusts and Foundations Manager (maternity cover), you will be an experienced, proactive relationship manager and fundraiser. You will be confident in delivering high quality reporting and stewardship to a wide variety of Trusts, Foundations, Statutory and organisational donors, as well as proactively approaching funding prospects and preparing applications to secure funds.

We have strong relationships with a range of trusts and foundations, and over the fixed term contract period we are looking for a confident fundraiser to manage and support a portfolio of funders as cover for a maternity leave within the Development team.

The role will contribute to growing the portfolio of Trusts, Foundations, and organisational donors (predominantly at the five-figure level), while also providing strategic support on grant management of our major six-and-seven-figure Trust and Foundation partners. This will include compiling key reports and supporting the gathering and analysing programmatic data. You will work closely with colleagues across both the Development Department, including the Development Director, and the wider organisation.

Main duties

New Business

• Undertake prospect research into trusts and foundations, statutory opportunities (contracts or grants), and organisational funders in collaboration with Trusts and Foundations colleagues, and other senior staff and senior volunteers. This includes identification, due diligence, qualification, and creating briefings and outreach plans.

• Work with Trusts and Foundations colleagues to cultivate a prospect pool of potential donors, looking at lapsed supporters, the prospect pipeline, stakeholder network mapping through the Board and Trustees, as well as funders with an active interest in education / social mobility.

• Submit compelling funding proposals and reports to mid-level trusts, foundations, statutory and organisational donors to secure income (predominately at the five-figure level) for the Trust. Work alongside other Development team and wider organisation members to ensure high-quality submissions.

• Alongside team members, manage the shared Development inbox to ensure all enquiries are dealt with in a prompt, consistent, and friendly manner.

• Follow all relevant policies and processes to ensure due diligence is completed for prospective donors and that income projections and plans for the portfolio are kept up to date.

Account Management and Development

• Manage and grow a small portfolio of trusts, foundations, statutory supporters, and organisational donors, delivering impactful stewardship (e.g. impact reporting) while meeting all donor reporting requirements to maximise financial income and partnership longevity.

• Support senior team members on strategic management of our major trust and foundation partners, including leading on compiling key impact reports, coordinating meetings, attending programme visits, event invites, writing targeted donor communications and reporting.

• Work with the Head of Fundraising Operations to compile and analyse key programmatic data for use by the Development team in their grant reporting.

• Be accountable for achieving agreed trusts and foundations income targets, looking for opportunities to grow funding and diversify income for this stream.

• Ensure all record keeping and administration relating to trusts and foundations income is maintained, up-to-date, and processed in accordance with GDPR and Sutton Trust policies and procedures.

Fundraising Finance and Reporting

• Act as an ambassador for the Trust with external audiences, delivering presentations and providing expertise as required.

• Work with colleagues to deliver impactful events to cultivate prospects and steward partners, with a focus on experience for trust and foundation supporters and prospects.

• Work with colleagues across Development and Finance to ensure accurate forecasting, income tracking and reporting for trusts and foundations income, through the Trust’s CRM (Salesforce), account management plans, and all relevant income pipeline documents.

• Ensure you appropriately follow policies and procedures on due diligence, Salesforce and data management, account management, stewardship, and reporting.

• Stay up to date with grant fundraising best practice, learning from senior members of the team, and keep abreast of developments and opportunities within the wider fundraising space.

• Other duties as necessary from time to time.

Person Specification

We welcome applications from individuals who have:

• Experience in successfully securing, managing, and developing Trust, Foundation, Statutory or organisational donor partnerships at four and five figure-level, from initial prospect research to securing income and ongoing grant management.

• Experience building and managing relationships, particularly in the philanthropic sector with organisational donors.

• Strong presentation skills and the ability to write compelling proposals and impact reports, or pitch to audiences with the intent of persuading them to your point of view or secure a specific outcome.

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills and the ability to summarise information from readily available sources clearly and concisely.

• Experience managing multiple priorities and tasks to successfully achieve project or other goals.

• Excellent prospect research skills and strong analytical skills.

• First-class interpersonal skills - a natural ambassador able to represent the Sutton Trust with confidence in a range of settings.

• Knowledge of fundraising in the education and/or not-for-profit sector.

• Experience using CRM software (ideally Salesforce) to accurately record funding relationships (desirable).

We are also looking for an individual who:

• Sympathetic to the aims of the Trust and its mission to address educational disadvantage and increase social mobility.

• Able to take the initiative and take responsibility for a wide variety of tasks and projects.

• Strong communicator, skilled at persuading others through writing and conversation.

• Enjoy working with impact and outcomes data to create compelling narratives for reporting purposes (desirable).

• Excellent attention to detail.

• Able to multi-task and prioritise multiple funder relationships.

• Able to work independently and as part of a team.

• Is eligible to work in the UK (see here for information about right to work)

Terms of Appointment

• Contract: Full-time, Fixed term contract until 31 August 2027

• Salary: £42,000-£47,000

• Working location: Minimum of two office days per week. Our home working policy gives staff the option to - work from home for up to 60% of the time, with approval from their line manager.

• Office location: The Sutton Trust, 9th Floor, Millbank Tower, 21-24 Millbank, London, SW1P 4QP.

• Hours: The standard working hours are 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday. This role is likely to also be required to attend events / meetings outside of normal working hours during weekday evenings and occasionally at weekends, in line with organisational policies.

• Safeguarding: DBS check may be required.

Interviews

Applications should reach us by 10am, Monday 13th April , with first round interviews held with first round interviews held on Tuesday, 21st April, and second round interviews held on Tuesday, 28th April. Both rounds will be held in our London office.

Safeguarding statement

The Sutton Trust believes that a child, young person or vulnerable adult should never experience abuse of any kind. We all have a responsibility to promote the welfare of all children and young people and to keep them safe. Therefore all posts undergo a safer recruitment process, including but not limited to, disclosure of criminal records where necessary and eligibility to work in the UK. We have procedures in place to promote safeguarding and a safe culture at the Trust.

Contextual recruitment

The Trust is committed to ensuring equality of opportunity and that all applicants receive equal consideration for employment. We strongly encourage individuals from all backgrounds, including those underrepresented at present at the Trust, to apply for this role. As such we particularly welcome applications from people with disabilities, Black, Asian or Minority Ethnic backgrounds, LGBTQ+ and from different socio-economic and educational backgrounds. We are committed to being an inclusive and welcoming place to work and know that greater diversity will lead to even greater results for the young people we support.

We are committed to providing reasonable adjustments for disabled candidates throughout our recruitment process and during employment.

We also operate contextual recruitment at the Sutton Trust. Our application process gives you the option to include information about your background, such as whether you were eligible for free school meals, whether your parents went to university, or whether you attended a state school. For more examples and information on contextual recruitment, please see our website.

We are looking for a strategic, values-driven and collaborative Charity Director/CEO to lead DS Achieve (a small charity) through its next stage, building on strong foundations to ensure long-term sustainability and meaningful impact for the families we support.

This is a rewarding opportunity to play a key role in shaping the future of a small community-focused charity supporting children and young people with Down Syndrome. Working closely with the Board of Trustees, you will provide strategic leadership, guide the development of the organisation, and support a committed team to deliver high-quality services for families across Hertfordshire and surrounding areas.

Please see the attached Role Profile for details.